COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA ThirdThird Medium-TermMedium-Term GrowthGrowth andand SocialSocial ProtectionProtection StrategyStrategy (GSPS)(GSPS) Redoubling the effort towards a Sustainable Development Pathway 20122012 –– 20142014 ThirdThird Medium-TermMedium-Term GrowthGrowth andand SocialSocial ProtectionProtection StrategyStrategy (GSPS)(GSPS) Redoubling the effort towards a Sustainable Development Pathway 20122012 –– 20142014 Third Medium-Term Growth and Social Protection Strategy CONTENTS PREFACE .......................................................................................................................................................... iv 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose and Scope of the GSPS.............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Dominica’s Medium-term Challenges ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Dominica’s Quest for Growth ................................................................................................................... 5 2. IN SEARCH OF DOMINICA’S BINDING CONSTRAINT ..................................................................... 7 3. DIMENSIONS AND DETERMINANTS OF POVERTY ......................................................................... 9 3.1 Poverty Indicators..................................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Poverty Incidence and Characteristics................................................................................................. 11 4. REDUCING POVERTY AND INCREASING SOCIAL PROTECTION.............................................. 15 4.1 The Institutional Framework: Social Protection Systems in Dominica ............................................... 15 4.2 Poverty Reduction Policies and Programmes .......................................................................................... 16 4.2.1 Special Focus Areas ....................................................................................................................... 18 4.2.2 Social Spending .............................................................................................................................. 20 4.3 Maintenance of Social and Physical Infrastructure Programmes......................................................... 21 4.3.1 Health .............................................................................................................................................. 21 4.3.2 Education ........................................................................................................................................ 22 4.3.3 Social Safety Net ............................................................................................................................ 22 4.3.4 Shelter Conditions.......................................................................................................................... 23 4.3.5 Institutional and Legal................................................................................................................... 23 5. TOWARDS CONTINUED INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT .................................................. 23 5.1 Road Transportation ................................................................................................................................... 24 5.2 Sea Transportation....................................................................................................................................... 27 5.3 Air Transportation ....................................................................................................................................... 28 5.4 Power .......................................................................................................................................................... 29 5.5 Information and Communications Technology ...................................................................................... 31 5.6 Water and Sanitation ................................................................................................................................... 33 6. AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES ........................................................................................ 35 6.1 National Adaptation Strategy..................................................................................................................... 38 6.2 National Agricultural Policy Framework document ............................................................................... 39 6.3 Forestry ......................................................................................................................................................... 40 6.4 Fisheries ........................................................................................................................................................ 41 7. TOURISM .......................................................................................................................................................... 44 7.1 The Policy Objective ................................................................................................................................... 44 7.2 Challenges Facing the Sector ..................................................................................................................... 45 7.3 Guiding Principles ....................................................................................................................................... 45 7.4 Waitukubuli Trail.......................................................................................................................................... 47 i Third Medium-Term Growth and Social Protection Strategy 7.5 Roseau Development Area......................................................................................................................... 47 7.6 Other Tourism-related Development Proposals ..................................................................................... 48 7.7 Community Tourism Policy ....................................................................................................................... 50 7.8 Attracting Tourism Investment ................................................................................................................. 50 7.9 Residence Tourism ...................................................................................................................................... 51 7.10 Destination and Product Promotion ........................................................................................................ 51 7.11 Upgrading Service Skills and Standards ................................................................................................... 52 7.12 Rehabilitating Cruise and Other Infrastructure....................................................................................... 52 7.13 Implementing Tourism Policy.................................................................................................................... 52 8. MANUFACTURING / AGRO-INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT .............................. 53 8.1 Business Development ............................................................................................................................... 54 9. HOUSING, LAND USE AND CONSTRUCTION...................................................................................... 56 9.1 Land Use Planning ...................................................................................................................................... 59 9.2 Construction................................................................................................................................................. 60 10. NATIONAL EXPORT STRATEGY ............................................................................................................... 60 11. THE CULTURAL INDUSTRIES ..................................................................................................................... 61 12. KEY CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS ................................................................................................................ 62 12.1 Towards Enhanced Competitiveness and Productivity .......................................................................... 63 12.2 Foreign Policy, Trade and Immigration .................................................................................................... 63 12.2.1 OECS and CSME .......................................................................................................................... 64 12.2.2 The EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreement and the CARICOM Canada Trade and Development Agreement ......................................... 64 12.2.3 Domestic Institutional Arrangements......................................................................................... 65 12.2.4 Immigration .................................................................................................................................... 66 12.3 The Dominica Diaspora ............................................................................................................................. 67 12.4 Developing and Preserving our Human Resources...............................................................................