JUST DENNIS: Those who changed things and made the Creole/Kweyol difference

Dennis Joseph
Dennis Joseph

One of my favourite songs from the group Kassav   is Tim Tim Bwa Sek which speaks of a lost tradition of days gone when older people would relate stories of things that happened and the moral of those stories to their children, grandchildren and younger folk and the song urges a need to restart this great tradition.

If older Labourites had passed on the ideals of the Labour Party and its sufferings to their children then Savarin could never have been appointed president of Waitikubuli by the Labour Party.  They would cringe to know that he is awarded the Medal of Honour to place in his record.  But then that is just me an old Labourite remembering the time of the pain and struggle and I am sure you will say it is the pain speaking.   In Waitikubuli we the people are not big on our history.  Commonly you hear, “Oh that is past tense let’s forget that.”  We should learn from the great nations of the world who never forget their history.  The two sets of words used repeated by the Jews are, “Never again,” and “Lest we forget,” referring to the holocaust when Hitler slaughtered millions of them.  In the cities and towns of the great nations you observe their history   in their monuments, museums, artistry, architecture, TV programs and in their commemorations going back centuries.  There is even a dedicated expensive   History Channel on cable TV.

We still do not understand that it is the past that creates the present and the future.  If we did we certainly would not accept that excuse for an Edward Leblanc monument with a nearly invisible teeny- weenie photo of the man stuck on   hurriedly plunked down in front of the Mahaut toilet restroom the day before the opening of the rehabilitated road renamed the Edward Leblanc Highway and then about turn to lift up Charles Savarin who did his best to destroy Leblanc’s work and his Labour Party.  But then who cares?  Certainly not those who struggled with him and benefitted from his struggle as they mostly remain mute and some even support what is happening.

In writing this column I try to take the opportunity as often as I can to take you back even way back because if you believe in Waitikubuli then you must know her as a wife knows her husband and he knows her the same. How did she come to be what she is?   That is why whenever the Creole season comes around I try to take you back to the time when it was not like it is today, when creole was simply called ‘patwa’ a bad word to some yet the means of communication to so many of the rural folk and this is the past which has led to the music we celebrate in the present.  If you can bear to read something twice the length of my usual presentations read on but if not stop here for it is folly to just taste the water because, ‘A little learning is a dangerous thing drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring.”(Alexander Pope)   After that then it is your turn to comment for or against, nicely or fiercely as you will for we live in changing times.

Some say Kweyol music others say daintily Creole music but however your tongue rolls it is our music.  Music which is part of mass culture has been divided into two main spheres-popular music (Pop) and standard music.  In Waitikubuli we have added creole music in which we are able to fuse all West Indian music into one, in other words the ‘Creolisation” of various types of indigenous music.  Such was the case with Cadence-lypso a product of the band Exile One.

French creole or ‘patwa’ as it was first called was for many years the language of the farming community who were called then, “country bookie,” and was severely rejected by mainstream society.   There were some who worked to keep the language alive in song and dance.  In that regard the work of the late Mabel ‘Cissie’ Caudieron in the 40’s and 50’s is well documented though hardly ever remembered during the creole activities.   The struggle of Edward Leblanc whose attempts were ridiculed by the Roseau crew when he introduced the national cultural gala during the National celebrations was a huge stride forward in keeping the creole alive.   Edward Leblanc therefore began the movement that started the change of the negative thinking of our people toward our cultural heritage yet it was not remotely easy as ridicule and derision was heaped on his efforts by those who saw ‘patwa’ as the language of the uneducated and illiterate to be banned forever.

However the contemporary Creole movement possibly truly began in late 1975 when amid much protest the Creole tongue was introduced as part of the regular programming at DBS.

It happened this way:

In August of 1975 I was asked to take over the management of the station.  I had the name changed from Radio Dominica to Dominica Broadcasting Service –DBS Radio and decided that if we would change the name we should also change the programming so I had the station off the air for reorganization for a full week when only news was broadcast at noon.  I was amazed when going through the old logs that I could not find any reference to anything creole or ‘patwa’ as it was then called.  I felt that was a huge omission especially as I had just come in from managing the Gaylords Power Union, a band which promoted and recorded ‘patwa’ songs around the world and also
I enjoyed the music of the Siffleur Montagne a singing group led by Jean Lawrence who also promoted ‘patwa’ songs.  I discussed this with my assistant the great broadcaster Alvin Knight who had been there for years before I became Manager and he vigorously supported the effort but we both knew what would be coming at us from the ‘patwa’ haters.  I decided to do some piloting on a Friday evening with Tim Durand who had volunteered.  He was later assisted by Ferdinand Frampton who surprised us all as we did not know that he was such a ‘patwa man’ with a great style and so with Tim’s consent he eventually took over the program.  There was a firestorm as the ‘patwa’ haters ranted and raved.  I recall one particular caller who many years later apologized to me suggesting that I should be hanged in the market square for, “Spoiling the minds of the youth with ‘patwa and Cadence on radio.”

DBS pressed on nonetheless and over the years has brought forward such stars as one of my best finds Felix Henderson,  and Leroy Wadico Charles now also the female voice is added –Kaywana Fontaine who has more possibilities than even she knows.  Today when suddenly everybody loves creole it should stand as one of the triumphs of DBS radio, for in this regard the station changed the thinking of the whole nation making a once unaccepted part of our ……………………………………………culture to be so infused that we even have a Journee’ Creole(Creole Day).

With that background of the work of others  it was easier for the modern technology Creole music to take root though not conceived in Dominica but in Guadeloupe by a band of Dominican musicians called Exile One.  When they began their musical journey they could not have known that their efforts would result in moving Creole expressions from a minority culture to a pop culture starting a musical adventure that eventually would become the signature event of their homeland.  Their efforts changed the way we regard the power of local musicians as did the Gaylords Power Union.

There are many theories as to how the idea came about and some have been boasted of as having visions and all of that.  The truth is that this evolved from the thoughts and ideas of a number of people before it then came to seed.  There was consultation with Mark Marie, Gordon Henderson, Michael Fagan, and a committee was set up by Sheridan Gregoire the then NDC general Manager   to come up with ideas for special events.  I headed that committee which included Ronald Lander, Kelly Williams, Eddie Toulon and Sherita Gregoire and we came up with the suggestion of a Dominica Cadence Music Festival to coincide with the Independence celebrations but in my phone conversation with Gordon Henderson to which he refers in his book Zoukland he suggested that ‘Cadence’ should be changed to ‘Creole’ and ‘Dominica’ to ‘World’ so as to encompass all creole music.

We then had a name- World Creole Music Festival.  I have been told that this was also a suggestion from friends of Gordon including Mark Marie, husband and Manager of Ophelia Marie whose voice is a national resource, but I do not know enough to set it down here.  It is also a fact and I should know it is a fact that we suggested the WCMF should be modeled along the lines of the previous Harlem all night Festival held years before on the Newtown Savannah.   So as you can see it took many minds and ideas to come up finally with the WCMF and not any one person’s vision.   However none of this would have happened but for the decision by the UWP government to adopt and sponsor the idea amid much criticism and accusations of money wastage on ‘sewo’ and even ridicule by their political opponents who were having a good Ha-Ha- Ha including Charles Savarin.  It is that United Workers Party government decision that changed the face of our musical culture and took what was essentially hometown music into the world of music and international entertainment that even those very political opponents of the past now hail it as the greatest musical cultural adventure of our time.

It would not be fitting if I did not add a word about the late Eddie Toulon.  When his name came up only Sheridan Gregoire and me on the newly formed Festival Commission strongly supported his application for the job of Executive Director.  It was suggested that perhaps another person with experience from overseas could be found for the task.  By the by he was accepted and he must be commended for his splendid work in leading this mammoth undertaking out for its debut international exposure in 1996 and his surprising death just before the fifth anniversary of the WCMF was a great loss to Dominica.  I find it totally unbecoming that very little is said of him during the WCMF season.  By and through his work he changed the thinking that only a foreign person could do big things in Dominica.  R.I.P Eddie.
But there are more changes I would like to see.

A change in the thinking of the management that the WCMF is nothing more than three all night shows and recycled musical band performances year after year.  That was not the original intention.  It was intended to make Dominica the home of creole music and be promoted worldwide that way just like Jamaica for reggae and TNT for calypso.  That each year there should be a theme competition and a special WCMF song.   It was intended to allow our music to be on international platforms and to reach out to the Francophone territories and to be made into a brand that could invade the other territories in the region and the vast possibilities on the African continent.  It was intended to go beyond nightly rhythms to exhibitions using other venues, exposures, discussions, and important visitations.  It was intended to find a permanent home for the event.  I was a member of the original Festival Commission so I know that though we have the signature creole event we have not yet written that signature on the world as it was first intended and envisaged and it is about time.

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44 Comments

  1. EURO
    October 29, 2013

    Great article Dennis our history should be taught to the youth but you know what there is a God above who is not a policeman as we say looking out for one set of people. Your sins are following you, sit back for a moment and think of the evil that you bestowed on people in the 70s with Patrick John. You were ridding a very high horse you walked around Roseau pompous as ever thinking after you there would be no more. Your eyes were set on being Prime Minster and Patrick would be President. The grudge you carry today for Savarin…. is because he cut off the legs of your high horse which stop you in your tracks. I do hope you have acquire some empathy from your experience of the 80s and treat people with dignity.I enjoy reading your articles keep writing.

  2. DAT
    October 28, 2013

    I agree with allot of things you said, Mr. Joseph. Notably, the things we did in the past affects us in the present. We should never forget that,all of us.
    My father and the former honorable prime minister; Mr. Ronan Patrick John were good, good friends and he once confided things he new to my father, and there is more to the story than his excellency,yes “his excellency”,Mr.Charles Savrin being the sole responsible person for the 47 day sting; operation remove P.J. Ask Mr. Edison Chenfil James. Isn’t it interesting, that it was not Savrin who become prime minister, not even in the interim? That he was even sent away,huh. No surprise there.People like you need to be more forth coming. If you going to tell the whole story and you have the truth, why not tell the whole truth, write a book. I want to read it. Or are you bias as they all are and only want to keep us( the reds, the blues and the greens) all in the dark. Maybe you are afraid of reprisals. If Richard Nixon could be exposed, remember the water gate saga. Why can’t the truth be told about the 47 day strike. Stop pointing fingers at only Savrin. Why doesn’t anybody ever say what the positives of the boycott were. I know and allot of you out there know that the outcome was not all negatives.The benefits to so many that remain unexposed to this day.
    Mr. Joseph I await that book. And just so you know cadence music had already left the island and had hit Martinique, Guadeloupe and even France. I was at a show well before the inception of the WCMF in the neighboring of Guadeloupe and was quite happy to hear the sweet sounds of cadence, were cadence was already celebrated as a class by itself. It just was not recognized by its’ own countrys’ new generation. Calypso and the “Swinging Stars”. Not forgetting, king Solo, lord Tokyo, the NC, Tronada, Musician, etc, was the new craze.Then there was “Bouyon”. So like some, sometimish or cherished things it faded. Why, you yourself gave some of the answers, that i know to be true.
    Clearly, the music was lost because of the beliefs about “patwa” and the ideals of the petty bourgeoisie. That when i think about how well the youths of today just embrace the American and Jamaican culture and look down on their own, it is painful. I fully support you on that and i believe it. As a matter of fact i use to be listening in as a young man, when you started the “patwa” sessions with Tim on DBS. I actually had no choice because I had a father who, though was raised in Roseau, spoke allot of “patwa”. So did my mother, though she was in town from the age of 14, still to this day talks allot of “patwa”. She coming from Bioche’. That it was the parental influence that has me speaking it fluently. I mean must people who don’t know me speaking “patwa” are surprised when i speak it.I even bought the first English to creole book, so i could learn to write it.
    Mr. Joseph you should be recognized for you efforts because i believe it is your legacy. Eddy Toulon as well, for his role as directing such an uncertain and mammoth venture that bears the fruits of his labor to this day. Mr. Joe write that book, even if you write it as a novel. I need to read it. Because you and I both know that there are parts missing.

  3. John paul
    October 26, 2013

    If I was the President Mr. Joseph You would have gotten the highest award bestowed upon You !
    That is all I want to say right now because nothing more would suffice!

  4. A W Birmingham
    October 25, 2013

    Mr Joseph

    This was a very good piece and I share your concern that we innocently or deliberately ignore our people of history. We should get away from that petty partisan, uncaring and unloving mentality.

    It would commendable if we have that history documented and on film to show in all our schools during Independence Celebration – bring back civics. Get the faces and voices of those who started the process in the story.

    In addition, the documentary could be aired and viewed on all radio & television stations simultaneously so parents/guardians and children could spend family time together – and what a great discussion families would have thereafter.

    He who ignores history always lives to regret it.

  5. fields lane
    October 25, 2013

    Dennis there is a reason why you did not migrate to greener pastures;Hang in there my man,God have you in his plan for DOMINICA.Keep writing the real HISTORY of our country,the TRUTH always RISE above their lies.THEY know the TRUTH,(they know themselves).

  6. Posse
    October 25, 2013

    Don’t forget belle beff for Jeff on Saturday nights 590 radio

  7. Posse
    October 25, 2013

    Another charles Savarin hater! We cannot change history.thanks to all who came before us and started a movement. Like the Jews we will not forget PJ thank him for bringing down the party…lest you forget.

  8. OVERSEAS
    October 25, 2013

    I was born in the 80’s and remember clearly when i started attending high school and all the kids from town would call us “country bookie”, now they are grown and wish they could speak “patwa”. I am now residing overseas and pround to speak it especially when i meet other people from the caribbean who speaks it. I must say it comes in very handy when you don’t want others to know what you are saying LOL.

  9. antedote for fools
    October 25, 2013

    Dennis, I respect your past contribution to music & broadcasting in Dominica. However your attempt to distort historical facts will only hurt your legacy. Charles Saverin was back by the civil service association, the church, parents of innocent children who were outlawed, incarcerated & shot dead for their hairstyle. I think its time that you come clean & ask forgiveness from Dominica & Domincians for being a puppet & propagandist for the Patrick John regime which disrespected the South African struggle by hiring South white supremacist South African mercenaries along with the Klu Klux Clan thereby disrespecting the African American struggle & also working with Zionist mercenaries & agents as well to invade Dominica & turn natives into second class citizens. Your support for the inhumane & gross human rights violations is a disservice & dishonor to our country. No hate for Charles Saverin can wash away the blood & pain of the regime Saverin helped overthrow. Please don’t distort facts & misinterpret history because that will comeback to haunt you. I speak for Rastafari!

    • Anonymous
      October 25, 2013

      antedote for fools you are a fake for I know as a kid the suffering we went through growing up in the country side, as a child of a farmer. My mother could not leave me in the care of anyone I got sick, I was terrified with fear, my sister was held by Rasta man in my fathers field. So were we hurting rastamen, it was the government duty to protect us, You better know that part of the history antedote for fools

      • me
        October 27, 2013

        The point is, you cannot judge all rastas by the actions of a few.

    • mouse
      October 25, 2013

      antedote for fools you are a fake for I know as a kid the suffering we went through growing up in the country side, as a child of a farmer. My mother could not leave me in the care of anyone I got sick, I was terrified with fear, my sister was held by Rasta man in my fathers field. My mother too was in fear So were we hurting rastamen, it was the government duty to protect us, You better know that part of the history antedote for fools

  10. Graham Chambers
    October 25, 2013

    Excellent reminder…

  11. Graham Chambers
    October 25, 2013

    Very good reminders…

  12. Jacko Decendant
    October 24, 2013

    Thanks for some new knowledge Mr. Joseph. Marcel Jamala Fontaine is distinctly missing in such an an article. I remember him as one of the first to have a Patwa book published.

    Mr. Joseph I look forward to a piece from you about the Gaylords experiences recording Reggae music in Jamaica back in the 60’s and why has Dominica not produce more reggae artists from that influence. I would just like to note that with all the other musical genres that have been played and promoted on the various radio stations in Dominica from way back when, our biggest musical artist and product is of the Reggae genre. I think Dominica can do much more to promote it’s reggae artists.

    • River Street
      October 27, 2013

      I agree with you Jacko Descendant in regards to Djamala -a former classmate and the Gaylords (Power Union.) However your idea that Gaylords were this big pusher of Reggae is erroneous. Have you listened to their music? Bingo, Breaker were calypsonians and rendered colourful and well written pieces of Dominican culture.While I agree we have a large number of Reggae artist at home and abroad, Reggae is “foreign” to us. Our emphasis should be to promote our own. And by the way I am a Ras, love my Reggae will be seeing Black Uhuru perform in a couple weeks and have friends in the business. Promote Local.

  13. Don Keyballs
    October 24, 2013

    A rather long, but well written article. Was surprised that “Groovers” of Grandbay were never mentioned. Were they ever instrumental in forging the creole music advancement? Maybe we will be told in a follow up article. Read your piece thoroughly and enjoyed it.Kudos!!

  14. Original Observer
    October 24, 2013

    Denis has aright to his opinion. I love reading his pieces even though I do not always agree with evrything he says. If he, Denis, is bitter with Charles Savarin, he knows why. His world, standing aloof as “the man with the master plan’ for broadcasting in Dominica came crashing after the popular “people’s uprising”. So I understand his never, ever forgiving attitude towards Charles Savarin.

    What I am at pains with is the sielnce of the Public Service Union, then CSA over the criminal, mostly partisan attempt of some among us to rewrite history. Charles Savarin much to the union. The union in turn benefitted much from Charles Savarin’s leadership. More than its membership, the union knows and ought to appreciate the successes it had under Charles Savarin’s leadership. Yet the union bosses have remained disturbingly quiet amidst unfair reporting of the events of 1977 an again of 1999. Why can’t the union make a statement to seek to correct the misinformation, calculated at best for partisan reasons. The union has a membership which transcends parties. If the present crop of union bosses are ashamed of their past achievements under Charles savarin, then they must say so. No wonder people like DJ can seek to ridicule Charles Savarin at every turn. Unless the union as an institution speaks, then the cricisms of its successes even by people who were part and parcel of the leadership and escorting Charles Savarin to secret hideaways from PJ and his never forgiving polical thugs then people like DJ will only continue to make 1977 and 1979 a Charlo thing. DJ keep writing anyway.

    • Anonymous
      October 27, 2013

      The philosophy then was the same as in 2000; remove them at any cost. So the criticism of Charles saverin in not unfair and all he did was to achieve the remove them philosophy.

  15. tatay picken
    October 24, 2013

    I am 54 years old and I clearly remember my parents talking to me in creole and I was forced to respond in English. I have no problem in giving Jack his jacket but someone had to do it Dennis. Maybe you should get the Sisserou award, but your friends must nominate you.

  16. River Street
    October 24, 2013

    As always I salute you, a great teacher.Roseau Boy’s School Standard V. A beautiful piece. You touched on very pertinent information regarding WCF.;in particular the Francophonic aspect . It appears that the festival has lost direction, subsequently I have taken the initiative not to attend the last five years. I have lamented the lost of our ROOTS in that entire debacle. As a boy I remembered enjoying the TimTim, la vwey, Conte etc. of the cutural elders during the preliminaries at the Roseau Boys’ School.(Old Grammar School), an initiative of E.O. Leblanc. Honoring him next to a toilet? Disrespectful.

    • John paul
      October 26, 2013

      That is typical Skerro move .The anniversary of the Birth and Death of Roosevelt Douglas passes and nothing is said of the Man who made Skeritt.

  17. Progres
    October 24, 2013

    We do recognize your contribution Dennis and I’m sure you have a lot of good ideas for the advancement of kweyol language and culture in Dominica however, we have to put hate and politics aside in order to develop the nature isle. We need to look at things for what they are.

    Charles Savarin did what he had to do and it was the right thing at the time. I know you were on the wrong side of the equation but we need to move forward. Remember Savarin had the support of people like Eddison James and Bernard Wiltshire just to name a few. He was considered a hero then.

    It is unfortunate what happened to Patrick John because at one point I, too, thought he was one the best things that ever happened to Dominica. You know how long I waited to hear Patrick at least deny these charges that were brought against him publicly. But alas, it never happen.

    Mr. Joseph, do you think that these things were good for Dominica- the Freeport, the overthrowing of government by arms and the alleged dealing with shady characters of racist South Africa, just to name a few. There was also the issue of the ” Dread ” act. Do you honestly think that Patrick handled these issues properly as a leader that was well respected and well loved.

    All is not lost, Mr. Joseph, seven times to rise seven times to fall. I believe you can still make a very meaningful contribution to this country. It is a big man that admits when he has made a mistake. It will not be held against him. Pray for the blackman. There is always a time to heal.

    • Isaiah thomas
      October 24, 2013

      progres;;
      you acknowledged a few good thing of the MAN with the MASTER PLAN,and giving the chance,would have taken DOMINICA much futher;but you fail to acknowledge that charles savrin,like a petty bouge,hated Patrick because he wanted to rub shoulders with the gros bougs of roseau.The haters, of THE RIGHT E O LeBLANCE,the father of Dominica”s politics,used charlo and a so called friend of PATRICK JOHN,zaboka or “judas”to bring him down,using the offices they headed.WE know now all the talk of plot and ‘sunday island’ was a intellectual coup,feeding lies to the masses,and today all you want the sufferers to forget and bow to the KILLER of the COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA? MAN You people not easy.
      DENNIS man i belive everything you write there,and it’s the TRUTH .MAN I always know you were a man with the MASTER PLAN who was given a bad rap.GOD will give you the strengh to see them get there just reward.
      GREAT PIECE OF WRITING;

    • Anonymous
      October 25, 2013

      Do you honestly think that Patrick handled these issues properly as a leader that was well respected and well loved?

  18. Oh yes
    October 24, 2013

    We appreciate your contribution to our history. I sense your grief at lackluster thoughts and management in a number of areas. Please continue to make your contributions.

  19. Mwen Enkor
    October 24, 2013

    Welll said Denis, but we are at a standstill with a visually impaired, vision zero, resentful administration in power, that can’t do anything to get us to where we should be. Every one of them is celebrating mediocrity and challenging truth.

    Continue to bring back the milk and honey.

  20. Negbawi
    October 24, 2013

    Lets boycott Dennis and PJ nonsense ramblings

  21. De Caribbean Change
    October 24, 2013

    You might have been one of the best morning deejays in the caribbean, ‘Top of the Morning to you’ alongside El-Coq ‘in the morning’ from Trinidad and Julian Rogers of Barbados but, there is no sense of being so hateful of Charles Savarin.Charles Savarin has done enormous service to Dominica and its people. Stop being too political, Mr. DJ..

  22. October 24, 2013

    You guys got to be kidding me. Then ask Lennox what role did he play in ’79’. There is nobody who is alive today and was a witness to that era, who thought the actions of all Dominicans was not justified. I think you guys have really mis-fired with your narrative.

  23. Truth Seeker
    October 24, 2013

    Minus the first three paragraphs, which do nothing to introduce the topic, a telling and forthright backdrop to the founding and uplifting of the Kweyol culture – some would say, “from soup to nuts.” Great article. You tell it just like Osborne “Science” Thomas related it to me about two years ago.

    If we dare advise you, Mr. Joseph, Dominica needs your vision and skills in making the dream discussed in your last paragraph a reality. We concur that the potential of our Kweyol culture – manifest, as it is, in our pop culture – is longing to take the world by storm.

    Does anybody else see what Mr. Joseph is saying. Must we continue to limit ourselves in Dominica to short-timers like fete for its sake alone? When, like Dennis Joseph and those who with him, “created” all that defines our Kweyol culture (the sights, sounds, folklore, dress, foods, etc.) will the decision makers do what is necessary to give Kweyol wings?

    • Original Observer
      October 24, 2013

      When Denis will stop seing Dominica’s development in colours – this tiem “blue, then he will coem to his senses and coem forward to make a real contribution. After the 2000 election, didn’t Rosie Douglas, Priem Minister admonish Denis to return to his job as manager of DBS Radio? What was his response? We all know. He saw his work at DBS Radio in true blue party colours and left. So much for wanting to serve under a government that elected Charles Savarin to be President of the Republic.

  24. Anonymous
    October 24, 2013

    thanks for all the history bout the language and music.there’s alot the older folks never hand down to the young in Dominica..it’s like an unwritten history never told.

  25. Papa Dom
    October 24, 2013

    I would have liked to have seen a comment from those who oppose rather than just giving a thumb down. Come on you haters tell us what you think don’t hide!

  26. "O" STRESS"
    October 24, 2013

    Lets agree to disagree without being disagreeable” President U.S.A”. MR Joseph you`re right on point, and I agree with you on many fronts. Where there`s no vision our people perish. Clearly those who do not allow our past to shape our future are living on their own insecurity and cannot give credit to our great minds DEAD” OR ALIVE” but lets be careful who we seek to give credit to and those who we seek not to give credit too. or else we would just be giving mere lip service. You are deserving of your flowers as well as those who still maintaining the culture and the pride of Dominica. One for all and each for all”. I like the brand new people`s house of assembly, I like the link Road, I like the New Bridge by the market, I like the Stadium, and I am looking forward to our International AirPort going forward, ect, ect.I also like that I am a proud Dominican.

    • "O" STRESS"
      October 24, 2013

      This thing stuck in moderation.?????? Too many positive comments. Thank you D.N.O. love u all.

  27. simplygorgeous70.
    October 24, 2013

    To: Dennis. Thank u for such am article i am of age and is awear of some of the imformation but had no idea of the story written by you thanks for that. some person have no need for truths because of where it comes from but I pray that one day that mentality will stop u got life and I pray u more from the Heavenly father so u will continue the truth to educate me and mines never mind the lossers living in hate.thanks

  28. CIA on the Watch
    October 24, 2013

    DJ, Its funny that those who read all what you have said about the culture and the negatives that the elites of ROSEAU had to say about it are the ones who seem to take it over playing like everything creole and culture comes from them. Those who live the longest see the most and am one of those

  29. ZANDOLI
    October 24, 2013

    Great Article….

  30. Deborah
    October 24, 2013

    Very informative article. Although it is primarily about creole music, it was surprising not to see the name Marcel (jamala) Fontaine mentioned in an article titled “Those who changed things and made the kweyol difference”. Maybe I missed it??

    • ANON
      October 25, 2013

      I agree .
      Also what about kommete etid kweyol and the kweyol dictionary!

      This should not be include anything with Charles Savarin.

  31. DA in TX
    October 24, 2013

    Tell dem Dennis well said. I went to school with ure son Daren u always spoke truth and represented this country well I also went to teacher rose school seeing u as a lil kid conducting business u a stand up man long live ure vision for our country.

  32. Daughter of the soil
    October 24, 2013

    Beautiful article, every informative..

    • mouse
      October 24, 2013

      Excellent piece. We need more like you to educate our young people on our history. Particularly that of Charles Savarin our new President. These Labourites sadly are not concern about our history and what is right or wrong. They are only concern with party politics, very unfortunate, we are lost as a people. We hear talk like we should not get children involve in the matter of boycotting the youth parade. The kids are the future, they must know the past and we must raise them to be principled.

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