DENNIS JOSEPH WEEKLY: A nature island without a nature festival

Dennis TDNOn a particular day some years ago I sat with Mr. Sheridan Gregoire then Head of the National Development Corporation at his invitation in the office of then PM Edison James to discuss funding for the proposed World Creole Music Festival.  We knew that if the government did not come in with the money then the idea would die.  It needed visionary leadership and that day stood out for Waitikubuli when Edison James and Julius Timothy, Minister for Finance with little hesitation if any and embracing the vision gave the go ahead.  It was not a popular thing at the time as the opposition Freedom and Labour Parties branded it as just another go round of wasteful days of partying.

They could not see what it meant for the advancement of our musical culture and so it is no surprise that now they are in office the WCMF is little more than yes, days of partying.  A time like now demands the services of our men and women with vision who can bring forward new ideas not just parodies of older ones.  Some would like me to spend time here writing about the carnival and who should have won the Calypso Monarch crown but I leave that to those who know more about it than I do.   To my mind carnival is just a good time festival and its way forward is unclear.

I was asked why do you make any suggestions in this column for advancement of Waitikubuli because those guys in office only notice what comes from the sycophants who wear red shirts.  These boom-flies fall over each other to show mostly artificial love for the Prime Minister driven by the need for a salary and a moment of fame. My response is always to say that this land is ours and no matter how it looks today everything is for a time.

We have a Domfesta Festival which is a festival of our arts and  nearly one-handedly cultural icon Raymond Lawrence has struggled with it for nearly his whole life, Carnival Festival is mainly for calypso war,  controversy  and some street jump-up, World Creole Music Festival (WCMF)  is still searching for its soul but is a highlight of the Creole season, Creole in the Park Festival is a commercial thing feeding off the WCMF season, The Emancipation Festival in which we are supposed to celebrate the freedom of our ancestors from brutal slavery but of course it has melted down to just another, “rum and party’ session and we add on some  catholic church originated festivals in between.

But not for the life of me can I think of one nature festival to compliment our boast of being the Nature Island of the world.  And by the way Nature Island of the world is fine but Nature Island of the Caribbean is better because it identifies our location and allows the magic of the Caribbean region which is a magnet for European tourists to be included without having to extend the wordiness of our world promotions.   There is no festival for our birds indeed we have a bird called Diablotin in danger of being banished from our dictionary.  No festival for our flower and fauna, none for our rivers and water or our mountains indeed all our festivals except for Domfesta call for just celebration without meaning.

On a visit to Barbados you would believe that the water display at the airport terminal as you enter would qualify it to be perceived as the island of water, but come to Dominica and the stone and concrete structure that greets the tourist ships including the sorry and dismally  failed attempt at a fountain on the Roseau bay front road makes the true Isle of waters  where “You could find the rivers flow everywhere you go’  nothing but an isle of concrete, steel,  gas and second hand motor cars.  The Botanic Gardens,  our only real green patch in the city has increasingly yielded to concrete  houses back and front reducing this ample space to just a front piece for amateur football and cricket.

Remove all these buildings and all the green houses and an amazing plot of real estate from the Valley Road to Morne Bruce and even to include Jack, s Walk would emerge.  A riot of colour from a flower display from the foot of Morne Bruce   way up to the stone Cross of Jesus at the top would stagger the minds of tourists and locals. And do not tell me that you do not know where to relocate all the agricultural houses and plants that started with one or two and now appear something like a small village community or to say that it would cost too much except if you believe that an exaggerated palace cathedral for the President is more important to our economy.

A nature festival would attract nature lovers from all over.  The program could include a blessing of the water ceremony and river festival, lessons in water preservation, a nature festival pageant and parade, hiking on the Waitikubuli trail and need I go on?  Oh yes we would have a real and true nature queen, with nature costumes and not a copy of the metropolitan idea mixed with the Trinidad carnival concept which we brew together and  call, ‘Miss Dominica.’

Earth is the only planet known to support life and Waitikubuli is one of the few last remaining places where anyone can live on Earth as God first made it.  That is why we have been moved to call it the Nature Island.  There are tons and tons of people who would   passionately crave to be in a place like this and would pay dearly for that opportunity.  Instead of sitting on our hands and leaving it to the Chinese to move our island forward peppering our environment with cheap goods as a price of their favour, or extending hands to heaven praying for Chavez to live longer so that he can give us a few more handouts  let us agree that it is time to do something new for ourselves.

But then we need visionary leaders for visionary development and not just believers in concrete steel and gas that make good election manifesto pictures but signify little in the great struggle to develop the minds of our people which by the way is the only true development.

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17 Comments

  1. Oh yes
    February 23, 2013

    Your thoughts of expressions are valid. Never cease to help those of us who are mere readers. One day we will see the light before it’s too late. Believe me, your ideas are being read and listened to. I write every now and again and I have seen some of my basic sense given attention. You have given to Dominica in my respects and we appreciate that. You are respected by all.

  2. More Talk
    February 21, 2013

    I say this is just more talk. So long Dominica in existence now alone we know that there is no Nature Festival. When Bernard Wilshire and Father Cuffy organize the rivers day activities how many of us attend? I hope you all attend the Giraudel Flower Show. If there is something missing add it and talk less.

  3. More Talk
    February 21, 2013

    Them articles are just more Talk. Dominica in existence for so many years; only now we see there is no nature festival. When Bernard Wilshire and Father Cuffy have the River Day, how many of us attend? I hope you all attend the Giraudel Flower Show.

  4. dissident
    February 21, 2013

    Fresh ideas.
    I mean a young secondary school student can read this and see their future. This is so well written. If u say u love Waitikubuli u should see de beauty and promise that can come.

    Our State College students should piggy-back on these ideas

  5. Poule jeenga
    February 21, 2013

    How visitors would stand and watch in awe at this beutiful transformation of our lovely botanic gardens thanks for the vision to further development our lovely country. according to one of my friends “I want to breathe I want to come home to breathe”.

  6. cloud 9
    February 21, 2013

    Always a enlightening reading your publications. keep it up.

  7. Anonymous
    February 21, 2013

    What more could signify the island of water than actually flying over one to land at our main airport or leaving the terminal and walking straight towards the river?

  8. Anonymous
    February 21, 2013

    “or extending hands to heaven praying for Chavez to live longer” ……….. simply hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nicely done

  9. Nature Lover
    February 21, 2013

    Now we are talking my brother!!Great piece!! Too bad these idiots in office will not take heed!!

  10. Anonymous
    February 21, 2013

    Now we are talking!! If only these so called politicians would listen.

  11. lovely dominica
    February 21, 2013

    Keep on writing Dennis. Seems you have found a good hobby!

  12. Observer
    February 21, 2013

    Well written with great ideas. Congratulations, I agree with you.

    My question is. What are you prepared to do now (with your pary not at the helm of government) to advance your wonderful ideas? Are you going to leave it to those you love to criticize as hopeless and non achievers, only to come back and criticize? I suppose you do not want to be part of Dominica’s growing talk industry. You are an action man as your motto ably articulated in the 1970’s. “who is the man with the master plan —- Deniis Joseph” Dominicans will undoubtedly remember that particular radio jingle.

    The truth is I like reading your columns. Keep writing. I reserve my right to critic your writings.

  13. Malgraysa 's friend
    February 21, 2013

    Go tell it on the mountain. You et Al are have been contributors all along .We need to take back this country to much foreign involvemnt.Rumour has it we are expecting 10000 sinos/families is that a human form of gerrimandering by Medard et Al.If I only had my way!!! I would be like Idi Amin in 1971. expell all the …………call me rasicts call me what you will somebody have to put a hand or …………go fall on this land.

  14. En Ba La
    February 21, 2013

    Thanks Dennis Joseph. Thoughts of where we are heading and what could have been and our priorities this is what I am seeing.

  15. Anonymous
    February 21, 2013

    Blessings to you sir. Well written Mr. Joseph.

  16. Jimi Hendrix
    February 21, 2013

    This is the best piece I have read from you Dennis. Great piece of writing.

    • Daily DNO Reader
      February 21, 2013

      I Agree, Dr V. Henry please take note of a good written weekly column..It speaks of The PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE of what needs to be done in DOMINICA.

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