Our companies are actively engaged in becoming investors and participants in Dominica. In our current process, we have conducted extensive research on your economy, environment, government and culture.

    What we have found is in fact quite positive. The Commonwealth of Dominica is at a crossroads and affords an excellent environment for business and numerous opportunities.

    But, (you had to know that was coming!!!) many years of having conducted and reviewed the same issues being discussed in other venues lead me to some observations:

1. Dominica is at a very predictable stage in the process of maturing from being a dependent state to that of having some level of control over her destiny.
2. Every single issue facing the nation (agricultural dependency, focus of economy (tourism, ag, airports, etc.) are being defined by and solutions thereto being restricted by external forces.
3. Limited geo-political base and limited natural resources.

    With all of that in mind, I would suggest the following:

1. Find a way (any way) to reduce inordinate dependency on the largesse of other nations and/or companies. There is ALWAYS a quid pro quo for grants/concessionary loans, give-aways, etc. Nobody gives anything without an expectation of receiving something in return. In the current state, the expectation leads to lack of control over your own destiny.
2. Conceive of your nation as a 26,000 employee (current work force in Dominica) company, which, in order to survive and prosper must produce a variety of products and services which are in demand by consumers.
3. Although immediate correction is not possible, reduce to lowest practical level the proportion of GDP which is expected from Bananas. Although the culture has a strong connection to its historic crop, everything about this market is emblematic of inordinate dependence upon a market over which you have absolutely no control and which is possessed of the expectancy of cited in item 1 above.
4. Tourism, as defined in a current mission statement amongst you, must be an integral portion of a balanced economy. It is a ready and available market and you have an excellent raw material. However, to continually harp on “eco-tourism” is to miss an important fact. Although there are eco-tourists in the world, they are relatively few in number and extensive studies indicate they do not spend nearly the same amount of money as traditional tourists. As always, you must market to the “masses” to live with the “classes”.
5. Now the “international” airport. When any objective criteria is applied it simply does not wash. You couldn’t get a Memorandum of Understanding from any international airline to even agree to discuss international flights to M-Hall or any other new location. What will work? Modify the existing facilities at M-Hall to allow for night landings and landings and takeoffs during inclement weather. They will come and that will provide the impetus to develop facilities travelers want.
6. Continue with efforts to attract international businesses to the island. Not every one of them are shady and want to rape the nation. Your leaders were dead on course to implement off-shore business and it will in the long run prove to be a cornerstone of your success.
7. Take advantage of those international companies who domicile in Dominica and “pick their brains”. They better than public sector consultants can demonstrate the development of skills required to compete in a global economy and reduce and eventually eliminate dependency and lead to control over your destiny.

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