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.

A few years ago, several acres of the Rosalie Estate were sold by the then managing principal of the estate, Mr. Conrad Cyrus. Mr. Cyrus, who has since passed on, will never know the magnitude of investment which was made in the current Rosalie Bay Hotel, which opened just over a year ago. Many Dominicans have benefited from various work contracts prior to the beginning of operations and many more are still contracted as horticulturists to provide local produce, for hunting marine or wild life, management of a turtle conservation program and of course the many full time employees at the hotel. The twenty-eight room hotel is supported by a modern gym, swimming pool, restaurant and conference centre.

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) has continued its public awareness initiatives and held its third town hall meeting in Calibishie on December 8, 2011.

The objectives of the town hall meetings are to inform the community of the support and assistance of the IDA, 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.

Calibishie is well known for its tourism potential and agricultural capacity and as a result many of the villagers with resources in these sectors were attracted to the meeting. They assisted in providing guidance on a way forward for more economic activity in the village.  In his address to the gathering, Honourable Matthew Walter, Parliamentary Representative of Calibishie advised that “everyone needs to become more creative and serious in seeking new ways to do business.”  He further advised that as business owners, they must consider the resources of a manager who can guide their business in the right direction.  The meeting was brought to a close with the formation of a “business core group” whose primary role will be to liaise with and seek support from IDA on business initiatives in Calibishie.

Invest Dominica Authority (IDA) extends deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jeff Joseph, referred to as Jeff Jo or simply Jeff as he was warmly known to the staff of IDA.

Recognising the importance of the “Jeff Jo musical connection” in the French West Indies, IDA, earlier this year, entered into a special contractual agreement with Jeff Joseph to identify and target investors in Martinique and Guadeloupe, and to coordinate all the French West Indies investment promotion activities on behalf of the IDA.  The IDA is pleased that out of this working relationship with Jeff two successful FWI investment missions were undertaken in July 2011.

As recently as Friday, November 18, 2011 Jeff Joseph and a leading French Investor were in Dominica finalizing business plans for a new venture initiated from the investment mission in Guadeloupe.

Jeff Joseph was passionate about using his music and business acumen in the FWI to expand investment in Dominica.  He provided top business contacts to the IDA which the Authority would not have had access to otherwise.  He will be greatly missed as a dear friend, patriotic Dominican, one of our leading entertainers and as a business man who followed his dreams to the very end.

The Authority, on behalf of the Honourable Minister for Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs and the Board of Directors express deepest sympathies to his family, friends and fans.  Rest in Peace, Dear Jeff.

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.

A green economy and destination is not just the in-phrase for the Commonwealth of Dominica, it is the trajectory that we have been on for a number of years even before we consciously paid attention to the meaning of these words through government policies, individual responsibilities and marketing strategies. Dominica has always been recognized as the Nature Island of the Caribbean and this philosophy has been accepted without dispute. The reasoning is visual; our flora and fauna, our topography, our natural features-waterfalls, rivers, sulphur spa and mostly importantly the way of life of our people, incorporating everyday living in the environment.

A person once asked, “Would it be a bad thing that if Christopher Columbus returned to the region that Dominica would be the only place that he would recognise?” The answer is NO! Amidst the modern buildings, commercial activity, and adapted way of life of our people, Columbus should be able to recognise the unpolluted rivers and seas, the tradition of communities integrated within the new way of living, the flora and fauna, an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and the harmonious relationship with the indigenous people on the island. Aren’t these the elements that make Dominica a green destination, and on which millions of marketing dollars are spent to attract visitors to the island. Our many accolades received are testimony to the fact that we are known as a green destination.

A green destination is part of the sum of the holistic picture of a green economy. Other green considerations are for

1. investors and businesses, as standard practice, to focus on investment that adopt eco friendly practises, and to pay attention to the environment in which they operate.
2. Government to focus its efforts on the implementation of policies that will serve to transform Dominica in to a green economy.

This has started through the implementation of policy that allows for the waiver of duties on renewable energy equipment, the commitment and advanced work towards geothermal energy and other renewable energy sources, the drive towards beautification of the island and clean-up campaigns and special financial consideration being granted to entities which incorporate alternative energy as part of their development.

WE ARE 4G: Green economy, green investment, green incentives, green destination.

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.

When one thinks of investment promotion our mind quickly goes to the Investment Agency attending trade shows overseas, meeting with investors overseas and preparing promotional materials to target Foreign Direct Investments.

However, this is not so for Invest Dominica Authority. We are undertaking an investment promotion campaign to effectively and selectively target our local existing and potential investors. We are seeking to encourage the existing investors to reinvest and even diversify their investment portfolio. We are seeking to encourage our potential investors to discuss their project ideas with the IDA, so that together we can translate these ideas into sustainable business enterprises.

Our strategy is simple; we are going out to meet with these existing and potential investors. We are taking our investment promotion campaign to the various communities and towns to meet with the potential and existing investors. We have already commenced with our first public awareness and investment promotion campaign in the community of Grand Bay and environs. The turnout at this gathering was a testimony that we indeed have individuals who are keen on investing. These individuals have lands, they have great ideas, they have some working capital and most importantly they have the zeal and determination to undertake an investment for themselves first and foremost and equally to contribute to the economic development of the island.

To marry these elements they now have Invest Dominica Authority, the Authority that is going to do the handholding, the guiding, the matching of investors with investors to create the powerful partnership required for the management of the business, advocating policy recommendations to Government towards the continued improvement in the enabling environment, and the undertaking of networking with the various public and private entities on behalf of the investors.

Our mandate is simple; we want to see an increase in local investors in the economy in all areas of the island. We want each community to have vibrant business enterprises that can improve the standard of living of the people.  Local investors are the first pillar of economic sustainability.

The nature island produces many cultural events.  As a matter of fact, Cultural Industries is a vibrant sector currently being pursued.  Some villages are actually referred to as being culturally-oriented with the southern village of Grand Bay being known as the “Cultural Capital” of Dominica.  What is worth mentioning about Cultural Industries is the varied number of “fields” which fall under its umbrella.  These include: festivals, music, drama, theatre, art, craft, dance, poetry, intellectual property, video production, music production, film and film production.  Throughout the island are located pockets of cultural fields some of which are unique to a specific area.  Some of those which can be highlighted are: traditional dances and craft in Grand Bay; traditional folk song and dance from Paix Bouche; craft items from the Kalinago Territory; theatre productions from the capital of Roseau and its immediate environs.

Needless to say, the “Bouyon” music has grown and spread extensively locally and throughout the region and the world.  While Triple K and WCK remain the leading bouyon bands, many others have been formed in various villages.  While we talk music, Dominica produced its “Lady of Song” Ophelia about two decades ago but, more recently, singer Michele Henderson from Grand Bay has been rising steadily with many international performances.  We cannot underscore the impressions of the Swinging Stars Band over the last fifty years.  Despite the focus drawn on Dominica after the filming of “Pirates of the Caribbean”, the island has not attracted another major film. However smaller films, documentaries and reality shows have been filmed on island.  The island has the potential for an international music recording studio or a film editing and production studio.

The two major festivals that are produced on island are Carnival and the World Music Creole Festival.  The majority of the benefits from both seem to come from the spinoff services generated from completely booked hotel rooms, restaurants, car rentals, retail trade, taxes and other side events during that period.  It would be remise of me not to mention the annual Creole in the Park, Dive Fest, Hike Fest, Creole and Jazz Festival and a number of village feasts and festivals which are enjoyed by many locals and visitors throughout the year.  Local live band performances to provide entertainment is lacking throughout the island but many local bands participate fully in the festivals.  Some artists have small art studios but the profitability relies heavily on a non-local market.  Dance and poetry is still being produced at a minimum.  The island obviously has a lot of talented persons in various fields of culture but in many aspects these are not being pursued as a business or for investment purposes.  It is time to review the Cultural Industries Sector and bring about much needed change.

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.