Who celebrated in 2013

De Nacheal wins junior crown

Sixteen year old Isaiah Thomas Secondary School's Nacheal "De Nacheal" Walsh dethroned Janae Jackson to become the new Junior Calypso Monarch. In 2013 Walsh was in her final year of competition at that level and therefore will not defend her title in 2014.

She won from a field of 15 competitors with her rendition "On the Brink" written by Tim Durand. In 2012, Jackson won the title and Walsh took the first place, but this year the positions were reversed- Walsh was crowned and Jackson placed first.

Beautiful Leslassa Wins

Nineteen year old Leslassa Armour-Shillingford became the new Miss Dominica, winning four of nine categories at the Carnival Queen pageant at Carnival City in Potterville in February.

The category winners are as follows: Miss Amity: Kelsia Breezie; Miss Photogenic: Jean Royer; Best Costume: Leslassa Armour-Shillingford; Best in Costume: Kelshia Breezie; Best Performing Talent: Leslassa Armour-Shillingford; Best Swim Wear: Leslassa Armour-Shillingford; Best in Swim Wear; Leslassa Amour-Shillingford; Best Evening Wear: Daina Matthew; Best in Evening Wear: Daina Matthew; Best Response to Question: Nickisha Philbert.

Later in the year Leslassa went on to win the Miss Jaycees Pageant in Antigua and the Miss Caraval in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Finally, she participated in the 63rd Miss World competition in Indonesia.

James gets PhD in Computer Engineering

Dr. Shakir James, 31, graduated with a doctorate in Computer Engineering at the Washington University in St Louis, Missouri.

Dr. James told The SUN that his area of specialism is computer networking. Using programmable computer hardware, he designs and builds systems that transfer data quickly and efficiently. Dr. James's doctoral dissertation was titled: Network Efficiency in Peer-to-peer Data Distribution.

He said: "Education at that level makes you realize that there are lots of things you will never know and never understand; and so it gives you more of an appreciation for the breadth of human knowledge. I think it is a humbling experience, honestly, for you see how little you really know in such a large body of knowledge".

Welcome, Father Brakes

Dominican Catholics had a good reason to celebrate when Brancker "Brakes" John, a former community worker, calypsonian and politician was ordained to the Catholic priesthood. He was the second priest to be ordained here in a month. Just about three weeks earlier, Elton John Letang was ordained to the priesthood at a Eucharistic celebration held at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Newtown.

In an historic event in Colihaut, His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire, Bishop of Roseau, in the company of clergy of the diocese conferred the Sacrament of Holy Orders on Father Brancker John before religious, family and friends on Saturday June 29, 2013.

Meet Father Letang

The Diocese of Roseau and the Redemptorist community celebrated on Thursday June 6, 2013. The clergy had their latest addition to their numbers when His Lordship Bishop of Roseau Gabriel Malzaire ordained Elton John Letang, CSsR to the priesthood before a standing room only congregation at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Newtown. Father Letang told the people of Giraudel and Eggleston: "You have your priest; you have every right to be joyful".

King Dice VI

There's Dice and there's the other calypsonians. No one comes close. Unbelievable. Unprecedented. Out of this world. Undoubtedly, Dice is the Usain Bolt of Calypso in Dominica.

On a Sunday morning just before Carnival at Carnival City in Portersville, Dice was crowned Calypso Monarch for the sixth time. And at the end he said it was rather simple; like Bolt, he has nothing more to prove.

"I want people to trust the good in them, simple," Dice said after the show. "Nothing big about it; when you trust the good inside you, something good will happen, man."

In the Calypso Finals, Karessah placed second, Webb third and De Bobb was fourth.

Skerrit marries and has son in 2013

In November, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and wife, Melissa announced the birth of baby boy...Dmitry Roosevelt Skerrit. Weighing seven pounds five ounces, Dmitry was born 9:48a.m.on Wednesday, 27th November.

A Government release stated: "both mother and child are fine and in good health. Prime Minister Skerrit and wife Melissa are grateful to all who offered encouragement, prayers and well wishes for a successful pregnancy. They have asked that the nation continue to lift up the family in their prayers. Dmitry is the second child of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit".

His first born, Malik Skerrit, 14, is a student of Saint Mary's Academy. Skerrit and Melissa were married on May 11, 2013.

Charles Angelo Savarin elected President

Charles Angelo Savarin, DAH, was sworn in as the eighth President of the Commonwealth of Dominica since Independence, at a ceremony held at Parliament Building on Wednesday October 2, 2013 at 11:00am.

The oath of office was administered by Madame Justice Bernie Stephenson Senior Resident Judge designated by Hon. Janice Pereira Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, the Cabinet of Dominica, Her Ladyship Justice Bernie Stephenson; Senior Resident Judge, His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas; Former Presidents; Speaker and member of the House of Assembly; members of the Diplomatic Corps; members of the Savarin family and other distinguished and invited guests.

Dr Severin goes to Higher Heights

Dr. Francis O. Severin was appointed new Director of the Open Campus Country Sites (OCCS) effective October 1, 2013, and, effectively, began the management of 40 UWI Open Campus Sites in 16 Caribbean countries.

Eight years ago, in August 2005, Dr Severin assumed the post of Resident Tutor/Head of the then School of Continuing Studies (SCS) in Dominica.

As director of UWI Open Campuses, Dr Severin took over the reins from Dr. Luz Longsworth who has been transferred as Director of Mona's Western Jamaica Campus. He assumed the post of Director for four years in the first instance.