The Ferry, HSC Liberty,  travels from Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe to Portsmouth, Dominica on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The ferry runs from Portsmouth, Dominica to Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

This will make it much easier for weekend trips to and from our neighbouring French island.

The schedule is as follows:

• Depart Guadeloupe: 13:15 hrs on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays
• Depart Dominica:  10:15 hrs on Tuesdays, Fridays & 14:15 hrs on Sundays

As of October 24th 2011, the fare for Guadeloupe to Dominica is EC $260 Return.

In Dominica, contact local Agents Whitchurch Travel for more information:

• E-mail: shipping@whitchurch.com
• Tel: (767) 255-1127 or (767) 255-1166

This week…

• Register your kids by Wednesday July 27th for the Children’s Writing Workshop which will be held on July 30th at Dominica Grammar School (kids age 3 to 15).
• On Saturday, July 30th don’t miss the Book Exchange at Roseau Market from 6 am to 10 am.

More information is available on the NILF website.

This year’s event was very successful. All the usual favourite activities were present: Discover Scuba Diving, Whale Watching, Fort Young Happy Hour, Jing Ping Ting, Kids Snorkel Treasure Hunt, Wine Cruise, and Sea Life Camera Photo Shoots all week long. A few new additions this year included the Jewellers International Swiss Army Victorinox Swiss Army Merman and Reefsafe, makers of biodegrable sunscreen and skin care products.

The activities were well attended and even the weather co-operated, especially for the Grand Finale in Soufriere, where the 18th Annual Kubuli Canoe Races signaled the end to Dive Fest 2011.

• Visit the Dive Fest Dominica Facebook page for great photos of the events.
• Read more about Dive Fest and the Dominica Watersports Association

The Nature Island Literary Festival and Book Fair will be holding a book exchange at Portsmouth market this Saturday, 16 July, from 6.00 am to 10.00 am. This outreach programme on behalf of the Literary Festival will give an opportunity to people outside Roseau to hear about the festival, to exchange books and buy new and second-hand books. There will also be live poetry performances to hear while browsing the book selection.

With the slogan, “Bring a Book and Take a Book”, the organisers hope that people will enjoy this innovative book exchange. Sponsor of the event Papillote Press says: “We want people to bring books that they no longer want and find something new that they do want to read. If you bring one book, you take one book; bring five books, you take five books. It’s as simple as that.”

There will also be new and used books for sale, including those from Papillote Press. A special offer on the day: buy a Papillote Press book and get the children’s book, The Snake King of the Kalinago, absolutely free.

Local poets will be there, among them Kamesha Sylvester of Paix Bouche, Ameka Cognet and Gregory Rabess, performing their dynamic poems. There will also be an open mic for anyone who would like to bring a poem and perform their own work. Everyone is welcome.

www.dominicalitfest.com

For further information please contact:
Polly Pattullo of Papillote Press at www.papillotepress.co.uk
(767) 295-1563 or (767) 440-0329

The rain has stopped and it’s game on for cricket in Dominica! From today through July 10th, 2011 West Indies battles India in the final test match between the two teams.

Cricket News Round-Up:

• Chanderpaul becomes the most-capped Caribbean Test player
• Dominica PM ecstatic about historic Test
• 3rd Test: India eye perfect finish in Dominica

Photo (c) NDTV Sports

The Crapaud, as this big frog is called in Creole, has a place of honour on Dominica’s Coat-of-Arms and was considered the country’s national dish. But these days, it is extremely rare to see one, let alone hear their distinctive mating call. They’ve been almost completely wiped out by a devastating disease and they’re on the brink of becoming extinct.

But all is not lost.

A team of international organizations has been assisting Dominica’s Forestry and Wildlife Division with developing a program to help save this national symbol, so that they will thrive once again!

• Read more about Dominica’s Crapaud on avirtualDominica.com

(Roseau Dominica – June 7, 2011) On Saturday June 4, 2011, BVI Airways began service to Melville Hall Airport, Dominica (DOM) from Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, Tortola, BVI (EIS) and Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten (SXM).

The carrier operates two 19-seater British Aerospace Jetstream 32 Jet Prop airliners serving Dominica on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. With this new service, travellers from North America and Europe are now able to make same day connections into Dominica via St. Maarten.

Travellers can take advantage of introductory pricing ranging from as low as US $99 each way for a round trip ticket based on availability plus applicable taxes and fees.

For bookings and other inquiries contact: customerservice@bviairways.com or visit: www.gobvi.com.

The local agent for BVI Airways is Whitchurch Travel: (767) 448-2181/0111. All travel agents in Dominica have been trained and are ready to serve you.

For more information about getting to Dominica, see Visit-Dominica.com

Watch in amazement as you witness one of three types of globally endangered female sea turtles laying her eggs on the Nature Island’s pristine beaches. If you’re there when the time is right, seeing the hatchlings heading back to sea will leave you spellbound. Hire a trained turtle guide to help you unravel the mystery of an unforgettable encounter with these gigantic gentle creatures.

Young Leatherback Heads for the Sea at Rosalie

Read more about Sea Turtles and Turtle-Watching in Dominica:

• Turtle Watching in Dominica

Read more online at the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian Online.

Watch this short bio of Dr. Lennox Honychurch by ANSCAFE (Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence).

For more about Dr. Honychurch and his work, visit his website: www.LennoxHonychurch.com.

Filmed in Barbados in 2005-2006, it tells the story of a Caribbean family’s struggles. Dominica’s own Alwin Bully has a feature role in the movie. After several years in post-production, the film was released in 2010 and is winning accolades from both Caribbean and African Film Festivals. “A Hand Full of Dirt” now debuts in Dominica!

The film will be shown at the Arawak House of Culture at 7 pm on Friday.

Just one showing is scheduled. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance at Bullseye Pharmacy.

• For more information about the film visit AHandFullofDirt.com