Overseas-based Dominicans told their contribution to Dominica’s economy is important

A section of the audience at the 2018 Diaspora Forum

Members of the Dominican diaspora have been told that they are making a significant contribution to Dominica’s economy.

Minister for Commerce, Enterprise and Small Business Development, Roselyn Paul, told visiting Dominicans attending a Diaspora forum held by the government on Wednesday that in 2017, that remittances to Dominica from Dominicans living abroad amounted to $58 million US dollars.

“You, our dear Dominicans residing abroad have always played an important role in the economic development of our country and in poverty reduction. You always provide remittances for the well-being of families that you have left behind and in 2017, remittances was over 58 million dollars..US dollars,” Paul said. “You also assist the economy like now, when you return home for festive seasons and you continue to spend.”

The minister added that some people who live overseas have also offered their skills and talents to assist the country, but she encouraged them to do even more.

“We believe that out there among our Dominicans, we have serious intellectual capital and capacity to think outside of the box. So we urge you to use that to your advantage and to our advantage.”

The meeting with visiting Dominicans, which has become an annual affair at Independence time, except for last year, provides an opportunity, according to prime minister Skerrit, to talk about what is happening in Dominica and to share ideas on a development path for the country.

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14 Comments

  1. Child of Itassi
    November 3, 2018

    @ ADMIN: If this was a forum, were there any questions from the Dominicans living abroad? If so, what were the answers given? We in Dominica and others who could not attend would like to know. That would have been professional journalism as expected from DNO.

    ADMIN: You can view the entire forum here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msE4PS1jG3I

  2. World's Moistest Jheri Curl
    November 2, 2018

    They’re begging for remittances
    The numbers have probably fallen in the past year and they need it bumped up

  3. A Paro government
    November 2, 2018

    For as long as I have known myself Dominicans residing abroad have always contributed to our economy, no matter who is in power. The significant difference this time though is, Skerrit and the DLP administration have FAILED to create employment for Dominicans and on top of that, in many cases, either due to their bad policies or their vision to create poverty here, they have forced the closure of several businesses where Dominicans were employed like Breezes Mart, Public works, Belfast and the latest being Ross University. and not forgetting the banana industry Skerrit and his DLP brought to the grave. So now we are left with a PARO environment where all the prople and the government can do is BEG like PAROS

    • Ibo France
      November 3, 2018

      Well said! That’s the unmitigated truth. Nobody can honestly deny that the present administration has reduced the country and the people to beggars. It’s irrefutable that the country’s very survival is heavily dependent on debt forgiveness, Venezuela, China, Russia and the Diaspora. What does Dominica now produce for export? Tourism is in the doldrums, manufacturing nonexistent, agriculture anemic and businesses vacating the country. The country is in deep, deep trouble. I’m not a pessimist, I’m not a preacher of doom and gloom, I’m simply being realistic as the stark facts, confronting the country, are in plain sight. People, it’s time to Wise Up!

    • RandyX
      November 3, 2018

      Yes a Paro government indeed. But also a paro DLP and also the majority of their members are seasoned paros in particular on red clinic days and just before each election. It’s then when they sell their soul to …. (I leave that to all your imagination). What happened to the country I grew up in and its proud, hardworking and smart people?

    • I
      November 4, 2018

      The hard truth! Why is this administration always begging? Begging has become an industry for this government. It is the greatest source of revenue for this administration. No wonder vagrancy is swelling so rapidly. Government sets the tone for the rest of the country. Example set, example follow.

  4. viewsexpressed
    November 2, 2018

    “Overseas-based Dominicans told their contribution to Dominica’s economy is important…” That is correct, and very important. If I was overseas, failed Skerrit and his corrupt cabal will not be getting my money, or that of my family. There is no plan, no focus, no template, no nothing. Skerrit, you do not have To tell overseas Dominicans what is expected of them in contributing to their nature isle. Dominicans overseas please do not send your hard earned money to this corrupt Labour government or through this failed inept Odd (I am vex) Minister. I have advised my family accordingly and we will invest in specific projects and programmes that appear to be meaningful and which will make a difference, that is developmental programmes that benefits the villages and not benefits that corrupt ego of a failed corrupt PM and his oversized corrupt hopeless Labour government. Domininca has been on a trail of hopelessness, poor governance, ignorant of steps of development. He has bought us…

  5. d-a born
    November 2, 2018

    Yet I’ve heard Skerrit’s minions say we in the diaspora should shut up because “allu not in Dominica and doh know nothing”

    Get your message straight.

  6. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    November 2, 2018

    Did he give a time table for the return of our parrots? Or are they still on vacation in Germany? Are they still on tour in Europe? Enquiring minds want to know.

  7. viewsexpressed
    November 2, 2018

    I like this: “You, our dear Dominicans residing abroad have always played an important role in the economic development of our country and in poverty reduction.” On the other side in Domininca, that corrupt government it is not all that nice. Lets read on. “You, our devilish corrupt Labour Government residing in Dominica have always played an extremely corrupt role in the socio-economic development of our country and with a high increase in poverty with no reduction”. Our suffering Dominicans continue to live in poverty, no jobs, no development, no new industries but the questionable sale of our passports to nefarious individuals all over the world. Where has all this money gone? Mr. Prime Minister it is a good thing that our money was not sent direct to you because we would have got you before the Courts in Roseau to answer to us, why our beloved Domininca looks so rugged, poor, and empty. It is a nasty shame Skerrit to see what Roseau is like., Shame on you & your waste 18…

    • lula
      November 2, 2018

      @viewsexpressed…what the hell do you expect the country to look like? Like the UK, Germany or the US? Dominica is not as poor as you are trying to make it look. If I were not a born and raised Dominica and knew nothing about the country, I would have thought otherwise by just reading your post but at the end of the day we are all Dominicans and it takes one to help the other instead of crying the country down

      • viewsexpressed
        November 3, 2018

        Lulu, I work in the system. Don’t know where you`ve been or what you talking about. I am in a position of authority to advise you how and why our country is in deep poverty. Poverty has risen, evidence there to be seen. It`s a make belief by Skerrit, deliberately to announce that “Things are happening”, well nothing is happening. The rural villages are still in poverty from statistics of last census. Our institutions are compromised and don`t have the required resources, finance & human to make a difference. Our village councils are out dated and people cannot pay house rates because they have no income and a once thriving productive agricultural country is dead because Skerrit killed it and feeds on bogus, corrupt foreigners to buy our passports and now Canada has invoked visa restrictions on us because all kind of funny looking people now coming to Canada. “So Bang Bang Lulu, Lulu go astray” Wake up , smell the coffee and come good. Skerrit must Go, we have to take Dominica…

      • Ibo France
        November 3, 2018

        Lula, you can scream foul as loud as you want, truth is an offence but not a sin. In today’s world, TRUTH is the new hate speech. Dominica, with all its gifted human resources, plenty of arable land, an abundance of water, spectacular natural & physical features, is at the bottom rung of the ladder in the sub region. There is only one reason for the shabby, economically depressed, derelict state of the island. It’s a direct result of uncaring, selfish, incompetent, corrupt leadership. The country will disintegrate with another Five (5) more years of HARD LABOUR.

      • viewsexpressed
        November 4, 2018

        Lulu, you blind loyalist with an nimconpoof attitude, where have you been for over these past 18years….sucking finger and absent to the breakdown of the governance of our country by some corrupt jokers and headed by inept Skerrit, that failed Domininca? Man wake up and smell the coffee. Lula, we expect our country to look like a decent place to live, play, enjoy, have fun, and not littered with Skerrit and his corrupt Labour gang engaged in dirty political rubbish staining the good name of our nature isle. Yes, we expect to have Domininca among the league of great nations not like failed Skerrit with a vision looking like Haiti in deep poverty, no jobs, hungry children in poor houses and a failed state that no longer produces good stuff but voodoo and we have Haitians running for refuge in our Domininca because just like Skerrit they have their voleur Papa Doc and Baby Doc, like our Baby immature Skerro. Lulu , you got message now why Domininca is stained. Go ask Skerrit. He must Go.

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