Douglas wants tourism sector protected during crisis

Ian Douglas

Tourism Minister, Ian Douglas, has issued a call to the media and stakeholders in the tourism sector to be prepared to protect the tourism industry in the dissemination of information to the public.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of a workshop for “crisis management” conducted by Communications Specialist of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Johnson John-Rose.

“It is incumbent on us therefore, to be well prepared for situations which require us to protect the reputation, safety and integrity of the tourism sector,” Douglas said.

According to him, when crisis arises, those handling them must work diligently to bring it to an end as quickly as possible to limit the negative publicity to the organization or sector and to move forward with confidence.

“We need to be particularly cognizant of the influence of social media in this era of instant communication. Social media has accelerated the speed at which information about incident can spread. The viral effect of social networks means that stakeholders can break news faster than traditional media, making managing a crisis more difficult,” the Minister stated.

However he is of the view that “this can be mitigated by having the right training and policy in place as well as the right social media monitoring tools to detect signs of the breaking crisis.”

“Social media also gives crisis management teams access to real time information about how a crisis is impacting stakeholder’s sentiments and the issues that are of most concern to them,” he said.

He called on organizations or sectors to have a planned approach to releasing information to the media in the event of a crisis. This he stated can avert the occurrence of inadvertent information of the public because damage control can be both “costly and time consuming.”

“The tourism sector has been fortunate to be for the most part free of major crisis … however, the few incidents which have occurred have drawn much attention to the island therefore, we need to do all in our power to address the salient issues by our preparation and coordinated effort,” Douglas stated.

The workshop is expected to end on Friday with plans for putting in place a policy manual and a strategic action plan for the future.

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56 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    January 31, 2013

    Yes Ian has failed his ministry herego tourism stakeholders herego the entire country as tourism is one of the viable opportunities for DA although he cant be held totally accountable as its Skerrit where the buck stops but definitely Ian has been most complicit in the almost, what seems to be, deliberate attempt to cripple the industry.

    However I feel he is absolutely correct when he says we have to be more careful what message we send out there to the world about our country.
    Controlling ones brand is a global strategy. Public Relations is a multibillion dollar industry and thats all its paid to do is to control the brand be it person, company, destination. Basic business principle which I can guarantee you, the most successful destinations follow and have entire departments solely to manage exactly what Ian is suggesting.

  2. Dominican Offspring
    January 29, 2013

    Fix the political infrastructure first..return to its natural strength in agriculture…then, ice the cake with Big Adventure Eco Tourism…the political side must be strong with proper, unselfish leadership.

  3. January 29, 2013

    Gary, this is not about you; this time I am not on your case; but I do believe sometimes when we read comments which does not make any sense at all it is better not to comment.

    In the first place when we see people write stuff like this ” needs/needs,” we get a hint that we are dealing with some that’s warped somewhere in their mind, we find as many as quoted above in the persons ramblings, and the claims ” UK Dominican” does not mean that person was thought such nonsense in any school in England.

    The person made some silly comments about Creole, no need to say you have addressed that, and have done it quite effectively, however, because I discover the person has no concept of the definition of the word Creole, I would like to draw their attention to the following:

    This one is easy – Creole (1784) the term relates to Creoles, or their language, on the other hand it also relates to highly seasoned food typically prepared with rice, okra, tomatoes, peppers, and shrimp!

    We eat plenty of that in Louisiana.

    Now let’s get to this:

    Creole, in this case also mean a white person born in the colonies (1737), that is a person of European descent born especially in the West Indies, or Spanish America!

    I will expand on that and take it to another level:

    In this case we would have a white person descended from early French, or Spanish settlers of the U.S. Gulf States, and preserving their speech and culture; in terms of people again we are talking about people of mixed French, or Spanish, and Black descent speaking a dialect of French, or Spanish, which is a language evolved from pidginized French that is spoken by Blacks in southern Louisiana.

    That is a language which evolved from a pidgin, however, serves as a community language.

    I doubt the patios; or shall I say broken French we speak in Dominica evolved from pidgin; in this case I could have written patios/broken French!

    Why would someone want to make patios our national language, when every nation in the world no matter what their national language is it is almost mandatory that English are taught as an official language in their schools?

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • January 29, 2013

      “that person was thought such nonsense in any school in England.”

      Correction: It should read ” was taught.”

      FET.

  4. Gary
    January 29, 2013

    The statement made by Tourism Minister,Ian Douglas may sound controversial but in the real world of business that,s what happens,when it comes to protecting interest. The large Multinational Corporation do it using fancy terms public relations, crisis management and damage control to protect their interest in times of crisis.I have worked in the Cruise Ship industry, and that policy exist within that industry.Workers are not allowed to talk or say certain things to the press. They control the way information is disseminated regarding a crisis they are facing. when there is a disaster.

    Why is it our Government cannot adopt such policy to protect our Tourism industry.To adopt such policy it needs great cooperation and education from all the stakeholders and citizens of the Country. In this industry perception is king.

  5. non resident
    January 29, 2013

    I think Dominica doesn’t need tourism really. The country is not ready and wont be ready in next few decades. Don’t entertain yourselves with idea that training or some small cosmetic changes will change fundamentally defunct things. Dominica is crude and infrastructurally undeveloped place populated by people who are not ready to provide any services needed by tourists. Dirt, beggars, anti-hygien cooking, heavily overpriced etc
    Ask tourists visiting Dominica would they want to return..I bet 95% will never want to visit this island again…Make some conclusion or live in illusion as you always do for many decades

    • Gary
      January 29, 2013

      Pitty you, what you need to do is begin challenging your own assumptions of your Country. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won’t come in.

  6. Anthony P. Ismael
    January 29, 2013

    The Hon. Minister really can’t be serious. Has anyone looked at the flight path and share headache to visit Dominica from North America after March, 2013? Yuu’re losing an entire day in transit in Port of Spain. This is simply ridiculous.
    When will they build an international airport? When? When? When?

    • Anonymous
      January 29, 2013

      Do enough people actually travel to Dominica to warrent an international airport -airlines wont fly if the route is not profitable.

      • Anonymous
        January 30, 2013

        Thats the last thing Dominicans care about because as far as they are concerned someonelse will pay for it. They ar eunable to graps such basic facts like demand versus supply. cost versus returns. Way above their heads.

      • Anthony P. Ismael
        January 30, 2013

        You are absolutely correct. No rational functioning business will engage in activites that deminish their profit margin. However, can we really expect to move forward and compete with our neighbors, with Melville Hall airport in its current state? The answer is no.

      • Anonymous
        January 30, 2013

        Mr Patel -if people really want to fly to Dominica they will -it is immaterial to them if the airport is an international one or not.

      • IslandBeauty
        February 1, 2013

        What Mr. Ismael is stating is completely factual. With the airport the way it is now, tourists who has traveled into Dominica from abroad spends 2 days minimum to get here and 2 days returning home. That’s 4 days of let’s say their vacation. Someone would quicker go somewhere more accessible. People who come here are only those who really really want to come..and even when they find that Dominica is such a “gem”, they’re not guaranteed to return to this island. Barbados doesn’t suffer this drawback for e.g. Dominicans have a fear/dislike for change. But change often means growth and having a negative attitude towards good things and development in the country would only equal more stagnancy and things to complain about.

        Another thing Mr Douglas..MARKET YOUR PRODUCT!! Too often we see the negative before the positive. That is bound to happen when yu don’t show enough of the good..the bad outshines it..then yu ask for help with damage control. Market Market Market!!

  7. faceup
    January 29, 2013

    Dont Blame the minister, BLAME DOMINICANS THAT SINKING THERE OWN SHIP.Remember the gay issue,that was the death sentence for the tourism industry,and it has just began,so big up St Kitts with your seven thousand plus visitors including GAY’S,if only Dominica was opended minded as you are. SMH !!!!

    • faceup
      January 29, 2013

      And that was seven thousand visitors including gays every week in St Kitts where Dominica has so much more to offer,that hurt’s ,how can some peeps be so STUPID

      • magwa sa
        January 29, 2013

        so r u saying its ok to have sex in public? u should be ashamed of yourself. its nothing to do with gays… just poor marketinh

  8. Anthony P. Ismael
    January 29, 2013

    The teeth of the service industry in Dominica was unfortunately cut on a monopolistic system that is incapable of changing without swift and severe competition.
    For example, if you’re the only establishment or one of two or three, you can treat your customers poorly because they have very little choice.
    I recall having to over exert myself at Fort Young’s Happy Hour to purchase a drink while on vacation. Since it’s one of a handful of places with such activity, I had no choice but to wait some 20 minutes to be served, and they knew that they are the only “Game in town.” Had there been other choices available, I would definitely have ventured elsewhere.

    • Malatete
      January 29, 2013

      Anthony, unfortunately I must agree with you. We are too inward-looking and have an attitude of take-it or leave-it and have not fully woken up to the fact that, increasingly, potential visitors have decide to leave-it. It will take a lot to change that mindset but it is never too late.

    • concerned
      January 30, 2013

      I just want t o second on this. The mentality has to change. I experienced something at …..- should we call it racism, I will just say ignorancy.
      My friend and I were in Dominica for business and stayed at that said hotel. I went first to the bar lounge and awaited more that 30 min to be aborded by a waiter. My friend -who is white- even before he sat was greeted and only then was I greeted.
      Now how can people want to return with that type of mentallity from my home people. In the inland small lolos we we greeted so differently. The ‘I DON’T CARE” attitude has to change first for Tourism to move on as there is a great potentiel which is awaiting we people.

  9. Anthony P. Ismael
    January 29, 2013

    I understand what the Tourism Minister was trying to say, but it was poorly said. If a crisis occurs, there should be a swift investigation with accurate information being disseminated as quickly as possible.
    Regarding the tourism product as a whole, Dominica is extremely conservative in its thinking and modus operandi. As a result, it is almost impossible to get anything done or keep up with a changing global enviornment. For example, it still baffles me that we do not have police officers on bicycle patrol in Dominica. They’re still wearing polyster uniforms in 80 degree weather; sitting at the station house talking nonsense instead of being out on the beat and ready to respond as needed.
    We cannot talk about our tourism product without a proper jet airport of jet planes.
    An eight million dollar investment in LIAT by our “Prime Minister” yielded a few turbo-prop airplanes and not one jet.
    Do we have a triage area at the current airport large enough to provide emergency medical care for say, up to seveny people if American Eagle crashes on the runway? Is there a clear vehicular path to the hospital in Marigot? These are just a few questions that serious persons who care about tourism would ask.

  10. Prefer to be unknown
    January 29, 2013

    Well, this article raises a few points of concern but all I will say is that the words of the minister seem to suggest that certain controls will be coming in order to prevent persons other than the GIS and other government mouthpieces, from putting information which the government does not want out there on social media onto those media outlets. In other words, your communications may very well be monitored soon and that which is deemed to be ‘detrimental’ by the government, will be removed from social media……….IS THAT WHAT
    WE ARE REALLY FACING HERE??? Well when the minister says “this can be mitigated by having the right training and policy in place as well as the right social media monitoring tools to detect signs of the breaking crisis”, I ask myself the question!!!

    His call may be in response as well to the calculation that we may very well, in the not too distant future, have to respond to a disaster of unprecedented proportions should there be some sort of accident in the area of geothermal exploration. If so, this may be the government looking to prepare the way for ‘DAMAGE CONTROL AND LIMITATION’ as it relates to the social media and what could be said in response to such a tragic event.

    Those who are ‘negative’ may soon be targeted in order to ensure their silence!!!

    • Anthony P. Ismael
      January 30, 2013

      Great point, but it will never come to pass. People travel and the vast number of Dominicans now have a camera with them. Should the government decide to employ sensoring techniques as part of a new policy, they will be able to sensor some information, but not all of it. Information is now transmitted in seconds versus days and weeks.

  11. wake up
    January 29, 2013

    Wake up Dominican’s. We have come to realize that, a bad workman blames his tools. They got in power very young, with not experience in politics, and let that go in their head and think that Dominica is the “gold mine, and their playground with no consequences.

    Well, 99 days for a thief, but one day for a watchman. Dominica- 20 years ago and back was doing well. What is really happening now? Have a group or none professionals just come to kill and destroy the little that we have. Where are we going? “HELP”>

  12. Job
    January 28, 2013

    So you want censorship ? What kind of solution is that ? You have absolutely no idea what you are doing. No idea what you are talking about. You should step down. If Tourism is Dominica’s biggest sector, why is it being run by people who know nothing about it ? Shambolic.

  13. real
    January 28, 2013

    Please tell the tourism officials to start working hard, and stop getting paid for nothing.
    Dominica always had Melville Hall airport, and we were moving on. Charles Savaren should never be in the Labor Party. These people are opportunists and crooks. Get Agriculture moving, give us Dominicans incentives to stay and bring more people in. We love our country. It is beautiful, u all a getting paid by us to protect us and do the best for all of us to move forward.

    Put party politics aside, and see to it that we all should strive for the same common goal. Too much hush, hush things going on. All I know, the bucket bottom must drop off when it cannot handle any more pressure. Everything that happens in the darkness will always come to the light sooner or later. Lord we need u.

  14. magwa sa
    January 28, 2013

    can someone tell me what exactly does Ian know about Tourism? Blaming social media is a poor excuse for someone who cannot do his job properly. I have had my fair share of ridicule when I post news excerpts from DNO..I’ve been blamed for hurting the Tourism industry be sharing these news.. don’t make me laugh.. these crimes were committed..how we deal with criminal activities and its impact on the tourism industry is what he should address and NOT social media.. by the way Ian we’re in the age of social media and social networking use that to boost the failing Tourism industry.. but then again – u know nothing of marketing nor tourism!

    • Anonymous
      January 28, 2013

      He is the minister his portfolio and he has failed -so he is just looking around to find someone to blame -at this moment in time it is the social media -tomorrow it might be the yellow and her friends.

    • Prefer to be unknown
      January 29, 2013

      Boss, when things go wrong, them guys blame anything and anyone but themselves, THE GOVERNMENT!!!

  15. forkdumincan
    January 28, 2013

    i thinks ian is afraid of ian, you should stop following evil men… get back to law and elevate yourself, spiritually, mentally and financially.

    fellars have all like 5 suv,s and you have an old crv… boss go work for yourself and earn your money fairly

  16. justice
    January 28, 2013

    Ina, I would like to know what you all have done with your dad, uncle and the other Labor party pioneers legacy?. Especially you. Dominica was always beautiful and with little drammar. Since you and your crew came in power, Dominica is literally sinking. ‘CAPTAIN THE SHIP IS SINKING.’ When are you all going to realize that Dominica is not the same as 20 years ago. Does it take a ROCKET SCIENTIST to see the reality of Dominica.

    Yes, we have roads, but what are being transported on those roads, sure not, banana, citrus, and all what make your grand parents and parents proud to be a DOMINICAN. Have you sit down with your crew and ask what is going on, and what have u all done to the sad, sad, situation in Dominica.

  17. UK Dominican Bwoi
    January 28, 2013

    Here’s some things that I think Dominica needs/needs to do in order to increase the amount of tourists, or at least contribute/lead to that:

    International airport – A new/better/bigger hospital/hospitals. Let’s just say Dominica does get an Int. Airport & a plane carrying 500 passengers crashes, would Dominica’s current airport be able to help or even save all of their lives or whatever is wrong with them?

    Night life. – I like in the UK, and many Dominicans here as well as in America agree with me that Dominica needs to improve this. Whenever we all go to Dominica, the main reason is to see our family, however, once it’s about 6pm, there’s not much left to do. In the UK (and rest of Europe) and America, at night time, many people will go out to places such as clubs, pubs etc. Dominica should build a big club to keep tourists happy seeing as most of us want that. But also, clubs should play different types of music like Dancehall which a lot of people here and other islands listen and dance to a lot, Reggae & also hip hop, instead of just Bouyon and Soca all the time (they should still play that though)

    Beaches – Everytime I read something about Dominica, it’s ALWAYS about being natural or whatever, and about how it’s not like other islands because it’s beaches or lack of beaches. I’ve been to D/ca many times and I’ve seen many beautiful beaches here, so why not advertize the beaches as well?! Yes, people do like to hike and take natural spas etc, but they’re in the CARIBBEAN! What people really want to see is the BEACHES! So advertize the BEACHES but also talk about the nature as well! Not all of the beaches are big, or have white sand, but they’re still beaches, so let the world know that Dominica DOES in fact have beaches instead of constantly talking about nature!

    Paros – I don’t know if this is possible just yet seeing as Dominica doesn’t seem to be doing anything about it yet, and the country is not exactly rich, but when tourists are walking around in town or wherever, we don’t want to keep being harrassed by paros, especially when they follow us every asking for money, which is probably going towards the drugs they’re going to be. If Dominica ever does get a night life, paros are just going to get worst and harrass more people, so they need to be sorted out and taken off the streets.

    Streetlights – Not every has lamposts or whatever they’re called, and the only way to see is why car lights. Dominica needs more streetlights.

    There’s many things I can think of buy my fingers are starting to hurt, so let me end it with one last thing.

    What seperates Dominica from some of the other islands? (Apart from St. Lucia, Gwada, Martinique etc). Creole. Dominica and some of the other islands have a creole culture, eat creole food, and most importantly, speak a creole language. Dominica NEEDS to make creole one of their official languages, or at least make it an national language just like Jamaica did with their patois. This makes us unique from the other islands and makes us stand out, so it’s about time more people take pride in this and so something about this. I remember when I went to Roseau and some people were complanning because I was speaking creole, nonsense, I find that so stupid.

    People go to Jamaica to see their culture, listen to their Reggae and Dancehall for example. Why can’t Dominica do the same? Make French Creole their national language, and maybe one day people will be coming to Dominica to see our culture and listen to our music on the beaches etc too

    This isn’t anything to do with tourism, but personally I think Dominica should be and will be better of if they become an overseas department/region of France just like Guadeloupe and Martinique are. Besides, isn’t that what Rosie Douglas wanted? I agree with him

    • magwa sa
      January 28, 2013

      dominicans and their leaders are not concerned about tourism.. all they gloat about is politics

    • Gary
      January 29, 2013

      Wow,Why is it what you perceive and believe personally you would like a whole Country to adopt. How arrogant that can be.It seems to me you are you expressing you opinion without the discomfort of thought.

    • Gary
      January 29, 2013

      Wow, you took great comfort in expressing your opinion without discomfort of thought.You also expressed some arrogance and misrepresentation of facts.I will start with the misrepresentation of facts.The Jamaican creole is not an official language of Jamaica.Now why would you like to see Creole as an official language in Dominica and how that benefits the tourism industry that bewilders me.I will ask you this since you reside in the UK.Would you like to see cockney the official language of the UK.

      The arrogance in your comment I’m referring to is your comment quote “This isn’t anything to do with tourism, but personally I think Dominica should be and will be better of if they become an overseas department/region of France just like Guadeloupe and Martinique are. Besides, isn’t that what Rosie Douglas wanted?” Why would you want Dominica to be an overseas Dept. of France. What makes you think that if we were a Dept. of France things would be better,why would you want to deny us sovereignty and by the way you totally misunderstood The late Rossie Douglas he was not in anyway advocating that Dominica become a French Dept.What he was saying is that we should establish greater relationship with France since

      • Jay
        January 30, 2013

        Gary, the question is valid. Cite me one benefit, socially or materialistically we have gained from independence. I’m not advocating a return to colonioal status but the model of being an integral part of a larger developed nation certainly is beneficial to territories like Martinique or Guadeloupe, which are de-facto part of the E.U.

    • Gary
      January 29, 2013

      Why is it you have to misrepresent facts to give credence to your opinion.First off the Jamaican creole is not an official language of Jamaica. Why would you want to make creole an official language in Dominica.How that can be beneficial to the Tourism Industry, bewilders me.You reside in the UK would you advocate that cockney be the official language of the UK.

      You have also portray some arrogance in you comment by saying personally you think Dominica would be better of it was an overseas Dept. of France and you also misrepresent the ideals of what the late Rossie Douglas stand for when you said that he was in favor of Dominica becoming an oversea Dept. of France. This was not what he espoused. He wanted Dominica to take an advantage by establishing greater relationship with France because of our proximity between Guadeloupe and Martinique, he was not advocating giving up our sovereignty to be under the control of France. Yes, you do have a right to have opinions but do not distort the facts.

  18. Anonymous
    January 28, 2013

    Ian wants to hush the media now? SMH

  19. say sa meme
    January 28, 2013

    I am a Dominican who grew up and was educated in Dominica and what I experience in the middle of Roseau last year while I was visiting, I NEVER expected. I was walking on a main street in Roseau, I was actually on the phone and all of a sudden I felt a blow on my arm, and realized I had been punched by a man, I guess he was a Paro. I confronted him and he had NO explanation why he hit me. He DID NOT expect me to confront him, so he did could not even answer me when I questioned him. And he sure did not expect the punch I gave him back, because I did not provoke him, so why should I be hit by him. Although I hit him back, I felt very dissatisfied, because I know he will continue doing this to other people. Can you imaging i am just walking in the street and someone hitting me just like that. Well that could have been ANY tourist. There was not one police officer around. To add injury to insult, a little while later, “YELLOW” started harassing me and I had to stand up to her as usual, and it took her quite some time to leave me alone.
    IAN, this is my experience as a DOMINICAN, who knew and experienced years gone by, what it was to walk the streets of Roseau without being harassed. What is YOUR plan to get it back to what it was, so that Tourist and everyone else can feel safe and enjoy Roseau and by extension Dominica and what we have to offer.

    • Anonymous
      January 28, 2013

      I don’t think the paros are the issue -I don’t think you can blame them for the decline in tourism.

  20. Malatete
    January 28, 2013

    I do hope this is not a veiled threat to sanitize any news before it is allowed to go out, like they do in China. Of course we don’t want to give our country a bad name but the best way to do this is to make sure that things are properly taken care of in the first place and not by dressing up mutton as lamb.

  21. GLOBAL VILLAGE
    January 28, 2013

    Wake up and smell the coffee Mr. Minister, we live in a global village and everything is news especially something that would be considered a crisis so that makes no sense. Guess we must not say anything so people can come to Dominica and not know how to protect themselves.

  22. Lougaoo Mem
    January 28, 2013

    The truth of the matter is, dissemination of information to the public has little relevance on protecting the tourism industry. Hence-forth, the media and stakeholders, should not let their hearts be troubled on that issue. I’m fully aware of the importance in protecting our nature-based tourism. But it all begins with the question of “SECURITY”. Is our nature isle safe? That’s the Q’ on the tourists’ minds. Most worry about robberies, attacks and lawlessness, which is a holistc responsibility of any government to avoid. It all begins with enforcing the laws on the books with no bias. A discipline police force to execute their duties professionally makes a big difference, and does enhance the image. They ought to make themselves visible in all our tourist attractions. Our beloved island is relatively safe considering all…Though there’s a great deal required to attract and promote a healthy tourism industry in Dominica. I may sound political, but permit to state that Mr. Douglas has not been on Q’ in adressing what really needs to be done to promote the tourism industry, which is so vital to our economy. Sorry!

    • ti nom
      January 28, 2013

      safety is important but how about getting there to begin with? it all begins with one word-AIRPORT.

    • Pedro
      January 28, 2013

      We don’t quite have it right. The media can play its role, but there should be less “containment” at that level. We have to be proactive and realize that much more investment is needed in tis sector; but not as an isolation to itself. Health and safety are priorities of the government for citizens FIRST and guests second. Too often the cry is about the tourists, but much of the same crimes affect the local citizens too. We talk about hospital care, ambulance services, airport access, road conditions..doesnt the tax paying public deserve that too? We talk about garbage: “oh what a sight for tourists!”. Aren’t all these issues impacting the inhabitants more? Lets get our act together; lets put our priorities in place for the development of the country. Lets have a vision of where we want to go and start taking steps in that direction; let’s sell the ideas so that the public buys in; let’s budget more for basic infrastucture like roads and signs, so not only the tourists can get from point to point easy, but locals as well…lets educate our youths and empower them to provide job opportunities for self employment, so they are off the roads, lets build a juvenile center for the delinquent youths and council those on drugs..the list is long, but it can all rub off on a good image for the tourists. Enough talk Mr Minister, lets see action on the ground that empowers a safe and deserving society, and by extension we will get the benefits to the tourist sector!

    • Peeping Tom
      January 28, 2013

      Lougaoo Mem: “The truth of the matter is, dissemination of information to the public has little relevance on protecting the tourism industry.” 8-O 8-O

      Now this statement is so ridiculous that i am not even sure if i should laugh or just remain shocked that someone actually believes this.

      • Lougaoo Mem
        January 28, 2013

        Sorry Brotha P.T. It’s not my fault if you can’t see the “B” in the bull’s foot. But again, your opinion is highly respect. One love!

      • Anonymous
        January 29, 2013

        Truly is scary and the thing is the tone with which he says this is so assertive like he knows this as fact researched and documented by, lets say, the Global Media Research Institute funded by God himself LOL. stewps

  23. Ohplease
    January 28, 2013

    ian i want to ask you one question, i hope you making way in the media for people to ask question about your leader and his chriss on our backs to many things has been hiden under the carpet from you guys, and what you want the people to know you asking to be in media give me break ian, and stop talking we dont want to hear you because nothing good comes from you all mouth anyway.

  24. vexness
    January 28, 2013

    Why he doh go and take out those paro tht harassing tourist every day in roseau nuh stupes …

  25. Anonymous
    January 28, 2013

    Control not controlled

  26. Anonymous
    January 28, 2013

    Trying to controlled the media what is next.

  27. Morihei Ueshiba
    January 28, 2013

    Ian be a man and take back your party from skerro, Layba party belongs to Douglas Make Mike & Rosie Proud! :mrgreen:

  28. Listening
    January 28, 2013

    Mr. Minister let us go a step further.

    The basic things to protect the Tourism package liking keeping Roseau clean and free of vagrants you wil not do. Also making useable facililty like tiolets available at tourism site and you are coming to the media asking to protect the tourism product only in the time of crisis.

    There is nothing to protect because we dont have a tourism product due to the lack of intervention on the small matters by our current GOVT.

  29. January 28, 2013

    “It is incumbent on us therefore, to be well prepared for situations which require us to protect the reputation, safety and integrity of the tourism sector,” Douglas said.”

    What baloney is he talking here?

    What reputation and safety is he talking about: I suppose he is suggesting that the media should not report when visiting tourist are robed, beaten, and murdered in our country. Such cannot be hidden from the foreign public, since their governments are informed by the relatives of the victims of such crime. By the time someone book a trip in which the itinerary involves Dominica, the tourist are told what to expect on every island they visits, including Dominica.

    How can the media hide the harassment visitors undergo perpetrated by our very own people. The best way to protect our nation reputation is to eliminate crime in the country, we have to deal harshly with the criminals when they are caught, and not simply give them a slap on their wrist after they murdered some visitor.

    I am from Wesley, I took one of my daughters with me to Dominica for a visit, we went to Roseau one day, my daughter was shopping for some souvenirs to bring back to her brothers, and sister. Some dirty old guy began harassing her because she did not want to buy some vanished dried coconut he had on two green strings, when I intervened, to have him stop bothering my daughter, the man turned on me cursing me out and called me a Bugger-man; hahahahahahahahahahahahahah: (homosexual) that is.

    That is the sort of thing visitors puts up with when they visit our country, this has to stop Ian, what are you doing to stop the nasty attitude and behavior of the scum bags who harass and even kill visitors to our country?

    Do something about that, and stop talking crap.

    Are you an idiot man?

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  30. Anonymous
    January 28, 2013

    More talk shop and no answers.

  31. T
    January 28, 2013

    Stuppessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!
    Gang of imposters!

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