Dominica’s ranking for ease of doing business world wide has fallen by nine places, according to a report by the World Bank.
The bank’s Doing Business 2014 Report, released this week, has revealed that Dominica is ranked 77th worldwide as compared to 68th in the 2013 report.
From a Caribbean perspective, Dominica ranked fifth, dropping by two places after being ranked third in the 2013 report.
Puerto Rico, a US territory, at 40th in the world, improved by one place to remain the highest-ranked place overall in the Caribbean for the ease of doing business.
This is followed by St. Lucia in second place (64th), Trinidad in third place (66th) and Antigua in fourth place (71st).
The result for the other islands in the region is as follows: St. Vincent & the Grenadines 82nd, The Bahamas 84th, Jamaica 94th, St. Kitts and Nevis 101st, Belize 106th, Grenada 107th, Guyana 115th, Dominican Republic 117th (was 174th in 2013) and Haiti, 177th.
According to the report Dominica is weak in registering property, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.
The breakdown of the 2014 ranking for Dominica (on worldwide basis) is as follows (with 2013 ranking in brackets):
Starting a Business………………..51 (46)
Dealing with Construction Permits……22 (22)
Getting Electricity ……………….64 (61)
Registering Property……………….119 (119)
Getting Credit…………………….86 (83)
Protecting Investors ………………34 (32)
Paying Taxes………………………75 (74)
Trading Across Borders……………..88 (92)
Enforcing Contracts………………..172 (170)
Resolving Insolvency ………………104 (105)
The report looked at a series of regulations that apply to an economy’s businesses during their life cycles, from startup to trading across borders and paying taxes.
“The rankings for all economies are benchmarked to June 2013 and reported in the country tables. This year‘s rankings on the ease of doing business are the average of the economy‘s percentile rankings on the 10 topics included in this year‘s aggregate ranking. The number of reforms excludes those making it more difficult to do business,” the report said.
It added: “Through its indicators, Doing Business measures and tracks changes in the economies that have no regulations in the area being measured or do not apply their regulations (considered ‘no practice’ economies), penalizing them for lacking appropriate regulation.”
“The economies ranking highest on the ease of doing business therefore are not those with no regulation, but those whose governments have managed to create a regulatory system that facilitates inter-actions in the marketplace and protects important public interests without unnecessarily hindering the development of the private sector—in other words, a regulatory system with strong institutions and low transactions costs. These economies all have both a well-developed private sector and a reasonably efficient regulatory system that has managed to strike a sensible balance between the protections that good rules provide and the need to have a dynamic private sector unhindered by excessively burdensome regulations.”
A total of 189 countries across the globe were evaluated for the report.
This would be worse if UWP was in power.
We just need a new party that’s it.
This report is partly compiled with information received from the individuals listed on pages 263 -264 as well as persons who do not want their names published. While the World Bank is looking for objective information, it cannot always tell if the comments provided by contributors are partisan or political. The data it receives therefore is not always of the measurable kind. It can only hope that the persons are objective and not self-serving in any way. Some people will deliberately provide false data thinking that it is only the party in power they are destroying. They are in fact destroying the whole country with this destructive approach to get into political power.
Dominica is finished under Skeritt, corruption, dictatorship wake up my people
i feel that way. Home need some new faces.
Stop blaming the government for everything, alot of it has to do with the work ethics or lack off it of the people who are supposed to get the stuff done. Policies that can be changed play a major role as well, for example in 2013, most government esablishments still close at 1:00 and EVERYBODY goes to lunch, in most cases you are told that Mr or MS so and so is not in and they are the ONLY ones who can assist you. There is alot we can changed to improve our services but i do not share the opinion that the blame lies squarely on Skerrit and his boys and girls.
Need an international airport….
Things so bad in Dominica skerrit have to give handouts.
Are you surprise? Calling on some serious educated, lovers of Country to form a new political party to get this land back on track. This government is unable to manage money and the ministers and secretaries are extremely lazy. The don’t care bout youths, imagine ministers sleeping with college students under 18, alah, that’s where the money goes. Lennox haven’t hold a job for so long, not sure if they’ll go mad when they see money if they’re elected, so it’s up to you as for me, I’ll be voted for a new party. All in all Labour must go, too much painn papa.
I purchased property there in 2012, and have been trying to Register a business at the Title Registry for 14 months now, and this with a lawyer involved and it still isn’t finished. Yes it may be good news that Dominica is better than most, but if you are trying to create jobs for locals, this process should be improved. For Business folks, it is endless delays (without explanation) that causes potential business to move eslewhere. Just sayin.
The place behind like crazy. It is so damn faustrating.. they will learn but it will be late.
you only saying that,because you are UWP supporter,but no matter what you all may say,is because of them dumb goverments you all voted in the past,that’s why dominica is as it is today,dominica is comming from behind,and is because of the will of some of us,that have a dont give up attitude,so we already learn,we will move on,with or without people like you all,tell the damm oposition to get on board,and shape and put forward ideas to the present government,to move dominica forward,stop opposing for opposing sake,they to damm power hungery.
come on people this is not bad news,can dominica ever out do puerto rico and trinidad in areas of doing business,trinidad is oil rich,puerto rico is a federally funded teritory,dominica is self supported,thanks to the chinese dominica has made some strides in areas of inferstructure,the businesses this people are reffering to,are hotels, casinos and so though,dominica is comming from behind after so much bad political choices we have made,for example the beer factory in st lucia should have been in dominca,and all the uppertunities we let slide,there was even a rumor that after hurricane david,that the US government wanted to purchase dominica,but rich estate owners like mammo said that,they could take care of their own,dominica has went through to many unstable governments,that is why we are in this critical position today.
and let me also add,the chinese would’nt have a problem to do business in dominica,so the world bank can stay there and throw reports at us,am sure they would not like that chinese trend.
This is really true.I tried buying a house in Dominica and that is an experience that I dont want to go through at all. The bank was slow in giving information. The percentage down was out rageous.The amount you have to give to the realtor was also outrageous.In the end it was better to buy the house cash than to take a loan .I did not buy the house.Do you know how much money the bank could make on that loan.
Dominica is too slow in doing business.
Came to DOMINICA TO ADOPT A KID .TOLD THE LAWYER HOW LONG I WOULD BE ON THE ISLAND.She assured me it would be done.
IT WAS NOT DONE. BUT SHE KEPT ALL MY $3500
My advice. Do not go through a realtor but instead try to buy distressed property from a bank or credit union direct, there is plenty to choose from at present. Secondly, if at all possible, avoid borrowing money in Dominica and instead raise an equity loan against assets you may have overseas at a much lower rate and on more favorable terms. If your loan is in U.S.$. you will not run any risks with fluctuating exchange rates. For other currencies, such as Euros, U.K. pounds sterling or Canadian $, secure your exchange rate by buying your currency forward and buy your property for cash. This approach will also put you in a much stronger bargaining position. An added advantage is that you may also be able to offset any interest payments against tax liabilities in the country where you took out your loan. Our local banks will miss out on financing your purchase as a result of their uncompetitive rates but on the other hand will be delighted to get one of these properties off their books. If at all possible, avoid building your own house as construction- and material costs are subject to 15% VAT, one of the reasons why the local construction industry is in the doldrums at the moment And, If you are up to it, try doing your own conveyancing and save yourself another 3% in lawyer’s fees, (also subject to 15% VAT).
Here we are getting a report from the World Bank and yet we are playing the blame game again instead of dealing with the reality at hand. I see Skerrites blaming UWP, Lenox Linton, the opposition, inaccurate survey, and I guess they will even blame DNO for putting out this information. But the fact of the matter is, Dominica seems to be going a downward trend which is terribly bad for our future and if we are not politically wise to get rid of this administration that clearly knows nothing about helping pave a pathway for a better future, by the time Skerrit is out of power, Dominica will be out as a nation. However, by listening to the “Jobs and economic forum” that was brilliantly conducted by the opposition yesterday, my heart was richly encouraged although I am still very concerned with the level of political ignorance that is very strong in Dominica, which Skerrit has been using as his bread and butter while the country is on a rapid decline. We need help boy!
Admin. I put a thumbs down in error. I meant thumbs up. Very good observations.
THis is good news and bad. THe good news is that the rating is still very favorable… 5th place in the entire Caribbean! That’s good. And 77th in the whole world!? Common people, this is good. And something to be proud of, in the send that we could have been over 100!
Now the bad news is that, there is slippage! And that is not a good thing. It could just be a hiccup, or it could be an indication of ineffective policies. Either way, a downward slide merits intense scrutiny and corrective action.
Before Skerrit. Came in power our rating was excrement. It was number two in the Caribbean. Now it’s falling and falling fast. So if I had $100.00 and somebody stole $50.00 are you telling me that it’s good that I still have $50.00? So are you going to wait untill you loose the other $50.00 and keep saying its good. The fact is it’s getting worse and worse. So let’s not sugar coat it.
I despair when I read comments like these. Why should we settle for mediocrity? Surely we should always benchmark the best and even try to exceed that. You think Mr. Bolt and other athletes of Jamaica got to where they are now with that philosophy you are preaching? What is wrong with wanting to be the best?
I despair when I read comments like these. Why should we settle for mediocrity? Surely we should always benchmark the best and even try to exceed that. You think Mr. Bolt and other athletes of Jamaica got to where they are now with that philosophy you are preaching? What is wrong with aiming to be the best?
@AP, I realize you wanted to be very objective and did not want be seen as bias. However, how could a downward slip of 2% amongst Caribbean countries be translated as “Good news?” After all how could any drop be good news for any country. So if it is good news according to you, then if the same trend continues next year I guess it would be super good eh? I think either you are confused between the number of points we dropped by or you are just concerned about our rating. By the way, you realize in 2013 we were ranked 3rd and slipped to 5th place already? In case you were just trying to do some damage control or just trying to mislead others, please read the reason given for our drop below:
“According to the report Dominica is weak in registering property, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.” Do you understand this? In case you still choose to misunderstand, ask mr Skerrit about the $millions he spent on the Viellecase / Penville water project. Find out who the contract was given to and when it failed if the original contractor was asked to do it over or if the country had to pay another company to do it over? Boy corruption is missing on this ranking and breakdown so all could see what is happening to our country.
I am not happy to hear that. However, if this is a means by which the eyes of the powers-that-be can be opened, then so be it. Focusing on the aspect of starting a business I can tell you fiscal policies in the country must change to assist young people in particular and the economy in general.
The banks make it extremely difficult for young people to obtain the funds needed for starting new businesses which will grow the economy. One wants to start a business which by according to all analysis will be successful. The bank needs your great grandmother’s certificate of title, that of your grand mother and father. In addition to this you must have a certain percentage of the loan loan in your account. How many young people have that? Remember it is the private sector which drives the economy of any nation. Please help it to grow.
Read this article, typed a 1st comment and deleted it but after reading some comments I feel a need to add something to the discussion (hopefully meaningful).
When these kinds of reports surface I always ask: what was the method of data collection, what was the sample size and ultimately what was the source of the information. I have been following this “Doing Business Report” since their 2007 edition http://www.doingbusiness.org/reports/regional-reports/org-of-eastern-caribbean-states and found out that only a select group of “lawyers” are polled in Dominica to get the data to report on Dominica. This means that if they are biased in one way or the other, the results will be negative.
For those of us that have actually read the entire report, it speaks of the only initiative/reform in Dominica as the Customs Reform project which did not happen in 2012/2013 but was long completed before that time. Remember ASYCUDA World? So the information is outdated.
It makes no mention of recent events, like the legislation which was carded for passage: the Electronic Transaction, Electronic Filing, Electronic Funds Transfer, and Data Protection Bills from the OECS (which by the way was passed in Parliament this week) as well as the Procurement Bill. These give legality to a host of issues including online/internet/email contracts and transactions etc. (the legal framework) as well as the requirement for tendering government contracts. What about the online business registry system that was developed to assist in registering businesses last year? What about the online Tax filing system that I heard about earlier this summer from Inland Revenue? If you follow the news, you would know that different activities take place but no linkage is make to doing business a little easier in Dominica.
I’m just wondering if actual/current information is reaching those outside agencies that come up with these kinds of reports. “Chicken Little” did say the sky was falling…but the world still stands today.
@R@sta: Are you trying to suggest that all or most investment initiatives and transactions are done online electronically? All the legislation you make reference to are related to electronic transactions. What about the official “in person” transactions which I would believe is the way most business interest are set up?
My comment was meant to generate positive thinking. What I am saying is that, we pay consultants to come here and tell us in “official” reports all what we may already know. Additionally, do they actually take into consideration the truth on the ground.
What about the fact that they reference the ASYCUDA World project that finished well over a year ago as the only initiative they are basing their judgement on? Did any of those who are quick to click thumbs down actually read the entire report like me and sort to analyze what it is really saying about us?
Do you guys realize that investors make decisions on reports like these that erroneously report the situation in Dominica. Come on man! We shouldn’t just continue to lay down and say “yes masa”. Do you know how many times some of these reports have erroneous information that harm “third-world” countries like us?
What is it you are cooking up r@sta? Are un floating on cloud 69? The writing is on the wall.Read it. It is obvious.
In my mind there are two kinds of currption. Curruption in the private sector and Curruption in the public sector. The curruption in the private sector is not detrimental because the government can enforce the lows to reduce that kind. But the detrimental curruption is that in public office. Because there is no one to enforce it except on ellection day.
The world bank dunno … we are the best country to do business our economy is growing so much it’s off the charts
This happen because the labor party is incompetent. I want to see where islanders going and get the capital to start their own business while surviving out on hand outs.
Looks like some of our people are out there only looking for negatives on DA so they can gloat and detract investors and tourism to the island; yet they claim they are patriotic. Poor DA! There are vultures out there trying to rip you apart.
That happened because UWP spread bad reports about the country world wide. These guys spread propoganda and messed up Dominica’s name to potential investors, what do you expect? Now if they come into power would you think things will be better?
Pierre Charles, of blessed memory and a native of Grand Bay himself proclaimed that “Dominicans wear their ignorance as a badge of honour” and you are clearly an example of that.
The world bank rating is not based on a popularity contest but measurable data, using the exact same criteria for every country. I guess some people just don’t like to hear bad news and prefer to act like ostriches. Remember, when you stick your head in the sand you most likely get hit in the a..se an won’t even see it coming.
Butt you are ignorant, what i saying is the truth and you know it. UWP will destroy the good name of this country, take your eyes from your and see. Your Badge of ignorance is showing all over. Grand Bay will remain RED.
Maybe UWP should not be in power and the current government will realize that people like you are to free and eventually will censor what you write on DNO, but i’m sure you and the generation would benefit from the hand out you get from your pm and china.
Silly. And now you laborites start blaming the UWP for Dominica being a failed state. Why don’t you start blaming this labor party and Skerrit? They are the ones causing all the damage.
People please don’t just repeat the things you hear others say; others who have an agenda. Look up the meaning for a ‘failed state’ and you will see that we are far from that. We have some governance problems, I agree, but a failed state, not close.
@I know. Far from a fail state? You want all of us to perrish before we say we are a fail state? Come on people. Can’t you see we’re heading for a desaster. Someone has to show you the meaning in the dictionary foe you to see that we are doomed?
@Grand Bay Boy: This is one of the most idiotic statements I have ever heard. Are you trying to tell me that the UWP have control over the areas highlighted? I will paste them for you because you probably didn’t notice them or deliberately skipped them.
Starting a Business………………..51 (46)
Dealing with Construction Permits……22 (22)
Getting Electricity ……………….64 (61)
Registering Property……………….119 (119)
Getting Credit…………………….86 (83)
Protecting Investors ………………34 (32)
Paying Taxes………………………75 (74)
Trading Across Borders……………..88 (92)
Enforcing Contracts………………..172 (170)
Resolving Insolvency ………………104 (105)
You supporters make comments that are so laughable, which speaks volumes of how you rationalize and discuss important issues and make decisions.
I quote and old saying that goes “It is better to be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt” I hope you have at least an iota of mental capacity to understand and appreciate the message in quotes. Read and understand what you choose to speak about before you open your mouth.
This can only come from one Skerrit has as a puppet and a slave. Thing is this is not a Labour Party. It is a greedy party, where getting rich fast is the order of the day. What people like you get in return is $20.00 from the Red Clinic.
Can you tell us what SKERRIT HAS DONE TO UPLIFT THE LIVES OF THE GRANDBAY PEOPLE? Sure you cannot answer this question.
Shame on you and your ignorance!
Probably you dont live in Dominica to see what happen in grandbay. UWP never supported Grand Bay Dominica was in utter Darkness. I also know how Linton makes his money in Antigua too. U guys think you have just people in that blue party? lol give them a chance and all u wil be crying for change in a year.
I have to say you are quite stupid. We need to come to the point in Dominica where issues such as these can be discussed with sober minds. Blame UWP for everything; I guess it’s only a matter of time before they are blamed for what happened in 1979 too.
I work in the system and I know that those ratings are based on all the red tape that one have to go through in accessing government services. I would suggest that before you continue “backing” your party – go online and read, educate yourself. Go to http://www.doingbusiness.org and download the report.
Best of luck
Well too much politicians hand in every single thing so the time extends since the investors will not oil palms
Well, I said it once and I will say it again; Skerrit is a good leader and is probably the best candidate for the job at this time, but he is a one man team. He does not have the necessary support to take the country from mediocre to respectability. Discouraging and ultimately decimating the opposition is fine when you are fighting a war, but it not going to result in progress when applied to running a country or a business. There is no better way to stimulate growth than to empower your people as oppose to dividing them or making them feel worthless…Just ask the Russians…
Hope readers notice that my pseudonym shows capital ‘A’ in Again. The above post is not mine.
This is ominous and unwelcoming news, coming only two days after the Hon. Dr. McIntyre exhorting our diaspora to invest in Dominica.
We were supposed to progress and not regress.
Breaking News, as if we expect anything different with these idiots at the helm!!
WAY PAPA…Check the figures for ENFORCING CONTRACTS.
Well, that is what you get when a leader of a country sets an example by placing himself above the law.
Why are supporters of uwp alwaysyou bitter? one thing for certain you all have a long wait before you obtain the reigns of government.
I hope one day soon these criminals who are corrupting the country will swiftly be brought to justice.
As for the: CONTRACTS! CONTRACTS! CONTRACTS!
MANY OF US KNOW about the alleged BOBOL BOBOL BOBOL involved in these contracts. You ask whose equipment are involved? and who are benefitting? Time will tell.
Again even Dominicans with just half a brain are asking,who are the owners of some of the equipment? Who are getting KICKBATS? KICKBACKS? KICKBACKS? KICKBACKS!!!!!!! TIME WILL TELL!
WORKERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Now the world Bank giving out information, i want to see people blame Lennox and say is workers that doing that. people open all u eyes we need a change badly. stop think of leader and think of dominica, we last or almost last in everything just now people will come stop dominica man!! jah.
What next? Everything negative is on the rise while positives are dropping. It would be very interesting to see how we are rated if corruption was one of the issues checked. Do we have to wait for the boat to sink before we start to empty it out the load?
As for that corruption thing self??????? That’s all I will say.It’s only a matter of time.
Are you guys serious. Politics and more politics. Political hoggs.
Corruption rankings are published each year by Transparency International.
In 2012 Barbados was the best performing country in the Caribbean at place 12, followed by St. Lucia at 22, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines at36. Dominica was placed at no. 41, which is relatively good compared with the likes of Cuba (58) and certainly far better than our friends in Venezuela, who were in joint 165th. position, together with Chad, Burundi and Haiti. It is clear from the survey that totalitarian regimes are the worst performers when it comes to corruption with N. Korea at the bottom of the list.
@Malatete: Remember Cuba N Korea and Venezuela are governed by dictatorships and Haiti a semi-dictatorship, so you expect that kind of figure under such governance but this is inexcusable for Dominica who is supposed to have similar type of democratic governance to St. Lucia. Why did you not compare Dominica to St. Lucia instead of Cuba which has an unparalleled government system?
Asterix, I report the facts as I found them, they are not mine. If you read carefully you will see that we do compare unfavourably with St. Lucia, and even more so with Barbados. On the other hand, we are doing better than Cuba or Venezuela. You may interpret these findings as you wish.
Ha, I could have told allu that without having to do a study!!!!
When you do the country bad you are promoted but when you do good you are demoted. When you lie and steal you are looked upon as a hero and when you talk about the stealing you are threatened. The the Dominica we live in. I hope the courts are seeing what’s going on.
Didn’t a prominent business guy raise the flag about contracts have issues, and the illegal President of the Today’s Dominica call for instant boycott, which lead to his biz being closed…
see why the call to boycott the two events by the opposition is “VALID” if citizens really care about country…
but sadly dominicans lack backbone, all they do is call Q95…
will never ever believe in Dominicans i see them as a bunch of pretenders always casting a blind eye..
wonder if what the opposition did at Fort Young Hotel re the Economic summit will make Dominicans think..they are so dumb and shallow in thinking it’s a joke.
@CONNIE You have hit the nail on the head with unerring accuracy. WELL SAID.
This just confirms to the Dominican Voters, that change of Guard is urgently needed to rescue Dominica.
The alarming rate of Corruption in Dominica is Major cause for concern to International Agencies…
Unless folks within the Labour Party don’t reflect on how the prime minister does things..they are DOOMED FULLY…
THIS COUNTRY IS wallowing in corruption. government leaders need to take note.
Let the Skerrities say this is a make up…
Dominica is dusted and done under Labour..
Just listen to the Tone of the Prime Minister when he address the nation, that tells and reflects Dominica and Dominicans!
Amen to that
Folks the slide has just begun, unless dominicans don’t change this regime Dominica will never be Prosperous…just listen to how the regime address it’s citizens…Labour is all about fooling people with a few pennies and gutter childish talk..
Labour sucks to the Core!
That survey is inaccurate
On what grounds? Why do you think that the survey is inaccurate? Is it inaccurate for the other islands as well? Or are you just one of those who cannot stomach any negative meted out against your beloved regime?
give them a break, they love their pm
Don.t wast your time with they, they see or understand nothing but red or blue. way too much politic in this country, how can we ever move forward
Ras, you are the expert? This is information coming from the Worldbank and we are judged by this. Are you telling us these people don’t know what they are doing when we are quite happy to accept their money? You are only making us look more foolish.