The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) commends the Dominica government for recently establishing a marine protected area for sperm whales. Under this initiative, Dominica has designated nearly 300 square miles as a marine reserve, focusing on crucial nursing and feeding grounds for these magnificent creatures. Recognizing that these large, intelligent mammals spend most of their lives in Dominica’s territorial waters, this move acknowledges the view that sperm whales can be considered Dominican citizens, deserving respect and protection in their homeland. The announcement on Monday, November 13th, 2023, is thus commendable.
However, the government must embrace the full spirit of ecological protection, not just those with the best headlines. The current government has repeatedly failed to effectively implement comprehensive ecological protection measures, such as preventing the entry of invasive species like the Cuban tree frog, thoroughly investigating illegal bio-dumping in rivers, and not conducting and/or releasing upfront environmental impact studies on major infrastructure projects.
A recent article in the British newspaper, The Guardian, brought attention to a devastating ecological catastrophe: the Dominican frog, known as the “crapaud”, has witnessed its population plummet from thousands to a mere 21 due to the invasion of the chytrid fungus. Although some animals have exhibited resistance, government support for a breeding and reintroduction program has been lackluster, and extinction is now imminent. Consequently, while we take the lead in protecting one endangered species, we also risk being remembered in history as the country that allowed the fastest recorded extinction of a wild animal – an animal that is, or was, an integral part of our national pride.
To avoid such glaring and damaging disparities, the DFP emphasizes the crucial need for ongoing collaboration among opposition parties, government agencies, environmental organizations, and the public. This collaboration is essential to ensuring effective identification and long-term success of all environmental initiatives. The DFP hopes that such a bipartisan approach indicates our commitment to prioritizing the protection of the beautiful yet fragile ecosystem we call home over party politics.
The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) intends to contribute to the success of the sperm whale marine reserve but also calls for better protection of our ecosystem during infrastructure projects, as well as a well-resourced crapaud rescue and recovery effort. This renewed effort would signal to the world that Dominica is fully committed to a blue-green economy, a vital need for its future. Additionally, these efforts will strengthen our nation’s institutional capacity to address critical scientific and technical challenges—a critical need for becoming a serious, innovation-driven nation.
This DFP approach of bipartisanship, rescue, and recovery is not new. The DFP has a well-established history of playing this role even in the most tumultuous times. With the current worsening state of our economy, failing infrastructure, and oppressive cost of living, it is evident that our nation is once again in perilous times and in dire need of such approaches. We thus ask all our fellow citizens to join us in not just embracing the sperm whale, but in rescuing the crapaud.
For it is not just about these species; more importantly, it’s about our will and capacity to rescue and recover all aspects of our nation. In the end, building these muscles of rescue and recovery is widely needed not only for saving these creatures but also for saving the Dominican dream.
Well, you said your name is ds, when you were asked what is ds, you said your name is “dog sh.t.”
Since I don’t dabble in dog feces, perhaps I should not bother to trade insults with you? If you are dog feces, you might splash all over me and there won’t be enough water to wash your stench off me.
But let me show you how dumb you are, even if all my education came out of Antigua, I’d be still better educated than you are!
In 1962, Dominican teachers were sent to the Leeward Islands Teachers Training College in Antigua, for a better education.
Note: Lennox Linton mother the late was one of the first to attend there along with Alma John, sister to Clem John former cricketer.
Now we see an equipped UWI operating in Antigua. Medical science is high on the Antiguan agenda. Antiguan born doctors are doing human organs transplant in Antigua, no Chinese are involved, okay!
So, if that’s where my education originates, then I have everything to be very proud of!
Lapdog, yard foul, dumb empty shallow head clown; you can call me any name you wish, including your most favorite which begins with “a.”
I need to ask you; have you ever thought for a moment that you are more an a-hole, and the only one alive that is why you believe I and everyone else are like you?
I told you in the past, that intelligent people, even upon getting angry, don’t indulge in the use of profanities to express themselves.
Such behavior are anticipated out of idiots, fools, peasants, and the lowest, of society outcast.
You should not worry about my contribution to Dominica; if you’re hopeful that you will get a free handout from me, that will never happen.
Roosevelt feces, cleaning dogs like you and dog boy ds: can die I could never help scum bags like you.
And by the way I am not a Dominica thief! I don’t know if you are not one of the master thief disciples eh, go sing praises to him, he will feed you.
That is none of your damn business Francisco- DOG,you are a foreigner working in a foreign country to build that foreign country.What have you done or is doing for Dominica,but spreading fake news,gossiping and lying about the country?Go to hell we do not need inputs from prodigal aholes.Continue to live on FIGUEROA street in Los Angeles.
Stop googling words. We all know what sanctuary means. I do believe that Bernard is more intelligent than you are with your stupid education from Antigua. You google more than anybody else does. California is full of crimes, all kinds of crimes. Never knew California to be full of whales but gangs, Mexican gangs, kingpins and Hamas.
I wish that erudite Dominicans, like Mr. Bernard Hurtault, would put more focus into activism than on politics. Dominica has too many politicians but a severe scarcity of activists.
Environmental issues are nowhere near the top of the priority list of this government. The evidence is overwhelming. The rivers, lakes and many of the beaches are polluted or being destroyed. So much erosion of top soil and land slips during a rain storm. There have been no serious measures put in place the relevant authorities to curtail this.
I say this with all sincerity. The marine reserve for the sperm whales is a good idea. But when I see the wholesale neglect and destruction of the lands and waterways of the island, my honest conclusion is, this new marine reserve was done purposefully to create international headlines.
I must, as usual, repeat this fro the one hundredth (100th) time. Everything Roosevelt does is with political expediency in mind.
Go ahead, Senior Political Analyst, Ibo France. You sound like Daniel Shaw, NPR’s Senior Political Analyst. The only differences are, he is more intelligent than you and not bias like you are. All those things you espouse, sad to say that you are none of them. You are a coward and a big mouth hiding in the bushes.
Bernard, I cannot believe you are that ignorant!
What is a sanctuary?
Simply definition is: “a place of refuge or safety: “people automatically sought a sanctuary in time of trouble.”
So, I want you to tell me what scientific research, or investigation that Roosevelt you or any Dominican has done which was used to form your hypothesis, that led to some theory that Sperm Whales need to be rescued, hence you have somewhere special in Dominica, to house and feed these Whales?
Dumb people talk and become involve in stupid endeavors!
You people are mad: like to be in things!
Some over zealous man; American, knowing how gullible and stupid our people; put the idea of Whale sanctuary in your heads, you picked up his fart, and ran with it!
Spurn Whales arrive on the California coast, in the Waters of Baja California, and Mexico, Spurn Whales Blue, and Gray Whales arrive every December; Whale watching is common, if there should be a sanctuary, Baja California should be the place.