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The Government of Dominica also plans to launch an Agricultural Festival, affectionately referred to as "Agri Fess"; the purpose of this initiative is to bring to the fore new developments in agriculture with a view to stimulate interest and bring new ideas in agriculture. The goal: sustainability in agriculture and agricultural practices. The Festival is carded for the week of the 12 day of May 2014.

Dominica's long term goals in this sector, however, are to explore and utilize renewable and alternative energy potential. Several options have been and are being explored. This includes the generation of hydroelectricity. Dominica's rugged terrain, high rainfall and many rivers makes it well endowed for harnessing hydroelectric energy. A hydroelectric plant already exists on the island while several studies have been conducted on the expansion of hydroelectric generation.

The Government of Dominica has also looked at wind and solar energy as other alternative sources. Government has facilitated the electricity company with feasibility studies for the development of a wind farm, with funding from the OAS. The use of solar power in housing and commercial building has also been explored.

Another option is geo-thermal energy. A significant investment of EC$12,475,987 was made by the Government of Dominica between January and June 2013 for the undertaking of geothermal development works in the Roseau Valley. This included drilling and site preparation works. The Government has already invested over EC$31 million for the exploratory phase of the geothermal project. Government is currently pursuing the construction of a small power plant which will concentrate of local consumption.

Plans are also in place to construct a large power plant which will facilitate the export of electricity generated through geothermal energy sources to the neighbouring French territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique. This is all as a result of the Government's drive to ensure that Dominica becomes the first carbon negative economy in the hemisphere.

From 26 to 27 September 2013, the Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica with support from the World Bank (SIDS DOCK) convened a Geothermal Development Partners Forum in Roseau, Dominica. The purpose of the Forum is to bring together technical and financial public and private sector partners and potential partners who have an interest in furthering the development of Dominica's geothermal energy programme, and specifically, the commercialization of the geothermal resource to provide clean, low cost renewable electricity to local consumers in the first instance, and to export electricity to regional markets in a subsequent development phase.

Over the medium term, the development of geothermal energy has the potential to transform the economy. A power plant is under construction, and its entry into operation by 2015 may lead to a decrease by up to 40% of the cost of electricity, thereby improving the competitiveness of the economy and attracting new investments.

The development of geothermal energy was identified as a national priority in Dominica's Growth and Social Protection Strategy (GSPS). With support from the EU's cooperation programme INTERREG III-B "Caribbean Space", and in partnership with other agencies, Dominica's Government has launched the "Geothermal Energy in the Caribbean Islands".

In addition to customs duties, the Government levies a customs service charge (CSC), a value added tax (VAT), an excise tax, and an environmental surcharge.

Pursuant to the Solid Waste Management Act 2002, an environmental surcharge applies to most imported goods at a specific or an ad valorem rate, depending on the item (Table 3.3). (…)