Minister for Social Services, family and Gender Affairs, Catherine Daniel has expressed concerns over what she said is the lack of seriousness in the use of island’s emblems such as the National Anthem and the National Flag.
At the official media launch of Independence Celebrations 2016 at the Government Information Service (GIS) office in Bath Estate on Wednesday, she was particularly worried about the use of the National Anthem.
“I want to stress on our National Anthem because very often we go to functions and it is played. I am scared that very soon our children will not know the words,” she stated.
She also encouraged the public to sing the National Anthem instead of just listening to it since “this will bring a greater pride…”
“At one event I heard a child singing the National Anthem and the child didn’t know the National Anthem, and this is frightening,” she stated.
Daniel noted that this year, she hopes people have to commit themselves to knowing what the National Anthem is all about.
She also called on teachers to take advantage of Dominica’s Flag Day which will be celebrated on October 17th and teach students the proper version of the National Flag.
“Just to send out a clarion call to people because you know we have different versions of the flag and what we would like to see for this Flag Day, even at schools, that teachers get the correct flag to teach the children so that they can identify what is the correct flag that we are using,” Daniel stressed.
She added, “If you go the shop Dominica Day, you can buy flags and compare them by different versions. So having this Flag Day is very critical to understanding what our national symbol is all about and getting the correct national symbol to represent the country.”
The words of the national anthem does not fit our new culture so we better forget about it or return to what it meant originally.
Take for instance. 1. All for each and each for all. 2. Come ye forward sons and daughters.
chiness in control you natives are powerless
I think Alwin Bully took himself way too seriously when designing our flag. There’s just way too much stuff on there. Simplicity.
the thing is we do not like to show our national pride except when the occasion arises. Holidays national days etc. In america, sometimes every house on certain streets and lanes have at least 1-2 flags out. Maybe this is because of the wars they are engaged in right now, but at least they show out and put up their national flags all year round.
Stress this cry to the Dominica Diaspora groups. One too many times the leaders will introduce his/her own way to sing the Dominica National Anthem and this is an outright insult. Having foreigners on stage dancing traditional dances with no clue what the dance represent. Though, I am aware that some of our Dominican refuse to associate themselves and do better. I am so disgusted by some who will present anything on stage to an audience during this time of year. Respect and learn the culture.
Why such hysteria regarding National emblems. Why can’t we just see National emblems for what they are, just a representation of something, they are not the thing it self. National emblems can be used as a tool for brainwashing and manipulation. National emblems can trigger emotions. Why should the Minister of Gender Affairs be frightened if a child doesn’t know the words of The National anthem, are there not more important things a child should know other than the words of a national anthem which could be more beneficial to that child growth and development, do you think that knowing the words of the national anthem can prepare a child for the challenges that lay ahead in life. It is time to examine and question things said to us by people in authority.
Gary, I am not going to mess you up today, as a matter of fact I gave you the first thumbs up, and that is after I omitted where you said an emblem can be used for brainwashing!
We need to have pride in our nation flag! It represents or nation no matter how it is used, it is something we need to honor and respect; however, there is no protocol stating that nationals of the country or even a foreigner cannot use a Dominica flag to promote even commercial commodities!
This woman is shooting out hot air, only craving some attention, that is her fifteen minuets of fame; sitting on here backside doing nothing, contributing nothing to the development of the country, by next election, her kind will be on her crooked feet across the country talking crap about building the country, and out people are so dumb they will fall for the same crap, the same lies!
If you are going to build the country; build it before next election!
Madame Daniel You should be afraid because Democracy is under attack and if You are interested in saving it You should join the effort to get some good Ole electoral reform the voters might reward You nif You are on the side of reform in the interest of Democracy.
Remember Skeritt’s use of the flag in Mydominicatradehouse.com?
Ask Him if He got permission from the President to Use the word “Dominica”
I agree with you Catherine Daniel, recently they had a poorly attended Dominica day in Toronto and I was appalled that the National Anthem was play and not sang.
Both the Flag and the National anthem need reviewing. The anthem is too long and the flag has too many colors and too much stuff on it. Simplicity is the key. Just check the flags of JAPAN, U.S, Cuba and Jamaica to name a few. Simple but they stand out and are very recognizable.
Thank you! I’ve been saying this for years.
This flag business is rubbish that she could sort out herself but she obviously doesnt have the ability or the will to tackle the problem head on. The minister could easily ensure the Chinese traders comply with the correct format but is too afraid of offending the Chinese paymasters.
This cowardice and apathy is being deflected to the consumer by allowing the flags to be put in the public domain. Tourists seeing these flags along with misspelt trinkets must have a good chuckle at us. The traders/importers should be notifed and fined for distribution of the offending items. Instead apathy prevails and we have shoddy goods to give the island a second rate image and make us a laughing stock while the Chinese traders line their pockets at the expense of the Dominican people.
This can only happen because it is accepted in the first place. Wake up Dominica, it’s like the lions are being lead by donkeys.
For the Emblem, the government or one in authority should ensure all flags are identical and represent the Sisserou Parrot.
The National Anthem should be sung daily in schools. First, allegiance to God in prayer, then allegiance to the country.
Students should learn the National Anthem in schools. It should be mandatory that they know the lyrics and music of their National Anthem.
I have heard similar concerns via the Media about Canadian children. Residing here, I learned the words of the Canadian Anthem and to sing it even though I hardly ever sing it except on Canada Day, in Church and hearing it sung on TV, Radio or at a relevant function.
July 1st is Canada Day which could fall on a weekday or weekend. The Anthem is sung after every Holy Mass. If it falls on a Monday, it is sung after the Saturday, Sunday and Monday Masses.
D/ca nationals must take an interest in their Emblem and Anthem. They must have love for both and sing their Anthem with pride.
This is patriotism at its best.
National Emblem what. The issue of child sexual abuse is a troubling criminal act that authorities are showing little concern about. Catherine should be talking about expediting the cases of child sexual abuse. She should be concerned about the refusal, up to now, to reform the existing sexual abuse law to increase the penalties to those perpetrators.
Even if those children learn, sing songs or know about emblems, how does that prevent them from being abused left, right and centre? or prevent the oppression and impoverishment of the populace, or prevent the heavy influence by political operatives of all our democratic institutions like the IPO, Electoral Commission, police Force, local gov’t or Village/Urban councils?
Imagine Catherine, or Skerritt have cheque handing over to Colihaut village Council for loyalty, influence? Why is the Local Gov’t Dept excluded from those handing of $$$$ to Village Councils Such moves stifles/cripples VC’s and take away their autonomy.
The government is the one to be blamed fairly and squarely. The guy is right the State issued official pictures of the President and Prime Minister depicts two totally different flags. So the State has it wrong muchless the public. President Sinorette in Eugenia days was the only president who was adamant that State symbols be strictly respected. He was totally against the misuse of our national symbols. One had to get permission from the Presidents office to use, attach or print any of our national symbols. what we see now is the flag and others being used and printed on all sorts of material. We saw the misuse of our national symbols in the My Dominica Trade House .com saga not a word or statement from the Presidents office or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So the disrespect starts from the top its a free for all. I see officials, Ministers and all in conversation or walking in, while the anthen is being played. Total break down in protocol. What do we expect to follow.
You need something constructive to do, you are an old woman who should be retired at home enjoying your grand, and great grandchildren, if you have any; instead you have your miserable face on DON talking fart!
Which is worst, nationals of Dominica using our flag or emblems as you term it; or people like you and Skerrit running all over the world selling our national pride our passport which is the second most important document after the constitution. You sell our native passports, to criminal, and the worlds most undesirables?
When you all had an artist draw an aircraft, draped in the Dominica flag, and lied to Dominicans on a fake web site lied and said Wade owned that Airline operating across America for more than twenty years, that was worst than the crap you are babbling about. Dominicans at this time are not concern about such nonsensical rhetoric, Skerrit gave you a script, so you can put your face on DNO, to remind his supporters you are alive you need to return to…
ONE OF THE MEDIA HOUSES SHOULD TAKE IT UPON ITSELF TO GO AROUND OUR COUNTRY AND COLLECT THE VARIETY OF DOMINICA FAKE FLAGS SOLD IN THE COUNTRY. THAT IS WHERE THE SHAME LIES. WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOM OFFICERS. DO THEY KNOW WHAT AN AUTHENTIC DOMINICA FLAG LOOKS LIKE.
ON THE INTERNET FAKE STUFF ARE SOLD BUT CUSTOMS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GUARDING THEIR OWN PRIDE.
Admin: We are once again take the opportunity to discourage readers from submitting entire comments in capital letters.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/policies/#comment-policy
Thank you admin; that is one of the ways we identify the less educated!
Most of them do that believing they are emphasizing something, or some point; the fact is capital letters (upper case) letters are only supposed to be used at the commencement of a sentence; the first letter in the name and surname of people, places, or things!
FET, Conscious was YELLING!
It was high time somebody came up with flag story. When our flags came from England we got the real flags with parrot not pipirit from China .Even the national wear are changing now is any style.People let’s go back to our cultural wear the way we knew it .KEEP IT REAL
Mr. Alwin Bully designed our beautiful flag, ask him Madame Minister to show the wrong flag. Stop the fake fags and those who are printing them
Well it would be really interesting to know WHICH is the correct flag. Because yesterday I was at the AID Bank. Behind the receptionist’s desk are two photos, one of His Excellency Charles Savarin next to the flag, and another of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt next to a flag as well.
Lo and Behold, the flag in the photo of Charles Savarin shows a beautiful parrot with lovely colours with its beak pointing left; the flag in the photo of Roosevelt Skerritt shows some sort of fat blue coloured bird with its beak pointing to the right.
I said to myself “AA! That is two different flags that there, man?” “Hmph! I wonder which one is correct?”
Honestly this is what passed through my mind when i saw the photographs.
If you all think I’m lying just take a visit to the AID Bank and go by the receptionist’s desk and you will see what I’m talking about.
It is a concern. You could bring this to their attention. Some who manufacture the flag do not make the proper one which is why they look different. Both of them should be identical, resembling the Sisserou Parrot as Dominica’s emblem.
And tell Skerrit stop using them when he do on his private escapads
she not woman enough to tell him dat!!
I think we must change the tune of this National Anthem and put in a little steel pan in the background.
ask one of the singers in Dominica to put in a different tune.
The words of the Anthem have nothing to do with the musical accompanyment. You can play the anthem to rock, soca, steel pan, bouyon there is no set musical accompanyment for the anthem. However, we all know it through the version played by an orchestra, in this case when the music lovers orchestra plays it.
What will adding some steal pan music in the background prove. Steal -pan music is not unique to Dominica, since the instrument is not a Dominica invention. Steal Pan Music is very unique to Trinidad & Tobago, because Trinidad is where the steal pan music originates.
I totally agree with Ms. Danielle. I see people use the words of the National Anthem and our Flag in any which way. Our Flag for instance should never be on the ground. We are proud of our flag and it is one of the most beautiful flag worldwide. But we believe being patriotic is having our flag on everything that is for fun and not only for dignified events.
I never agree also to sing only the first stanza or only two verses of the National Anthem the words are so beautiful and mean so much; when we sing the National Anthem we should never be in too much of a hungry that we cannot sing all three verses, because every verse mean say so much.
In formal settings the time should be set aside for singing all verses and yes we should sing along when it is being sung.
I totally agree with the Honourable Minister and her views on our National Symbols.
The problem really is that “It is all about Skeritt”so the Symbols are falling by the wayside
“Just to send out a clarion call to people because you know we have different versions of the flag and what we would like to see for this Flag Day, even at schools, that teachers get the correct flag to teach the children so that they can identify what is the correct flag that we are using,” Daniel stressed.
She added, “If you go the shop Dominica Day, you can buy flags and compare them by different versions. So having this Flag Day is very critical to understanding what our national symbol is all about and getting the correct national symbol to represent the country.”
How about starting by imposing a stiff fine for anyone who import and sell the flag with the pipirit (sp) on it instead of the Amazona Imperialis.
#OneLoveDominicans! #IsleofBeauty #IsleofSplendor.
Was wondering, the National Flag is the National Flag, it cannot and should not be changed so we should not allow any other version to be in circulation than what the National Flag is.
This is so correct! Awareness is what we have lost. Even with our creole day attire. I support this comment but I also want you to know that morale plays an integral role in shaping our people and culture. We are one Dominica who shares similar culture, separate values, different political parties, and chosen religious life. Though this lapse may have started before your reign, I admire your efforts to change it. Nice work!
I am so pleased with this new feature of National Emblems Week from 17 – 21 October, to promote the island’s symbols. It is only through instilling pride, patriotism and commitment to our country will we see fruitful collaborative nation building.
I don’t think I am being disrespectful if I would in earnest challenge President Savarin’s Office to develop a year-long programme surrounding our National Symbols, Emblems, Heroes, iconic historical landmarks, national parks, iconic buildings and their history and to be implemented in Primary and Secondary Schools Extra-curricula calendar. What I am suggesting here is not at all new but we have failed over the years to instill in our youth a sense of pride, self-worth and belonging. now let’s not argue this. Let’s just build.
Now this Program may include a few of these, if not all:
1. Quiz competitions at varying levels
2 At least four () radio/televised youth programs surrounding Civics – one per quarter
3. Poem & song contest surrounding what the national symbols mean to us – annual (different levels)
4. Short story on one Dominican Hero – annual competition
5. Civics & Citizenship Poster Competition
6. Youth Forum (teens) on values of the individual, values of participation, values of community and leadership
7. President’s office with Government should identify our National Heroes and hold them in public prominence
8. Further strengthen the Cadet Corp
Now all this requires planning and some funding (now that is where your Diaspora comes in.) Just for argument sake, If there are 10,000 Dominicans willing to pledge US $5 per annum this is more than adequate to fund such a programme.
So I now rest these suggestions publicly at the President’s Office. Now do not ask who this Cadette fella is or thinks he is, or what he thinks, or “where he come out” etc. Just take the suggestions and run with it.
God Bless Dominica
This is so true,i live in the USA and i go to functions and see all version of our flag. At times i would say to people this is not the color of the parrot, or this is a pigeon with wrong colors. There really need to be an awareness as to what our national flag should look like..
Begin by either stopping the Chinese from selling cheap versions of our beautiful flag or bring them an original so they make it correctly! Because what is happening now is that the street vendors buying it cheap from the Chinese and coming and sell it to tourist. Spreading that ugly version of a fat parrot. That does get me so vex.
Totally in agreement no more carbon copy but ORIGINAL
We don’t need the government to stop the Chinese. WE, the consumers, Dominican vendors and other customers alike, can stop the Chinese by refusing to accept the poor quality, mediocre at best products they present for sale. They are ‘successful because WE the Dominican buying public accept it. Period.
I was home a few years ago and a vendor was near to cursing me because every shot glass souvenir she brought forward I refused because of the terrible print on it. I was the problem in her mind. Not the FACT that she had purchased poor quality items and was trying to pass it on to me. I went to the vendor directly, by the bridge, and told pointed out several misspelled items etc. from his inventory.
Sad.
I get your point BUT there are tourist who will buy the cheapest souvenir, and that means simply entering one of the 1000 Chinese stores we have in town and getting it for $5 instead of $7 by the road side. So we still have to find a way to stop them or correct the way they produce it. Cause when I go back to the mainland with it, I am not telling someone is in a chine store I buy it. I will tell them is in DOMINICA I bought it. See how that can spread easily?
BTW Thanks for pointing out the mistakes directly to the vendor.
If not the Chinese then where? As a teacher the only place I know to get a flag is by the Chinese. If it can be found anywhere else please let me know . However if the price is not right, I will not use my little salary to get a flag. Government should ensure that the correct flag is displayed in all government buildings including classrooms. It is time that they use some of the passport money to equip the classrooms where learning begins.
Ms.CARBON,Dominica has lost all its dignity,our passports are being sold like french fries and chinese food,talk to your supreme leader.
Where does the Ms. Carbon comes from, am I reading a different story from the one you read?
CAMERON, every time you open your mouth only S..t comes out of it, ?
Catherine, how is it possible that there can be “different versions” of the flag? If this is so, then your responsibility is to ensure that this practice stops IMMEDIATELY; not asking teachers to get the right flag to teach students. Why is it so DIFFICULT to apply our existing laws? Who are those responsible for the OTHER versions?
HOTEP!
NKRUMAH, Have you ever heard of counterfeit? If the answer is no you have not travel far please shut it.
Should have it sang at schools at least twice a week.
Yes, speak to your colleague the Minister of education and have him put it on the curriculum.
really, in this current state of rampant corruption, favoritism, nepotism, lies, skull doggery and so much more I can mention, come ye forward sons and daughter, while some sons and daughters eating all the cheese in all aspect of Dominican lives….
Is this a bad photo or what? This lady does not look well. But your point is well taken Madam.
I don’t think this woman has much on her plate. It looks like she is being paid a ministerial salary without much work to do to justify her salary.
did you open your mouth when the Chinese were selling imitation Dominican flags that depicted our parrot as a fat obese bird with all the wrong colors….
Mamselle have nothing to talk about man? stupppeesssssssssssss!
Perhaps we should design it as a screensaver, so it can be placed on workers pcs, in the government and private offices, the students tablets and also put it on the home page of the government website. Create an app etc… of course, It must be taught in schools.. inter class competitions.. be creative..
If I understand correctly maybe she is insinuating that schools should play their part in teaching the significance and meanings of the colors/ur like yellow – sunshine… Green – Tropical Forest…..