I am sitting on my sofa looking at the Marpin 2k4 Ltd news. Here is this clip with Dr. Thompson Fontaine and to my surprise there were two more clippings.
What is my issue with the “overseas-based economist”?
Dr. Fontaine is your trip to Dominica business or vacation? I often have difficulties with “diaspora” individuals who have done well personally but their patriotic contributions are limited or non-existent.
Bottom-line is that Dr. Fontaine and others often, at every given opportunity, try and grab their five minutes of fame in the name of patriotic duty. They often point out wrongs and have fly-by-night solutions.
Dr. Fontaine given the fact you are at the doctorate level, I will assume intelligence. My recommendations to you doctor, get out from behind your fine oak desk, roll up your fancy sleeve and get to work. Bright ideas and solutions CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED via Marpin news and Matt in the Morning.
Less talk, let’s see ACTION.
If Smith Alexander really exists what is your name to fame? What is your contribution to Dominica? With these simple questions you are irrelevant! At least Fountaine has ideas, you sound like an illiterate!
well responded.
I know from personal experience that Dr Fontaine tried to:
1) Setup a bank in DA and politics blocked granting of license
2) Involved in several energy sufficiently initiatives and again politics stifled
3) Helping run a small US agro business with an eye to source material from DA
4) Helped organizes several Diaspora event to raise funds and direct assistance to DA
Folks let me be blunt (and I might get flack for this) the idea set in Dominica is limited. We try the same old things the same old ways decade after decade expecting to get different results – and of course we don’t. What Dominica needs is more Diaspora Dominican involvement not less. DA has a rich resource in the many educated and experienced Dominicans – in many high level position and in many industries throughout the globe. It is sheer madness to discourage the use of that incredible resource. In this age of global communication it really does not matter where you are physically located. I could remain in the Diaspora and employ and run a multi-million dollar enterprise in DA. Just research who the movers and shares where who drove the Indian economy. Almost 90% of the top tier were Silicon Valley executives, academics and other well funded, knowledgeable Indians in the Diaspora. To discourage us with a sort of exclusionary mindset is against the best interests of all Dominicans. Do you really think we have lost the passion and love we have for our island? I meet very few Dominicans out here who do not yearn to be back home one day. But what is the best use of us? To come home and take what few jobs and opportunities the country has or to be out here getting independently wealthy and figuring ways to us that wealth to expand the pie for all of us?
Well Said
praying so true dey fool us sayin dey will give us a playground with a ravine dat erodes evry time rain falls dem fink we stoopid but we aint blind its time dey do somefing and give d youts some where to go get some form of recreation
If talking alone was assistance, with the amount of talking the Christian brothers doing, Dominica would be a paradise.
Our ears are tired. We tired hear talk that is obvious to most people with half a brain. We want people to do things. Produce something.
How many seminars have the recent Chinese people held? You see them holding press conferences? No, they are quietly working and doing their thing. That is how you get results. We are so good at talking. Toneh man!!
Dominicans dont be fooled, they all unhappy in the Mighty USA, no respect, they just dogs body, so they jealouse of Skerrit oui, and they thinking if Skerrit can be PM they can be PM too, but none of dem want to sacrifice and come home to Dominica and work eh, they just want to be PM. but we know who they are.
Well a certain family from Laplain well, well, well is all I have to say.
Ca miem, Ca Miem, Ca Miem, Dominicans are fickled eh!!!!!!!!!!!!! One minute you all say that the people in the diaspora do nothing for Dominica, that they try to run country by remote control. When they come home to work and assist you still find faults. What a nation of people!!!.
Zout pas sauve sa zout vla!!!!! Mag Gre SA!!!
Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country, Mr. Fontaine. In this day and age, no operating by remote control, both you and Emanuel Finn.
Can you afford to pay Dr. Fontaine if he was to return to Dominica. Why would I??? All
Dominicans do is criticize. A black nation that will never be satisfy maybe, if’s because of poverty or lack of education.
At least he comes home and he helps when he can but what are you doing to help???? I KNOW RUNNING YOUR MOUTH. When dominicans come home they are put down by their own brothers and sisters. There is always something negative to say or some faults are been found. Some of us don’t even want to come to dominica because we are treated better elsewhere. If you help or come home they find fault, you don’t come home and they still find fault (always some negative remarks).
Only the strong can serve in Dominica……………………..God can help you all !!!!!
Let us ask him to come down and volunteer in one of his expert services to our country
He is. through policy making, he is.
Our problem in Dominica is, we have too may educated talkers, Academics are just that. They are not businessmen. If Thompson and Gabu were businessmen, they would be producing something.
I admore guys like Mackensie. He talks but he produces. He employs people. I have no time for talkers.
What I think is sad, is the obvious dislike that some Dominicans have for the Diaspora. Is the venom that is being spewed at persons like Dr. Fontaine who wish ot use their expertise to help Dominica in any way they can, a potent jealousy that affects many of us? Can we not look past our short comings and embrace the efforts of our educated countrymen who wish to give back to our country?
There are many Dominican who leave and never look back. Thank you T, and others like you who came back, and dispite all the opportunities that are available to you, and committments you have to your wife and children in the US, you are willing to work to ensure Dominica is prosperous.
You are a great example to all Dominicans, here and abroad! You have my 100% support!
As for me I want to be president of Dominica. you know what. If I am paid handsomely to attend a few functions and to do what the PM says I’d like to return to Dominica ASAP.
No one can try to contribute to DOminica without being labelled for one side or the other. That is why Dominica will never progress. Only dummies they want to talk to them on a political platform in a sewo.
This is really sad.
Why won’t the fools who have nothing better to do. go and plant some bananas, some dasheen, or something instead of making fools of themselves criticizing everyone who comes forward to help with the CRISIS in Dominica… Are you kidding me, you are really asking for Dr. Fontaine to leave his job and come and do community service side by side with you, you moron!!! There are many other ways he can give his skills and expertise.. You want him to go to the filed with you, hold you hands so you can go and be productive?
Isn’t that the guy who was trying to establish a bank here in Dominica in 2003. According to him his request for permission to do so was not allowed. I am assuming you did your homework before your written contribution…but apparantly not.
Dr. Fontaine for PM. Go my brother I think you will get a lot of support and you obviously have the capability.
Smith Alexander – I have frequently disagreed with Dr. Thompson Fontaine’s methods.
BUT you sir, Smith Alexander – you are wrong in this instance. Your statement – I quote:
“I often have difficulties with “diaspora” individuals who have done well personally but their patriotic contributions are limited or non-existent”
What do you have wrong with Dominicans going overseas to further their education and make money? I am also a Dominican at the doctorate level living in the diaspora and take great offence to the tone, the attempt to divide those at home from those in the diaspora and the overall condescending attitude you have displayed.
Now, because I primarily live in the diaspora – I don’t come home and jump on talk shows and the like to make my contribution. I write mostly, give technical advise if possible and grant any assistance requested of me when Dominican representatives come to Washington, DC. I try to save money at home, send money for my family or the odd barrel here and there; for years now I have been working on a resort development plan I would like to build in Dominica when I return permanently.
So – don’t disparage diaspora Dominicans as a whole. There are three individuals who live in the US and carry a big stick on talk radio in Dominica. You mentioned one & the other two are brothers. Now, when I return permanently, after a decent period of acclimation – my voice will be forcefully added to the debate as well as my development contribution – if one person challenges my citizenship by using the derisive tone AND diaspora word to me – I will address them personally …
The rest of us – don’y deserve your cr(*
I totally agree with you Sir. Do come back, make your contribution and have your voice, but don’t expect to do like these guys and just criticize, criticize without providing alternatives, YET have a problem when others criticize your behaviour!!
To you Vibes: Touché!
Why is it that the great message from the great IMF economist sounds so common? Sounds like what the ordinary people of Dominica say and comment on the radio day in day out.
Too many imports, more exports, make people self dependent, agriculture, bla, bla, bla, blo, blo, blee.
The govt should, and we should, and you should and he should….aaaahhhhhhhhhh!
It’s just high time that these scholars ease up on the scholarliness and start with the workliness. Like the architect for example who was always talking but eventually put his money where his mouth is and opened up a factory.
Fontaine needs to go to his boss at IMF or NDFD or AID Bank and get a loan to start a business in Dca. That would be of better use.
.
don’t u think that if everyone is saying the same thing that the government should listen and take concrete steps in addressing the issue at hand?by the measuring stick that you have used u should not even have posted a comment since u are doing what u say everyone is doing. instead u should have left your house and go cut a field or someting.
I would like to hear the response of these guys about the question of the playing feild in the village ,they fool them by giving $ 200,000 and thought that a feild could be constructed…typical labour BLIND MICE ……………The doc trying something positive yet they crying it down ,here goes the old saing :a king is never honoured in his own country….Fountane leave these blind mice in their corruption
in the land of the blind, one eye man is king
This one gets me everytime.
So you want the good doctor to buss his brain and everything else to get through school in DA, get a rare chance to go overseas and study, work as hard ever to get a PhD, work hard to find meaningful employment that could pay him for his education, and then leave it and come to DA to plant bananas? Does he need a PhD to do that? Or do you want him to come and fight a loosing battle in politics or in Dominica’s private sector like so many others that have tried, and you have disgraced?
It takes every single patriotic bone in the bodies of some people in the Diaspora to even give advice to some people in DA, much less leave a good paying job and come home to take all that crap. Guys like Dr. Fontaine who are trying to help from overseas, and the others who have returned to stay and try to make contributions are the real heroes. Those who sit at home waiting for government or someone else to bring about change and issue the handouts should welcome the contributions of Dr. Fontaine.
More importantly, you should be real concerned because those handouts can only last but for so long. Stop accepting them and looking for the next one and ask for an opportunity to make your own contribution. Again, stop asking for, and accepting a fish; ask for fishing lessons that you can catch your own damn fish.
One more thing that I hope we are learning from the good doctor, if you think that developing Dominica can only happen by been physically there, you are sadly mistaken. Look around you, even in Roseau. Do you see only Dominicans? Do you think all the money made in Dominica stays there? I ask you again, when the barrels come at Fond Cole, do you send them back to the US, England, Canada, Guadeloupe and St Martin? When you start sending them back, then you can talk that nonsense about people in the Diaspora and Dr. Fontaine. UNGREATFUL son of A ….!!!!
Criticizing from overseas sounds more like it!! Get a life fool and do something to help your country and stop blaming the government for everything!!
Actually, I am not blaming the government. I am blaming YOU!!!
Who saids he should live what he is doing and come to plant banana? He can develope at least an acre or 2 of land in the area, pay persons from the community to worki the land and with his knowledge run the farm as a business venture.
People learn better through Practical Demonstration, he can coach farmers how to deal with farming as a business venture!!!!
What is wrong with us in Dominica? The man is taking time from his busy schedule to motivate and encourage his people to go back to their farms, and you guys are not satisfied with his contribution?
Why should he develop 2 acres of land, pay persons to work the land, and expect him to run it from the US? I don’t think Dr Fountain is that crazy.
typical dominicans kill the messenger and burn the message.lol
Ok. Those are great ideas Sir. Can you get them going? Fontaine is trying, can others do the same?
BC your piece is very true. Politics has to come into any good discourse in Dominca. That is apparently the only way we know how to make a meaningful contribution. The practical, while important is not enough to get the country going. Dr. Fountaine is giving his advise free of charge for the love of country, the government is not taking heed, because like everything in Dominica, party colour and petty politics pervades. As a student of policy, I would hope that we would listen to the basis of Dr. fountaine’s message, but typical dominicans.. shoot the messanger.. forget the message.
Heaven Help my country.
Smith i support you 210%, the problem with these guys is that they believe they must be a Consultant or some paid Advisor to the Government, more particularly to the Cabinet or Prime Minister for them to contribute.
I bet he was surprise when Dr. John Toussaint made the revelations of the $8M slaughter facility… It means he did no research before he came out with what need to be done…
What is stopping him from getting into the farming in a big way?? I have friends with their Phds doing just that on lands they actually purchase for that purpose…. I bet fontaine has family land he can work or pay persons to work for him…
Dr. Fountain’s present and future is already cemented in the US. He has a quality education, a very good job, and a very nice house and car. He does not have to get involved in farming to earn a leaving. He is simply telling people from his community how they eat bread and earn a living. What’s wron with that? You guys are to critical of what is good!
The truth!! That they like to do.
smith is here in dominica he has no plans never heard him befor fountaine just held a confrience on agriculture u are ready to give him advice which u need for your self.
Another attention seeking irrelevant article. More talking.
Couldn’t have been better put. Characters like Fontaine always know what is better for the country but never stay 5 minutes to implement, monitor or approve their big ideas. They show up on every talk show, newscast or and say the same things in different words. So amusing!!! Gabriel Christian have that same kind of vibes. They just love the limelight and attention.
Somebody was reading my thoughts. I have held to the opinion that Dr. Fontaine continue to identify the probles that we face, but he has not outlined in any detail a course of action. In this instant case, he has resorted to a town hall meeting in Grand Fond (his home village) to again Identify and outline the production problems of Dominica. Again, (like Athie martin with all the salacious sound bites on every concievable development issue, but nothing to show fro it) he did not come out with any workable recommendation as to how Dominica or Grand Fond for that matter should or ought to deal with the matter.
From where Dr. Fontaine sits with all the opportunities and contacts with all kinds of development agencies at his organization’s beck and call, is it beyond the realms of possibility to convince some development agency to come here with a viable project that would serve to transform the rural sector?
Dr. Fontaine with all his good intentions for Dominica’s development has been doing no more than what our resident “talkers” are good at doing. A few years ago, there was a news announcement suggesting that the DFP was making overtures to Dr. Fontaine to come here and lead the party. In his own words, Dr. Fontaine responded that he was not ready for that. Simply meant he was not ready to leave the comfort of Washington, his job at the IMf and its attendant perks to come to lowly Dominica for a salary of US $2,000 a month. Interestingly too he chose Grand Fond for his town hall meeting this time. The ruling Labour party will hold its annual delegates conference in Grand Fond later in the week. Some people believe that they only are smart.
This is very good writing…I have the same sentiments re: Fontaine (no-doctor) for you.
At-least he has ideas… what about those who have the power to make changes – but have no ideas?
We in Dominica need to put of prejudices aside and and start taking advise – every little bit helps. So because he is diaspora means we should not take advice from him? We really need to grow up in that country. I dont blame him for not implementing anything – he doesn’t have the power to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLUS DOMINICANS WONT LET HIM – they prefer die in ignorance!
Stop your ignorance!!! Is it only the government that should get criticized for everything? Don’t you honestly believe that we have way too much talkers in Dominica? Take Athie for instance, he has so much to say on every issue of national development, but when the government afforded him the opportunity to put his money where his mouth is by offering him a contract to export bulk water. Over two years now, NOTHING has been done.
So people like you MUST accept the fact that we have way too much politically motivated eloquent talkers who do nothing practical to aid in Dominica’s development. Like it or not!!!
Ideas don’t cut it until placed into action.
The writer should take his own advice and do the same.Help save your country by speaking the truth,then roll your sleeve with Thompson and do the same.
the writer will not take his own advice,because he said nothing ,just occupied space….anyway I feel awkward about people who disregard and insult INTELLIGENCE.
If you don,t agree ONLY to the policies of Skerrit, you are attacked.I am just fed up with Dominica.I shall refrain from mentioning comments before I get castrated
BRAVO..BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!
but the whole place is slow motion and babyaa like tower…so he is just doing the same as most people at home here.