The paucity of information is a major constraint to the development of Dominica and by extension the rest of the region.
This is the view of Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alvin Bernard, who spoke at the launching of the 2011 Population and Housing Census on Wednesday.
According to him, a developed economy uses information as one of the main pillars of its successes and considers it a resource, and believes it is about time Dominica and the rest of the Caribbean does the same.
“In Small Island Developing States as ours, quality information is critical to optimizing scarce resources and enhancing the probability of achieving stated objectives,” Minister Bernard said.
He said the employment of these measures will allow decision makers to make strategic choices and trade offs, such as choices between prudent fiscal management or surviving on a false economy.
He said also that the move also yields proper sequencing of activities over the short, medium and long term and produces the strategic alignment of development objectives, programs and activities.
@Reading Is Fundamental: You are the man…Thanks for clearing that up.
Are you working for or with DNO? Because I had no idea what the brilliant minister was talking about ( And I mean this in a very good way…I do like the man)…no politics here
@meeroro: With a name like meeroro, I don’t think you are no patat investor. You looking for somebody to invest in you. If you want to invest in water, make sure you have your markets, because is pipe water we drinking in DA.
Don’t come with your long alleluia and then go on media, Matt in the morning and say government not helping you.
So please call discover Dominica (I think) and they will help you.
@The Third Side: I am looking to invest in Dominica. Please tell me how what is the working popualationof Dominica. Also the average consumption of bottled whate. What percentage of bottle water sales contribute to GDP. Also what is the contribution of those sales to the Food and Beverage sector.
@Freedom of nformation Act now: I think most of you missed the boat on this news item.
The Minister was making remarks at the launching of the “Population Housing Census.” The “information” he is referring to is in short, the COLLECTION of statistics/data for use in influencing governments policy and decision making. His remarks was not in connection with the dissemination of information.
I appreciate how polarized the political landscape is in Dominica, and we just cant help ourselves to turn every statement into some political royal rumble. But please don’t come off so ignorant in the process.
@treasonous pm: You hit the nail on the head. What was the minister alluding to. Just speaking for his big salary? No equal access to the National media for opposition parties. DBS was shut down during the December election campaign and Alvin and his Govt. approved that illegality Dominica has no FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. When Govt. is asked questions of national importance, answers are hard to be given. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack. So what is Alvin talking about? Up to now the PM and cabinet cannot tell Dominicans about the US $400,000.00 and Susan Olde. What about the MOU’s signed on behalf of Dominica? The PM cannot tell Dominicans whether he has any interest in the VILLAS at Savanne Paille and the massive assets acquired in so short a time while in public office. Instead answers received, when questions are asked, among them, ‘IS NOT YOUR DAMN BUSINESS……..’ What about the truth of the BIN BOBOL and FERTILIZER BOBOL? What about info on the extra $2million dollars for the River wall below UWI. That project was grossly over charged compared to the project done in Fond ST. Jean. which involved much more work. Brisbane is still awaiting answers. Alvin is aware of all those areas where information is deliberately not given or if at all the info is scant and twisted. Dominicans isn’t it true that this GOVT. holds info. that the people need to know about? That is how people could seriously participate in the development of the country. Pawol en bouche say pas met Alvin.
@Alos: Dam you DA people are haters. That comment is so personal.
@meeroro: Meeroro, what did he really say? This has nothing to do with politics…he stated paucity of information…meaning information is scarce..what information
Damn, we have google scholar, Wikepedia, we have all the worlds database at our finger tip…
I can provide the minister with any information he needs, but he has to tell us what he is looking for.
So come again
Well it is good that he have identifies one area of need, ensure genuine development and progress, so will the government be sharing more informatin with the populace from now on.
Hmmmmm……… ah boy Aloes, they trying to ruffle your feathers there oui!!!
Alvin must first be honest with himself coming here an pretend he knows and understands what he’s stating.Former classmate SMA &London (He skipped Sixth form)
No More no less. Ask Charlo
@The Third Side: He did not write. He gave a speech. The speech was reported using excepts. Maybe you should be challenging the reporting. You have to look at it within the context of the entire speech and the related subject matter.
The report by DNO should have made the Minister’s reported statement clearer. What are the strategies to be employed? What was the context in which the Minister made the statement?
@The Third Side: Haha ! I mean I get what he is say but I doubt the average man is . My issue withhis statements and thou the media clip, may have omitted it, I wanted to know what is his government and ministry doing about it! It sounds like the excert of a thesis that offered no solution to the obvious. Scarcity of emprical data that drive or direct decisons is imperation but that has been an issue that has plagued the Caribbean for years so I relly do not care to be reminded of it unless youare offering a soild plan (short and long term) to remedy that. Short of that you are just tryingto sounds educated which is stupid when persons like me out there are significantly more educated and balanced that you are. This has nothing to do with politics or person attack. It is merely an observation so mind me with all you politically charged Dominicans .
Can I insinuate that the blue writing, on that brown piece, of plank, behind which the minister stands, and the red bricks and over head columns which it supports, will woo tourist to Dominica, based on what I believe to be a free commercial for Fort Young?
” Hey, I doh can laugh.”
To the foreign person who do not understand the quote above, it’s broken English, and exclusively Dominican, which simply means I cannot laugh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahah!
Let us present Dominica to the world, in the best light that we can, there is no question in my mind, that the podium behind which the Minister Stands is intended to highlight Fort Young, and I refuse to call ” that” a hotel, since to me that place is at the level of an ordinary Motel!
Better yet, a Guess House.
And it is my opinion, that no such entity should use a government minister, to obtain free commercials, or advertisement.
If we have to be diplomatic about it, any podium behind which a minister of government stands to deliver a speech, or make comments relating to the State, and affairs of the State, should be wrapped in the nations flag. Something bearing our nations Seal, should be used as a representation of our country.
Fort Young, is a private entity, and that funny looking piece of plank with a blue writing, and old used up blue cannon, surely should not be in front of any of our government ministers when they are involve in the delivering of speeches pertaining to our nations affairs.
My observation, and personal opinion!
DNO, their free advertisement; is your money.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
All investors need access to the agreements signed with China and Alba
So True
Start by:
Allowing equal access to state media and Kairi fm.
Access to all during Environmental impact assessment studies
Alvin, I starting to warm up to you, but you need to expound on your ideas a tad more….you wrote and in quotes
““In Small Island Developing States as ours, quality information is critical to optimizing scarce resources and enhancing the probability of achieving stated objectives,” Minister Bernard said.
He said the employment of these measures will allow decision makers to make strategic choices and trade offs, such as choices between prudent fiscal management or surviving on a false economy.
He said also that the move also yields proper sequencing of activities over the short, medium and long term and produces the strategic alignment of development objectives, programs and activities.”
But I am not understanding what you are trying to say…the average man in not getting it either