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| Volume No. 1 Issue No. 21 - Friday, May 17, 2002 |
Rosie Douglas Foundation Donates
Over $150,000
RDF Continues in Its Development Thrust
by: Athenia Henry
Since the
staging of the grand Diaspora Symposium in New York in December
of last year, the Rosie Douglas Foundation (RDF) has moved
aggressively to cement the relationship with the Dominican
populace and embark on projects that will help in improving
on the overall economic conditions in Dominica.
Coming out of the Symposium, the Dominica Sustainable Energy
Corporation (DSEC) was formed (http://dsecinc.com).
The group
is headed by Dominican Scientist Bevin Etienne, an electrical/mechanical
engineer and a senior researcher at the University of Maryland's CALCE
(Computer Aided Life Cycle Engineering) Center, which is the most
advanced center for energy studies and failure analysis in the world.
DSEC is in the process of introducing wind energy into Dominica that will
help in substantially reducing the cost of electricity to the Dominican
consumer. DSEC is also pursuing coherent sustainable development efforts
to explore all reasonable avenues for national development, which will
enhance the quality of life for Dominicans.
Through the efforts of keynote speaker at the Symposium, Dr. Sherman Severin,
Boeing Corporation have expressed keen interest in establishing a facility
in Dominica for the manufacture of composite material. Discussions were
recently held with government officials and the project is expected
to shortly get underway.
In keeping with its promise at the
Symposium to involve the Diaspora more directly in banking activities
in Dominica, some members of the RDF teamed up with resident Dominicans
and submitted a proposal to government for a license to operate a banking
institution in Dominica. The bank will among other things seek to make
venture capital funds available to Dominican businesses while seeking
the involvement of the Diaspora in saving and investing in Dominica.
A tangible demonstration of the involvement of the RDF, and its commitment
to Dominica was in the recent provision of over $150,000 worth of equipment
and material to various institutions in Dominica. These include:
- A mammography machine worth $80, 000 was presented to the Princess Margaret Hospital;
- 65 Computers to the Castle Bruce Development Committee for use in a Computer Training and
repair project
- 13 Computers to the Petite Savanne and Bagatelle Schools; 2 copy machines to
the Petite Savanne and Bagatelle Schools;
- 24 Person Marching Band donation to the Dominica Cadet Corp
(Approximately $24,000);
- Donation of 6 boxes of medical supplies to Carib Territory health center;
- VCR donated to the Sports Division with associated shipping costs;
- Anti Drug/Gang/ Sex educational material and achievement badges for use in youth programs;
- Copy machine, electrical table saw and panel saw to the Technical College; and
- Cash donation to the Marigot Foundation High School
In the build-up to the next Symposium scheduled for Dominica from October 25
to November 1, 2002, the RDF is seeking to get Dominicans interested in investing
in various business enterprises on the Island. Already members of the RDF have identified
furniture making as a viable enterprise in which its own members will participate.
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