This week, I present the winning essay by Rene Williams from the 8th VF Inc.’s Summer Youth Series held from July 27 – August 1, 2015, sponsored by LIME (Dominica) Ltd.
Before I do so however, I extend deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Frank Newtown. I first met Frank in October 1991 at the airport in Antigua, while we were both on our way to pursue a Masters degree in England. I was heading to Manchester Business School and he was heading, I believe, to the University of Reading. Over the years our paths continue to cross and I think the last in-depth conversation I had with Frank was about two years ago, when he shared his business plans and dreams with me. I last saw Frank about two or three weeks ago and we exchanged a brief greeting.
Frank’s suicide coming on the heels of Russell Carbon’s has to be for us, a call to action. A call to pay attention to our mental health and that of our families and friends; a call to seek help before the stage of complete darkness and despair; a call to be more mindful and engage in more meaningful relationships; a call to care enough to help another carry his/her load and a call to not be afraid or too proud to ask for help.
Dr. Griffin Benjamin, Consultant Psychiatrist and Dr. Nadia Wallace, Psychiatrist on the radio programme, “Your Business Professional Is In,” hosted on the Dominica Catholic Radio on Fridays from 10:30 – 11:30am, hosted by me, told us about the gravity of the problem and said that about one to two persons attempt suicide in Dominica on a weekly basis. This gives us an average of 52 to a 104 cases annually. Can you imagine the impact on our families and society if they were all to succeed? We need to commend Dr. Benjamin, his team, family members and all others who play a critical role in ensuring the attempted suicides do not succeed and who reduce the attempts.
Dr. Benjamin also said that their biggest resistance comes not from their patients, who often recognise and accept they are ill, but the families who fail to admit or are in denial about the mental illness faced by their loved ones. We need eradicate the stigma from mental illness. We need to be open, caring and loving to provide the support needed by our loved ones and work with them and their doctor(s) to bring them back to good health. When a loved one or ourselves are diagnosed with cancer, we often will move any mountain to get the help needed, let us treat with the same urgency a diagnosis of mental ill-heath, be it depression, psychotic break, bipolar or ay other of the range of mental illness. Let us do all in our power to heal our loved ones and ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
I now present the winning essay by Mr. Rene Williams, 11 years old, a student of the Soufriere Primary School and soon to be a student of the Dominica Grammar School!
What role can LIME Dominica Ltd play in promoting the tourism industry in Dominica?
For many Caribbean countries, Dominica being no exception, tourism plays an important part in the development of the economy. In fact, Caribbean countries such as Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados thrive on tourism. In order to generate that tourist dollar, these countries spend millions of dollars marketing and promoting their destination as the ‘home away from home’.
While governments may have the budget to take on an expansive marketing and promotion campaign, some countries, Dominica, for example, do not have that kind money to effective market the country as a premiere destination of choice. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that other ways of marketing the country as a tourist destination is looked at.
LIME Dominica, the leading local telecommunications company on the island is ideally placed to play a meaningful role in developing Dominica’s tourism industry. There are several ways in which LIME Dominica can play this role.
One such role the company can play is that it can continue to partner with the Discover Dominica Authority in hosting fringe events such as the Creole in the Park, which is the biggest daytime event during the Independence season. Through this event, LIME plays its part in the tourism industry by promoting the event abroad, thereby attracting visitors. By so promoting the event many persons come to the island to enjoy the fun and frolic, which is on offer. When people come to the island, the tendency is there to spend money which circulates in the local economy which gives people more spending power.
Another role that LIME Dominica can play in promoting Dominica’s tourism industry is that the company can, through its sister companies regionally and internationally, participate in trade shows where by Dominica’s tourism product can be on display. For example, if there is a trade-show taking place in Barbados, LIME Dominica can partner with its sister company in showcasing what Dominica has to offer.
Through the use of text messages LIME Dominica can send messages to various persons living abroad. Such messages would promote Dominica as a tourism destination encouraging and providing reasons why they should visit the island. By so doing, LIME would be playing its role in promoting the country as a tourism destination.
Since we live in a technological age, the use of the Internet can be used to promote the island as a tourism destination. Advertisements depicting and showcasing Dominica’s unique tourism product can be put out there for all to view since many persons have access to the Internet. By so viewing they get a chance to see what Dominica has to offer.
Through television advertising, LIME Dominica can promote Dominica as tourism destination especially when international cricket is being played here. These international matches are viewed by millions of people worldwide. So by advertising Dominica as a tourism destination during these matches, many persons would get the chance to see what Dominica has to offer thereby making Dominica their vacation destination of choice.
LIME can also partner with the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association to promote their products to the local tourist. In this way the local people will be more aware of what their country has to offer, hence making good use of it and in the same way promoting their country’s tourism product.
Just as the airports, Wi-Fi services could also be offered at the harbours and ferry terminals, for the use of tourist specifically when a tourist boat is docked in the port for the day. This practice would eliminate or save the visiting tourist roaming charges, which are usually costly. In this way Dominica could be promoted for its kind hospitality, which may encourage visitors to return to ‘our clean green nature isle’.
LIME Dominica is a key partner is promoting Dominica as a tourism destination and the above areas have highlighted the many roles that this leading telecommunications company can play.
Dr. Henry, don’t get me wrong I understand you have to make living but please let Lime first improve their customer service before they promote themselves as champions of tourism. We have a Minister of Tourism for that. You can not even ring their number in Roseau and get a Dominican operator on the line and for internet support you have to talk to someone,God knows where who often times can’t even speak proper English and always tells you to switch your modem off and off. That is an insult and lack of respect for customers. Fix your own product first before getting into a business that is not yours. Sorry Valda but I had to get this of my chest.
My experience with LIME Dominica has been one of continuing frustration at administrative incompetence. The “Customer Care” people are friendly but clueless. There is no apparent connection between them and getting something done. Administration is fragmented in that the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. This is my sad and sadly for me, continuing, experience with LIME Dominica. But they are right on top when it comes to promoting themselves!!!