Immediate Livelihoods Support of Yachting Equipment for the Portsmouth Association of Yachting Services (PAYS), Commonwealth of Dominica - PAYS Facility, Purple Turtle, Portsmouth. Thursday, 16^th January 2020

Rev. Pastor Edward Arlington Wilson

Honourable Denise Charles, Minister of Tourism , International Transport & Maritime Initiatives  Honourable Reginald Austrie, Senior Minister and Minister for Housing and Urban Development and Parliamentary Representative for Cottage Constituency

Specially Invited Guests

Members of the media

Portsmouth Association of Yachting Services

Ladies and gentlemen

It is an absolute pleasure to deliver these remarks in Portsmouth.  A beautiful and charismatic city, home to Dominica’s yachting industry and our hosts, the Portsmouth Association of Yachting Services.

Equally delightful is the opportunity to share this special occasion in the company of distinguished Parliamentary Representatives, Government Ministers, Representatives of the Association of Yacht services, media, guests, and of course, the people of Portsmouth.

Today, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport & Maritime Initiatives we hand over seven outboard motors, that will make a noteworthy contribution to the livelihoods and recovery of the Portsmouth Association of Yachting Services (PAYS),  helping jump start the future development of the yachting industry in Dominica.

This equipment will be furthermore complemented by a training workshop to be delivered within the next weeks to strengthen PAYS customer service, guest safety and security services; enhancing the linkages of the yachting industry to the new hotels and tourism infrastructure in Portsmouth that is slowly but securely transforming the city in a dynamic tourism hub in the Caribbean.

While the path to secure this trend is clear and yet ahead of us, I would like to share with you some thoughts on the matter:

First, Portsmouth’s vibrant recovery speaks to us about the rest of Dominica. A nation whose resilience, solidarity and efforts have led to one of the most successful recovery processes in the region, matched by an unparallel government commitment to build back better and stronger by investing on its people.

This is patent in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of houses, health, education and road infrastructures throughout the territory, and more importantly, in the expansion and improvement of social services and new strategic investments that have brought economic development and allowed Dominicans to become more resilient and bounce back stronger. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, Dominica has managed to seamlessly link its reconstruction efforts to a long-term development vision for a dynamic Dominica. This is why, Dominica is on the path to becoming the first climate-resilient nation of the world.

Second, initiatives such as the Portsmouth Association of Yachting Services remind us that recovery and resilience begins with the people. With their creativity, know-how and entrepreneurship to identify business opportunities, connect the dots, and develop smart solidarity models that strengthen income and livelihoods. For example, PAYS services, benefit over 100 persons directly and indirectly by connecting farmers, fishers, laundry services, restaurants, retailers, tour guides, tour operators, taxi operators and others to the yachting and tourism sector.  Promoting business models that build on people’s entrepreneurship and creativity is a certain path to progress that multiplicate and spreads development gains. I am certain that PAYS will become a critical effort for the consolidation of Portsmouth as an important Tourism hub in the Caribbean.

And third. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals rests on the ability to forge partnerships for development between all actors in society. PAYS collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism is a perfect example of what community-government partnerships can accomplish.

I must congratulate Government in leading this type of initiative, as it captures the essence of the Sustainable Development Goals.  Expanding this partnership to include farmers, fishers, laundry services, restaurants, retailers, tour guides, tour operators, taxi operators, hotels and others can only strengthen Portsmouth’s outlook as major tourism hub.

As many of you are aware, UNDP is an important partner to Government. During the past years, we have collaborated with Ministries, Civil Society Organizations and International Donors to help Dominica recovery from Hurricane Maria.

This has included assistance to national authorities to assess, plan and implement recovery; the provision of technical expertise in debris/waste management, the implementation of short-term emergency employment opportunities that benefited 400 persons in 18 communities, the re-roofing  of 500 houses, schools and medical centers, and the completing of a Building Damage Assessment to assess the state of 29,431 Structures throughout Dominica.

Currently, we are working on several sustainability and resilience solutions with several ministries, and we expect to strengthen our collaboration further with the Government of Dominica.

In closing  I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Government of Denmark for entrusting UNDP with the implementation of this initiative in collaboration with the government.  This is very much valued.    

To our government partners particularly the Minister of Tourism, International Transport & Maritime Initiatives, our progress to date has only been possible through your strong engagement and guidance and I am confident that this partnership will be further enhanced in support of a Dynamic Dominica!

Thank you!