Editor’s note: Below is the address given by Member of Parliament for Roseau Central Norris Prevost at the official launch of Creole in the Park yesterday evening.
When under my stewardship as Minister of Tourism in the United Workers Party Government, I championed the establishment of The Dominica Festivals Commission, which presented the first World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) in 1997.
Our vision was that the WCMF would be developed to become one of the Greatest cultural festivals in the Caribbean. Our vision was for a Festivals Commission, working closely with our private sector, our cultural division, our Hotel and Tourism Association and our artistes, to further develop our various cultural art forms, taking them from “Good to Great” and marketing them to the world.
We all would agree, especially our young children, our young artistes,and our small businesses that Creole in the Park is very good addition to the World Creole Music Festival.
Indeed Creole in the Park has made the World Creole Music Festival “a festival for the entire Family.” In fact one could call Creole in the Park, A Family Fun Week.
Through Creole in the Park, LIME has created a holistic synergy between Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage, where Creole in the Park is contributing significantly to the enhancement and sustainability of our beautiful Botanic Gardens.
Last year I also pointed out that Creole in the Park has the potential to become A Caribbean Gastronomic Festival, with awards and participation from the best chefs in the Caribbean. I am pleased that Ms. Grace Silvera, LIME’s regional Vice President for Marketing and Corporate Communications is here today, and can have a first hand experience of the potential in Creole in the Park to grow into a Caribbean Gastronomic Festival, right here in the Botanic Gardens in Roseau, Dominica.
I therefore wish to Congratulate and thank LIME who have been at the forefront of this very enjoyable and exciting addition to WCMF and our National Celebrations, and the Festivals Commission, for their supporting role.
From good to great
However, I believe that Creole in the Park, has the potential for even more, to take the WCMF and LIME from Good to Great! This is why, in my several addresses at this function, I have been urging the Festivals Commission to take a broader view of those very important features of Creole in the Park.
Creole in the Park-Small Business Incubator
Today I wish to highlight another significant opportunity for development to which Creole in the Park partnership is pointing us. That is the tremendous opportunity for development of small businesses in all the art forms including music, dance, painting, entertainment, and the culinary arts. It has been a springboard for several of our budding small businessmen and women. Creole in the Park can therefore be seen as a Small Business Incubator.
I would therefore like to suggest to the Festivals Commission, to examine how it could facilitate a wider partnership between itself, the cultural division, the private sector, NDFD, Youth Business Trust, and The Dominica State College Business Dept, to study what further small business opportunities can be included in, born or grown out of the Creole in the Park business model.
In closing, I repeat my call to the Festivals Commission to take a broader look at how with Lime and the other partners, Creole in the Park can be built to become a Caribbean Gastronomic Festival and a thriving market place for our Small businesses.
I look forward to seeing the festivals Commission take these suggestions on board, since their successful implementation could substantially boost Dominica’s cultural tourism, increase the numbers of stay over visitors in our hotels, create jobs for our youth, and take the World Creole Music Festival and LIME “From Good to Great”.
Wishing all Dominicans, enjoyable and peaceful celebrations.
yes perform
wow, once again here we go… turn a “well done” into some bitch slapping political rally.
Really people, its about us and our heritage, not some drab political colour you may or may not wear. This place is becoming more and more like the USA where it is not a matter of progress, just a matter of stabbing the other in the back whilst claiming to move forward.
Senator, i applaud your foresight, however as was clearly stated once already before political stupidity got in the way, CIP is funded by LIME, WCMF funded by Digicel both flagship companies in Dominica.
my $0.02 worth
dear Sir
Please me as I would like to write about the
world music festival in the international kerol magazine.
regards gerogina dhillon
editor
Caribbean “GASTRONOMIC” Festival, what happen to just calling it Caribbean FOOD Festival!!! God!! We make things so obtuse at times
LOL….
well said the festival committe is lacking a lot,they need to explore new horizons
Why would he mention World Creole Music Festival so many times??? Does he not know that WCMF title sponsor is DIGICEL????? LIME’s direct competitor
Prevost is a good visionary person indeed he for sure thinks outside of the box…
thats why i will always back UWP even though i will be objective to some things in the party but i wont divorce UWP..
why…facts if they didnt create the WCMF what buzz would have being generated around this time of year…facts are facts..
labour is the for 11 years and hasnt done a flagship stuff they can boast about that has impact or is visionary with gains…
they cant call the staduim because it wasnt there brain child..they met plans and a foundation started…so lets roll..
roads are down by all regime from since Dominica is around and will be in the future..
the liberation of the telecoms was under UWP again we can see the focus if that regime the called corrupted, if the government of UWP did back marpin to head off at cable & wireless…so the deserve the thumps up..
not saying dlp has done something..but honest UWP had a major impact and visionary approach in just 4 1/2 years…when you compare 11 of dlp..
the upgrade of melville hall was started by dlp was wasnt a point 10 project,,because they lack the foresight to build on the plans of the international airport where land was bought for…so in all dlp hasnt created a major impact..as red jet gave them a thumps down…
so dlp honestly doesnt have that upper and large scale thinking as the uwp had..
UWP would be a far better calculated risk taking and creative regime indeed…Prevost is one that has that credits that those facts.
This is a modern day 21st century leader with foresight, with non partisan, non ideological, non political ideas for the feature well being of the Dominican masses, and the economy i dare anyone to say that this not good, this is the kind of leadrship that our beloved Dominica wants, keep up the good works MR. Prevost
Well said Mr. Prevost……If LIME as a compamy operating in Dominica does well for themselves,the people they serve and their employees, obviously DA will reap the benefits also…..Kudos to LIME
It is obvious from this that Lime maske plenty of money so we paying for our own entertainment but when you want help you get a person from St. Lucia on the line.They can not afford to pay someone in Dominica?
Great insight Mr.Prevost!
Throw those insightful and productive ideas out there and whoever (LIME/Labor Party/private sector) wants to take advantage of them is fine, as long as Dominica benefits at the end.
Bravo Mr.Prevost!
Mr. Prevost, I do not agree with you that Creole in the Park can take LIME from good to great.
CREOLE IN THE PARK IS NOT ABOUT LIME. It’s about our culture, heritage and tradiotions. Get your facts right. Say thank you to LIME for their continued support in the promotions awarded to the festival, but retract this statement that it will take lime from good to great. Who are you promoting, LIME or our festival?
Don’t be so naive.
EVERYTHING LIME does is about LIME and cementing it’s market share in the industry.
It’s all about marketing and sales!
But it doesn’t mean that BOTH the country and the company can’t enjoy the benefits from the process.
It’s a ‘win win’ situation…!
@satellite : direct your bull horns to the deep BLUE sea and CHARGE!!!!
Well said, make history,ask fora an apology,its all about Dominica first.Join the Roosevelt Skerit team to successful development.look at the brighter side or you will miss the 25th century train!
What de france is wrong with you two? is there anything negative in what the man has said? why does everyone have to sing in skeritte’s choir?
They must sing in his choir to be qualified to get a spot in the red clinic line on wednesday’s
Those that sing the Skeritt song are those who get the hand outs so they cant help themselves.
IF DOMINICA COULD TALK she would say these folks need to use the brains that GOD gave them..