Independence celebrations 2013; a first peek

Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence
Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence

Dominicans got their first peek of this year’s independence celebration when its theme was revealed by Chief Cultural Officer, Raymond Lawrence.

On Friday morning Lawrence stated that Dominica will celebrate its 35th anniversary of independence under the theme “One Mission, One Dominica, Celebrating 35.”

Lawrence urged the public to come out in large numbers to participate in the various activities since the anniversary is ‘a special one.’

“Independence is a wonderful time for nation building, identity building, pride in country so we are encouraging everybody to participate in the Independence celebrations. It’s a special anniversary of Dominica’s Independence so we are urging the Dominican public to come out and participate fully,” he said.

The island will celebrate the day it gained independence  from British rule on November 3rd 2013.

Activities slated for this year’s Independence celebrations include the 17th Edition of the World Creole Music Festival.

More information on other activities on the calendar of events for the celebration will be released at a later date.

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20 Comments

  1. STEMBO
    October 30, 2013

    JUSTICE AND TRUTH YOU TALKING HE OPPOSIY OF TRUTH OR JUSTICE OUR CLUTURE IN DA IN MUCH MORE INTERESTING THAN YOURS AND WE DONT ALLOW KIDS IN WCMF FOR SATY REASONS K MISTER SMARTY PANSE BUT SOME OF THINGS THAT YOU SAID MAID ALOT OF SENSE

  2. jey love son
    October 14, 2013

    I hate when they sa chidren a not allowd in WCMF

  3. October 14, 2013

    love eveything :-D

  4. help us lord
    August 19, 2013

    Makes no sense to celebrate 35 yrs of independence from Britain and to become totally dependent on China, Venezuella, and the sale of our passports to criminals. We should use this 35thanniversay as a time to mourn under Skerrit.

  5. Justice and Truth
    August 17, 2013

    Love me or not. Love my words or not. Sorry if I make you feel disappointed and spoil your type of independence celebration. To be fair, let us not be hypocrites. Today, we are wiser than we were in bygone years. We see matters differently, what could have been done then and what should not have been done then.
    I cannot help but state, really? What is there to celebrate about Dominica’s independence from Great Britain? Let us ask ourselves, what did Dominica gain by becoming independent and being independent?
    Lest we forget. Be reminded that Dominica lost its citizenship with Great Britain. Consider in those days all it took to migrate to Great Britain was a passport. Not so today. This right was forfeited due to Dominica becoming independent. Many D/cans migrated to G.B. then. If Dominica was still a sovereign country, today, many more Dominicans would migrate there in search of jobs.
    If Dominica were independent, it would not be dependable for financial outside help and so much of it. This pertains to other islands. Dominica is only independent in numbers – years, “35 years” but nothing else. Considering what transpired during the period Dominica was striving for independence, it was a sad, disappointing and shocking case.
    Put on your thinking cap. Is Dominica really independent? An independent nation is one which is not (fully) dependent on other countries to sustain it and to assist its nationals specifically those who are in need of. If Dominica is independent, the country would have been more progressive and advanced. Dominica cannot sustain itself and is dependent on outside/foreign help.
    Granted, by what we know or were told, to believe, Dominica as a sovereign country received very little help from Great Britain that, Great Britain did not assist Dominica which is the reason why the government then sought independence.
    We had no way of knowing how much the government of Dominica received from Great Britain in former and latter years, also when it seceded from Great Britain. It is as if Dominicans were not important as they continued to live with their struggles.

    • RubbishNews.da
      August 18, 2013

      You lack vision. Dominica is a young country. One day people will immigrate and not migrate.

      • Justice and Truth
        August 18, 2013

        You can’t stand the truth. Well, face it. What vision are you talking about? How young and what year it became young? Do you know how old it is?
        Way back when, when Christopher Columbus discovered it.
        How about after emancipation of slavery?
        Also, after the Englis and French fought and the British paid the French to get out of Dominica.
        We are in the year 2013. Tell us, which year are you referring to that Dominica became a young country?

  6. Justice and Truth
    August 17, 2013

    Thinking of this, in those days money received from Great Britain was not revealed. There was no Internet and computer system then. Therefore, this information was not made privy to Dominicans. It is as if Dominicans were not important and not entitled to know as they continued to live in ignorance (of the truth and with their struggles.
    We were made to believe that G.B. did not help Dominica at all as Dominica continued to remain in poverty. They were on their own to fend for themselves. Thank God in those days there were few crimes (petty ones) and murders were hardly ever committed, approximately once every ten years. It was then a truly safe and peaceful country. Crimes escalated since Dominica’s independence.
    All we know is that Dominica continued to be an impoverished country and some Dominicans remained in poverty. Someone should write a book about that and what happened to the money which Great Britain sent to the government of Dominica in those days, no exception when my parents were children to adulthood, including me and all other Dominicans.
    New buildings were not erected or hardly ever. A few roads, yes, but nothing to shout about as today with the financial help Dominica receives from China and other world organizations.
    Dominica lost a piece of architecture, a historical building and archives, the Registry building through fire which was maliciously set to it by vandals.
    To know the facts and to clear the air, so-to-speak, a research should be conducted into this by contacting the authorities in Great Britain and researching the archives of Great Britain pertaining to Dominica when it was a sovereign country.
    I view Dominica being independent as a great loss to Dominica and its nationals. I cannot rejoice about Dominica’s independence. It lost too much in those days which it will never regain.

  7. pinchy
    August 16, 2013

    something about the theme just don’t click I am sure there were many other themes that came up when the division seeked the public’s suggestion for a theme. But none the less we love our rum so we will celebrate, caboom!!!!!!!

    • CHARMER
      August 18, 2013

      I agree, it’s not very catchy. I would have liked to make my contribution, but I’m too late. “KEEPING CULTURE ALIVE WHILE CELEBRATING 35′

  8. August 16, 2013

    DNO,Whats the out come of the investigation Mr Joseph.S conducted a few months ago on homosexuals in our secondary schools.

  9. T mama
    August 16, 2013

    This is one dedicated Dominican…thanks Mr Lawrence and your staff for the wonderful celebration activities you all organize…looking forward to all…

  10. help us lord
    August 16, 2013

    This theme is very timely and pertinent as all of us Dominicans need to have “One Mission” which is to get rid of those that have us still depending on them for a dollar to pay our bills, eat bread, fix roofs, put groceries in our shops, put toilet etc., so that no one will use precious moments to reproach us later as we have gotton so use to in the last 10 yrs. True independence is when we can earn a living so we could get what we need without going through no red tape. So yes, let us all get rid of this red tape that Skerrit and his cabal have put us under, so we could once again enjoy the independence we enjoyed before 2000, up to this day. Lord help us!

    • Justice and Truth
      August 18, 2013

      Why single out Skerrit? I would not state that it is his fault. You must also blame those who never worked, who live a leisure life (past and present) and the irresponsible and non-caring criminals and drug addicts who do not contribute their fair share to society and subsequently do not pay income tax which could assist Dominica.
      Those who think that it is time for a change in Dominica, I would say it is time for a change of all those who never sought employment, who never worked and the others that I previously mentioned, some extremely lazy people who do not contribute to the economy of the country. There are also those who do not pay their fair share of taxes. This has forced governments to seek financial help overseas.
      Skerrit was not the PM at that independent time and previously and not even after considering how many years he has been PM. To be honest, blame it on those other governments. The only honest one in those days was Ms. Eugenia Charles.
      In the event you will refute what I stated about Ms. Charles, do your homework; your research on her integrity and ethics as PM.

      • jay
        October 8, 2013

        i like it its cool for

  11. YAY!!
    August 16, 2013

    Something is not up to par with this theme. It could have been a bit better. Then again, 35 years is a blessing to celebrate as we move along and develop ourselves and country

    • RubbishNews.da
      August 18, 2013

      That Theme sounds lazy!!!!!!!!! :cry:

  12. Cyrique
    August 16, 2013

    Dominicans in the United Kingdom will certainly be celebrating our 35th Anniversary. I’m also certain that Dominicans all over the world will be celebrating. Here’s looking forward to the celebration!! God bless DOMINICA

  13. Concern citizen
    August 16, 2013

    I would like to point out that the person that is writing this article and others from the last fews weeks is constantly using “slated” in all his or her articles. I think that “slated” is not being used incorrectly in this context. The events are not being slated at the last minute, so therefore “slated”should not be used. The events are being planned in advance.
    It looks like they have discovered a new word, but please do not over use it.

    • Justice and Truth
      August 19, 2013

      You criticized DNO. Is this an error?. Take a look at these words and make them explicit: I think “slated” is ‘not’ being used ‘incorrectly’ in this context…

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