To this end, he recently met with representatives of the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) in Roseau to figure out ways that government and private sector can work together to reduce supermarket product costs.

While stating that he has no intention of interfering with the profit margins that the private sector achieves, Prime Minister Skerrit did request that the private sector “meet government at some point.”

As he said, “What we are saying is that you can look within your own pricing mechanism and see how we can reach the people of Dominica at some point, because let us be frank with ourselves, that some prices on the shelves are too expensive…. “

Nelly Stharre from Dominica also performed at the festival on its final night.  As a staple in the Jamaican music scene for the last 15 years, Nelly is a Reggae singer.  She performed songs from her album “Soul Country.”

Other artists who performed this year included Machel Montano, Erykah Badu, Billy Ocean,  Robin Banks, Queens Project – Tamia, Kelly Price and Deborah Cox, Babyface, The Whispers, Joss Stone, Monty Alexander, Joe Roy Jackson, and Maxi Priest.

With the most recent elections behind them, and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit re-elected, Dominica focused its attention on worthwhile causes of this sort.  Reggae star Garnet Challenger performed at the concert.  He is the composer of the event’s theme song, Give Peace Another Chance.”

There were many sponsors of the concert including the Venezuelan Embassy who sponsored flyers and t-shirts for the event. Other sponsors included: the Cultural Division, Isaiah Thomas Secondary School, St Joseph Village Council, Layou Improvement Council, National Youth Council; Dominica State College, Dominica Christian Council, Camp Rescue Londonderry, Dominica National Council of Women, Youth Secretariat, Portsmouth Neighborhood Watch, the Police Force, Nurses Association, Dominica Cancer Society and the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities.

Secretary General of Caricom, Edwin Carrington, explained recently that the Community has decided to focus their relief efforts on the health sector and to aid in this area however they can. In addition, Caricom has been invited to be part of an International Conference on Haiti that is taking place in Montreal, Canada. Caricom will be represented there by Former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson.

Prime Minister Skerrit was very busy there for a few days with his colleagues. CARICOM is trying to mobilize quick assistance in tandem with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Haitis is a recent member to both organizations, having joined CARICOM most recently, and CDEMA in September of 2009.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit explained that the regional grouping would be better able to target their assistance in the days and weeks ahead, as the true picture of the destruction and need became more apparent. He went on to say that, as the Prime Minister of Dominica, and as part of CARICOM, that his thoughts and prayers were with the people of Haiti.

President Raul Castro Ruz sent the following congratulatory message to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on his reelection:

“On the occasion of your re-election as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, I extend cordial congratulations to you and renew to you our resolve to continue enhancing the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation existing between both countries….”

For many years now, the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Republic of Cuba have had a warm relationship.  Both President Raul Castro Ruz and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit hope to continue this tradition.

He emphasized, however, that there needs to be a collaborative effort among citizens to continue to steer Dominica forward in 2010.  Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit looks forward to 2010 and hopes that it will be a year that will help to build the country and to elevate the people to higher levels of prosperity.

Prime Minister Skerrit was sworn in on Monday, December 21st, 2009 after running as the leader of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and defeating his main opponent, Ron Green of the United Workers Party, with 18 seats compared to Green’s 3.

Elections were held last Friday, December 18 in the Commonwealth of Dominica, which is a parliamentary democracy located in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea, about 500 miles from Venezuela in South America. Dominica has the distinction of being one of the few republics in the region, where the president is the head of state and the cabinet is where executive power lies, with the prime minister as the head.

The parliament is unicameral with a House of Assembly made up of 30 members. Twenty-one of the members are elected directly by the electorate, and an additional nine are senators who have either been appointed by the president or elected by the other members of the House of Assembly. Roosevelt Skerrit, the newly elected prime minister, will now lead the Commonwealth of Dominica into its political future.