Dominica’s Tourism Minister, Denise Charles is the new Chair of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Council of Tourism Ministers.
The baton was handed over to her by Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Minister, Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez at the seventh meeting of the OECS Council of Ministers of Tourism underway at the Cabrits Resort & Spa, Kempinski on Thursday.
“One of my priorities of chair is that of hospitality training,” she said. “I am aware that a lot of work has gone into this at the regional level, but it is my hope to bring this back on the table for serious consideration and review of previous recommendations.”
She pointed out that as the government makes investments into infrastructure and processes, the skillset of our people needs to be enhanced and fully utilized.
Charles believes that this is another way, “we can lean on each other and learn from our sister islands who already have great programs in excellent customer service and delivery.”
Furthermore, she stated that another aspect of success for regional tourism is supporting community tourism initiatives.
“In Dominica we have recognized that the key to our resilient agenda is building resilient communities,” she stated. “This is indeed one of our pillars of national resilient development strategies and one of our key tourism portfolios.”
Charles mentioned that the focus on community tourism provides guests with an authentic and organic Dominican experience.
“It also provides a direct injection of revenue to the people who rely on tourism for their livelihood,” she indicated.
She continued, “it also provides a platform for community groups and individuals to be part of the development process and take ownership of their resilient future.”
Charles added, “Another key aspect of our resilient strategy is our sharp focus on national replanting and beautification.”
She pointed out that Dominica has embarked on a campaign to not only beautify the country’s ports of entry, but also the highways while paying close attention to replanting trees which act as a buffer to land slippage.
Charles went on to say that regional transportation is a critical matter.
“We need to get back to the days where we could hop on the many daily flights connecting our islands with reasonable fares and schedules and get to our destinations within an hour,” she remarked.
In this regard, she thanked the airlines who stepped up to work with countries in the region during difficult times.
“During our toughest days of Covid, the loss of flights from LIAT they kept us connected to the rest of the region,” she noted. “We truly appreciate their partnership.”
Outgoing chair, Fernandez said his tenure of chairmanship was very challenging as tourism coincided with Covid-19 and as such there was a single critical focus to ensure safety protocols and get the industry back up and running.
“It gives me great pleasure to hand over the baton to the dynamic, energetic Honourable Denise Charles, my friend, Minister for Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives of the Commonwealth of Dominica who ensured that this seventh regular meeting was held in person in Dominica, signifying that the OECS countries commitment to regional tourism has not been lost,” he said before handing over the baton to Charles.
According to him, Antigua led by example by opening the country ahead of the rest of the Caribbean and for that matter, “most of the world.”
“And I can tell you for 2022 we are projecting 75% back to normalcy in terms of where we were in 2019, with regards to tourism arrivals,” he revealed. “We are very close to actually at this point in time reaching 100% of where we were in 2019 which was a record year for us.”
Fernandez acknowledged that it has been a challenging two and a half years for the countries in the region. However, he expressed gratitude for the benefits of coming together over the new resume meetings both with the OECS Ministers of Tourism as well as representatives of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and health representatives in the OECS member-states, “to share experiences and ideas in the immediate recovery period of the Pandemic.”
The meeting is hosted by OECS Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives, Dominica.
Waist of money Minister ,thats not a fish market , when you go before the camera make your make up artist help you prepare, or be conscious of where you are. You look lost thinking of what to say , mouth open, absent minded, what a site . People please take a good observation , every minister that appears on DNO including the prime Minister look lost and worried . Dominicans the writing is on the wall keep the pressure on.
lose the weave/wig already woman….and actually DO SOMETHING for the communities you serve…damn waste of time of a Parl Rep and a Minister…stupes.
She is a nasty peace of work this one. You were all warned!
What’s wrong with her eyes. She looks like she is high up in space!
Maybe she’s sitting on something that’s somewhat pointed.
What does this woman know about tourism? I suggest her knowledge is about as significant as my knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing PetroCaribe millions.
Imagine the Petro Caribe EC $270M just disappeared without a trace. The US $100M from Hugo Chavez donated for the Kalinago people has mysteriously vanished. The CBI $2.4B cannot be accounted for.
All that money landed in the lap of the Roosevelt led administration. What was it used to do? Not for the Dominica people for sure. Look at the underwhelming state of development throughout the country.
But she knows plenty about PetroCaribe, hence she became a ‘minister’…
True dat!! Wasn’t she the accountant there??
“Wey papa” here we go again if your VAULGAR and verminous demeanor in the Parliament of Dominica is anything to by, nothing tangible is expected to be achieved under your stewardship as OECS tourism council chair.
Just another spineless member of the cabal trying to hog public attention to change the pressing issues which are now gripping the attention of the public.
This is the mode of operation of this nakedly corrupt, grossly inept, tyrannical administration.
Flood the media with mis and dis – information to distract the residents from the burning issues plaguing the country – ( unprecedented, high murder rate, sexual abuse of minors, high inflation, rising unemployment, widening poverty) etc.
Anyone who expects positive changes under the tenure of this regime has to be unserious. After twenty two straight years of ignominy, how can this leopard change its spots?
The Honourable Denise Charles, Dominica’s Minister for Tourism, international Transport, and Maritime Initiatives and new Chairperson of the O.E.C.S Council of Tourism Ministers has prioritized, according to D.N.O, four areas of priority which she intends to give serious attention to during her tenure as O.E.C.S Tourism Ministers Chair. These areas; 1. Hospitality Training, 2. Community Tourism/ Community Based Tourism, 3. National Tree Replanting and Beautification, and 4. Regional Transportation, are all important areas for actions needed to elevate the Sub Regional Tourism Product and O.E.C.S member states should rally with the new Tourism Chair to ensure these areas are strengthened during her tenure. Dominicans should also embrace these priority areas since they are important in helping to grow our Tourism Sector. One thing missing though is Agriculture and national and regional food security which is very critical to help grow the Tourism Sector.
Resiliently, one wishes to submit another very resilient item to the very resilient agenda for our very resilient communities in the resilient nature island and the resilient OECS which one thinks will resiliently add to our national and regional resilient development strategy. This resilient item is: Resilient Hair Weaving and Wig Making. The resilient potentials are resiliently endless. A big resilient thank you!!
From Juanita, a very resilient Dominica National
Yes sa, that one make my day
You forgot that very resilient DLP cabal and an ever more resilient CM. He can mess up and withhold as much as he wants, he will remain. He is super resilient.
It appears Dominicans have given up on themselves… Unfortunately THEY are not resilient.
As the Jamaicans would say, “Large up u-self, Juanita.”
Juanita, writer extraordinaire!
Omg Juanita…..I can’t beweave you said that
Are you stuck on Resiliency? Find something better to say or do. That word is now redundant. Open up your dictionary or fly away, lady. You are becoming too monotonous and mundane and boring. What became of your erstwhile friend?