Our Policies & Strategies
The Big Picture
A better quality of life for all the people and the future generations is the ultimate goal that the Dominica Freedom Party will pursue should we receive the nod to once again govern the affairs of our country. Pursuing this goal requires balancing of the economic, the social and the environmental dimensions of development. We want our people to be prosperous and to thrive. We aspire to have high human development. We aspire to be the happiest people on earth. We aspire to be among the longest living people on earth.
A better quality of life for all the people and the future generations is the ultimate goal that the Dominica Freedom Party will pursue should we receive the nod to once again govern the affairs of our country. Pursuing this goal requires balancing of the economic, the social and the environmental dimensions of development. We want our people to be prosperous and to thrive. We aspire to have high human development. We aspire to be the happiest people on earth. We aspire to be among the longest living people on earth.
The Big Idea
Making Dominica the Nature Island of the World! This big idea will be expressed across all the dimension of development to arrive at the big picture – a better quality of life for all. So, what does this big idea entail? It entails differentiating Dominica based on the island naturalness. It entails preserving and sustainably utilizing our natural environment. Under the economic dimension, it entails utilizing the rich and rear gift – the bounty of nature, as a major basis for generating wealth and economic growth. This would be well served by aligning the way we live with the differentiation we want to foster. It entails pursuing shared growth so that all citizens and residents are deeply invested in making Dominica the Nature Island of the World. The differentiation must be increasingly supported by the proof, to include that related to longevity/life expectancy.
Making Dominica the Nature Island of the World! This big idea will be expressed across all the dimension of development to arrive at the big picture – a better quality of life for all. So, what does this big idea entail? It entails differentiating Dominica based on the island naturalness. It entails preserving and sustainably utilizing our natural environment. Under the economic dimension, it entails utilizing the rich and rear gift – the bounty of nature, as a major basis for generating wealth and economic growth. This would be well served by aligning the way we live with the differentiation we want to foster. It entails pursuing shared growth so that all citizens and residents are deeply invested in making Dominica the Nature Island of the World. The differentiation must be increasingly supported by the proof, to include that related to longevity/life expectancy.
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The Economic Dimension
The economic dimension centres around our ability to earn income. It pains us to see our economic state as a nation! It hurts when we hear that there are people in our land who cannot afford to have three meals a day. It is sad that some of our people have had to suffer the indignity of regularly asking the Prime Minister to meet expenses that our people should be in a position to meet for themselves if they had decent work and pay, and/or thriving businesses, or if their children and extended family were doing well enough to assist them. This is a clear indication of rampant poverty in our land. Off course statistics corroborate the high level of poverty in our country. Indeed the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment Report dated September 2017, prepared by the government of Dominica with technical assistance from the World Bank with regards to the impact of Hurricane Maria noted “…it is likely that there will be a 25 percent reduction in overall consumption, which will result in an increase in the poverty head count from 28.8 (in 2009) percent to 42.8 percent.” The Dominica Freedom Party will pursue strategies to enable the vast majority of the people to achieve that middle class dream right here at home! |
While we know that we are a long way from that goal, we absolutely know that it is possible! But our people don’t just want to escape poverty! We must be able to consume desired goods and services well beyond basic necessities. Our people want to own aesthetically attractive homes that are well-furnished and well-appointed. Our people want to live in safe and attractive neighbourhoods. We want to own attractive and comfortable vehicles to allow us the mobility to enjoy this beautiful land. We want to enjoy leisure activity and be able to travel for vacation. We certainly want to be able to set aside adequate savings for retirement and emergencies and to assist with the tertiary education of our children! We desire health insurance and adequate access to health care to put our minds at ease and that of our families should the misfortune of major illness occur – something that can throw many into poverty. We want to be able to enjoy the kind of lifestyle enjoyed by the middle class in North America and Europe! That is why many of our people migrate to these places! They are pursuing that middle-class dream! Many of our young people are desperate to leave our shores as they see very little hope for a bright future in Dominica. |
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The Social Dimension
Enjoying life is not just about how much we can earn (the economic dimension) though it is very important! it is also about being able to walk on the streets without fear of being robbed or verbally abused by others who do not feel a strong sense of being cared for by the society.. It is also about being able to raise our families with good values shared by the whole community and without fear of our children being exposed to recreational drugs and predatory sexual behaviours. It is also about being able to recreate in wholesome ways without fear of violence, use of indecent language and other abhorrent behaviours that keep many from participating in social events. It is also about enjoying public spaces including our beaches. Litter and graffiti in those spaces can take away from the enjoyability of the experience. It is also about being able to enjoy shopping |
in our cities or going about our affairs without being harassed sexually, politically or otherwise. Do you get the picture? You can add your own bit concerning what it takes to enjoy living within our nation (the social dimension of sustainable development). It hurts when we see people struggling! Some of us enjoy life more when we see our fellow citizens doing well. We in this reenergised Dominica Freedom Party will strongly promote shared economic growth in our land - irrespective of political, religious or other social affiliations! This factor is very important for our people to feel that they are cared for by their country. This will encourage persons to engage in behaviours that lift our quality of life rather than engage in socially deviant behaviours. |
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The Environmental Dimension
As a people we boast Dominica’s rivers, mountains, greenery, fertile land and the other natural gifts. We are proud of our isle of beauty, an isle of splendour! Indeed, we are currently dubbed the nature Island of the Caribbean. We enjoy our land – the refreshing water; the fresh air, and fresh produce from our fertile land; things that undoubtedly contribute to the longevity of our people. What a lovely space we share! We have a duty to preserve it for future generations! All these attributes are resources which we also use for our earnings. Our farmers and fishermen earn a living from the land, rivers and sea and we invite tourists to enjoy this wonder that Dominica is! |
To have the best possible quality of life, not only do we need to earn income (the economic dimension) and foster a socially cohesive society (the social dimension), we also need to maintain a healthy physical environment (the environmental dimension) so that we can continue to enjoy the direct pleasures and utility that we derive therefrom and it can continue to form a platform for our earnings. It is the careful balancing of these three dimensions that will allow us to optimize the quality of life of all the people and future generations.
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Our excessive use of chemicals in agriculture, as well as industrial and household cleaners, is likely having an adverse impact on our health and our land.If we neglect the environment, we jeopardize our ability to earn. If we properly manage our cultural and environmental heritage, there will remain great earning potential through tourism. We must direct all our efforts at making Dominica that special place that the world would want to visit – we must make it the Nature Island of the Word! Much of what we need to do to ensure the sustainable management of our environment is interwoven with our everyday living! Keeping our rivers flowing would require us to properly manage our forests. This would also contribute to preserving the scenic drive to the interior of this beautiful land. Our scenic coastlines, and our special natural and historical attractions can be diminished by the unsightliness of the built environment, by litter and garbage dumped or left along roadways and by waste disposed of in valleys or over cliffs.
The improper storage, collection or disposal of waste can result in unpleasant sights and smells that can be a turnoff to our visitors. There are environmental pollutants that we also have to be very vigilant at managing and some we need to eliminate. |
Our consumption of processed foods instead of the food we grow may already be having an adverse impact on our longevity! We must address all these issues in order to continue offering our country as a natural paradise and a beacon of healthy living.
We must adequately manage construction projects to ensure that they aesthetically complement our natural environment, ensuring that they are attractive, safe, hardy to the impact of natural hazards, efficiently with respect to the use of energy, and allows for adequate access to services including emergency services. To minimize the impacts of adverse weather conditions and natural hazards, we must pay more attention to where and how we locate and build our homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure; how and where we grow our food and carry out other economic activities; how we manage our waste. Other elements for proper management of the environmental dimension includes eco-systems management, rural and urban planning, wastes disposal and pollution control, disaster risk and climate change management. |
The Necessary Conditions
Under this page we will highlight the major tenant of policies and strategies that the Dominica Freedom Party proposes to lift our country to the full realization of the national vision. These will cover the following areas under which details will be included over time, so please revisit this age.
Under this page we will highlight the major tenant of policies and strategies that the Dominica Freedom Party proposes to lift our country to the full realization of the national vision. These will cover the following areas under which details will be included over time, so please revisit this age.
Trade
- What do we have to trade? What can we become competitive in?
- Potential Markets
- Trade promotion
- Access agreements
- Trade with OECS and CARICOM
- Standards and Certification
Investment
- Importance of Foreign Direct Investments
- What would investors be interested in?
- Becoming more attractive to FDI
- Investment promotion
- Joint ventures between nationals and non-nationals
- Investment from the Dominican Diaspora
- Local investments and organization of investments
Physical Infrastructure
- Importance of good road network including agricultural roads
- Sea Ports – Cargo, fishing, cruise, ferry passengers
- Airports and international connectivity
- Electricity, telecommunications and water
- Disaster risk considerations in infrastructure
Agriculture and Agro-processing
- Food security considerations
- Healthy lands and organic agriculture
- Organization
- Market and product research
- Use of technology the value of land
- Youth in Agriculture
- Productivity and farm Infrastructure
Tourism
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Energy
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Private Sector Development
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Shared growth
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Education
- Access to Education
- Relevance of education
- Quality of education
- Supporting an entrepreneurial- culture
- Education that encourages creative thinking
- Anchoring positive cultures through education
Health
- Encouraging good nutrition as the foundation of good health
- Access to Health Care
- Good quality health Care
- Adequate facilities
- Adequate Systems
- Information management
- Adequately trained and experienced personnel
- Efficiency in the delivery of health care
- Preventative health care – primary health care at the foundation
- Environmental health
- Managing health risk and dealing with mass emergency events
- Health evacuation
Housing /Better Communities
- Access to housing
- Resilient housing
- Access to utilities and emergency service
- Landscaping and street scaping
- Street lighting
- Recreational spaces
- Access to public transport
Community Development
- Role of Local government
- Vibrant communities
Social Assistance
Healthy Ecology
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National Pride
Green Technology
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Please peruse our publication page for more policy positions.
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