"Dominica government placed country on right path despite challenges posed by COVID-19"

Dominica: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that the government of Dominica in the past week, “we forge ahead with the business of managing the country and placing it on the right path of development despite the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.” The economic activity is taking a hit, movement is curtailed, and the government's focus has shifted to addressing the immediate health crisis Dominica is faced with. “The provision of health services during the current surge absorbs a significant chunk of the funds which we set aside for other government initiatives whether it is in housing, sports or others.” PM added that, the activity and tourism continue even with the travel restrictions worldwide. Dominica is seeing the weekly arrival of cruise ship visitors to the island under the strictest health and safety guidelines. “One clear example of the commitment of this government to keep the wheels of the economy turning in the face of this dire health crisis and from all the reports, I am told that those who are involved in providing services to the cruise visitors this past week was a very successful week for all of them,” he added. “Our job as a government is to ensure that the livelihood of every single citizen is maintained and protected and that people can continue to go about their daily business of life and work. It is a delicate balancing act and I ask you for support of our efforts to protect the health of our vulnerable children and the elderly while finding ways to keep establishments open, so that people can work and employees can pay their wages.” PM further added that some people believe that the country should shut down for 15 or 21 days straight. He said that the government is able to find a responsible approach to balancing the health imperative. “We all must play a part, we need the cooperation and support of everyone of you in this country and there are so many ways you can help we have spoken about this before and I have been very clear, it is in your best interest to get vaccinated. The efficacy of the available vaccines is not in question. Vaccination reduces your risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.” He said. “It also imposes a country of population which has achieved herd immunity to return to a normal way of life, our way of Life in Dominica will continue to be impacted and all activities curtailed for as long as we refuse to get vaccinated,” PM emphasized. Only collective action can help Dominica turn this situation around, this is why Prime Minister continue to encourage people to get tested and vaccinated. PM reassured the commitment of the government to provide $30 million lending assistance to small businesses over a three-year period through the Aid Bank. The government of Dominica is contracting this loan from the CDB. Pfizer Vaccine Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit thanked the US government and the American people for donating 46,500 Pfizer vaccines to Dominica. He said that everything is in place for the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, including placement of freezers, the staff is in place and even the schedule has been drawn up for the rollout. Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and chairman of CARICOM has convened a special meeting of CARICOM heads for Tuesday, September 14, 2021 to discuss the situation of COVID-19 in the Caribbean and the implications for the Caribbean of the current surge that is going on in virtually every single island of the region. Prime Minister also provided an update on the international airport, “We have completed the lab and we’re clearing the site by removing the bushes so we can have access for the geotechnical surveys and studies.” He said, “we have started the constructions of the offices for various teams that will be working on the project and very soon, we shall sign a contract for the actual construction of the airport.”

"Dominica government placed country on right path despite challenges posed by COVID-19"

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