Dominican pens preview of book on Grand Bay

The cover of the preview
The cover of the preview

Saying that he wants to keep Dominica’s history alive, Grand Bay native USVI-based, Paul Alexander, has authored a 39-page preview of an upcoming book entitled: Grand Bay: the 1974 Geneva Uprising, from Bala to Unicef.

The book itself, which goes by the same title, is still in publication and will be available later this year.

In an interview with Dominica News Online (DNO) Alexander noted that the preview has a purpose because he does not want the important history of that community to be forgotten.

“So we can have something for our future generations,” he stated.

The preview contains seven chapters, namely the history of Grand Bay, the Nassief Era, Resistance and Unrest, the 1974 Geneva Uprising, One year for a coconut and Anthony Grell fight for freedom.

The preview also gives a sneak peek at the man who was at the helm of the 1974 Geneva Uprising, Phillip “Unicef” Francis, who is still alive. The upcoming book is dedicated to him for his “significant role” in that revolution, according to Alexander.

“The preview contains information from various sources including my personal knowledge as an eye witness to some of the events that transpired during the Geneva Uprising,” Alexander wrote in an introduction to the preview.

The author said he wants to keep the history of Grand Bay alive
The author said he wants to keep the history of Grand Bay alive

The upcoming book will highlight the history of Grand Bay, as it relates to the Geneva Uprising and its social, cultural and political developments.

It will also cover the 1976 period when Prime Minister Patrick John passed a law called the “praedial and larceny act,” where anyone found guilty of stealing a coconut was automatically jailed for one year.

Alexander is the president of the Wassin Dominique Association which is based in St Thomas and the United States Virgin Islands.

The preview can be bought from Alexander or at Audio Solutions Inc. in Grand Bay for $25.00.

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11 Comments

  1. Bigger
    May 11, 2021

    I am from Grandbay and was in England at the time. I will definitely try to get a copy
    Tnank you Sir

  2. south lady
    August 8, 2014

    Am so proud of u mr Alexander for a job well done congratulations on ur book.Dominica needs more men and women like u!!!!! Blessings bro

  3. out of south city
    August 7, 2014

    I listened to Paul promoting the book on DBS yesterday and I didn’t know that so much history existed in Grand Bay. We have to give credit to him for bringing us to light of the past happenings and we must also give credit to Unicef for standing up for the whole village. He truly is a hero and I was so happy to see his face on the cover of the book. That’s a good book to have in one’s library. Good job Paul for enlightening us about our history. Regardless of how some people may think of us, we are a great people in Grand Bay. We are proud to be who we are.

  4. ANONYMOUS
    August 7, 2014

    WOW i want a copy..my mom told us stories of the geneva uprising.I’v always been fascinated, she saw it all personally.My mom tells of stories of fights and fire with fire in her eyes she seemed excited (as every lil girl around that time might have felt not fully grasping the reality of the situation(.My granny worked in the geneva area.Before she died she visited us;she told me right here where our house now stands she picked limes for very little pay while pregnant! She told of how different it looked then and now so much ‘bush’.Mom told us of the rastas who fought for freedom and escaped to perdu temps…and of the french people who use to come down to buy a type of wood called ‘coubarie’ which they’d use to make a very durable bed called coush coubarie which they’d sell at exorbitant prices.Theyd come to d.a(more specifically fond cole) to purchase it at a low cost and d.a people got upset a riot ensued all because they wanted a fair pay…..o sweet d.a filled with rich and vibrant culture even today(the country just slow and things hard all you need to do is work hard also but other than that d.a niceee but i digress).I really need a copy i know very little of bala the slave and i want to knowww.

  5. G-Baby
    August 6, 2014

    Will any proceeds go to the development of Grand-Bay? When I was growing up I would always here my grandparents say in creole “if it wasn’t for Unicef most people in Grand-Bay would not have land so when you see him walking the streets have respect for him instead of teasing him.”

    • Affa
      August 8, 2014

      Nobody teases Uni, they all know his story, he may play along with the kids sometimes but he jus living life.

  6. real possie
    August 6, 2014

    Great job Lawah keep up the good work.

  7. uprising
    August 6, 2014

    Great job Mr Alexander

  8. August 6, 2014

    This is the reason why we must stand up for our rights and unit ;look at what is happening in gaza now where defenseless people are being killed under the nose of the united nations, because israel is expropreating palestinians of their land little by little,the nassiefs came from arab land and moved to grand-bay ,exploit the grand-bay people on the geneva estate ,the geneva land was not their property yet people were not allowed to take one coconut ,to cook a little food or feed their chickens,we all know their was a law against theft but the police was never on the estate when people were taking a coconut ,luckily the colonialist belongings were set on fire…and the land is now for grand-bay people ..

  9. love
    August 6, 2014

    i concur, i would like a copy of this book , so it can bring back memories to me,,, grand bay me come from

  10. grell
    August 6, 2014

    Great job,keep our culture and freedom alive,hope all dominicans alive today read.I will continue to respect the people of grandbay for fighting for Geneva.People please read and understand what freedom is all about.

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