Let’s not pretend that everything is perfect. It’s not. Dominica still struggles with delays, bureaucracy, transparency concerns, and the weight of climate vulnerability. But now and then, facts come into view that deserve acknowledgement, not praise for praise’s sake, but recognition that not every promise floats away.
Referring to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit‘s update this month, it’s evident that the Government of Dominica is moving decisively in long-stalled areas: education, infrastructure, investment rules, renewable energy, water services, and workforce development. These are not empty talking points. These are actual projects, funded, designed, and in motion.
Building Smart in Education and Skills
Start with the Goodwill Secondary School (GSS). Scheduled for completion by June 2026, the new GSS will be transformed into a Center of Excellence for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET). More than a facelift, this is about purpose-driven education: food preparation, garment construction, electrical installations, and more to meet real community and employment needs. It includes science labs, a library, and a multipurpose court. This kind of skills-based investment is a practical response in a country where youth unemployment and migration pressure remain high.
And the signs of follow-through are there. In April alone, over 100 Dominicans received National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certificates in areas like plumbing, cosmetology, fish handling, data operations, and commercial food prep. These aren’t degrees gathering dust in drawers. These are qualifications tied directly to market needs. It signals that education policy is not being designed in a vacuum.
Investments That Actually Touch Communities
Too often, we hear about “development” and picture ribbon-cuttings or renderings that never materialise. But EC$6.57 million in new funding under the BNTF Cycle 10 isn’t abstract, it’s already being applied to communities.
From the Paix Bouche Water Enhancement Project to Clifton Back Road repairs, and from the Delices Playing Field upgrade to the Grand Bay/Dubique multipurpose facility, these small but focused projects quietly improve everyday life for families living far from the main centres of attention.
Add to that the Water Sector Strategic Development Project (WSSDP) led by DOWASCO. The aim? Bring sustainable water access to Castle Bruce, Grand Fond, Coulibistrie, Morne Jaune, Calibishie, and more. Residents in these areas have suffered dry taps or unreliable supplies for too long. Water access isn’t a luxury, it’s a human right. That this is being tackled, systematically and with funding in hand, should matter to all of us.
Backing Our Grid Before the Lights Go Out
Few things expose state failure faster than power outages. That’s why acquiring a 6MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) leased to DOMLEC is so important. It may not make headlines, but it helps stabilize the national grid, improve reliability, and reduce the country’s reliance on fuel-based spinning reserves. With geothermal energy expected to be integrated by the end of 2025, this step helps hold the line until that vision arrives. That’s strategic, not flashy, but necessary.
The Global Side of Governance
Dominica has been under scrutiny on the international stage for its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme. At the Caribbean Investment Summit (CIS) 2025, PM Roosevelt Skerrit reaffirmed the country’s commitment to transparency, due diligence, and regional collaboration. With a regional regulatory framework now in the works and a first draft due in May 2025, Dominica appears to respond to criticism with structured reform, not defensiveness.
This is essential. Our global partners want proof of integrity, not just promises. A harmonised framework, shared with Antigua, Saint Lucia, and others, can help shield the region from isolation while securing the credibility of our CBI programme.
Health and Connectivity, Not Left Behind
Then there’s the quieter progress. The USD $2.1 million (EC $5.7 million) grant from the U.S. Government to construct a new Fire and Ambulance Station in La Plaine is already in motion. This facility will serve Delices, Riviere Cyrique, Boetica, and more. It’s a strategic addition to disaster response on the east coast, where emergency delays can mean tragedy.
And for the first time, Dominica is now linked by agreement to Qatar under a new Air Services Agreement. While it may seem abstract, this lays the groundwork for civil aviation cooperation, future tourism expansion, and more meaningful investment flows from the Gulf.
Let’s Be Honest About What We See
Is everything perfect? No. Are these projects the complete solution? Not yet. But they’re happening, and that matters.
In a world flooded with slogans and posturing, implementation is currency. What Dominica showed in April was that implementation, slow, steady, and measurable, is indeed taking place.
We can debate priorities, demand better timelines, and call out bottlenecks and delays. But we must also credit movement when it occurs, especially when it reaches real people, in real communities, with real outcomes.
Let’s hold the government accountable. But let’s also acknowledge when the wheel turns.
This article is copyright © 2025 DOM767
