Dominica’s only tissue paper maker up for sale

Some of the products of the company
Some of the products of the company

After being in operations for the past five and a half years, the island’s only manufacturer of tissue paper, Nature Island Paper Products Inc (NIPP) is up for sale.

General Manager, Severin Mckenzie made the announcement at its Canefield Industrial Estate site on Tuesday saying over the years the company has faced with many challenges.

“Effective immediately the facility will be exposed for sale on the open market,” he said. “We are confident that the facility is and can be a viable investment given in a conducive environment. The machinery is state of the art, relatively new and highly energy efficient. The quality of our products is superior and in most cases equal to that of the imported competition and we have secured some reliable local markets.”

However, he stated, with all these factors that should have given company the competitive advantage “the company continues to experience no sale.”

“After five and a half years of operations, Nature Island Paper Products Inc has conducted an analytical exercise of the company’s performance and its place in the Dominican economy,” he explained. “We have conducted a swot analysis to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the company and as a result of this analysis, we have concluded that a major paradigm shift is required, which will affect the very existence of Nature Island Paper Products Inc as a private company individually owned.”

According to him since in operations the company has contributed over $700,000 towards wages of its employees, excluding management.

It also, “saved the Dominican economy over $500,000 in foreign exchange, created an average of 15 sustainable jobs and most significantly had assisted in maintaining the price of toilet tissue on the market without a price increase,” he noted.

McKenzie stated that the company’s weaknesses lay in the fact that it cannot compete with imported products, the “inability to expand into the other products over the last five years, limited access to funding, lack of resources to embark on a promotional campaign to take advantage of the greater share of the market.”

He revealed that the company has been operating at less than 25 percent of its real capacity.

“So given the opportunity to operate at 100 percent of our full capacity, this company can, in fact, be thriving,” Mckenzie explained.

He stated that four approaches will be taken in selling the company.

“We will be putting the facility on the open market for sale and whichever investor is interested to purchase at our price we will make it available to them, we will make an offer to the government of Dominica as to whether they would be interested in purchasing the facility,” he explained. “We are in negotiations with some regional counterparts who may be interested in coming in and take over and we are going to create a facility and put a mechanism in place and make an offer to the wider Dominica public.”

“So it is an offer to the Dominican population that if they want they can put their resources together to purchase the company and let it be a people’s company…,” he said.“Our intention is to open an account at National Bank with an independent adjudicator, basically an account where people can put in their investments towards that company and will give them a window of three to six months to see if the Dominican population can raise the funds to purchase the company while we pursue the other options.”

He made it clear that the sale of the company will go to the highest bidder.

NIPP started operations on the September 1st, 2010 with the production of toilet paper, the first and only manufacturing facility of that kind in Dominica.

Market research in 2009 revealed that there were about twelve different brands of imported toilet paper on the market

A recent survey conducted by the company in January 2016 identified 35 different brands of imported toilet paper on the market in Roseau and possibly more in Portsmouth

The cost analysis of the production of toilet tissue on island indicated that if the raw materials were imported for the production of toilet tissue rolls the Dominican economy would possibly save 60 cents on every dollar in foreign exchange for the purchase of toilet tissue and a significant amount of jobs could be created.

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75 Comments

  1. Ideal
    February 25, 2016

    I think we Dominicans should take some of the blame, we rather buy the imported brand name than support our local brand. This is so wrong . I hope they do get a buyer and try to export some of the products.

  2. yeah right!
    February 25, 2016

    Schupes! This paper was NEVER marketed. Build it and they’ll come doesn’t work.
    Mr M was never interested in spending to market, which is a problem with a lot of companies here!
    good luck! hard head!

  3. Lang Mama
    February 24, 2016

    If a Dominican own company cannot sell toilet paper in Dominica what else is there. Now toilet paper is a very strong consumable item. If I was in government I would strike some deal with ross university, all saints, call company, schools hospitals to insure that they only buy our locally made toilet paper. Now doh talk no B.S about trade agreement when politicians bend rules to suit them or when it is convenient.
    If I was a merchant and not a politician butt kissing one I would not import any other brand of toilet paper just to protect the local manufacturer.
    Now all of the above suggestions are very simple – even Face The facts could figure that out but no politicians must complicate things. The more they complicate matters is the smarter they think they are.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 25, 2016

      The bottom line is anything manufactured, and produced in Dominica should not have to compete with any imported products okay! We should not allow the importation of anything that can be produced in the country, unless we also have a market for our products in the country from which the imports to our country originates.

      In the 1970’s George Walters former Prime Minister of Antigua band every imported products into Antigua, that were produced on their island. It started when they produced poultry products, eggs, and chicken, it failed however, because the chemicals the chicken was fed caused the meat to be extremly difficult to cook, no matter how long they were cooked, they remain very hard.

      I doubt the same could be experienced with paper products. The alternative is to either band the importation of paper products into the country, or make the tariff so high causing the price of the imported to become three times more expensive than the Dominica product.

  4. Mamizoo
    February 24, 2016

    I am a sucker for archives and particularly when politicians run their mouths and no action.

    https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/economy-development/buy-local-aid-in-job-creation-pm/

  5. Lang Mama
    February 24, 2016

    The country is paralyzed by divisive politicians. How can we not protect our own. It is very upsetting that the government did not see it fit to reach out to the paper company. But we all know why- simply because the owner does not sing skerrit praises
    I am not sure how much grasp the people have on the magnitude of victimization coming from the Labor Party and it’s operatives. There are many silent voices. There are victims who have had to answer to the question repeatedly ” Are you one of us” or ” “are you still neutral”.
    In the case of McKenzie- we have heard this man for years requesting policy adjustments with regards to the VAT and the utilization of imported raw material and VAT on waste. The government refuse to consider. Venezuela wanted toilet paper and again all kinds of stalling action so as not to help Mckenzie.
    Some of McKenzie’s employees are laborites- can you imagine. They voted for labor.
    McKenzie is just one of the many victims of this oppressive regime…

  6. Dominican
    February 24, 2016

    But I read right here in this forum that UWP has the best team, Thomson is the best Economist, Isaac is the best financial manager and Lennox, King Lennox is an Executive something something Logistics and what? Cant remember the name but among them they can take this business to a level we have never seen. Sure way to win the next elections some on guys this is your chance show us what you got :mrgreen:

  7. My 2 cents
    February 24, 2016

    Typical Duminicans. Everyone making all kinds if ridiculous comments and excuses as usual instead of dealing with the truth. The truth of the matter is that company never took off from get go and for one reason only. That being the quality of the product was not up to par. Local business must realize we are in 2016 and it is time to create quality products that we locals are happy to support and also can compete on the outside market

    • Heartfelt
      February 25, 2016

      Finally, someone who makes sense. I have used the products of this company, and, believe me, they are nowhere near top quality especially the tissue paper.

  8. Bois Caribe
    February 24, 2016

    if it is best to make shares available to individuals for injecting capital into the business – then you would have to say how much the company is worth and so on. if a public offer is being made, then let us know. lay all the cards on the table Mr Mc and some investors may be willing to take the risk. You said no sales?do you have a marketing strategy? what is the management staff like and how much has been done to penetrate the market in the OECS. Definitely Dominica’s market is too small to sustain such a company. I don’t think that we should let the company go to non-nationals but if that is what is necessary for its survival then… but let’s see – give us all the numbers

  9. February 24, 2016

    He can sell the company for venezuela so they can have as many toilet paper they want and then one day we will run out of toilet paper too.

  10. February 24, 2016

    Sev you should sell your passport to him-lol in so doing you could raise some capital.

    • indira Ghandi
      February 24, 2016

      If nothing is wTVorking in this country why not sel, the country?
      Not even sure if any one would buy it.
      POOR DOMINIQUE.

  11. Markie
    February 23, 2016

    I would like to make a general comment. In any manufacturing operation, forget your love for any particular product. Do a proper SWOT analysis. For high volume products, Dominica has a very small population. The key is looking for specialized products with a niche markets with export potentials. relatively low fixed cost and high percentage contribution margin. In the case of specialized and high priced product, take the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. A friend who was coming from Jamaica brought me for xmas an 8 OUNCE packet of 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee for US$35.00. We can develop our special brand of coffee and cocoa for the high end market. For local manufacturing, we cannot compete in products of high volumes for the every day consumers. We have to identify products of relative low volumes, high prices in specialized niche markets for consumers with the disposable income who cam afford to buy them. Toilet paper is not one of them.

    • Zandoli
      February 24, 2016

      @Makie
      Good point, but you cannot just THINK your product is deserving of a high price. Your customers must perceive the value attached to that price. Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is priced high because people think they are getting value for their money.

      The last time I flew out of Melville Hall, I saw some ridiculously expensive coffee (I believe it is called Cafe Dominique) at duty-free. There is no reason why I would buy that over a quality coffee I can buy in North America at a fraction of that price.

      If you are going to price high, your customers must first perceive the value in what they are buying and you must build the quality into it and build the brand.

    • Rick Smith
      February 24, 2016

      Very good point. As an American who travels here often, the branding of local Dominican products is key. I brought back 5lb of unroasted coffee years ago and had a local roaster roast, and brew it. It was very good and he commented that this should be imported. The problem is the quantity with most of the coffee bean going to a local firm by the syndicate who burn it for mass consumption. Partnering with a Cosco or other larger higher end retailer and guaranteeing 100,000lbs of unroasted beans with a very catchy marketing name would do wonders. Mine was Coffee Diablotins.

  12. Crab and Manicou Hunter
    February 23, 2016

    With such a small population, it is almost impossible for local businesses to thrive in such conditions, unless the majority of goods produced will be shipped to profitable foreign markets.
    Minus the presence of such markets, these businesses are doomed to fail. We need to create unique products that are easily produced and highly desired by foreign markets. At this juncture, I do not know what these products are or would look like.

  13. Dominica massive
    February 23, 2016

    It seems to me blame is placed across the board.The blame game is very effective,Instead of looking for an alternative to stabilize the business.In marketing any product the quality must be your main objective.With so many brands on the market ,was a checking point done as to why other brands were a preferred choice.There are always lesson to be learnt,because tearing people down and cant find ways and means to increase productivity.We can rally on so many negative stuff and refuse to rally on stuff that can develop our country.So much money goes down the drain for petty politics.slander,hatred and jealousy.These are the commodities that drain our economy. Power hunger ,and malice are draining our country.The situation is not conducive because division is tearing us apart.Please tell me how you can achieve prosperity when you cannot help your brother to succeed. You can`t help him in school but u can take him along with you to destroy people .When will we learn to love each other-

    • looking
      February 24, 2016

      I do agree with you. Dominica’s population is small and its dwindling by the day. Government’s policies should be fair i.e reward hard work, set standards and should not be geared at pleasing supporters. We have to look at the bigger picture and where we want our country to be in the next 50 years. That is long term strategic planing. How do you facilitate small businesses on island. We have a population that is 50/50 for government and opposition. So it does not matter who is in power you have to be fair. In order for we to progress as a people we have to have a leader who is hated but will see the benefits just as some of us had parents who were very hard on us but now are proud of them. The cost of operations for any business is high, we have one of the highest electricity rates in the Caribbean, probably the only one to charge VAT on electricity bills. There are many areas we have to address. But with careful planing we can get there, taking baby steps.

  14. Zandoli
    February 23, 2016

    For the proprietor of a company that is on the ropes, I think Severin McKenzie needs to keep an open mind on the price which he should accept for the assets of that company.

    He talked about lack of financing. Which banker would back a business operating at 25% capacity with no stratey to grow revenue in a small market that is saturated with 35 different brands of a commodity?

    Loopfrom the outside, a serious businessman should buy the equipment and move the business to place like Haiti where wages are low and they have a relatively large local market.

  15. fun&frolic
    February 23, 2016

    Venezuelans scrunting for toilet paper an you mean to tell me nobody ent tell Nicholas Maduro we have excess toilet paper for so? At least we could trade Venezuela some bottom wipes to pay off some of the Petrocaribe debt. Ah, magrey sa!

  16. OhNo!
    February 23, 2016

    Where does the Government source its toilet paper from? Couldn’t the Government have played a role in securing a market for the toilet paper by having the company as its main supplier?

  17. Face the Facts
    February 23, 2016

    Local goods are usually expensive which is why some people do not buy local.
    Over 35 brands of toilet paper in Dominica? The government should look into this. Is it any wonder he is losing sales. He did not get much support from the D/can community.

  18. February 23, 2016

    Wel we will die under dem red party der
    dominica finish

  19. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 23, 2016

    Something is drastically wrong if a tissue paper manufacturing company cannot survive in Dominica. That paper company should have the monopoly to supply the nation with such products, and no equivalent should be allowed to be imported into the country to present any form of competition, to the locally manufactured products.

    However, under Skerrit anything is likely to work in the opposite. Unless the geographic structure and nature of the island has changed, Dominica is known for it rivers, when I was a kid I was taught in school that there are three hundred sixty-five flowing rivers into the sea, not including springs and feeder rivers into some rivers. Nevertheless, when Dominica should be exporting spring and river water; I was told Dominicans imports drinking water from Antigua of all places!

    There are no rivers, or springs on the island of Antigua, there are no artisan wells in Antigua, ponds are constructed to collect water when it rains. The water is processed with…

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 23, 2016

      The water is processed with chlorine, why should that be imported into Dominica when we are the ones who should be exporting water to places such as St. Kitts, Nevis, Barbados and a few other places where they depends on falling rain for their drinking water.

      Somebody in Dominica mind is not in the right place. I know who’s mind is not in the right place, I know his name; but I am not talking, I will not say is that old Mountain Chicken Crapo Mentality Roosevelt Skerrit.

      Colgate-Palmolive gone; to be followed soon by another local company: everybody is leaving, however, Skerrit has more than fifty thousand dollars to give away for a reward of a non valid honorary waste of time degree only in words!

  20. Localsnotinit
    February 23, 2016

    If only the company was facilitated by Skerritt’s DLP Gov;t, in selling and sustaining the market for Nature Island Paper Products, (tissue), the company would surely be in business. But dominicans know what happened.

    Meanwhile, foreigners are facilitated, given jobs, have companies selling our passports, making millions, good business, Others are fixed-up, yet a brother, who himself helped the DLP to get into Office, because now he expresses his views on pertinent issues of development, expect pressure,

    Dominica and Dominicans could never, repeat never, see the light ahead, because that eludes them. Darkness remains the preferred state to be in.

    Even local businesses are closing down one by one, and poverty increases, jobs are lost, unemployment on the rise, yet to many, nothing wrong, the economy not bad, is so it is all over.

    Local entrepreneurs like Mac will SUCK SALT under a Cabal that do not care two hoots about public or private sector development.

  21. PoKeSa
    February 23, 2016

    It’s no surprise to me because Dominica’s dismal economic performance is just not conducive for doing business.
    Both the microeconomic and macroeconomic environments are severely crippling businesses, from volertile interest rates, shy high taxes, shy high inflation, unstable currency exchange rates to Dominica’s GDP and its effect on unemployment, national income voids, rate of growth and price level – all of which have resulted in a decrease in net exports, which affects D/ca’s capital account and the high unemployment that’s affecting GDP.

  22. Yes
    February 23, 2016

    The large corporations have corned the markets, making it un-profitable and almost impossible for small business in any third and second worlds to compete. First world countries subsidise their business’ then talk about fair trade and open markets, it a bad joke.

    As long as they can sell you their products (taking your money out of your country) that’s all they care about.
    They want to make you a consumer slave.

  23. Puppet
    February 23, 2016

    So Mr. Mac., you are an economist and could not make it work and you still have the guts to believe a fairy angel will come and buy that? In these hard days everyone is looking to see where they can save a $1 so I will continue to buy Soft n Pretty because its cheaper.

  24. Cyril Volney
    February 23, 2016

    “the company continues to experience no sale.” It is a sad fact that unless manufacturing in our small island states is protected by import tariffs, the importers will kill the manufacturer.

    • Zandoli
      February 23, 2016

      Are you sure you want to do that? When you project local companies, what do you get as a result? You get inefficient monopolies and high prices. As a country we have to do what we are good at. We cannot protect companies to keep them viable.

      St Martin has no manufacturing yet they seem to be doing quite well. Think about that for a minute.

  25. Jaded
    February 23, 2016

    35 different brands of toilet paper sold to 70,000 people!! Incredible! I doubt that there are many major countries that have that variety of one product in areas populated by 70,000 people. It is no wonder that this local company has to close its doors. This also shows how Dominicans do not appreciate buying local. How sad. Local businesses are the life blood of any country. Local businesses should pool funds together to do co-op marketing in all media to impress upon the need for buying local. As a people it is imperative that we change our attitude about buying goods and services produced locally. 35 brands of toilet paper! Really?!

    • Shaka Zulu
      February 24, 2016

      I a market of choice and the lack of disposable income only thing that matters is price. Just as this gentleman is looking for highest bidder in the sale of his company consumers are looking for cheapest product go stretch thier limited funds. Buy local can only work when there is taxes on imports. That’s where give comes in. The government could help by not imposing taxes on company since it is creating local jobs. The employees are purchasing goods in Dominica under a huge VAT so gov still gain revenue. The problem is being in caricom prevent Dominica from imposing heavier taxes from other Caricom goods so small any production in small local market like Dominica will not survive. Ultimately buy local is easier said than done

  26. Doc. Love
    February 23, 2016

    Dominicans really expect the Government to save the jobs and the company. Don’t you know who owns the company. You have been hearing him preaching truth to power on Q95 and is a close friend of Mr. Lennox Linton. Skeritt promised to buy DCP in his dreams. Blackmoore has not said one word publicly to the people of Mahaut who lost their job or has he found jobs for them, but he can pay Stars thousands of dollars to seewoo during carnival. Another one done, more to follow. Skeritt’s interest is in selling passports and promising hotels, not the lost of jobs. All the young people who were trained to work at the hotels for over a year and presently picking up garbage and white goods all over the country in an effort to fight Zika.

  27. Africo
    February 23, 2016

    It is called “The Economies of scale”. That is when the market is too small and the competition is overwhelming and the cost of production outstrips income. Most of these commentators on here should do a basic course in Economics before they run their mouth.

    The same applies to when they say “Grapefuit rotting on the ground. Why they dont set up a juice factory”. Duh! How many farmers are there to sell enough grapefruit at a low enough price to pay for machinery and labour to compete against cheaper imports of grapefruit from CARICOM and Florida?

    Some things just will not work as they used to in this globalized world, whoever is in power, be it Linton or Skerrit. International market forces are more powerful than any tin pot Prime Minister of a small island state, whichever the party.

    • Sakwe Gas
      February 23, 2016

      You are correct about the power of competitiveness and the importance of economies of scale. Where you are wrong is that government doesn’t matter. The same way we are out there selling passports and begging for aid, we should be fighting to get whatever small markets we can. I’ve heard numerous local companies ask the government to help them negotiate and open markets in the region and farther afield, all to no avail.

      It is not easier, and especially because it isn’t, if manufacturing and export are important to your nation, you will need to invest in it to see any leads.

      • Shaka Zulu
        February 24, 2016

        This is the kind of arguments this forum should generate. I like it. I really like it.

    • El Chapo
      February 23, 2016

      Okay then, I see you took some basic business classes, but you’re trying to tell me that if the people had more money in their pockets that businesses wouldn’t do better? It’s the government job to give people and business people opportunity and without these opportunities the country will go down the toilet.

    • Zandoli
      February 23, 2016

      Finally an intelligent comment and not just emotion and nationalistic fervor.

      There is not way a plant can operate at 25% capacity and be a viable endeavour. And McKenzie is talking about the highest bidder? At this rate he should be happy for someone to take this weight off his hand.

      Here are the facts, our market is just too small to get any type of critical mass to make manufacturing a serious business. Unless export is the main driver of sales, you are going to struggle. As much as I love Dominica, if I had to set up a manufacturing business in the Caribbean, from a straight business standpoint, Dominica would not be the first place I would consider. I would want to be close to either my supply base or my customers. We have neither.

      • Markie
        February 23, 2016

        Much has been said on this subject both political and as a business. As a business the owners must be aware of the cost structure and in particular a manufacturing operation. You have the selling price of the particular product, the variable cost of the product, the contribution margin of that product and fixed operations cost and the breakeven volume. At 25% production output this is very much below accepted breakeven volume and will be a failure unless that product has a very high contribution margin to fixed cost to have a low BEV. In any product, the consumer is the KING, and he decided what price he is prepared to pay. Merchants can like your product and would like to stock it, but its the consumer that makes the decision to buy or not and for toilet paper for it basis use, price is always a factor. Its not like paper towels where quality matter for absorption. In manufacturing you operate at volumes to recover all fixed cost and make a surplus in the domestic. NB continued,

    • Worldco
      February 23, 2016

      You yourself just spewing the ‘*##** you read from books….So if over a hundred million dollars can be collected from selling passports, nothing can be put aside for local development? Just let the fruits rotten and agree that “international market forces” are responsible? Economics of sale my’+**#’+ :lol: :lol:

      • Markie
        February 23, 2016

        For the export market, having recovered all your fixed cost, one can sell at your variable cost and still be in business, The Dominica domestic is much too small particular with high volume products to operate at a BEV and recover all your fixed cost. Whereas one can increase their market by export and recover the fixed cost from both domestic and exports, for the imports coming from the larger markets such as Trinidad, they would have recovered their fixed cost in their domestic market and selling at above variable cost and compete in our market at a cost lower that ours. To do understand Mr. McKenzie problems and has my sympathy, his operation was not viable because it was operating far below breakeven volumes and therefore could not recover all his fixed cost. The fact that there are over 35 similar products in the domestic market is an indication that price is the factor and since its not a specialized product, the consumer will buy at the lowest price.

      • Africo
        February 23, 2016

        And when the passport money wasted on the failing businesses goes down the drain you will be the first to complain that ” They voley the money”.! It is the Economies of SCALE.

    • Shaka Zulu
      February 24, 2016

      @Africo you made a good point however I am not sure Gov has no influence. On of things gov can do is trade deals. For example Venezuela is basically a Gov runned country who had shortage of the subject product. With all the cozyness btw or government and Venezuela why was there no negotiating to buy from us? If there was we never heard about it.

  28. Sakwe Gas
    February 23, 2016

    Wasn’t this the company that sought the Dr. Dolittle’s assistance to export to Venezuela? I remember the Dr. said they would do everything in their power to help.

    Well…we see what’s come of Venezuela. And we know what’s about to come of Dr. Dolittle!

  29. Leah Remy
    February 23, 2016

    I never liked the green and black packaging. And the roll of paper wasn’t thick enough for my $3.00.

    Sorry, but you all should take a look at the Classic toilet paper. It walks off the shelves.

  30. love I
    February 23, 2016

    Very sad…. this is not right…Dominica Wake up Please

  31. February 23, 2016

    Everything in Dominica is either closing or dying under that Skerrit, he is like cancer, eating away the soul of the country :-D

    • d-a born
      February 23, 2016

      If you think Skerrit alone is the problem, you’re dumber than a sack of rocks.

    • El Chapo
      February 23, 2016

      Nothing to laugh about, don’t only blame the PM but a lot of Dominicans are at fault too :?:

  32. Nature island girl
    February 23, 2016

    I do believe funds were given to charity in another country earlier today.

    • Face the Facts
      February 23, 2016

      Every country must help the other especially in time of need. When it is Dominica’s turn, it gets much help. Consider the help it received after TS Erika. You must not be selfish.

  33. Anna
    February 23, 2016

    Come on Dominicans, this is your chance to have a home grown company of your own. Just as you all raise $200K for Linton you all should be able to buy that factory. If 500 of us each invest EC$5,000.00 or US$2,000.00 we can easily raise a Million US Dollars. Ask McKenzie how much it going for and we in business. In fact if we increase our investment we can even reduce the number of investors.
    I want to pledge my $5,000.00 in the investment fund.
    Count me in anyone want to follow? Let’s go for it.
    Mr. McKenzie, tell me what is the next step. I want to walk the walk. Every body must shi….. so I want to be part of this one.

    • Tjebe Fort
      February 23, 2016

      Anna, I’ve always supported that local brand but under present conditions in Dominica thatwould be $5,000 down the toilet. Mr. Mckenzie himself has decided that the company is not viable as it is and I would not call him stupid. Good luck. Benji shoe gone, DCP gone, the candle factory gone, Benjo seamoss gone, Paul’s pasta gone. Josephine Gabriel no longer producing Coca Cola on the island but importing it from St. Lucia. Boy, we even importing water from Trinidad, can you believe it? The only thing we good at producing these days is roro. I asked the botanic garden for some passport seedlings but they tell me they have a long waiting list!

      • Face the Facts
        February 23, 2016

        . . . And numerous criticisms. It is time to give God genuine, due glory and praise and fervently pray for Dominica and its progress.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        February 24, 2016

        “Paul’s pasta gone.”

        If Paul’s Pasta is no longer in Dominica, Between the take over of the government from the day of the coalition Labor party Led By the late Rosie Douglas, and fifteen plus years under Roosevelt Skerrit, the Labor Party has done a lot more damage in the country than anyone can imagine.

        If memory serves me correctly, and we are talking about Paul’s Pasta; manufacture of Macaroni in the Cane field area, that Company was started by a cousin, and old School mate from Wesley, he is supposed to be brother of my late uncle Vasalow Richard Joseph.

        As far as I know his company existed in the days of the UWP, and I challenge any Labor Skerrit in partular to state how many companies left Dominica in the four years the UWP ran the government?

        Not even one! By the time the Labor Party took over the Shine Company was the destroyed and was forced to leave!

    • OhNo!
      February 23, 2016

      Skerrit can buy that easily.

  34. February 23, 2016

    While Dominica’s great and ordained Supreme Leader is abroad receiving his well-deserved Doctorate and giving away close to $60,000 dollars of our much needed funds, the private sector here at home continues to die a slow and painful death. Government support of this particular company, the first and ONLY in Dominica has been stymied by partisan politics. When Venezuela could have benefited tremendously from the Company’s production it was passed on to Trinidad. Why? Because the owner of Nature Island Paper Products is not an open supporter of the DLP. he has chosen not to kiss the feet of Dominica’s Supreme Master to profess his dedication and support with his heart and soul. Sadly, in Dominica. our government values political loyalty and dedication far more than economic stability and a strong private sector. Thus, this administration could care less if all businesses owned by non-supporters close. Even if it brings about an economic collapse…oops it already did!

    • Dominican
      February 23, 2016

      Q95 has a handle on it don’t worry, Thomson will show us his talent, he will take it back to its feet to prove to us that he can run the country, just watch

  35. El Chapo
    February 23, 2016

    Let me sum it all up for yall… Pretty much this guy’s business is about to hit rock bottom and he want’s to abandon ship before it crashes. Hopefully the Government and the people at Kairi will help em out, after all they helped create this current environment. I pray for business owners in D/ca

    • Face the Facts
      February 23, 2016

      He was honest about this situation.
      Everywhere in the world there are many business closures.
      God is telling us something but few, if none at all are listening and paying heed.

  36. citizen
    February 23, 2016

    Did i hear good quality paper, well i am not so sure because i tried supporting the product but the quality certainly left much to be desired and i know for sure i am not the only one with this observation.
    and yes the price was or is competitive but the quality not so good

    • 123
      February 24, 2016

      SIGHS i tried to support local as well but it is just so harsh so rough so dry .i would try to buy one or two just to support local ….they’re already operating at a loss i dont know how they would improve quality.Although if at the start of the company they started off small but made good quality nipp would be doing much better…..

  37. LifeandDeath
    February 23, 2016

    Man I really enjoyed reading this story, especially the findings of the market analysis. So essentially we can’t force the merchants to buy local but if they could at least see the benefits of buying local like the Jobs Created, moneys paid into the Social Security fund, savings on foreign exchange, at least that could woo them to begin buying local..from 12 brands to 35 brands in 5 years is a lot of change..that says that there is a Market..but Dominicans really must begin to appreciate Local..I’ve been to Jamaica, and Barbados and seen so many locally produced items on the shelf..that is how you build your country..The benefits of buying local is long term and far reaching..I wish more Dominicans would support this idea. Kudos to Mr. McKenzie for trying even amidst difficulty. To the workers at the facility thanks for your contribution to nation building..

  38. Dan is de man in de van
    February 23, 2016

    Ok so where is the minister of Trade and Export. MCkenzie don’t sell demand the support from your Government… We must never give up…. Get the Minister of Trade to give you constructive ideas on selling your produces to the region… Don’t sell your Company….

    • Shameless
      February 23, 2016

      McKenzie you have tried your best. You my friend are a great dominican who always seem to care about country and people before yourself. The DLP Administration engineered your demise just like they did to Brezee MART. Had they aid in your effort to sell to Venezuela you would have survived but no, you refuse to be part of the cabal so the decided to kill your business.

      But let Dominicans sit idly by and wait for god to help get rid of these nincompoops. I am reminded that heaven only helps those who help themselves. stay strong my friend and do what is best for you and family.

      Always assertive! :twisted:

      • Face the Facts
        February 23, 2016

        Hope you purchase his toilet paper without fail.

      • February 24, 2016

        On point my brother.
        McKenzie will be just fine. We are a strong family, with Christ in the vessel, we will smile at the storm :(
        Fifteen people were employed by NIPP, if the government had signed the agreement that was engineered by Venezuela, it would have created thirty two more jobs.
        But no, once you won’t pull the devil’s tale (Skerritt) you not suppose to eat.
        Time will tell!

  39. dee
    February 23, 2016

    Dominican owned sounds like a viable investment

  40. confused
    February 23, 2016

    why not Just go public with the company and turn it into an LLC?

    • February 23, 2016

      Going LLC will not solve the problem.
      It is not conducive to operate any more in an environment where paper goods are imported from everywhere and by all
      merchants.
      While supporting free enterprise, all the Caricom countries place a cap on the amount of commodities allowed in their country if it is in competition with their local industry.
      Example was Belfast.
      But Skerritt never did in this project all because my brother refuse to support his corrupt regime.
      He will be fine, we are a strong family.
      With Christ in the vessel, we will smile at the storm.
      Thanks to all the patrons who supported NIPP for the past five years.

      • Zandoli
        February 24, 2016

        Lady, Christ is not going to help your brother. This is business not religion.

  41. Dominican to the Bone
    February 23, 2016

    Oh my All local factorys closing. Water company close down, Bejo seamoss, Toilette Paper what next???????? Dominicans dont wake nuh sleep still

  42. February 23, 2016

    The government should enlist it under the citizenship by investment options.

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