Vendors have been given the assurance by Tourism Minister, Denise Charles that moves to have them relocated are temporary and their frustration may have been a case of poor communication.
Her comments followed a protest organized by the members of the Roseau Bayfront Vendors Association on Monday where they pushed back against a decision to relocate them saying that the proposed location will stifle their much-needed dollar.
But Charles said the government recognizes the hard work and dedication of the vendors and despite the Pandemic and other events they remain steadfast and committed to the industry.
In fact, she said the relocation is simply geared at preparing the Bayfront for the upcoming cruise season.
“The recent communication with the vendors was poorly done and this we must improve going forward as they are critical stakeholders,” Charles said.
Nevertheless, she said the work of this government is aimed at increasing cruise calls and getting new ships onboard.
“The better the experience of cruise passengers, the greater the feedback, the more demand our destination,” Charles stated.
She continued, “So I hope we can resolve this impasse and understand the work of the ministry is sustainable tourism, so all families dependent on the industry can take care of themselves and families.”
She indicated that the vendors will not be moved, “until we’ve finalized temporary relocation plans.”
Furthermore, Charles explained that in cruise tourism there is an ‘on season’ between October to March –April of the following year and an ‘off-season’ from May to September.
“During the off-season vendors normally relocate, however, this last season they were allowed to vend in the off-season considering the country is just recovering from a Pandemic,” she stated.
However, she said the new cruise season commences on November 1, 2022, and the government needs to prepare the Bayfront to entice more people to disembark from the ships and shop.
“So the move is temporary, not permanent,” Charles reiterated.
She added, “We have to ensure as a destination that we exceed visitors’ expectations and don’t take the industry for granted.”
Charles made it clear that the government’s efforts are designed to ensure that vendors benefit even more as Dominica focuses on growing cruise tourism back to 2010 numbers, “the best year in the industry.”
This, she said, is going to require small sacrifices for the greater good of the industry.
“We go to conferences every year and listen to the feedback of partners and last year, compared to the first year I attended those meetings, the feedback was very positive as they liked the organized system we implemented during Covid-19 and the enhancements including the welcoming performances on the Bayfront,” she noted.
She apologized to the vendors and promised to meet more frequently to avoid those issues.
Meantime, Debbie Warrington a member of the association who spoke to the media during the protest explained through a letter addressed to the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport, and Maritime Initiatives that on Monday, September 26, 2022, the vendors were approached by DASPA security informing them that they needed to vacate the government built structures by Friday, September 30, 2022.
Warrington further explained that no letter was issued by the authorities which she stated is “very unprofessional” and “disrespectful”. She said the information was further confirmed unofficially by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dominica Air and Seaport Authority (DASPA), Benoit Bardouille.
“We the Bayfront vendors of the Bayfront Vendors Association in light of the fact that we are trained and certified entrepreneurs, which [means] many of us have many years of training and see ourselves as ambassadors of our country, we find the treatment given to the vendors is very disrespectful and inhumane, hence we the vendors are unanimously in disagreement with such action of the authorities and as such we have agreed based on the above statement that we are not moving,” Warrington remarked.
What about people who are visiting Dominica but not on a Cruise ship… the Bay Front is cordoned off.. its very strange when I went to the Bay front and was refused entry even though I was a tourist but come in by plane…
I think more forethought is needed in Dominica Generally this is another cause of short sightedness for short term gain with no thought of others. ie Vendors and other persons on the Island .. its such a shame
It is not her fault..it is a reflection of the time and the intellect of those in positions of authority according to the time. meaning humanity is now at its most degraded period in history and this is reflected in the decisions of those in power based on their degraded intellect. their intellect is consumed with deception and greed and the result is that they have no vision or creativity..
They find it extremely difficult to make logical decisions or decisions which is for the well being of others. they are Godless souls. they may mention the word God but they do not have God Father in their hearts. the only thing they harbor in their hearts is their physical comfort. but then like everyone..death comes. then what .
Wow!! So indirectly Denise Charles told the people and the nation that Melissa Skerrit, the pal rep of Roseau, who is wife of the Prime Minister is a poor communicator? So Denise are you implying that all a poor communicator can do is give a lil horse ride when other cars are not available? Wow!!! Boy it’s just a matter of time before we see the physical fight for him in public lol
How about no vendors on the Bay Front? Now there’s a novel thought.
Those “kiosks” are deplorable. A step up from the dirty ugly tents…but still done in poor taste. Why not use the Public works site as a cruise village? Or has that land been sold to the Chinese to develop an over 200+ room sky scraper hotel right under labasse?
Shut up and remove that nasty sinking Wigg off your head!
Try as you may and think, it will never grow out of your scalp!
You believe it is growing out of your scalp, but it is only a delusion to you; you, know a meriage in your mind!
Don’t trust that lady vendors. That move is not temporary, trust me. The minister is still starry eyed when it comes to Skerrit and malleable in his hands like putty, still believing she is the favourite one. Once you gone you not coming back there. They should move that cruise terminal out of town anyway. We have no space to accommodate the big ships and once they come ashore what do the tourists find anyway, one toilet behind the old post office. All this is the fancy thinking of an ex barmaid and you calling that our next level then, we are left way behind. Other islands do not really have an off season, maybe less busy but no
off season. Those islands are simply more attractive.That minister talking through her nose. Honestly I’m so mad about this so called development of our country It makes me speechless with rage.
It is not strange to hear anyone in this administration admitting to poor communication. “Gravitating outwards”, poor communication seems to be their hallmark. When different public sector actors (and actresses) operate at cross purposes with one another, it is simply a reflection that there is very poor communication somewhere at the top. Stay tuned, the news continues!
Get rid of the garden sheds will improve the bay front dramatically.
O.K. I agree we could do better Tom ……but replace them with what?
So the Bay Front has now become the exclusive domain of cruise ship tourists ? Dominica – apparently the ‘nature island’ – wants to increase the number of environmentally destructive cruise ships ? Selling mass produced, imported Chinese plastic junk for souvenirs is ‘sustainable’ ?
The most positive thing that could happen to Dominica’s tourism would be the defenestration of Denise Charles and her sycophantic entourage.
Dennise I see you taking the place as the “attack dog” on Mr. Bad-willed this time around. Be careful young lady, don’t allow yourself to be used by the unscrupulous demonic man beyond what he is already doing
. Mr. Bad-willed is your countryman and if he needs to be scolded for poor work performance then it should be his boss doing the scolding and not a lowly purchased minister like you. Ba-willed is not your toy playdough Mr. Wrath-A-Hell. And you know his temper can be deadly 
In your closing statement you threw Benoit under the bus completely
! Although it is very well deserving, note that you are not qualified to do so. The next time a minor kick where the sun don’t shine would be better since you have small feet hence it may not hurt that much 
. In other words, you should have pulled him aside and discuss. Ater all, you both a jean- La-Pointe.
We’re is the ‘the man in charge’? Is he out of the country again? That man is a total waste of space, only selling passport mister can do.
Meantime, Debbie Warrington a member of the association who spoke to the media during the protest explained through a letter addressed to the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport, and Maritime Initiatives that on Monday, September 26, 2022, the vendors were approached by DASPA security informing them that they needed to vacate the government built structures by Friday, September 30, 2022.
Warrington further explained that no letter was issued by the authorities which she stated is “very unprofessional” and “disrespectful”. She said the information was further confirmed unofficially by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dominica Air and Seaport Authority (DASPA), Benoit Bardouille.
“We the Bayfront vendors of the Bayfront Vendors Association in light of the fact that we are trained and certified entrepreneurs, which [means] many of us have many years of training and see ourselves as ambassadors of our country, we find the treatment given to the vendors is very…
Look it, they are ‘trained and certified entrepreneurs’. Surely this must be another world beating performance by a government that trains and certifies entrepreneurs. I asked Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos but they tell me they didn’t get any training and they did receive a certificate either. All you see now what’s wrong with all those training sessions, stake holder meetings with attendance certificate, etc. They are actions and empty words by a government that has totally run out of ideas and can only feed its people with propaganda. Hold up, there is is a few more countries in the world like that: China, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela… and they are all friends with our CM. I can see a pattern here, can you!