Brittany Lewis, New Protocols, New teaching structure, COVID-19, DOMLEC

Eight-year-old Brittany Lewis, of the Convent Preparatory School, has won this year's winner of the Office of the Prime Minister, DBS Radio, Ministry of Education Reading Competition finals 2021. The announcement was made Wednesday evening after the competition which took place at the St. Alphonsus Parish Hall. The competition, which is the brainchild of the late creole legend Felix Henderson, was held in his honour and was dubbed "We are Reading for you, Felix.' A prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for later this week.

Health Minister Dr. Irvin McIntyre, of the government's discussion, that effective Wednesday, July 7, there will be no mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers to the island who have been medically cleared. Upon disembarkation travelers shall follow the standard health and sanitization protocols, and present all necessary documentation, and thereafter are advised to self-monitor, record temperatures daily, and also any symptoms to health officials. He says that individuals are considered to be fully vaccinated if they have completed both doses of an approved Covid-19 two-dose vaccine regime, or have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine.

In the field of education, the Cabinet has approved a new organizational structure for the teaching service within secondary schools. According to Education Minister Octavia Alfred, the proposed organizational structure includes new and upgraded positions for secondary schools in the following categories: principal, deputy principal, assistant principal, heads of department, senior graduate teacher, graduate teacher, senior qualified teacher, qualified teacher, and school counselor. Additional enhancement approved for the teaching service includes the upgrade of seven positions of principals of secondary schools and the creation of the following new positions for government secondary schools – 15 deputy principals, seven assistant principals, 87 heads of department, 28 senior graduate teachers, 70 senior qualified teachers, and 16 school counselors. Alfred also revealed that because of the creation of these new positions, Cabinet has approved an increase in the budgetary allocation for salaries to the Ministry of Education of over $1.2 million annually.

Dominica is reporting 5 active Covid-19 cases. The announcement was made by National Epidemiologist, Dr. Shallaudin Ahmed during a press briefing where he informed that to date a total of 192 individuals have recovered from the virus here in Dominica and there have been no deaths due to Covid-19. According to him, all the active cases are imported ones and are asymptomatic. "So far Covid transmission remains sporadic in Dominica," Dr. Ahmed revealed. "Our surveillance continues."

A team of 4-lines men from the Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC) has traveled to Barbados to assist the Barbados Light & Power Company with its restoration efforts following the passage of Hurricane Elsa. Relations Officer (PRO) of the company, Adina Bellot-Valentine says as is customary each year, at the start of the Hurricane season, several teams have been identified for possible deployment to neighbouring islands, if any island is hit by a weather system. Their initial deployment is for two weeks in the first instance; however, the stay may be extended if necessary.