Transformational leadership involves empowering, stimulating, and motivating individuals to optimize their performance whilst encouraging and seeking to instill in them personal confidence in the hope that one day, they too may become leaders in their own right. The 21st century demands that we empower our citizens with new ideas and approaches to break the depressing trends of dependency that exists both on the local and international levels.
It is not enough to hope for foreign investors to build Dominica, or to be content with our constant state of dependency. We need to rediscover the concept of “Dominican Ambition” and cultivate it in our youth. The efficient utilization of our human resources based on the belief that progressive ideas can come from anywhere and that our hard work contributes significantly to the progress and welfare of our nature island, Dominica. It is in this light that I choose to depart briefly from the heated national political debate and seek to inject new ideas into our national dialogue.
At the crux of our national development strategy is the drive to attract foreign investment. We welcome the much needed foreign assistance which helps us to complete much needed infrastructural projects, equipping our local population with the basic tools required to thrive. In that regard the Government of Dominica has been very active. The new stadium, the west coast highway, new schools and the opportunities granted for Dominican students to broaden their horizons abroad, to name a few. These projects provide the basic infrastructure to enable significant progress on the island and I hope they will serve to stimulate our local economy whilst creating an attractive environment in which talented Dominicans will be tempted to return home and serve diligently.
As a small island state located in the Eastern Caribbean, our economy is directly affected by situations in the developed world. With the American and European markets currently in the midst of a financial drought, we are now challenged with finding creative ways to achieve economic growth. This involves seeking new ideas, finding new ways to engage diplomatic partners, doing a better job of promoting our package (generating interest in the nature island), and being creative in finding new ways to penetrate emerging markets.
The new tourist season is getting started and the Government of Dominica has expressed optimism despite the expected reduction in cruise ship calls. The plan seems to be to continue with existing projects and hope that present efforts will energize our Nature Island Theme and continue to drive our tourism package. However, with the sluggish financial reports coming from our most trusted markets, many Dominicans remain unconvinced.
Recent world trends reveal economic difficulties for the United States and Europe. This could surely result in Americans and Europeans having less disposable income, and unable to embark on trips which would allow them to discover the breathtaking natural beauty of our island or the relaxation and entertainment involved in coming into contact with the warmth of our people and our vivacious culture. In a nutshell our tourism industry could face significant challenges.
Asia on the other hand, is a region on the rise and boasts some of the largest emerging markets in the world. Now, more than ever we need to be ambitious in exploring how we can form a link with this base and find new ways to penetrate this ever growing market. The Government of Dominica has been successful in engaging the Government of the People’s Republic of China to secure educational opportunities and finance for infrastructural projects. Many Chinese Nationals have migrated to Dominica and managed to establish themselves in the local market.
However, since Dominica is still an unknown entity in the Asian Region, we must be vigilant in establishing communication with the masses and generating interest in the nature island, seeking new ways to introduce ourselves to the future buyers of the world. I believe that this is the next step in our relationship with China. This is a low capital, high reward investment approach with the potential to magnify our strengths.
Dominica can boast a broad, talented base in the Diaspora. The reality of being on the outside looking in stimulates thought and ideas as to how we can combine new strategies to help bring progress to our beloved country. Dominicans at home need to know that there are Dominicans in the Diaspora constantly striving to find new ways to make us more productive on the International Stage and ensure long term sustainable development for our country.
I have lived in the Asian Region for the past decade and have carefully observed consumer trends whilst initiating various projects to improve communication and cross racial/cultural understanding. I’ve participated in numerous radio and television broadcasts, hosted various public shows and events, and written a series of articles to give a voice for Dominica, the Caribbean and black people by extension. I’ve found that the audience has been receptive, but we need to double our communication efforts with the goal of increasing exposure in this ever competitive Global Market. It is important to increase Dominica’s visibility and establish a warm relationship with the future consumers of the world.
China now boasts the second largest economy in the world and continues to display robust growth. Known for decades as the manufacturing capital of the world, China’s economy is undergoing a significant transition marked by the rise of a new middle class with impressive spending power. Current trends point to a shift towards consumer-led economic growth. By the year 2020, this rapidly growing middle class is expected to reach 700 million people. (Greater than the populations (2011 census data) of the U.S.A, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and France combined). How Can we take advantage of this consumer spending growth? Are we positioning ourselves to profit from this drastic global economic power shift?
We need to be ambitious and act aggressively, the time is NOW.
Kim Douglas is the son of the late Prime Minister Rosie Douglas. He is based in Taiwan.
NICE ARTICLE BUT NOT NEW IDEAS,THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT COMRADE ROOSIE,DID AND PM,SKERITT NOW DOING—-KIM HAS BEEN AWAY FOR SOME TIME SO WELCOME HIS RE-EMERGENCE BUT HE NEEDS TO ROLL WITH THE VIBES AND MAKE HIS CONTRIBUTION IN WORDS AND DEED
When will these douglas boys quit running there mouth and actually do somthing. A country’s development depends on its human and natural resources among other things. The reason the north and northeast has not developed much is because our valuable human resource continue to leave the country and the land that has potential for development (Hamstead Estate and Portsmouth)has not been produtive for over 20 years. Anyone wants to guess why.
To whom much is given much is expected. Frankly i am tired of hearing these douglas run there mouth. They are great talkers and is part of the problem we have in Dominica.
Could at least one of the Douglas family quit this love of TALKING and come home and do something with the abandoned 600 acres of Hampstead Estate that has been lying idle and has been going back to bush ever since the old man RBD died many years ago!
But. I forgot: it easier to pontificate than do hard work of course.
This it the kind of input we need from Dominican abroad, things that Dominicans and the government may not be aware about. that’s a positive contribution. we need more of that and less of Shawn & Tiani (BullShit). Now i heading a Douglas, and a son of Rosie….
One of the ways to empower Dominicans is to enable them to see the world markets through the use of technology. The world has gotten much smaller through such inovation, and Dominicans should find ways to connnect with buyers around the world through the forces of the private sector. This is not a quick fix solution but a part of a broader application that can be integrated through research and development. Yes we can.
That’s a positive commentary, Kim. That’s how we win the hearts and minds of the masses; by being protagonists and not just antagonists. You remind us so much of the late PM Roosevelt Douglas, I believe that great things await you in the future. Stay focused and positive.
We may not have barrels coming from the Asian region but as you clearly stated, the trend indicates that there is tremendous potential in a growing market. I wish you well, man.
Amen my brother Kim, I have not read an article like this in a long long time, and this has surely given me a lot of strength and hope in my beloved Country and it’s people.
thank you bro.
Boss how everything can be political? It is the hiome to empower their child, to train them and bring them to the point where they can become great leaders.
This government is providing great opportunities for iour youth it is up to them to take advantage of these opportunities, and it is the parents/ guardians to instill ambition in their children if they themselves have any, this cannot be a GOVERNMENT responsibility!!!!!!
man… you are so clueless
men you are so CLUEFOOL!!!!
Reversing dependency trends must start from the top filtered to the bottom. The current state of mind of the majority who thinks that its all about Hand-outs, Red clinic and receiving AID from friendly countries at all cost, is the biggest problem perpetuated from the very top. Indeed, I fully concur that today governments should empower its citizens with new ideas, tools and approaches in-order to to break the dependency on both the local and international levels. But here in D/ca, it’s the opposite. Wonder why?
You cannot be living in the real world!!!! Is either we get help from outside or we increase tax to meet all the capital projects that is required on island. We would have to have a Stadium tax, a Road rehabilitation tax, an airport tax etc some poll tax to increase the police force, is that what you saying we should have done?
Which country instills Ambition in their people? This is a home thing boss!!!
Why are you people insisting on critising the public assistant program (the red clinic)? Is it because you haven’t had a situation that requires immediate assistance?
The program is a very very good one, the only problem i had with it was the fact that the PM was the one approving the funds, that left room for biasness.
But now after the PM interview you the information is now passed on to a special committee for approval based on the merits of the case… the amount approved has always been paid out by treasury, so transparency was never a real issue…
Brotherman, your own words clearly stated that after the PM interviews, then information is passed on to a special committee for approval based on merits. How about based on political affiliation. Let us not be naive about what’s taking place on our beloved island. I say again that the Red clinic promotes dependency and causes our people to be venal. Give them the darn fishing rod, line, hook and bait, and teach them how to fish. Do not have them to depend on you for the fried or boiled fish. Get it? About transparency, I do not beleive such word is in the Skerrit’s administration’s doctrine. End of statement.
@UWPite..
have you ever head the phrase? “Give a man a fish you feed him for a day, but teach him how to fish you feed him for a lifetime. Thats what the commentary is saying in a nutshell.
So your beloved red clinic is not a short quick fix, but causes more damage in the future..
because the people don’t understand the governments role in creating the environment for local entrepreneurship to flourish. all they know is about foreigners coming and set up shop and give them jobs, nothing about creating local industry to compliment farming etc. i don’t blame them tho, most of our leaders never own a cabahwey so they have no business sense.
your efforts(douglas) at opening dialogue is noble.
We are looking for originality by way of the economy.
Why should we beg our way for visitors to come and waste money when the world has reached a crisis stage. Crisis brings about thrift, therefore holidays dont become the priority.
therefor our economy should not be based on tourism. Even while there will be travelling, our focus must be on back to basis…agriculture and all the outcome of processing.
Education, health and accountable governance
Finally a commentary which embodies the vision that we ought to have, this is the
Thinking that will enable us to survive as a nation well into the 25th century and beyond. This is the testing ground and the nursery for the cultivation of future leaders who are truly patriotic.
Dominicans must see the value of investing in their own. In their sons and daughters that they have laboUred so hard to educate, the next bill gates or mark zuckerberg could well be in our midst languishing for the lack of interest by lending institutions in local investment. the banks must have faith in the ideas of the people. Not just it there mortgages to build homes and buy land but in respect to commerce and industry and business enterprise.
Here we go again!