Although the recently announced Physical Development Plan for Dominica is a step in the right direction, the bigger picture calls for nothing short of a Renaissance.
Fourteen years ago I was involved in one of the largest regeneration projects ever attempted in the UK. It involved five depressed northern towns with a population and land mass much greater than Dominica. The lessons from that initiative are relevant to us here today, especially in our recovery from Tropical Storm Erika.
To get the idea across, I can do no better than quote from the conclusion I wrote for a publication that records the project’s first year. Although the location and place names are different, the challenges are the same and the vision can equally apply to our own towns and villages. Here is my submission:
I’ve been asked to dip my pen in a bottle of Scotch and come up with something lyrical. So let me tell you what I believe the spirit of the Renaissance is all about. But be warned: like alcohol, it’s addictive!
Renaissance is all about new ideas, new initiatives, new alliances and new beginnings. It is about shaping a better future, a future that isn’t dependent on a run-of-the-mill five-year plan, but on a bold and imaginative, fifty-year vision. As with Rome, the Upper Calder Valley Renaissance cannot be built in a day. Aptly, my twelve-month old son helped to launch the “Bringing It All Together Weekend” in June. Renaissance is an investment for our children’s future and the real fruits of the project will be reaped by their generation, not ours.
We were told from the outset that the Renaissance process would be “Vision Led Not Funding Fed”. I’ve no problem with that. In recent years I’ve seen too much public money go towards too many ill-conceived schemes. White elephants are not a native species of this valley. Also, we have been told by the Deputy Prime Minister that, “Our policies, programmes and structures of governance are based on engaging local people in partnerships for change”. I’ve no problem with that either. In this first year of this Renaissance the people of the Upper Calder Valley have subscribed to that strategy in their thousands.
But the Government must stay with the daring initiative that they have set in motion. And in doing so, they must understand that creativity – for that is what we’re engaged in, be it through housing, farming, industry, tourism, or any other form of human activity – by its very nature, involves doing things differently. Creative thinking does not easily fit into regimented tick boxes, nor does it rigidly adhere to prescribed rules and regulations.
Already the people of the Upper Calder Valley have begun to move mountains. Nine months ago I was hardly aware of farming in the valley, but I am certainly aware of it now! The farmer’s Action Plan sets a benchmark for all other Action Groups to aspire to. Their contribution alone will go a long way towards creating a sustainable future for this region. In Mytholmroyd, the Community Association is intent on creating a twenty-first century Market Town from scratch and, into the bargain, celebrating the life and work of their native poet, Ted Hughes. The people of Sowerby Bridge have vowed that if the authorities cannot re-route the busy road that runs through their town center, they’ll move the town!
Five hundred years ago Michelangelo impoverished himself by making the first Renaissance happen and I’ve just blown my family’s Tax Credit in doing the same. That is what it takes in commitment and passion. As we come to the end of this first year, on the hill tops and in the five towns, there’s elation coupled with exhaustion. The people of this valley will scream if asked to attend yet another brain-storming session, but they’ll be damned to let the initiative die!
Dated: 1st December 2003
As an afterword to the above, let me say that, if together we can promote a Dominican Renaissance, I will contribute all that my 73 years of experience can muster and promise that in a year’s time I will dip my pen in a bottle of Macoucheri Rum and wax even more lyrical!
When travelers want to know how developed a country is , they gauge their conclusion by the first impression they get when they go to the main city in that island. So after travelling to many of the islands in the Caribbean and then arriving in Dominica I most say that it is very disappointing to see the streets of the capital and the state of the infrastructure. Where is all the development the other travelling laborites keep saying about all the good things DLP is doing since they got in office?
Now that I have seen for myself I can say that Dominicans are settlers who are okay to be at the bottom of the barrel. 89oppp
The development is the State House, which our P.M. in his wisdom called a tourist attraction in an ill-conceived attempt to justify the cost of its construction and its upkeep and put the burden of this folly on the backs of his deprived citizens. It is ablaze with lights during the night like a beacon for cruise passengers to marvel at whilst their ships pass us by during the night to other destinations. Vanity is indeed an expensive commodity that pay no returns.
Can people still walk in heels???
Same thing i say. How does the DLP queens, Blanchard, Baron,Prevost, Fagan, and Kamala, walk around, Or i forgot, those big expensive toyota prado’s must, be nice to ride around town in
I appreciate your offer of assistance to my country, Mr. Burnett. We hope the authorities will be enlightened to seek your assistance. .
Renaissance literally means “rebirth”. That implies that we must get rid of the old corpse first!
Amen
But….is the new corpse hip to Renaissance, and to entertain Roger on his offer? hmmm
I can’t believe for so many years now that government is in power and Roseau is still like that but I must say Dominicans love it so y should we complain. It is really a shame man. What could be there excuses now.
Roseau is a reflection of the cursed labor government. Untidy, dirty, smelling, worthless, ugly, expensive, and unpleasant. They should just rename this place to the wicked city of Nineveh because its leader is evil and does not comply with the rules of God
Stop being so negative . Dominica is a lovely place not all countries can be rich . I bet you in Florida living from Hand to mouth
It is a reflection of a corrupt, visionless government. Who the cap fit, let them wear it.
Didn’t the other guys have a go at it, as did Eugenia for a combined 20 years??
And how did this government get into “Power”??? Actually, “Power” is a problematic word, because your Government should not rule you, but reflect your needs and desires. It is a “Slavery Mentality” to consider the government as Leaders. They should actually be servants of the people. And the people should participate in more than just the election parties and fetes. Good governance is more than t-shirts and pretty caps. People need to mature intellectually and not encourage corruption by their indifference to the candidate’s qualifications or morality.
Mr. Burnett, I like your optimism, which is sorely needed at this time in the absence of real tangibles. The accompanying photo of Roseau is appropriate. The town’s road ( if one can call it that) is a patchwork of holes held together by patches of asphalt and concrete. Recently we have seen the erection of no parking signs in certain streets, presumably to ensure a clear flow of traffic but now vehicles park and the sidewalk instead and create an obstacle course for pedestrians to negotiate with the ironic effect that the latter now resort to the roadway instead. At the same time minor streets remain cluttered with unauthorised parking and the post office have decided to park an elevator shaft in the middle of a very historic public passageway with nobody batting an eyelid. When, oh when will the authorities enforce the law, not only when it suits them but at all times?
Poor Dominica, where everything goes but little works.
Thank you Titiwi for bringing to light the lift-shaft that blocks a public right of way. As mark of protest I cancelled my P.O. Box. But equally the private sector has scant regard for the public. Cable & Wireless (I refuse to call them by the silly names of “Lime” and “Flow”) no longer have a post box for the convenience of customers to deposit cheques in payment of their account. Presumably, that call girl called Flo deemed it unnecessary.
Good move Roger. I also need to point out the missed opportunity to ease up the traffic bottleneck between DbS and front of Fort Young/State House by simply paving the grass in front of the State House and marking parking slots. Whew….that would be thinking too far outside the box, so they keep things the old way I guess.
Roger, glad to see you have retained a sense of humour that helps to sustain the human spirit. From the start I have questioned that name change from Lime to Flow.
Lime mixed with beer makes an insipid , watered down drink known as Shandy, so I always referred to Lime as the shandy company. However, Flow is worse. Read it backwards and you get Wolf, easily termed as the proverbial “wolf in sheeps clothing”. I can not understand the logic behind the decision to change a corporate image like that, which I know does not come cheap, when the core of the company is the old “wolf” of yore? We have an apt saying for that in our creole “meme bete.meme pwel”!. One thing about my beloved Dominica, our delapidation also provides plenty of scope for improvement ant that alone fills me with hope.
The city of Roseau is stock in the 1980\’s . Is it only overseas based people who see the plight that we are facing?
Please use your international experience and expertise to help us.
Get rid of this lazy inept government.they have no new strategy goin forward 14 years in power and look at Dominica…wavet.island lead by skerrit….
The Lord helps those who help themselves. Stop looking for HELP and do something!!! Crying “oh poor, pitiful us” is not working. The Chinese will suck the life right out of Dominica because you all see yourselves as needy and pitiful – therefore making it easy for any aberrant group to step in and take over. Do something to help yourselves. Stop all the fussing and fighting and come together to make Dominica proud and successful – even if it’s poor. Poor does not equal pitiful!