Independence Day message by Judith Pestaina, Political Leader – Dominica Freedom Party

DFP Leader Pestaina

Dominicans have been called upon to rally to the theme for this year’s Independence celebrations ‘Creating Opportunities, Empowering Communities’.

While some civic minded nationals may do just that, at the same time, we need to honestly ask ourselves whether opportunities are being created for all Dominicans and which communities are really being empowered through the creation of such opportunities, real or imagined.

In this context, the Dominica Freedom Party is reminded of the line in our National Anthem which states “All for each and each for all” and shares the view that the theme chosen for this year’s Independence would have been more apt and inclusive had it read ‘Creating Opportunities for all to empower Communities’.

Be that as it may, as we enter into our thirty second year of Independence, it is even more important for us to reflect on what we have achieved and the challenges which we continue to face at every level of national development. This includes the moral, physical, social, economic, religious and political which cannot be mutually exclusive if we are to build and develop a nation of which we can be justly proud.  However, to build that nation, we need to be so inspired that we can all be galvanized into action knowing that at the end of the day, ALL OF US will benefit. since nation building cannot and should not be exclusive.

Consequently, if Dominicans have to take on the mantle of nation building, individually and collectively, the opportunities created must enable all of us to become truly empowered to make ourselves independent, not only economically, but   independent of mind, and free thinking. The question is, however, can this be achieved in our current environment? Is this easier said than done?  Because while on the surface we are being called upon to put our shoulders to the will and garner all our resources to move our country forward, there seems to be a certain lack of conviction that we all are genuinely being given the opportunities for self-empowerment.

Getting a country up and running does not only require a call to action and by making large sums of money available to persons and communities in such a way that we keep them poor and powerless so that they continue to be dependent on our charity. If we genuinely want to empower communities, we must do it in a way that they become independent of our charity, that they become self-reliant, so that they can sustain their own development without our help.

These are the real opportunities that we want to be created so that we as a people can be fully empowered to make decisions that are not compromised, decisions that are transparent and which can take all of us forward, secure in the belief that we will not be victimized for our beliefs.

Empowering communities is not an overnight process. It takes years of individuals working together with a common vision towards a common goal. So as we celebrate this year’s anniversary of Independence, the wish of the Dominica Freedom Party is for the creation of opportunities for all of us so that we can be empowered individually to make our communities and our country strong, self-reliant and truly independent.

I take this opportunity to wish all Dominicans an incident-free Independence!

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9 Comments

  1. Fairplay
    October 20, 2010

    Thanks God, ‘Massa Day’ is DONE!!!

  2. RIVERS
    October 20, 2010

    This is the kind of words of encouragement we need in a time like now, seeing what Dominicans in Dominica are going through.

    There is absolutely no representation and the elected ones are not being held responsible for the poor state of affiars.

    Keep up the good work Mrs. Pestina and the Dominica Freedom Party will rule again.
    Never did we see such gross disrespect for the constitution during the DFP years. Bring back some honor to the land.

  3. st thomas usvi
    October 19, 2010

    what is judith really a pestaina or a pestilence.

  4. D/can to de Bone(foregin)
    October 19, 2010

    Congrats Mrs Pestina well written independance message. \you are a true Dominican. Dont give up.

  5. True Dominican
    October 19, 2010

    @Patat: same thing i thinking there wi

  6. fUWP
    October 19, 2010

    Botox when done well is amazing

  7. RC
    October 19, 2010

    Eh ben Judith come out.

    Where was she in 1990 when Eugenia made the famous Pointe Mitchel Declaration which reads in part “no one should blame me if my eyes fall on those who elected me”? This is on public record and which the UWP used it to the fullest for marching into government in 1995 under the theme “fear No More”. Judith would prefer not to have known about that then – she must have heard anyway even when Eugenia had positioned her very nicely at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London – well away form Dominica. Added to that she married a known sympathizer – to thias day of the UWP. So she does not know about partisan development activities. When in times past Mona would promise you a government house lot or a house from any of government’s scheme, you could take that verbal, cork street promise tothe bank and secure your financing. You will get the house. Did Mona work in the government housing or land service. No she worked with and for Eugenia

    I knew about the struggles and the scandal of the DFP back then since I was in its bosom of the party working with the youth arm. When some of us applied to “Mamos” private Education Trust fund for support to pursue our higher education, she turned down most if not all of us who laboured with her inthe 1970’s and 1980’s – and wished us well in our efforts to secure an education. Apart fromthe major national awards that was open, few people such as the Shillingford’s were the beneficiaries of the Tertiary level scholarships.

    When the UWP came into office and found a number of us in the establishment, even if most of us were non-established they did not only sidelined us and brought in their people such as Randy Aaron (Tourism Officer), they went after us with a venegeance (ask Velma Paul, Johnson Johnrose, Jeff Scotland to name just a very few).

    The UWP is now behaving like they are altar boys and were never in government. The saddest thing is that its people like Judith and Michael Astaphans who are actively supporting them. “Wither the spirit of mamo”.

  8. Patat
    October 19, 2010

    Yes I . Madam u early!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. fitzroy
    October 19, 2010

    well said

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