The heavy rain, flooding and landslides, did not only affect homeowners and traffic, but according to some business owners, added to the already poor state of the economy during the only time of year that they had been looking forward to.
When Dominica News Online went out on Monday December 30, to talk to the various businesses – the big, the small, the not-so-small, the feed back was the same – business is not booming.
All business owners, whether or not they support the celebration of Christmas, say they were expecting a turnaround during the season, but on the main shopping day, Christmas Eve, shoppers were driven indoors by the effects of the heavy, torrential rain that came hours before dawn. Or, according to veteran entrepreneur, Anette St. Hillaire, “there was no money I guess to circulate.”
“It wasn’t good at all, I just don’t know why,” she said, pointing out that in addition to the damage that the rain caused to individual property and to the infrastructure of the country, “business wise it (the country)was affected”.
Manager of Garraway Enterprises, Mary Carol Badouille, said the rush which is expected at this time, did not happen.
“Generally quiet. It was not no rush or anything, just quiet. Remember we had bad weather you know, so that would affect people of course. Christmas eve was generally dead…the whole place was quiet”.
Another business man, Khimo Astaphan, said the season has not been a memorable one compared to the eighties and early nineties, but he saw a slight increase probably due to the new location that his out-door equipment business is now operating from.
“In terms of business, we opened a new store. It did fairly well. It did better than my old location,” he stated, pointing out, that people are more concerned about their bills and “the rain hampered a lot of businesses.”
“In terms of platinum security we don’t see an increase in business that much for Christmas as we have contracts, but in terms of our retail store we definitely did better than last year. I think is because we moved,” he said.
There were mixed reactions from the vendors that we spoke to. For one, it was a good season but another who sells food by the roadside every day, said for him, the season was bad. In fact, the whole year was bad, he told DNO, adding, that if the new year is going to be as bad or worse, he didn’t know what would happen, and shook his head in dismay.
The year is almost done and man, woman, boy and girl, rich and poor, business owner or not, are all looking to the new year with the expectation of better things to come.
But for those who are barely able to keep their heads above water, it’s reasonable to assume that those expectations would be much higher.
u know when I seen de rain I say is lennox linton dat make the tiawanese seed the clouds and let it rain to spoil a skerro Christmas in da where we shop till we drop drink rum and burst bandits in the streets by digi and moslem stor
Its time to cleanse this land of all impurities and workers of iniquities. The lawlessness and greed of your leaders have failed you from the current administration to the Opposition Party. It is sickening that during a 5 year period that the government cannot afford to pay it civilian workforce but finds funds to bribe voters during elections. This is the lowest of lows and should not happen in any democratic nation. We have been told lies and sold empty promises whenever election is around by both parties. How will you create these jobs Mr. Oppoition Leader? Where is the accountability for all the loans you are taking driving us further into debt Mr Skerrit? The time will come when your children and grand children will repay this burden you have placed on this beautiful country. There will be destruction and carnage and civil unrest. Rise up my people and take back your freedom. Free yourself from these oppressors who feel they can brainwash you with their lies and money. The time is now, for if we fail then there is no looking back. Our freedom can’t wait and we need to act now by any means necessary.
HAPPY NEW YEAR DNO.I DO NOT WASTE MY TIME READING COMMENTS ANYMORE?BECAUSE DNO MIXING POSITIVE REASONING WITH TOO MUCH NONESENSE.
@ justice and truth. any person who turn a blind eye to the corruption in our country,including the attempted murder of an elderly couple should not i say SHOULD NOT be using the name of God here.
I think when the DLP wins the next general election, PM Skerrit should offer the UWP leader a contract job not as a parliamentarian but have him create 500 jobs every three months for 1 year not counting his own and if he can deliver these jobs he will get paid and then we will see if he can practice what he preaches.
On the other hand, I have another suggestion. I would like to see him face the Speaker. Why up to now, no by-election in Marigot? Isn’t that the riding he is running in? Or give the man the opportunity to become a UWP Senator. What are they afraid of?
Let the man come face to face with Madame Speaker on her own turf before the next general election. I don’t believe all the man wants is PM Skerrit job and if he can not get it he don’t want nothing else. I want to see him in parliament as a UWP something. It is high time, let the people see him and hear him in the opposition in 2014.
A Happy Happy New Year Everyone. I am looking forward to Something Happening in 2014.
I would hire the UWP leader to teach the labour men like advisers and ministers how to be family men and walk with their wives to public events.
the uwp people leader can also advise labour men how to stop defending fire bombers
Be positive rubbish
Take what all you get….LABOUR POWDER!!!!!!!!!!!!
God is just looking for a few good men; not religious but lovers of God who are dreamers and fearless. God bless Dominica.
A little typo “intercede” instead of interseed
With all these comments thrown out there, what are we doing ourselves to make our country a more productive place especially as this new year is about to take a threshold ? Have we considered seeking God’s face first by praying for the Government instead of quarrels and unwise words? If we were to vote in a new government are you certain that they are going to be any different ? You tell me. We should not be ignorant of the fact that most politicians are in this for his pocket but non the less we are the ones who voted them in so why be surprised? Our job is when we vote them in is to interseed that they won’t let the greed get to them
I believe that this country needs a change, our government is to corrupted and foolish and our prime minister sneaks out without even advicing the country. Ah this cannot be! What has happened to the country that was the gem of the world?ah we the stronge emancipated people of the world haveto stand out strong and proud without a doubt in what ee are doing
11 year old, as I read your comment it reminds me of the many times parents would say to the children tell who ever is at the door or on the phone that we are not home and the children in turn would say to the caller my Mom and Dad say they are not home. Just your handle reminded me of that.
This proves that we have to look at our past and future and make a difference in our lives so that our country can remain none other than a democratic country and not a communist country
I lové that comment.
WHAT IS communist?Do you know how they operator? Dominica is a free country,people make comments without putting into context.Its time for us to work on ways to develop our country,Government come and go.
happy new year to all of my fans who read my comments and give me thumms up or thounms down up or down means you understand my comment thank you very much am looking forward to the new year with more vigor and god love and deliverance i mean deliver dominica from the group of hiyjackers they call them selves labour party and they care for the poor but they sucking from the poor my wish this new year they gone gone thank you lord
The country crying because of all the rubbish that is being said on Kairi.
How easy and convenient it is for a few of you to make a global problem seem like a Dominica problem alone. We know what is happening in the region and the outside world too. Things are difficult everywhere, obviously some more than others.
Misleading people for political mileage is counter productive.
Lets face reality, if the US,EUROPE and the Asian Giants are battling, struggling and stumbling is Dominica you expect to have huge economic growth at this time? Really?
I think what would be interesting to look at is consumer spending this Christmas vs last year (or other prior years). Did people spend $500K last year and only $250k this season? Then, I’d would like to dig deeper into the root cause … is it a sluggish economy, rains/storms, etc.?
For the purpose of what DNO presented, it works – Heavy rain kept people away from Roseau on one of the biggest shopping days. I can accept that. But for those that want to delve deeper and attribute this to the government, give me some cold have facts. Numbers don’t lie! I await …
D/cans are a smarter people now, we know that our bills and our children’s school fees are priority. Gone are the Christmas’s when after having thrown our dollars into toys and commess we cry that January is a hard month.
so true we ordering our toys cheap and getting it in the low cost barrel clearance at the port and we paying our bills
The flood is a sysmbol of the need to cleanse and reformat our operation. The cannals are blocked , the soil is saturated, the ravines are polluted, the filth, the illusion, the lack of respect for the laws that protect the environment and the lack of respect for nature.
When there is filthiness , dishonesty, lack of respect for laws, lack of respect for the people, lies, greed, corruption chaos will ensue and the economy shall suffer
You have not mentioned some additional factors as lack of recognition of God, lack of love for him, for fellow nationals, insincere worship and disobedience to God, religious divisions and disunity which also contribute to lack of love and peace, too much of it and more…
As the song by Bette Midler which is entitled: “God Is Watching Us” from above.
DNO lets have a poll for the most ” Thumbs Down Blogger”. We know who they are – here we go Peeping Tom, Fast N Furious, Truth and Justice, Observer and Real Porssie.
And Irma Francois
FAST N FURIOUS HAS EVEN surpassed Peeping tom. This blogger does not have even half a brain.He is simply a Skerrit plantation slave.
GUESS HE IS ONE OF THOSE greedies WHO gets what the NEEDY should be getting.
When the fox couldn’t get the gape he said that they were sour…Met jelle ou!
You hater of the truth, who cannot stand the truth are one bitter and wicked person. Why do you use DNO’s Website to spew your hatred against your fellow people and project the type of unkind person you are?
Establish your own newspaper, radio station and website and see how fast they will fail because you do not have the Holy Spirit of God.
You are an unfair person who does not allow others their human right and dignity to comment on this Website.
Is it only you who should have the right to comment? You only write hate words which make for unpleasant reading. People as you, due to your indifferent attitude, will never help Dominica to progress.
The poll has just began with you.Don’t you realise that?
Wait and see dotish
@ Fast N Furious Umm should that be “The poll has just BEGUN”
They have government desk and can’t even write the English. That is why this Fast N Furious guy from Portsmouth must keep singing for his lunch
DNO should prohibit comments as yours and trash them for they serve no useful purpose. Whose side are you on? Surely, not on God’s side.
Obviously, you have nothing better to state. Then, write nothing. 
You attack people who state the truth. It shows who you are and where you are coming from. You cannot keep good people down. They are not accountable to you. Therefore, do not try to suppress them. You will not succeed. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they will stand up, speak up and be counted.
You do not like reading the truth as much as not hearing it. So does Satan. It is like a thorn in your side. You want to be fed untruth to make you feel good, less guilty and not responsible for your lifestyle, also in words.
Know that God will not give them thumbs down. He is pleased that they are standing up for the truth.
If you deny the truth and do not want to hear it, on the inevitable day it will be revealed to you, to your eternal detriment. You better read and pay heed.
In any case, your comment is nonsensical. It is out of place on this article and Website. People like you contribute to disasters because you are not a nice person. God knows it/you too well. Furthermore, you have nothing to contribute to this article that others might learn.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with you.
Life is sooooo sweet in Dominica, for me and for you.
I predict that the Labor apologists are going to latch on to this Christmas eve flood as an excuse for the poor economy. Let the count down begin and then somebody call me nostradominicanus and you can call the Labor apologists Nostradama***s-
DNO if Nostradamus made his own predictions let the Nostradama***s keep fooling the people eh eh.
Are you a fortune teller? I would not want to be your neighbor.
I don’t want to be your neighbor just the same cause I don’t deal with hypocrites and pedophiles
Maybe we prepared ourselves to celebrate the wrong birthday and it backfired.
Watch your words that they do not return to bite and sting you, your tongue and your fingers.
The Lord said, “By your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.”
Therefore, careful with your words as imbedded in that type of mind you have.
some of them dryrot stuff when they finish they want people to buy
We take to much robish from this so call ministers we have in government
On the other hand the people did not spend out all their little money during the Christmas season. Therefore, January sales might be better than usual.
What rain? The truth is there was no money to spend. Everyone who was in Roseau on xmas eve will concur that there was that usual euphoria, frenzy atmosphere. But they were just liming with empty wallets, How long?
Please do not complain and dispute over this. We, in Toronto and other parts of Ontario (now the eastern provinces) went through a similar situation except with snow, rain, freezing rain and then a blackout for days. It has also been snowing all week.
Christmas and New Years are bleak to a certain extent. The wind is waging tonight and the temperature will dip to way below zero. Nevertheless, those of us who have faith, hope and trust in the Lord do not panic; we do not worry. We will get over this. As bad as it was and is, it could have been worst.
The Lord said, “Fear not!” Everything happens for good reasons and everything is temporary. Some things are beyond us, our control and which our limited minds cannot fathom but a loving God knows best.
The business people in these parts lost a lot financially – millions of dollars shopping days for those Christmas season/days. Some people still do not yet have electricity.
The cost of restoring electricity and paying the electricians will amount to millions of dollars.
There is an old (Canadian) Indian saying: “I thought I had no shoes until I saw a man with no toes.”
God will provide and the situation in Dominica and elsewhere will pick up again. Therefore, your brothers and sisters in other lands are going through similar situations. Take heart! My aim is to encourage and not discourage.
Yes to that sir but this corrupt, inept opague government must first go. Are you aware of the disregard they have for the plantain and banana industry? Please Dno can you do an investigation on the state of the plantain and banana industry in respect to black sigatoka?
As much as we would like to see better times, we must be realistic as to what is going to happen today, tomorrow, even six months from today. Lets face it, economic development is not even marginalized, or to be blunt, local. It is ignored therefore, lets be frank about the mess we are in. We are getting licks from the weather, politicians, and heavens knows what else. With elections around the corner we will hear about promises ect., but the fact is, the man in charge does not have the guts, the ability to expand work or jobs to the many that are crying out for help. Joblessness seems to be the order of the day, and political bobol is the way of the man that holds the keys. What the New Year will bring, is anyone’s guess. What needs to be done is controversial, and who can do a better job is everyone’s belief. The fact is, planning to make high employment, respect for all are absent from those in authority, while tragedies, accidents, and unbelievable happenings are invading a peaceful society. We may get a small token from the political kaos when we broadcast China’s contribution to our economy, but this is, or will be timely and who knows who will profit from it. To some in society, a new government is the best approach while to others, leave things alone. But the real problem is, something must be done, and now. Business owners on the other hand are looking out for themselves and not the economy of D/ca. To listen to them cry, one would think that they alone are suffering. The truth of the matter is, they are in a position to rebuild, rather than to take their losses from the poor when things down. It happens all the time. Well as a poor citizen of D/ca l have no feelings for them, and if society has to suffer for bad mishaps ect., let them suffer most after all, we all have to deal with the pain and suffering when leached. Business owners must realize that they are not alone, therefore, their duty is to assist with the economy’s growth, so that all will gain for a better Dominica.
So easy to unfairly blame Skerrit for everything!!!…are they saying everywhere is doing well except Dominica? hmmmm
World Economic Outlook Update
Growing Pains
Global growth is projected to remain subdued at slightly above 3 percent in 2013, the same as in 2012. This is less than forecast in the April 2013 World Economic Outlook (WEO), driven to a large extent by appreciably weaker domestic demand and slower growth in several key emerging market economies, as well as a more protracted recession in the euro area. Downside risks to global growth prospects still dominate: while old risks remain, new risks have emerged, including the possibility of a longer growth slowdown in emerging market economies, especially given risks of lower potential growth, slowing credit, and possibly tighter financial conditions if the anticipated unwinding of monetary policy stimulus in the United States leads to sustained capital flow reversals. Stronger global growth will require additional policy action. Specifically, major advanced economies should maintain a supportive macroeconomic policy mix, combined with credible plans for reaching medium-term debt sustainability and reforms to restore balance sheets and credit channels. Many emerging market and developing economies face a tradeoff between macroeconomic policies to support weak activity and those to contain capital outflows. Macroprudential and structural reforms can help make this tradeoff less stark.
This IMF report means nothing to the persons who wants to criticize. Dominica cannot be singled out. The critic looking at a game is the most talented Footballer, Cricketer, Basketballer.
@imf report no one is saying that dominica is the only country doing bad. The article you quoted did not state that it’s impossible to grow but stated that stronger growth will require additional policy action.
It means that government is require to implement the right mix of both fiscal and monetary policy, in some cases they are require to strengthen existing policies for eg the USA may require to postpone tapering or end its sequestration .
In Dominica i am not even sure what our policies are and there objective. do we have a set policy that are design to take us out of stagnation. we know we have a monetary handcuff given that we operate on a currency board. therefore we are left with only fiscal policy. To move the economy we need expansionary fiscal policy. either the government spend more or reduce taxes. However we must be careful when we speak about increase government spending as spending more on recurrent expenditure will not do it. like Keynes said the government should spend more on capital projects and projects where employment is created. we have seen huge spending on capital project here in Dominica but the question is why have we not seen these huge spending fillip an increase in GDP. Its simply that most of the capital project are done by people who don’t spend much or save in the country. we will never receive the true multiplier effect of any projects that are being done by the Chinese. i will still say thank you to them though.
expansionary fiscal policy as i indicated can take the form of lower taxes. Generally Caribbean government seems not understand the paradox of thrift. an attempt to increase taxes (new taxes or increase rate) can actually lead to lower revenue collection . we have a situation where vat is being charge at the hotels etc. i mean really . tourism is an export . why on earth would you want to tax an export . its only going to make it more expensive and the country looses its competitiveness.
Also , why are we not addresses the heavy taxes at the port of entry . the compounding of the taxes at the port is stifling the economy. If we want to stimulate the economy we need to reduce the level of taxes.
you all most be saying i mad eh. like government need the revenue. well we know that. if you stimulate the economy and gdp grows it means your tax base is growing. when your base is growing you can collect more revenue from a lower rate of taxes. a simple math can tell us how much we need the economy to by to compensate for the lost in revenue if we lower the tax rate.
Also every government now should strive to increase competitiveness. Geothermal is a step in the wright direction and that should help. We also need to be more productive as a nation and increase the flexibility of our labour laws if we want to be more competitiveness. as i mention earlier lower taxes especial the removal of vat in the hotel sector can help us increase competitiveness.
finally , though times are hard everywhere do we as Dominicans believe that the current administration has been implementing the right policy mix to improve economic condition.
i’ll await some constructive comments and hope not to have that red and blue thing.
Read thed article people,look @ the name that said he did good,why bc for years these people came from Syria and fooled our ancestors,yet we still support their businesses,they robbed us dry and only the grandbarians stood up to them.Dominica will never prosper until we get justice from these scums.this is how i feel from reading my history.Hope some of you take time to read for the new year.Wish all of you a Happy NEW Year and Good Health.
Dem fellas need to go
What boyyyy kihmo doing well man?
See that ehh .Soon Fast N Furious and Irma F going to complain and say the economy good because the government feeding poor people, repairing houses, and running red clinic.I see Peeping Tom go offline those days.
the opposition in st lucia and st vincent are seeking aid from oversease to help people in thier country.stop crying down the goverment and help.stop calling it poor and help make a difference.all our opposition here doing is critizing and asking people do donate funds for thier personal cause
More calypso…
They see it everyday, but say it aint so
they feel it everyday, but say it aint so
the future generation will have to pay, but say it aint so
what going on is not going to change, but say it aint so
Why why why why why do we play blind to this?
why why why why why do we accept this shhhhhh
why why why why why ohh Lord we need to stand up to this
our lives are at stake,
this we cannot forsake
let us do something before it too late
Whilst soem getting rich, more and more getting poor
Lord we are knocking on your door!
Please give us an answer, we are strong willed survivors, but
ohhh no we can’t take any more!!!
Can’t wait for Calypso eliminations this weekend!!!
i wish dnd would allow you to upload the music for these. Calypso season is coming and i know some people going to take offence, but play calypso play. They could sah-lay my party or not, i will still dance!
The government seems to pride itself as being the champion of the poor, but I have not seen anything they have done to spur the economy as far as creating a better business environment.
AS one who grew up in the country part of Dominica, drove passenger in those days it was truck not buses as we have today i can say roseau on a market day looks like any other compared to the fifties even the late seveties. I think we need a boost I think more jobs,more export of agriculture as we had then when reception was two full days at both depots .and less offocial begging
oops i meant banana depots longhouse and fond cole
fax, email, mail, hand-deliver this (report) to the government…
They just can’t seem to realize that paradigm shift is needed…
That’s why I do not know why some bloggers get vex, ready to burst blood vessels in their bodies when concerned citizens refer to Dominica as a POOR country.
In an economy where so many people are unemployed, where the government get vex and irated when the opposition says it will increase employment, where we have so many GREEDY people getting what the NEEDY should get, a country plagued with corrupt activities, a country where government officials simply are too DUNCE AND INSULTIVE to stimulate the economy, a country where the ordinary man cannot afford to pay his utility bills,THE DARN COUNTRY WILL ALWAYS BE POOR.
I do not expect the businesses to do better in 2014 either. The solution is simply TO KICK THIS LAZY AND CORRUPT GANG OF LEADERS OUT. THEY ARE NO GOOD. THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE ORDINARY MAN. THEIR INTERESTS ARE THEIR POCKETS.
However as a patriotic Dominican, I wish everyone a Happy 2014.
Careful wee %, Fast N Furious and Irma F will not be happy about you comment. How dare you call the government corrupt?
People only make change for the better.
@Anonymous Brilliant Comment That’s wyt the change is coming soon. We want better from ‘Team Dominica’.
Bu@%..you even calling them fellars LEADERS? I call them a bunch of corrupt,dishonest,Good-For-Nothings. Dem fellars not interested in development. They just want to enrich themselves and improvish the rest of us…But change must come!!!!