The International Federation of Creole speaking countries held a symposium to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the creation of the Federation here in Dominica 30 years ago. Delegates came from Haiti, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia. The delegate from Seychelles was unable to attend due to bad weather in South Africa.
Two of the main organizers of the symposium were Gregory Rabess and McCarthy Marie. These gentlemen give a summary of the event and discuss the importance of Kweyol for Dominica and the other Kweyol speaking countries.
View video of conversation below.
Observer are you referring to DA where employers are seeking English/creole? I guess you are a small mind in a small country(DA). I am D/can-DA I speak English,French ,Creole, Portuguese,Spanish and am currently studying Italian.
I work in the health care industry and boy my creole is being utilised effectively with Seychelles, Haitians pts and the few in between g/loupeans/martiniquians so Observer you are narrow minded. Open up my friend travel meet people start learning spanish and french use the connection we have currently on island and wake up please smell the coffee.
It’s 2014 almost what year are you in Observer and which planet are you?
God night Observer
Very informative. In total agreement that Kweyol should be taught in schools.
True because we are learning Spanish and French… We might as well learn something that identifies us
so where are the representatives from America, Trinidad, Jamaica and the other caribbean islands?please do not tell me it was for creole countries, because the world creole music festival hiring artiste from all over the globe.
I do not believe teaching Creole in the classroom is a good idea. It is okay to speak the language, but NOT in the classroom. It is difficult enough as it is for some students to keep up with English comprehension. Dominica is NO LONGER FRENCH. Do you have any idea of how Haitians are treated? Do you want Dominicans treated similarly?
YES, I SPEAK PATIOS. There are numerous words I am unable to translate; however, I do not have a problem because English is my language. Many employers seek BI-LINGUAL employees, Spanish/English (SPANISH A MUST). I have not seen any employer seeking BI-LINGUAL employees Creole/English. They do ask if you speak other languages.
Do whatever pleases you, but I would not want my children sitting in a classroom learning Creole as a second language. My opinion.
my friend you are confused. its all about where you go, in many places like montreal, miami, new york, new orleans etc there are many haitians and always in need of creole speakers. we could also use the language to strengthen our ties with the french islands, who have much to offer us. ask the dominicans in gwada if creole is important to them. aside from that it is not only about economical benefits, it is about being proud of our culture and heritage. remember creole was hear much longer before english. it is the root of our country. dominica will never be dominica if it wasnt for our creole ancestors. so if all you want to kill creole good luck, just know you are killing the country.
So spanish can be taught in school, French can be taught in school, but no kweyol, mean while we have so many young people walking the streets of Roseau, working in radio stations who cannot have a conversation in kweyol, a language native to Dominca. I feel sorry for you.
How unfortunate is your opinion. Really backward. So sad.
This is ridiculous! We should not speak creole because of how the Haitians are being treated? How are the Haitians being treated may I ask?
Creole is our culture. It defines who we are as a people. Yes, we are no longer governed by France but it is also correct that we are no longer governed by England. Should we then drop the English Language!
Creole is part of our History, one which helped formed who we are and that is something we should embrace.
Good job rabess what better time to promote the creole language,