Dominica Electric (DOMLEC) and GIS

March 5 – On my first vocational visit I went to DOMLEC. DOMLEC is the only electric company on the island of Dominica. I met with Ian Sorhaindo who told me a little about what DOMLEC does in the GIS realm. Gideon Dalrymple and Eliyah Jno Baptiste are the two GIS techs for DOMLEC and showed me how they collect power poles in the field on a GPS. They then import that data into their computer with ESRI software to plot the changes.

The familiarity with the area (the island of Dominica) Gideon and Eliyah are working with is a huge advantage in the field of GIS.

Eliyah showing me how to collect a necessary power pole that has yet to be built with the GPS.

Gideon showing me how to collect an existing power pole with the GPS to add to their geodatabase back at the office.

Monica Holzmer

Project Management in Dominica

March 5 - I met with Eugene Royer, an architect in Roseau. We met in his office and discussed his business. It was interesting to learn about the similarities and differences his company and my company face. We both struggle a little with clients assuming we can just wave a magic wand and the floor plans appear! If only it was that easy...


We visited a couple residential projects he had finished recently, then one in the construction phase. We also saw a larger commercial project, that was almost complete. It was a safe-home for at risk children. It's a beautiful building outside of town. I guess this project wasn't his initially, but he was called in towards the end to fix some issues that arose. Apparently the project had gone through four general contractors!

Hopefully, Eugene can keep this fifth one in line, so the project is completed successfully.


Heidi Ellis

Hospitality Industry in Portsmouth, Dominica

March 5 - Originally from Holland, Hans and Lise moved to Portsmouth, Dominica and built the five-room Hotel-Bar & Grill De Champ atop the Ross Medical school hillside overlooking the city of Portsmouth and the beautiful Caribbean Sea.



During my vocational visit, the couple explains to me, "Our dream for retirement was to live in Paradise. Dominica is paradise to us, but paradise still comes with it's problems."

In the 24 hours I spent with the couple, I witnessed one employee fired, two called in sick, and the breakfast chef for the next morning called at 10pm to say she couldn't make it for whatever reason. "Employment is a big challenge. If one of our employees doesn't feel like working, they don't come in. If they work one week, they can live for three weeks on the salary earned." The couple is constantly troubleshooting the staffing issues and workload. When an employee doesn't show up, they have to fill in.

The food suppliers for the Bar & Grill were unable to deliver certain products that the couple depends on for their standard menu. When the suppliers don't get the product in, they have to go into town themselves to shop for the foods. While I was there, her food supplier didn't receive cheese and ice cream, so Lise and I ran into town to hunt down the two items. It was harder than expected. The first store didn't have either. In fact, I was surprised as to the many shelves that sat empty due to the lack of shipments to the island. Here are a few photos showing the half empty shelves, empty freezer (no icec ream), empty chip stand.


Even though running a successful business in paradise has it's problems, the couple explains, "If we didn't like it, we wouldn't be here."



With this view, I don't blame them!

Shelly Kane

Education in Dominica

St. Luke's Catholic School, Pointe Michel, Dominica

Students at St. Luke's Catholic School

The education system in Dominica is much different than what we have in the United States. Of course, Dominica is a much smaller and more homogeneous country than the United States, which generally makes things easier. According to the last census (2001), the population is 87 percent black, nine percent mixed race, and three percent Carib Amerindian, with smaller numbers of other groups - whites number only about 0.6 percent of the population. In addition, the country is over 60 percent Roman Catholic.

In general, students are expected to attend the school that is nearest their homes. That school may be a government school or a religious school - there is no cost in any case for students from age 6 to 19. All religious and government schools are supported by taxes - the church provides venue and the staff for its schools, but the expenses - including teacher salaries - is funded by the government. All students wear uniforms to school.

Government school in the capital Roseau

Pre-school is not funded by the government. If a parent wishes to send their children to pre-school, they are responsible for the expense involved. Once the student begins elementary school, the education is paid for by the government, much like in the United States.

Unlike the United States, however, junior college is funded by the government. There are no four-year universities on Dominica*; after completing junior college, student can transfer to a school in another country - usually in the Caribbean, Canada or the United States. Students may qualify for government scholarships to continue their education abroad. There are also private and university scholarships, as anywhere else.

As you might imagine, the use of religious (predominantly Roman Catholic) schools causes a bit of controversy. Some parents are pleased with the education provided by the church schools - it is regarded as superior to that provided in the government schools, but do not want their children taught about a particular religion. Parents of students assigned to a Catholic school must sign an agreement that their children will receive religious instruction.

If the parents refuse to sign the agreement, they have two options. They can place their child in a government school, but they are responsible for transporting the student to wherever that government school is located. They can also place the child in a private commercial school that is not under the management of the government or the church - at their own expense. Of course, for many parents, neither are realistic options.

_________
* There are two American-owned and operated medical schools on Dominica, but they are not part of the domestic education system. The schools are Ross University Medical School in Portsmouth and All Saints University Medical School in Roseau.

Rick Francona

Health Care and Insurance on Dominica

One of two American medical schools in Dominica

Medical care and health insurance in Dominica bears a surprising resemblance to the current system in the United States. There is no universal health care system, and the government is only marginally involved.

Many people are covered by health insurance partially or wholly funded by their employers. This option is usually limited to larger companies - for example, the island-wide cable and wireless company Lime offers a plan to its employees, but smaller businesses do not.

People who work for these smaller companies or are in business for themselves determine how much coverage they want and can afford. Coverage is available from commercial insurance companies. For younger people whose companies do not offer a health care insurance program, coverage can be more than they want to pay - policies can be had for as little as EC$80 (about US$35) per week. While that may not sound like much, pay scales are much lower in this small Caribbean nation.

The workings of Dominican health care insurance policies resemble those in the United States - there is a small co-pay, and a catastrophic cap in the case of long-term or high-cost treatments. One interesting difference is coverage for prescription drugs in most of the insurance plans. One major difference in system is the fact that government employees do not have government-funded health care insurance - these civil service workers must purchase their health care on the commercial market.

In general, the concept of health care insurance is relatively new. Many, maybe most, Dominicans simply do not buy coverage. When they need medical care, they go to a doctor or hospital and pay the bill. Medical care in Dominica is much less expensive than in the United States as a percentage of income. However, when the required care is not available on the island and patients must travel abroad for care, paying for it becomes an issue.

Most Dominicans we talked to did not express any desire to change what they have now.

Rick Francona

Rotary Club of Dominica

Our hosts on Dominica are the energetic members of the sole Rotary Club on the island, the Rotary Club of Dominica.



The 28-member club meets at the historic Fort Young Hotel in the capital city of Roseau (pronounced ROE-zoe).

In addition to the numerous vocational and cultural programs, we also attended their weekly lunch meeting on March 3. It was our first actual team presentation.

Shelly addressing the club

Rick and Club President Monsignor Reginald La Fleur – “Father Reggie”

Team with Father Reggie, Pastor Dan and Rotarian (President Elect) Paul Frampton (Heidi’s host family). Paul has been instrumental in setting up many of our programs.

Team with Rotary-Anns Carla (Monica’s host family) and Ann (Shelly’s host family)

After the meeting, the team visited one of the club’s projects, a public restroom water treatment facility at Mero Beach, located on the west (Caribbean) side of the island.

The team at the project site

Norris Prevost (Lillah's host family) explains the project to Monica. Norris is not only a Dominica Rotarian, but a member of the Parliament. The US$43,000 project was funded through a Rotary Foundation matching grant.

Another club project - bus shelters - is also a money maker. These shelters display advertising, providing a revenue stream for the club's other service projects, in addition to providing a welcome respite from the relentless Caribbean sun.

Event Planning - Dominica

March 4 - For my first vocational visit on Dominica, I met with Jennifer Fadelle, event planner extraordinaire in all of Dominica. As I opened her shop door, I saw a lady about my age at the counter. Thinking that she must be Jennifer, I walked up to her and introduced myself.

The well dressed, smiling lady advised that she was the secretary to the President and was waiting for Jennifer to collect the items for the gift basket she ordered. She explained, "when someone in Dominica turns 100, the country recognizes and celebrates the exciting occasion." A couple days prior to the 100th birthday, the family contacts social services to notify the turning of age. They then contact the President's office who sends a birthday card along with a gift basket full of age appropriate items: apple juice, foot powder, toothpaste, hot cocoa, ivory soap, morning coffee cookies, ointments, etc. In addition to the card and gift basket to recognize the occasion, the family receives free electricity and propane for the rest of the person's lifetime.

Jennifer's completed gift basket that the secretary to the president is holding.


During the three hours I spent with Jennifer, I found out that she not only practices event planning, but many other jobs as well. Fadelle's, Jennifer's event planning shop also serves as the community florist, rents and sells party supplies, and A/V rentals. She also made the front of her shop into a barista and a breakfast and lunch café.


I was very surprised at the many job duties she takes on, but she explained it well. "On a small island, you will find that one person takes on many hats because specializing in just one area is not enough (income) to live on."

With her florist hat on, this is one of the arrangements she put together while I was with her.


Jennifer took me on a tour of the state house, the President's residence as she was hired to decorate for a large 300 person cocktail celebration in two weeks.


The state house was still decorated for Christmas which Jennifer was not hired to do. Jennifer was appalled at holiday décor that was still hanging on the walls at the late date of March. We brainstormed some ideas for the cocktail party and I have full confidence that Jennifer is the right woman for the job to transform the outdated holiday look into a classy atmosphere fitting for the many Caribbean Presidents coming to the island for the event.

Even though this was my first (planned) vocational visit, things went better than expected. I not only learned how my vocation is practiced in Dominica, but I also made a friend. We made such a connection that Jennifer attended our dinner event later that week and brought me an amazing gift! While I was at her shop for my vocational visit, I met the gentleman who makes all the carnival costumes for the island. Jennifer asked him to make a costume for me and surprised me that night with the priceless gift.

Shelly Kane