It is always interesting to note the predictions that are made every year.  At IDA, after monitoring the first two months of 2012, we would like to share a few items that we predict will be surfacing over the next few months.  You can certainly look forward to the following:

1. We anticipate numbers will remain just about the same as the previous year as it pertains to cruise and stay over visitors to Dominica.
2. The enabling environment will be more comfortable for business as some amendments should be passed on some of the laws which affect investment and tourism.
3. More local investments will be seen and also expansion of local businesses which will be as a direct result of the local public awareness campaign which is on-going.
4. Increase in employment will also be experienced in various communities on the island.
5. The service level at the IDA is expected to be of a much higher level in light of the recent report by the World Bank which ranks IDA 7 out of 77 ACP countries as the best investment agency.
6. The Manufacturing Sector will be more streamlined as more focus will be placed on development of businesses with the work of the Dominica Manufacturers Association.
7. Dominica will be maximising on the established bilateral relationships with some countries and will arrange for investment missions in these countries.
8. Overall we anticipate a flow of energy and rustle of activity in the investment sector which will subsequently translate to economic development and increase in employment.

Follow us and let us know, if our outlook for 2012 comes to fruition.

Villa Apartments at the Rosalie Bay Resort

As way back as some of us can remember, the Rosalie Boxing Plant was the centre of activity in the South East of Dominica. The Plant provided a reception depot for banana farmers, a distribution point for fertilizer and supplies and an overall trading spot for farmers. This was where “living the life” began in the South East. The Rosalie Estate and neighbouring estates/plantations employed hundreds of villagers from the surrounding villages and the Plant itself provided employment to many more. To many, these were the dream jobs which sent their children to school and paid mortgages, vehicles and general livelihood. Many workers on the estate subsequently owned portions of land at Rosalie and used it for both farming and residency.

The Rosalie Boxing Plant a Few Years Ago

The Rosalie Bay is filled with history, culture and productivity. All of these come together and is presented in a story to the guests who have come from all over the world to this unique Island sometimes described as being untouched. The hotel has hosted and been the location for Chef Nathan Lyon and his team who filmed portions of their new season television cooking show. More recently, an entire crew of AVON Cosmetics was hosted with their models to prepare and photo shoot the launch of their new product “Nature”. In November 2011, Sir Richard Branson, of Virgin Atlantic posted a blog about his visit to Dominica. That same week, a photo was posted on Facebook by Rosalie Bay Hotel asking fans to guess the name of the guest who was hosted at the hotel – a resounding number of responses identified the guest as Sir Richard Branson. While some farmers in the Rosalie area are still focused on bananas or agriculture, the new conference centre of the hotel stands majestically on the original foundation of the boxing plant to provide excellent service to the next group meeting.

Invest Dominica Authority (IDA) is expecting a major thrust towards investment in Dominica as one of its local investors, Secret Bay has been featured by a number of media houses and publications recently. Between September and October of 2011, the property has had outstanding articles written on it in “National Geographic Traveller”, luxury publication “B Beyond”, “Caribbean Travel + Life”, “Travel & Leisure” and The Observer’s “Style” publication. Leading European publication “Caribbean Property Investor” named Secret Bay as one the 7 most stunning places in the Caribbean in its annual Opulent Retreats listing. Over the next two months, Secret Bay will be featured in several other internationally known publications including the New York Times. Also, Time Warner Cable TV program, A Taste of New York, has just selected Secret Bay as the “ultimate romantic getaway” and they will be airing a video on Secret Bay several times during the month of November.

The property which is located in Portsmouth recently opened its doors to guests in May 2011 with 2 two large and 2 smaller-sized villas. The resort features high-end villas in a beautiful eco setting with personalized world class service in a luxurious yet secretive environment. It caters for the nature lover seeking a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere with the highest level of service. Owners of Secret Bay, Gregor Nassief and Sandra Vivas, are particularly proud of what the articles are doing for their property and Dominica on a whole. IDA wishes them much more success.

Invest Dominica Authority (IDA) expects to see the strengthening of cooperation and increased investment activities between Dominica and its French speaking neighbours of Guadeloupe and Martinique following a trip to these two islands from July 20-21 by a delegation from the IDA.

An IDA delegation visited the two countries for discussions with current and potential investors and persons with an interest in doing business in Dominica. The visit to the French Doms is part of an IDA strategy to conduct targeted investment promotions in areas and in sectors where the country has a comparative advantage. The IDA sees the French Doms as a major location to attract inward investment and for increasing cooperation with businesses and institutions.

According to the Executive Director of the IDA, Mrs Rhoda Letang who was the leader of the delegation, “the visit to these two neighbouring countries marks a significant step forward in our efforts at promoting investment in Dominica and for deepening cooperation and enhancing areas of development activities among those two countries.”

“This visit to our French speaking neighbours was very important for the IDA’s continuing effort to target investors and to work more directly with those who are interested in investing in our country’s development efforts. We want to use this approach of targeted investment so as to attract the type of investment that we would like to see in Dominica”, Letang explained.

The IDA Executive Director went on the report that: “the meetings on both islands were very productive and very well attended by new and established investors. As a result, I hope to see more interest coming from the French islands for investment opportunities in Dominica.”

Prior to the visits to the two islands, IDA has been holding discussions with potential investors in these islands with a view to deepening existing relations with investors and for attracting new investors in the key areas identified for investment and development activities in Dominica.

The IDA is expected to host in September, some of these investors who would like to follow up from our meetings and have a firsthand look of various opportunities of interest and existing operations.

Invest Dominica Authority is the government’s agency responsible for promoting and facilitating both local and foreign investment into Dominica. It provides all the relevant information required to establish a business in Dominica and acts as the liaison between investors and other key agencies in Dominica. Invest Dominica Authority or IDA, is your one stop shop for doing business in Dominica.

Invest Dominica Authority (IDA) has commenced its first in a series of public awareness campaign in the community of Grand Bay on June 2, 2011.

The objectives of the public awareness programmes are to inform the community of the support and assistance of the IDA, and to work with potential and existing investors in the community to identify new investment opportunities, and to assist in translating these opportunities into sustainable business enterprises.

The meeting in Grand Bay was very well attended, and the IDA has already begun devising a strategy to continue working with potential and existing investors in the community to translate their recommendations into actual projects.  Honourable Justina Charles, Parliamentary Representative for the community of Grand Bay told the gathering that “now is the time for action; now is the time for building partnerships; and now is the time to wake up to the realization that together they can make a difference to make Grand Bay and the neighbouring environs one of the most vibrant and enterprising regions of Dominica.”

IDA’s next public awareness campaign is scheduled for the community of La Plaine.

So it seems like someone was reading my BLOG and decided to hasten the work at the Melville Hall Airport. Quite a bit happened since I last commented on “Our Airport and Investors”. A few test flights were made and weeks after, an inaugural night landing flight was announced for September 20th 2010. I certainly will not go into the details of the excitement which was created during that time in the nature isle.

Some of us have learnt that important things do take time and others live by the slogan that “Good things come to those who wait”. While skepticism still lurks around the issue of which airlines would eventually be flying into the airport at 8.00pm, we are relieved to know that in December WINAIR commenced a night flight, which arrives in Dominica at about 7.15pm out of Antigua. This facilitates persons who need connections from North America and UK as well as persons coming from St. Marten.

How has the business community, professionals and agencies like DHTA, DDA, IDA and others which have been suffering as a result limited air access and air lift deciphered this news? I believe some persons have been relieved significantly. It was good to hear people who traveled in January express joy on getting home the same night.

Some more businesses are being facilitated and we will be able to have more persons connecting easier and avoiding overnight in Antigua this Carnival season. I totally agree that up to this point WINAIR alone is not enough. LIAT has made us feel better recently when the CEO announced that commercial flights at night will begin soon to Melville Hall. Like anything new, some of us will be a bit apprehensive about flying in at night, as it probably is flying for the first time in a Twin Otter plane into Canefield Airport. I think we should totally embrace this milestone and look forward to much better days in Dominica.

I recently saw a television ad which made me stop and think and which I have not been able to get off my memory.  The tagline of the ad says “Every evening, your most important asset leaves the business and the challenge is to get them back into the business every morning”. If you were just walking by and that was all you heard, you probably would not have taken much notice.  This ad is being paid for by an international human resource organization.  The organization is built on people and support people who are the most important asset in every business.  For many business owners, managers and board directors all other aspects of business are of significant importance except the people who work there.  This way of thinking must be eradicated from our minds.

People have been and always will remain the most vital part of a business.  They determine whether the business regresses, grows or stays exactly where it is.  People are responsible for the operation, so the success of a business day will always be in their hands.  When customers complain of poor service, when an error is done in business communication, when accounting or IT mishaps occur, when deliveries fall short or products are not at their best the main reason for these shortcomings fall on a person or persons within the organization.  What is being done to ensure that people always give their best at work?  How are people being treated in the private and public sector?

Every business must be structured with at least one trained and qualified person or a department which takes care of staff.  A basic organization chart must be outlined showing lines of reporting.  Employee files must be kept with all records including job descriptions, updated contracts and communication regarding employees.  A training and development program must be structured.  Businesses must provide compensations which match the position and other incentive schemes must be in place to motivate staff and keep them happy on the job.  A healthy and safe work environment must be made available to all members of staff and persons responsible for human resource must be sensitive and considerate to issues which affect staff.  Management and directors must be capable of identifying persons for upward mobility and also to identify members of staff who are not contributing to the development of the business.  The labor laws of the country must be followed but every business must have their own in house manual on office procedures and a staff operational guide which supports the mission and vision of the company.

There are many areas that we can consider for building strong human resource and to avoid high staff turnover.  Let us all review our business structure by ensuring that we have great people on our team.