THE FACTS: Dominica News Online is here to stay! New design, features coming soon

Merrick Andrews

Andrews Publishing Co. Ltd, publishers of Dominica News Online, wishes to inform our readers and advertisers of the impending launch of our new design and features as well as other new developments.

The new look and additional features will be done in several phases over the next six to eight weeks, making the site more user friendly.

The company also wishes to clarify a few matters:

DNO is shutting down (not true)

– Over the past several weeks we have been bombarded with numerous calls from concerned readers over rumours that we are in the process of closing our operations. This is so not true. We never made any announcement to that effect or told anyone of such. We in fact never had any intentions of closing.

It is somewhat laughable to hear some of the rumours. Yes, I agree that we may have dipped a bit in our coverage, but this is just a temporary distraction as we work on our new designs, new advertising rates, new marketing plan, among other issues.

The facts are that:

A. We are undergoing a complete restructuring of our operations, from our editorial, human resource, logistical and financial management.

B. We are moving from our physical office in Roseau to a “semi-virtual “office.

The above explanations are necessary, especially in the global economic crisis, and the fact that a review of our operations call for changes that will benefit our readership.

It is normal for companies – locally and internationally – to restructure their operations and DNO is no exception. At some point in time businesses have to revisit their business plan and make adjustments because times are ever-changing, from an operational and economic standpoint.

Once our restructuring is completed, Dominica News will provide faster and more detailed news coverage, better communication with its readers and more local features. In the meantime, we ask for your patience as we work to serve you better.

This restructuring will be completed within the next six to eight weeks, and also involves all our news operations, which will be completely revamped.

Dominica News Online, regardless of its challenges, is here to stay, whether under this ownership or any future ownership. And no, we are not selling our company, so don’t get it twisted (smile).

Every successful business owner can tell you that difficulties – of any sort – are not foreign to them.  Ask the current and former employees of the century old Dominica Chronicle. In order to succeed and be more effective sometimes, challenges are the most effective learning experiences.

As the owner of Dominica News Online, I would never let down my readers to close operations. DNO will move from strength to strength, competition or no competition, challenges or no challenges.

Back in 2006 when I started bvinews.com, the challenges were almost unbearable (and way worst than what we have to undergo now) from an economic and political standpoint, but four years later the site still exists, moving from strength to strength (we’ve doubled our readership). There were many attempts to close us down through dishonest means, rumours (like what we are experiencing now), and sabotage, but it has proved futile.

So my dear readers do not listen to the hogwash and street talk. If you want the facts, we are ready and available to give you contact numbers for any of our staff or freelancers so you can speak to them. Or better yet, my number is 275-3587. You can send a text, or email [email protected].

It is for this reason why I wrote this message because silly, unfounded rumours like what you’re hearing can adversely affect any business and cast doubt over future earnings.

I reiterate DNO is not closing. It will stay online, regardless of any difficulty. In fact, our product will improve three-folds over what was there before. This is not a promise but a fact based on our new business plans.

I close by thanking our readers, our advertisers – all of whom I have great news for in the coming weeks – and our employees and freelancers for sticking with us regardless of the circumstances, which have been overblown by a few devious, mischievous, and idle-minded individuals, whose skill to create mischief that could earn them a position of the Anti-Christ’s Deputy Director.

I apologize to these persons for not confirming what they want to hear.

I thank you for your time everyone.

Merrick Andrews
Managing Director
Andrews Publishing Co. Ltd

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53 Comments

  1. May 15, 2010

    UTMOST RESPECT…!!! To you & all your staff for the excellent online news service, which I totally enjoy reading. DNO deserves every accolade that comes your way. Looking forward to DNO new look. Also I like to wish DNO all the success for the future…

  2. FattDoll
    May 10, 2010

    Ok then….the Naysayers have officially been “Sal-layed”!

  3. child
    May 9, 2010

    well i live in new york but i am more concern with what’s happening in dominica .thanks d.n.o for letting us know what’s going on in dominica as soon as it happens

  4. Out of South City
    May 9, 2010

    Since my nephew shared this site with me I have never missed a day of my Dominica news. I am grateful to be able to keep abreast of what goes on at home.

    Mr. andrews, keep up the good work and as one commentator shared, please share some pictures when some imporant people (we are all important, though) pass away.

    Thank You.

  5. May 9, 2010

    DNO- I had a few words with you once,keep up the work even before my morning coffee I check the news.Forget the negatives keep your head high!!

  6. representin'
    May 8, 2010

    DNO is one of my fav websites, I come here numerous times every day. For a while i realized DNO was slow on breaking the news but now you, Mr. Andrews, have clarified the matter. I am pleased.

    DNO is here to stay!!! DNO all the way!!! moi jick bann de chronicle and I’m a fan of that newspaper. I’m a fan of you guys on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

    Anytime y’all got a vacant position up in here, hit me up. I’m an educated individual, I Know about web/graphic design, I love research, Typing, Creative writing….

    …and I must say that I’m seeing you for the first time, and looking at this pic all thoughts of you being an old man went down the drain. Young and intelligent, hardworking business man and with a sense of humor too.

    DA young men should take a page from your book. Kudos to you, and keep up the good work.

  7. Paul Charles
    May 8, 2010

    The DNO is a very good source for news and information for the Dominican diaspora and other nationals who are interested in things Dominican. I want DNO staff to know that Dominicans love to bring down everything good so be prepared to have many more negative information making the rounds. I read this medium at least twice a day as it provides good and reliable content. Best wishes, Merrick and staff.

  8. james
    May 7, 2010

    you have the support of readers all over who make use of your site everyday. one or two mischievous people is not enough to come close to even trying something. DNO is on my top ten list of sites i use almost everyday

  9. Peaches
    May 7, 2010

    To: AXA

    FYI Merrick is Jamaican.

  10. Maggiedumpling
    May 7, 2010

    Great work. I appreciate your selfless and thankless attempt ast keeping us in the Diaspora informed of events as they occur at home…
    God bless and keep up your good work.

  11. *
    May 7, 2010

    Love this site…

  12. May 6, 2010

    Keep up the good work…You keep me tied to home:-)

  13. Stelle
    May 6, 2010

    DNO is my LIFE!! KEEP ON KEEPING IT REAL. THATS MY SOURCE OF NEWS 24HRS

  14. Typical Dominican
    May 6, 2010

    yepppp…….DNO all d way!!….#1 site

  15. Anonymous
    May 6, 2010

    Merrick, were you living in Montserrat a few years ago?

    FROM MERRICK: Yes I was

  16. Dr Geoffrey Lafond
    May 6, 2010

    Dear Mr Publisher

    Please continue the good work you have been performing. My day wont be complete without a read of your website. Its great you are seeking ways to improve the site.
    Good luck and best wishes.

  17. Hmmmm
    May 6, 2010

    CUTE GUY!!!!!!

  18. Dubiqois
    May 6, 2010

    Whether I am on the island, Europe, or the states, my umbilical cord to news back home is DNO. Up-to-date, quick, and reliable. They come in threes: DNO, CNN, BBC.

    My friend, you understand business processes and one thing that is constant in life: CHANGE.

  19. May 6, 2010

    I am a dominican living abroad but DNO makes me feel like i’m home..I log on everyday..keep up the good work..Continue to keep us informed!!

  20. May 6, 2010

    Good luck DNO. You bring a smile to my face during a real frustrating and hard day at work.

    Keep up the great work.

  21. Observer
    May 6, 2010

    Do what you are doing. Just be good to your cause.

  22. Charly
    May 6, 2010

    I reside in Germany if it wasn’t for your splendid website maybe I would never have found out so quickly that my former teacher Mr Kaleb Laurent had passed away he was such a gentleman without a bad bone may God bless him.
    RIP Teach.

  23. Greene
    May 6, 2010

    I have to get my daily DNO fix as well – for those of us living away from home, it is a reliable source of information that is current. Keep up the good work.

    • Dominica's Future
      May 6, 2010

      Could not have said it better myself!!!

  24. Piper
    May 6, 2010

    Mr. Andrews,
    I don’t know whether your plans include more picture, but as a reader, I would find the stories hugely more interesting if you include more pictures with the stories. Pictures bring the story to life. Even with cases like Kaleb Laurents passing. Surely there must have been pictures of the man somewhere and I am sure his family would be willing to share it with other fellow Dominicans.

  25. blocked
    May 6, 2010

    Congrats. I love DNO..informative and up to date, but please, fix this AIDbank notice…it is blocking my view and is annoying

    • Zang
      May 8, 2010

      that’s the whole point of the advertisement….you see it does not apply to you or does it? It should make those borrowers reallll guilty…in your face!!!

      Just close it man…all part of the news

  26. da man
    May 6, 2010

    This site deserves an award. Cutting edge reporting!

    • The Day Has Come
      May 6, 2010

      I agree 100%.. put out a voting pole for DNO award…. true to the end DNO #1 fan

  27. May 6, 2010

    I’ve said it before, some people are hooked on soaps, but i have to have a sip of DNO everyday. Keep up the good work

  28. Waiting For The Next Level
    May 6, 2010

    All the comments are encouraging….I am a avid follow of DNO…maybe Merrick should set up a section on the site for followers to donate to its continued existence and unbiased reporting. KEEP US INFORMED…

  29. God is good
    May 6, 2010

    I love DNO…..I log on every day. However, I liked the set up prior the virus/breech of security that your site suffered some months ago. This web page…although it looks similar… is definitely not the same. Doesn’t give you the same options and reach that the site had before. Put something similar to what existed or even better. Thank you.

    Devoted DNO Fan

  30. sd
    May 6, 2010

    u should do a daily or weekly newsletter.

  31. lisad
    May 6, 2010

    I don’t know what I’ll do without DNO. Continue to move on. I wish you God’s blessing for continued success.

  32. AXA
    May 6, 2010

    May I just say that Merrick Andrews you look hotttt…never seen u before…wow…DA really produces handsome, intelligent men…

    • shy
      May 6, 2010

      I concur!! He is handsome…

    • Anonymous
      May 6, 2010

      de man not from DA your sot.just typical that Dominican ladies focus so much on looks. Give the man credit for his intellegence gyaal.

    • Don't You Wish
      May 6, 2010

      He is a good looking JAM down!

  33. shy
    May 6, 2010

    HMM…good luck DNO. Keep up the good work guys. Thanks for the update. Good to see the face behind DNO. ;) Good luck to you as well Mr. Andrews in all your business endeavors. God bless.

  34. Irie
    May 6, 2010

    Hey DNO….I gladddddddddddd to hear that! DNO is part of my daily routine, if all you shut down i have to go to rehab……..KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, THE IMPRESSIVE WORK, we Dominicans are 100% behind you.

    p.s. merrick lend me dat shades nuh? I have a few haters to block too….

  35. May 5, 2010

    God Bless DNO. That’s one of my only source of news and jokes.

    Keep on doing the good work, to the crooks, “They Shall not Prevail !”

    If it means DNO has to charge a little something , no problem. all the best.

  36. GARFORD GEOERGE
    May 5, 2010

    That’s Great News ,.
    .

  37. May 5, 2010

    IF God is on D.N.O side nothing or no one will destroy it. There`s lots of haters out there some of the very ones who used D.N.O to reach out to their friends. Without D.N.O our people will perish News wise. Hold strong D.N.O. what goes around comes around. Those haters will have their day.

  38. Anonymous
    May 5, 2010

    Great.

    What would we do without DNO?

  39. ME
    May 5, 2010

    I Pray that you succeed against the ods. Those who are for you, far outnumber those who are against you.
    Stay focused.

  40. dancea
    May 5, 2010

    Good luck to DNO. Long may you live. Please do all you can to survive and prosper. Dominica needs you. All we have now are two weekly papers, one of them with only a front page and a back page, with sensationalism as its watchword. This paper is so UNBALANCED, IT’S LUDICROUS, with NOTHING positive ever to say about anything the Government does or did. We can do without this king of “journalism”. DNO has been on a path to rendering these local papers irrelevant and redundant. You should introduce a Letters section and get a couple of good, regular columnists. Then there will be no need for the local weeklies. The future looks good. Work on getting the advertising. It will come, with a good product and wide readership. On-line is the future.

  41. Girl
    May 5, 2010

    Thank you guys for the work that you are doing. My cousin and I have to get our DNO fix everyday.
    Keep up the good work. You give us regular updates and the comments , oh my, don’t talk. I must laugh at all the hilarious feedback. God bless you DNO.

  42. The Day Has Come
    May 5, 2010

    Well put together and very forefront explanation. I love the details you give on why DNO will stand against all odds. I love my DNO every single day, it’s my number one source for news in D/ca. People can be very negative and never like to see someone or a business thrive. But DNO will thrive in all aspects. Keep doing what you do and God will advance you into more countries to initiate the online news site. All the best to you and your staff. Thank you for all the prompt and updated news articles you have given to the Dominican public.

  43. Silence
    May 5, 2010

    WELL WELL WELL THAT IS GOOD NEWS.

  44. B. Stoute
    May 5, 2010

    Looking forward to bigger and brighter things from DNO.
    like i always say if its not on DNO it Did Not Occur!!

    • Eric Cartman
      May 5, 2010

      Did Not Occur

      Nice…..

      • LUCIAN
        May 6, 2010

        Thank you for all the up to date news in and around the caribbean.I think DNO is the best thing that happen to the caribbean.

      • ....
        May 6, 2010

        @ B. STOUTE: good one! Probably u can sell that slogan as a marketing tip to DNO? Mr Andrews, take note.

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