Dominica is among more than 192 countries now gathered in the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, to participate in EXPO 2020 Dubai with the aim of building bridges and inspiring action.
Expo 2020, a showcase of culture, innovation and collaboration is being held under the theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.’
Media Liaison Officer, Ivona Jno Baptiste-Lugay and the cultural contingent landed in Dubai ahead of Dominica’s national day at EXPO 2020.
“The World in one place, that’s what EXPO 2020 Dubai provides as over 192 countries including Dominica converged in a city in the Middle East with the aim of building bridges and inspiring action,” Jno Baptiste- Lugay said.
According to her, the event is described as the world’s longest running and largest mega event which attracts more visitors than the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics games.
“And for a small island developing state like Dominica, EXPO 2020 represents an unprecedented opportunity,” Jno Baptiste-Lugay stated.
The Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), the Invest Dominica Authority, Dominica Export and Import Agency (DEXIA), various ministries with responsibility for EXPO, including the Ministry with responsibility for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry responsible for tourism and the Ministry responsible for trade as well as other key stakeholders, have ensured that the Dominica pavilion will be representative of a nature island destination which provides an exclusive experience for all, according to Jno Baptiste-Lugay.
Trade Minister Ian Douglas, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations Dr. Kenneth Darroux, Tourism Minister Denise Charles and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite are among officials in Dubai for the big event on Saturday.
Meantime, the Media Liaison Officer said despite the Covid-19 pandemic which has forced the world to adapt to a new normal, many people are saying that, “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Jno-Baptiste Lugay said Dominica will seek to form new relations and discover new business opportunities.
papabat! is that all we manufacture in Dominica? wait a moment, y’all forgot to display our biggest money bringer. but why are you so ashamed to put a passport on the display table? And OMG guys are wearing pushins and boxer shorts to an international event? well ebeh. that is something else. Y’all saw the other countries in boxers too? and pushin and socks?
but where i be there na. 
learn to dress properly and represent your country properly internationally. At least they could have sold a passport and got y’all matching uniforms wi pal. that not looking good at all.
The local media outlets are doing Dominica a gross disservice. They either align themselves with the corrupt ruling regime or are petrified to expose the Mount Everest of corruption and wrong doings of this Skerrit-DLP led tyrannical mob.
The combined media outlets have tremendous social influence and power. They can influence change (for the better) but have failed miserably to use this awesome power.
Here is it, Mr. Skerrit left Dominica with a mammoth delegation to travel to a distant country that most Dominicans would have great difficulty locating on a map. This action alone shows total disrespect for the citizens.
He and his sheep-like entourage will return gloating about the many lucrative deals they made and the positive exposure Dominica received that would lead to an avalanche of foreign direct investment. The media would repeat their lies verbatim. No questions would be asked about the cost of this excursion to the treasury and proof of tangible results.
Papa Bondieu Look jokes. See di man right Dubai with a twayyo on him.
What happen to my comment
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The size of this delegation and the length of time that they went for is indeed worrying. The HIGHLIGHT EVENT, THE “9TH OFFICIAL OPENING OF INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS” seems to have been a significant time after the arrivalof this contigent in Dubai. How many days before the event were they there and what were they doing before and after the performance dates? Dubai is not cheap, neither are the tickets to get there! What class did they travel in and at what cost? How many entrepeneurs were afforded an opportunity to participate and at what cost? Who paid for the Independence Day celebrations and at what cost? Did the PM go to Pakistan with the intention of then travelling to Dubai? If so, how much did his trip cost? WHY WERE WE NOT TOLD BEFORE HE LEFT, THE DESTINATION AND COSTS INVOLVED? Was this trip putting in first place, the desire to sell more passports? Was that the focus? Or was the focus the plight of the common man and the sale of the produce with which he works daily?
Herein lies the problem with politics in Dominica, we labour party supporters do not have the guts to condemn the wrong doings of our government. One does not have to agree with Ibo France at all times, but in this instance he is right. On the other hand the government has to be complimented on the positive things that they have accomplished, but the negative has to be highlighted as well. The delegation to the UAE looks like a ragtag, unprofessional group, it looks like a free trip and a kick back at the expense of the Dominican taxpayers. How many government ministers you need at an expo?
I agree with you. Their presentation of themselves is so embarrassing. Their attire for such an event leaves much to be desire.
So if the Dominican contingent is only now going to Dubai, please explain to me what the hell was going on at the Dominican pavilion following the opening ceremony and who was manning the space. Remember that Skerritt left Dubai and was in Parkistan. This going to Dubai by Skerritt was really just a joy ride and he used the excuse of selling passports. He wasn’t required to sell passports because the agents can do that. More people than goods and services on display for Dominca. More openness and transparency would help taxpayers realize what we are getting into and what the cost is to the Treasury at a time when Covid-19 has seriously decreased the money going into the coffers of State. Skerritt seems to have an affinity for Asia and the middle East what about Africa. Africa isn’t only hunger and poverty as the world press would have many believe. There are opportunities there as well.
We need a Public Enquiry about this. We need to stop Skerrit from squandering our public finances like that. Furthermore, all those people would be DLP supporter and this would be an early present for putting the cross in the ‘right box’. We simply can not go on like this and we also need a public enquiry into the CBI issue. If Skerrit doesn’t agree, we need to force him and bring the country to a stand still.
I just hope that nobody who visits Dominica because of exposure at the expo is shocked that most of the Dominicans are NOT white like the manikins on display.
Dominicans of African or Kalinargo descent must surely resent being depicted as Caucasian in pictures 6, 9 and 10.
To say the least, the mannequins are an embarrassment to Dominica.
U canot pay a stimulus thgs are bad in d country some people has lost their lively hood and see them sweoing…we buying from Dubai what are they buying from us….i hope them that have no vision ask them at least for a water bottling plant at least…imagine dominica has so much water and we buying water from those who dont even have a river…imagine that…those people are blind with wooden glasses…even in covid times they wasting money …..its extremely hard on the few working class…oh u idiot…. your time will come… every rope has an end….good luck…i voted for them an now i am disappointed ….Dominica is heading no where….free sailing in d ocean…see y ross had ross had to run….no law no constitution…..
…and yet another one can see the light and understands what damage that so called PM is doing to our country and it’s people. Better late than never!
The Dominican public has a right to know:
*How many members are part of this entourage?
*How much does this cost the tax payers of Dominica?
*What is the additional cost to the country’s treasury for Roosevelt’s detour to Pakistan?
*When are citizens likely to get an update as to the benefits of this ridiculously costly adventure?
While this bloated delegation in this ridiculously expensive distant corner of the globe sleeping in ten star hotels, eating the most expensive food, sipping the highest priced ale, parents and their children back home ‘scavenging’ for a single meal for the day.
I concur with what you said. We need to know what are the returns on these investments?
How are you going to know? You all are simply waisting your time playing games with an enemy of the country. Bunch of fools you all are. Filling up space on DNO instead of filling up the streets of Roseau and forcing the resignation of the pm. You all are not ready yet, but for simply making “logical” observation each and every time that the cow jumps over the moon. So just shut the L up if you’re not ready to help free your country by standing up and be counted.
Why is it that every time some one try to promote the country some one from the other party comes out and ask these question. The first thing you will ask is how much it cost. My people like to wine to much if the country will benefit from it why all the dumb question for to long we sit on our hands and do nothing but go social media and complain. None of you comment when Linton was in Guadeloupe but before the PM. Or other officials get on a flight the other side start to wine like a bunch of cry babies.
You are too thin skinned and petulant when Dominicans expose the frittering of of our money resources by this crooked administration. This trip was nothing more than a joy ride…
When was honourable Linton in Guadeloupe? If he was, was the trip sponsored by the state?? You need to give those details, becsuse people like do not have any idea. You all like to mix apples with oranges when your insincerity is exposed!!!
SHAMEFUL!!
% I will not reply to your comment because i know who you are by your comment in the past it is a waste of time.
You cant reply because you are concocting stories trying to defend the indefensible. I would derobe your lies on here!!
Look it, gone on a jolly at state expense, courtesy of the dictator. My god, Dominica.
For such a large contingent of people, that’s what we had to display in Dubai? More people than products? How much money that trip must have costed the state? If i had sufficient power, i would make you all repay every single cent back to the state? This trip seem to have been more fun and frolic, to live and dine in 5 star or 10 star hotels, than to advance Dominica. No wonder liar Skerrit ran to a terrorist harbouring hotbed state to bring a de-recognised university to Dominica instead, to fool his unsuspecting followers..He looked clownish in Islamabad and extremely buffoonic with no mask on, playing big, while negotiating for a low grade, de-recognised school..Have you all secured any market for our products???
Waste of Time!
Waste of money!!
What does Dominica export? We consume too much and produce too little. Look at all those countries that are economically sturdy. They export much more than they import.
The only commodity we export now on a large scale is passports. This is gross mismanagement of a country that should be the bread basket of the Caribbean instead of a basket case.
Unfortunately, we won’t get that information since this is how things are done in this present dispensation. A whole host of government officials and their friends are given a free vacation at the expense of the taxpayers and sadly there will be no returns on this investment.
Dominicans we just need to do we must to save this country and return some form of sanity to governance. Never see come see find themselves in a situation where they can do things they would have never been able to do otherwise.
Yes I, poor out tax money.
And what are you doing about it? Just making comments to get “thumps up”? Would you come join a sustained demonstration in Roseau to call for the resignation of the pm? I doubt it base on your helpless comment.