Raphael, who up until his resignation was deputy chairman of the board, turned down the Sun's request for a comment, saying he did not think it was appropriate.

    However, the Sun understands that he cited the need to spend more time developing his hotel.

    "I simply need to focus all my available time and energy on the completion of Jungle Bay Resort & Spa," he stated in the letter, which was copied to all the members of the NDC board of directors and the general manager, Vincent Philbert.

    A source close to Raphael told the Sun that he was not surprised that the deputy chairman stepped down and that he expected two other resignations.

    According to the source, the restructuring at NDC meant some of the staff had to be laid off and they saw Raphael as "the bad guy."

    The source, which has close links with the board, added that Raphael and Savarin were at loggerheads over "certain issues" including the restructuring.

    "I'm not surprised because things are not going the way everybody expected them to. The NDC is like the whipping boy," the source stated.

    The new structure understands that there have been differences of opinion between him and Savarin over the direction of the NDC and the tourism sector on a whole.

    Second reason is the unfortunate sense that the NDC, board and the organization, are pursuing certain policy objectives which to my mind are not sufficiently directed at addressing the structural challenges of the organization.

"As President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association and as a champion for tourism development on our island I cannot in good conscience sit in silence and continue to pretend that nicely articulated words and good intentions are sufficient to redress the structural problems of the institution. The organization lacks focus and does not fulfill its mandate. Fundamental differences remain on the need to keep the organization together as a tourism and investment/industry entity as opposed to an accountable, streamlined tourism Authority with a clearly defined revenue stream, focused solely on the development of tourism, and a separate investment promotion entity.

    There is consensus throughout the tourism sector in Dominica and the wider Caribbean region on the need to establish a distinct, professionally staffed tourism promotion organization with a meaningful budget and a board made up of people who understand tourism. Clearly, the structure being proposed by the "Restructuring Sub-Committee" is inconsistent with the position of modern tourism thrust and does not address the fundamental core issues.

    It has been a meaningful experience working with you and the members of the NDC board. Although we disagree on some key fundamental issues, we have identified many areas of common understanding, which will, without doubt, contribute to our island's economic future.

    I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for allowing me to serve on the NDC Board.

    Sincerely,

(Samuel Raphael),
c.c. Board of Directors / National Development Corporation
General Manager / National Development Corporation