Minister for Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs Dr Collin McIntyre
Minister for Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs Dr Collin McIntyre has announced that the production of bottled water and bulk water for export is among the priorities in the government’s list for investors to consider.
Addressing a Diaspora Entrepreneurship Forum on Wednesday morning, McIntyre said that Dominica is in need of more entrepreneurs.
“Entrepreneurs play a vital role in society,” he stated. “They help grow our economy and create employment opportunities for our people. Small businesses are an important pillar of our economic engine. We are marking $5,000,000 for low interest loans facility through the National Development Foundation.”
McIntyre pointed out further that while the government welcomes investments in any legitimate enterprise there are a few priority areas which they are encouraging investors to consider.
“Tourism, upgrade of market boutique accommodations, health and wellness tourism, medical tourism, light manufacturing, film and entertainment industry, services and agriculture. If you have any investment ideas in any of these particular areas we would like to know and share the opportunity to discuss it with you,” he stated.
McIntyre added that these investments will go a long way in creating jobs in agriculture, tourism and other service industries. He pointed out further that the government is investing over $9-million in small business support unit.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit added that as of December 1st, 2013 an initiative will be launched which will employ 500 Dominicans.
“Through the Economic Citizenship Program we shall provide the financing for these investors whether local investors or foreign investors with a view to creating greater economic activity and job creation and we intend to launch this on the 1st December 2013,” he stated.
The Economic Citizenship Program will target investors who prefer fixed investments, such as real estate and /or local address.
The Prime Minister added that he is meeting with a team from Dubai on November 16th, who are interested in engaging the government in a major tourism project in Dominica and it is hoped that the Economic Citizenship Program will finance this project.
The Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister, in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs hosted the 2nd Dominica Diaspora Entrepreneurship Forum.
The forum was held at the Krazy Kokonuts on Wednesday morning.
Minister for Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs in an economy with a very high rate of unemployment, little or no trade, and bribing the diaspora with airline ticket in exchange for votes. This man is about the weakest minister of trade that Dominica ever had.
I am not saying that there are not policies in place to help DOminican Investors, however the frustration that is involved is not worth it. I knowof one investor who closed his life in the USA and move back home to start business, The frustrations that he got fromt he port to the bank is not worth it. In the end most of his is investment money is spent of defending an approved loan which the bank decide they need more proof/documents after they sent him a letter stating that his loan was approved. Then there is the port and the so called concession – he has a business license yet he was forced to rent a place and register that lease (which cost more money) , so in the end he is constantly spending money which he should be investing in his business. The Diaspora office should be that place where Oversees Dominica go to for answers about anything in returning home. From dues to the port etc.
Lure is such a bad word, sounds like yall swindle them.
Well, the man knows why he used that word,which by definition is to cheat, defraud or simply put Bobol.
With all this hoopla all of a sudden for jobs, it would help if businesses already in Dominica are given easier access to financing so they can further develop and expand their business. Just take a poll and ask a number of small businesses around Dominica how difficult it is to get any funding; whether its from the Development Bank, the National Bank or even the Credit Union and you will hear their cry. Loans are available to farmers but not to a small machine shop who is trying to make simple tools like bolts, nuts and other small but critical tools. You need to show all kinds of documents for collateral and will still not get funding. How frustrating is that? The government’ role is to create the environment that facilitate access to financing to make enterprising individuals thrive so the economy can grow if anything at least one at a time. That is one area government can make a difference that will yield the results being sought, which is more jobs in Dominica.
bottle water, more investors what i hearing there nor. the companies that exporting water here can hardly get market for it and when they do get a market it not even selling well. talk talk talk and more talk 15 years and still cant find not one investor
Every year same lanmowee, same codfish. These guys are laughable. Only now? Well Linton you have powers.
Stop talking the talk the walk is more important,for fourteen years I’ve been seeing lips move hearing noise that sounds like words but no actions, for once shut up and act.
Is this the same bin bo Bol minister dem fellas just looking for their pocket
How many times is the PM going to promise jobs and nothing happening? I am pretty sure in the last six weeks or more I heard him talk about 300, 500 jobs that were going to become available, didn’t he say by the end of September? Well it is now the ending of October. Anyone who got a job, let me know so I can go and get one too. That is the worse BS I have heard from someone who suppose to represent the people and be honest and truthful to them. This government continues to fool people and they think Dominicans are stupid, although some of us are, because we can’t see what’s really happening.
What a title, lures…just like some predator luring its prey
LOL
PM Skerrit is just reacting and echoing everything UWP says. After 13 years in government only now he announcing such plans? Why were they not included in the budget. This is just a ploy to enrich some pockets. You are EXPIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am dying to hear how the economic citizenship program is going to finance this project. If the investors are coming from Dubai, they should be bringing in their own funds. Lately, the PM keeps to be suggesting that the program will be patterned on that of St Kitts through purchase of real estate. However, he is failing to inform the Dominican people of exactly what he has in mind. It seems like a bright idea that is not well thought out yet. Hope he is not putting the cart before the horse as usual. Additionally, I pray that this bright idea is not a scheme to place more money in the hands of the “boys”. Dominicans as a whole must be the beneficiaries because after all, funds from the economic citizenship program belongs to all of us.
linton have this jokers wanting to try every thing now buil a train station for charles sav and buy him a plane too!
For your Info this bulk water line for exporting water was a freedom party government project.
Dr Mac you were awesome today and by the way, you are not aging at all….sorry, couldn’t help it
The Opposition suppose to use that article and tear it to pieces. This minister is telling a blatant lie about the Economic citizenship Program, that program is used by a chosen few party loyalist to enrich themselves with the property of the state the passport. Time will tell and we will see how much more jobs will be created a few years from now. the next meeting of the diaspora the same thing will be said
It is rather difficult to believe in(any) politician, PM when they are making speeches about what could, should be done for the good of the country in an election period. Thankfully, we have time to evaluate the goodies even when nothing is done. Thank you Mr. Prime Minister but like other politicians, five years for making things better is exactly what it is, promises usually filled with all talk, and then forgotten dreams. Well, this is the best time for citizens to examine their priorities, their government promises, and most of all, the intelligence they gained throughout the last five years. D/cans need jobs. Not promises. A big island with few people, and fewer jobs makes no sense, and the time to be serious about this is now.
I guess that you’re not a resident of Dominica. Dominica always had worrk but the people are too lazy. We say that Agriculture is failing but we fail to plant, we fail to go to the free government educational programmes for proper training to contribute to the economy.
You must be one who benefits from handout and don’t have to work hard. Why don’t you get some land and do some farming? Then you will understand Take a drive off the main roads unto the farm roads and you will see the bad condition of roads farmers drive on everyday. I would not put my donkey on them so thank the farmers who remain.
Domini??????????????? Come on … no suggestions.. just criticism..
???? So nothing this Government does is not good????? Alas papa …. Zort toe bias!
When you want to know if a GOVT is working and if the benefits reaches the people you dont sit in a Hall and listen to them pat themselves on the back what you do is go out in the community speak with the people hear what they have to say and then compare, I will agree the GOVT have done a few good things but to have such high unemployment and poverty is devastating in the Island .
good point
Which country of the world does not have high unemployment? Are you not hearing and reading?
yes we “toe bias”…all you have to do is call the Central Statistics Office…ask them what is Dominica’s GDP and CPI…I’m even giving you the phone number 266-3400…and then you can talk about “toe bias”
Total reactive mode. This is only rhetoric. They want to maintain a culture of dependence, begging, poverty and humiliation and total disrespect.
A lesson learned is a lesson earned
Dominica used to export bulk water at the facility close to the old Newtown school(which is still there today)but was abandoned by the Freedom Party when they came to power.
LOL @ the current government of Dominica!
Great ideas, very innovative, a first for sure, no government has ever done anything so in the world. Where did these geniuses get that great idea to initiate investments, and considering it took them only 13 years to come up with such a creative idea of creating jobs. at this rate maybe in the next 60 years they will invent the idea for a health plan for the people. genius .
After almost 15 years in government the Labour Party has finally come to the realization that they have failed miserably in providing sustainable jobs for the people of Dominica. All these guys were concerned about is keeping Dominicans destitute so they can propagate their politics of poverty. It had to take the visionary UWP team to come up with an idea of a job and investment forum for these jokers to realize that they have failed us in that respect. This is a government in REACTIVE mode.
The private sector and individuals like you and me, and the opposition politicians need to stop expecting the government to be solely responsible for crating sustainable employment. Let us all play our part. @ Domini what are doing? The visionary UWP Leader and his comrades have been in opposition for 15 years yes the same amount of time that the government has been in office do they have anyone employed? No .
Well, the way I see it for the last fifteen years this DLP government has been working hard for the people of Dominica. The proof is there to see for all who have eyes and all who have ears to hear. Just take a look around.
Why dont you enlighten us because we have eyes and ears and still cant see what they are doing for poor folks but you haven got to worry about that you a well taken care of so continue singing for your supper.
Change is a must becuase we want all our people to share the wealth.