In light of independence celebrations Gloria Shillingford stresses unity

Shillingford

Minister of Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs Gloria Shillingford has made a call to Dominicans at home and in the Diaspora to unify in accordance with the theme of this year’s Independence Celebrations.

The Member of Parliament from the constituency of Wesley made the call while addressing the nation at the launching of the Independence Celebrations, stressing that only in unity can we continue to press forward as a nation.

“It is with pride and dignity that I call upon Dominicans locally and abroad to rally together for the celebration of this great event over the period 18 September to 4 November 2011. This should be a great season for all Dominican. The theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘Celebrating 33: Joining Hands in Unity’. This theme calls upon every citizen to join hands to build our beautiful country. We have journeyed together for 33 years and have seen changes in government, natural disasters, and social unrest, but at the end of it we have stood firm as a people and we will continue to thrust forward in unity,” She said.

Shillingford believes that the sense of pride that we experience at independence time and the commitment to unity that exists should extend beyond that season and should be a part of each one’s contribution to national development.

“The spirit of unity and togetherness which is being called for is indeed [needed] not only during the Independence season. Rather, it should be a lifelong commitment made by every citizen of this country. I, therefore, call upon families, churches, schools, social groups, communities and every organization to make this commitment yours for the good of our nation. As you join hands with your compatriots to celebrate 33 years in unity and love, let us always remember that if we are to achieve development as a nation, we need to put country before self,” she said.

Independence Celebrations officially open on 24 September at the Old Mill Cultural Centre, beginning from 5 pm.

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19 Comments

  1. DA man
    September 13, 2011

    so you want us to hold hands and unite with pepole who want to destroy our country? well we would like to, but first you have to show all you care about all dominican red,blue rich our poor if you are not kissing skerret a… you are nobody in this country we will unite when those things are change

  2. Anonymous
    September 13, 2011

    Somehow I believe the Minister means well. After all our independence celebrations has to be a proud moment. But wait … that means we are celebration our democracy … a democracy under serious attack in so many ways … My government openly praised and sided with Libya – a country with a glaring dictatorship. I believe that government should stop wasting my money on a hypocritical celebration of independence!!!!

    Let the people celebrate in their own way AND GOVERNMENT STAY OUT!!!! GOVERNMENT ACTIONS HAVE SHOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN REAL CONTEMPT FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE … LOOK AROUND YOU AND CHINESE ARE WORKING WHEN DOMINICANS ARE NOT …AND THE LIST GOES ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. September 12, 2011

    Hogwash. It’s a new world. Jobs are going everywhere.. Indians taking US jobs, China taking US jobs, Dominicans taking US Jobs (Call centers) all over the world. Be creative and think of something else to do when your Job is taken away from you. Don’t sit and cry and wait for moments like this to come and be angry. The lady cannot solve this new world movement. It’s all over, not just in Dominica. Take the Dominica farm to the next level. There is always bread in Dominica to feed mouths. We just need to stop looking at what each other have and doing for themselves. Get up and MOVE.. you will be there one day.

  4. September 12, 2011

    I wonder what Dominican parents fed their kids when they were little.. To much ‘STARCH’. People agree to disagree in a civilize way. The lady is calling for UNITY and that’s the best you all can come up with on a National Medium. There are other people besides us who read these posts. Vent in a meaningful manner. IT IS OUR INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION not POLITICS. Leave these empty comments for election time. Mi Fami Wachen!!!

  5. gweeve
    September 12, 2011

    How can we unite in a country when only some are eating. Our men are by the roadsides begging and chinese, Trini and others are sending home fat pay cheques. Our women a prostituting to make ends meet Gloria. Are you aware of that, while you and your colleagues are getting glossy, buying suv, taking trips all over the world and we are catching

  6. Righteous
    September 12, 2011

    There are two sayings that i love and i wonder if the Honourable Minister knows them:-
    1. Practice what u Preach
    2. Charity begins at Home

  7. No Hogwash
    September 12, 2011

    Unity Gloria, you want people to unite when they are hurting about their country and it’s governance so much? Is that what you want.. No justice no peace Gloria,aren’t you aware of that saying? There can never be peace without justice. Give the people justice, then you will gt peace!

    • 1979
      September 13, 2011

      wash they want peace!!!! they want us to take our kick and hush our backside…… 8) turn the other cheek, be the better man. all those sayings they know….but they no nothing of no JUSTICE no PEACE!

  8. FORKIT
    September 12, 2011

    how can we express unity when you take dominicans jobs and give it to trini, chinese and french people,
    when the cost of living is climbing everyday but income diminishing everyday,
    when crime is committed by prominient people in society and they are protected by the commissioner of police and politicians,
    only the rich that is given more and the poor receive less.
    farmers are left on their own while night club owner is given half a million to fix a disco…

    this country full of sh**

  9. i can use my brain
    September 12, 2011

    When u talking unity come good! U want unity?
    Tell ur party poopers to stop calling people pigs, cockroach and cacdor. I know u dont want to unite with roaches….i dont trust ur unity talk.
    Skerrit has made numerous speeches…….i have never heard him call for national unity. As far a he sees and would like the world to believe, everyone in DA loves him……and u still calling for unity…..u doh have enough love and support?
    18-3 not united enough? u need more support than that? START BY PRACTICING WHAT U PREACH…….I DONT TRUST UR WORDS!

    • September 12, 2011

      MY GOD! MY COMPUTER JUST BLOW UP.
      NEXT TIME I READING QUOTES LIKE THAT I GETTING FIRE EXTINGUISHER FIRST

      • 1979
        September 13, 2011

        lolol woooyyy wooy wooyyy something happening…..and its so exciting!!!

        ROTFL

  10. September 12, 2011

    yes! I agre. Dominicans must unite to do THE RIGHT, LEGAL, AND MORALLY UPRIGHT THING.

    YOU CANNOT BE ASKING ME TO UNITE WITH SOMETHING THAT I AM FIGHTING TO GET RID OF.

    • 1979
      September 12, 2011

      amen brother c.bruce, we are not in league with corruption……we are independent by any means necessary!! courir, tout macaque clinique rouge ka couleh zor.

  11. texas island boy
    September 12, 2011

    Great!!

  12. Anonymous
    September 12, 2011

    :well that great we should be proud of our dominica as a nation we all need to work together u are right keep up the great work to keep working for a better dominica a step at a time

    • only
      September 13, 2011

      These people like hanging separately. They don’t want to unite in order for the country to move forward. That is why it keeps moving backwards. They prefer to keep fighting amongst themselves and be selfish. Unfortunately, that is the DA of today. 30 yrs. ago it was a different place. The place I prefer.

  13. One Love
    September 12, 2011

    8-O I, therefore, call upon families, churches, schools, social groups, communities and every organization to make this commitment yours for the good of our nation. As you join hands with your compatriots to celebrate 33 years in unity and love, let us always remember that if we are to achieve development as a nation, we need to put country before self,”

    :roll: DID YOUR COLLEAGUES APPROVE THAT MESSAGE??

    • One Love
      September 12, 2011

      8-O – CAREFUL GIRL – DON’T WANT YOU TO GO THE WAY CLAUDE WEEKES WENT

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