Coordinator of the first ever Creole Symposium in Dominica Gregory Rabess has reported that the symposium was a success.
Speaking to Dominica News Online Rabess said “we had participation from various countries and the quality of the discussions was good as well as the quality of the presentations. We have documentations from people who did presentations and we are going to circulate them. Plans are in place to publish a book of the proceedings.”
He added that the diversity of the experience was also very important to the event’s success.
“Seychelles and Haiti are the most developed out of all the countries that speak Creole in terms of how they use and teach Creole in the formal education system. It is mandatory, everybody learns Creole, in Dominica however we have done some pilot experiments but we do not have Creole in the schools,” he said.
Rabess noted that there has also been an increase in cultural industries in Creole speaking countries.
According to him, a commitment was made by all the countries to work together and establish a working group which will meet within the next two months to pursue the ideas and the suggestions, prepare a report of the proceedings and create a platform of action for the next few years.
“We expect this symposium to be an annual affair,” he said. “We are hoping that we could have specialized conferences so for instance some countries have strengths for example in Haiti has art in Guadeloupe you have the cuisine. Therefore, we can have forums on these things in Haiti, Guadeloupe.”
The three day Creole Symposium was held to recognize the 30th anniversary of International Creole Day.
C’est un très précieux, programme qui pourrait bénéficier rip pour les Dominicains dans le long terme. Connaître notre culture et notre patrimoine nous renforcera en tant que peuple
sa se’ bon bagai, yo ni pour mutuer tout zafans parle kweyol avant e mort. parceque yo le’ parle anglais seulement.