Chief Cultural Officer, Raymond Lawrence, is of the belief that cultural events such as Carnival will help rebuild Dominica in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Speaking at the launch of Mas Domnik 2018 last week, he said culture and arts have a role to play in the rebuilding process.
“Even though Carnival may be a more simple and scaledown version of our usual carnival, I believe that it will still give us that outlet to our creative expression and cultural thrust in the rebuilding process,” he stated.
Lawrence pointed out that people think of only the physical and material aspects of rebuilding, but it is more than that.
“Culture and the arts do have an important role to play in the rebuilding process,” he noted. “Sometimes we tend to think of rebuilding only as the physical and the material aspects but also there is the rebuilding of the human spirit and psyche and the rebuilding of identity and pride in one’s self and in one’s country.”
He added, “In fact when we speak of resilience, its not just the houses and the bridges, which of course are extremely important to our development in Dominica, but it goes hand in hand with resolve and determination which comes from spiritual values and inner strengths to keep on going and to persevere in spite of the circumstances.”
Lawrence stated that Dominica’s culture and festivals also provide many opportunities for earning an income through the cultural industries including opportunities for artistes, musicians, performers, costume designers and seamstresses and tailors that have to be making many, many different types of costumes for Carnival.
“Our cultural expressions help to provide hope and optimism and an inner strength of spirit as well as helping to build nationalism and love of country,” he remarked.
He encouraged everyone to participate in Carnival this year and to keep it free from violence and decent.
“We don’t have to overdo anything,” Lawrence said.
No it doesn’t. dont be fooled.
I’m not sure about culture, because that is in the safe zone – everyone does it.
But art and artists are different, or should be. A vigorous outspoken community of artists would be a benefit to Dominica at this point in time. The late Father Jolly made this point in one of his commentaries years ago.
For this reason, as an artist, I feel duty bound to speak out.
The name should read: Roger Burnett, not Roger Burnettee. You can be assured that I don’t go incognito!
Really? I don’t get it. This is comparable to a drunk man saying that a likkle grog I can’t afford this weekend will put me in the right frame of mind to be a responsible, productive person in the coming week.
Steeuuuppppppppssssssss. Help in rebuilding what? Must be vulgarity and decadence rebuilding.
They also cost a lot of money up front and usually don’t break even.
Put Dominica up for adoption
I do believe that carnival can help restore somewhat normalcy in the people minds, but our carnival been on life support for awhile now. Allu neva see other caribbean countries val? That lookin like a movie, Da carnival like a likkle freeup jam