Dominica is still reeling from the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Erika and we are yet to have an international conference of Dominicans at home and abroad to chart a united path for reconstruction and recovery. Such a coming together would require revival of our Koudmen – or cooperative self help – tradition. Where such is not done, soonest, we shall not make progress.
There was a time when hope was not forlorn. Such an effort was started fifteen years ago and can be done again. At this time the younger Dominicans, with their vision and vigor, will have to step forward in leadership and brace themselve to national duty as never before. Those of us who were born in the pre independence era will soon fade away.
As a recent commentator noted, development will never come where independence simply means fete and bacchanalia, with little time for profound reflection, unified purpose and integrity driven governance of our affairs – both public and private.
On Dominica’s Community Day of Service 2015, this historical video archive of a united Dominican overseas community working for national development is worthy of being known to those who were not yet born when it took place in 2001, or those who have simply been misled as to the quality of our service to country over self.
The Diaspora Development effort was an unprecedented display of the Koudmen spirit. The effort was led by the Rosie Douglas Foundation and Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences. There were three such Dominica Diaspora in the Development Process Symposiums:
1. The first took place on December 7, 2001, in Brooklyn, New York.
2.The second took place on Dominica between October 25 and November 1, 2002. The Dominica symposium was opened by the late Prime Minister Pierre Charles, attended by President Vernon Shaw, and chaired by journalist Lennox Linton; and
3. The third symposium was held in London on August 1, 2003, with the leadership of Vincent John of DUKA, other UK based Dominica associations and the Dominica High Commission. Dr Clayton Shillingford of the Dominica Academy and Delmance “Rasmo” Moses of the Rosie Douglas Foundation both made presentations.
These collective and/or cooperative development efforts, were inspired by private sector driven enterprise and vision. The events were not subject to government direction or hegemony; all our people were welcomed. The Dominica Diaspora in the Development Process Symposiums were an uprising of sincere development driven effort. Such collective displays of our peoples’ power has a historical basis. It was such collective effort which allowed our Kalinago ancestors, and our Neg Mawon liberation fighters to preserve their freedom. It was that same initiative which allowed our newly freed ancestors, to build free villages following emancipation in 1834, and the end of so called apprenticeship in 1838.
Koudmen activism by our ancestors aided our freedom. And so our Koudmen action of 2001 and thereafter, built new networks which aided community development, new housing by inspired returnees, tourism partnerships, installation of wind turbines and plans for geothermal energy. The Prince Margaret Hospital and many health clinics benefited from our assistance; revival of the Dominica Cadet Corps was fostered; a CD collection of Dominica folk music was launched; books and commemorative magazines with scholarly articles probing our condition as a nation were produced; aid to the Dominica Police Force, agriculture, partnerships in botany education with the world renown Smithsonian Institution and the Dominica State College blossomed; and development of the Botanic Gardens website proceeded apace – our Botanic Gardens site now being the best in the world. See http://da-academy.org/dagardens.html.
Today, those in power forget that the first Dominica State College and Government Information Service online portals were organized and hosted on the website of the Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences by co-founder Raglan Riviere. Mr. Riviere passed away this summer and we will always remember him by the legacy of Koudmen and truly worthy national service he left behind. Dr. Dave Shillingford valiantly continues that work in preserving our history of the Botanic Gardens and botanic science.
It must be noted that the first online skills directory of Dominicans at home and abroad was started by The Academy in 2000. We pay tribute to a the many Dominicans who came together in 2001 to join hands in development. They can be seen and heard here on the documentary produced shortly thereafter by Maurison and Kathy Thomas of Moka Productions Community Television, a Dominican Diaspora owned enterprise in New York City:
May we, as a people, reflect on what has worked for us. Let us engage deep reflection, and dig deep into the roots of our spiritual and literal triumph over past setbacks and tyranny, and once again tap into the Koudmen tradition. Let us dedicate more time to understanding our history so we can step forward with confidence into a better tomorrow. That tradition of Koudmen ensured our survival. Selfishness, idleness, indiscipline, criminal deviance and disunity did not bring us to the promised land in the past and never will. The sincere cooperative spirit has worked for us.
When we behave like we love Dominica first and stop exporting talent then Koudmen will come back in vogue. Today many people in lederhip don’t lead by example and show they love Dominica. The leadership here don’t encourage initiative but promote handout. They promote foreign musicians and treats local talent badly. They sell our passports and fail to properly account for the money. They o not teach values that build character in our schools. And when they bust a toe they hop a plane and leave Dominicans behind to suffer poor medical care. To succeed we need a society where we employ based on merit not political colors. We must encourage our young to return and build by holding these meetings as how on the video every year not bring people to vote from overseas. That divide between Dominicans at home and abroad is huge due to this paid trips for voters. We must see the Diaspora as a development ally and grow our people to love Dominica first, not party or ones pocket. Thanks Sir
Koudmeh is a fantastic legacy. Unfortunately it does not resonate well today’s youth a good portion of apathetic adults. Rather, its all about ‘what’s on it for me’ and adjusting to get along.
We have to keep churning. We shall once again produce great programs and projects in quick time. To who much is given, much is expected – from good readers like you!
The high and mighty in power and Senior Coronation and his circus of performers and ambassadors, are 4 cars not for real people! They run after Gabu and Sam. They try to Kill Thomson.. They maway and damatay Dr Shillingford, and they sue Lennox once a year like they taking pill prescription. According to Spider, is so we come? Why did Rosie die and Pierro right after him? Blows on them from the circus performers who run things now. And now the sand castle is collapsing they asking the same people they chase away to help Dominica. Gabu and them fellas never bring people to vote in corruption of our election process. The bring energy, solar, cadets, medical supplies and more. The high and mighty have forgotten Koudmen which was the root of the Labour Party. Koudmen was the root of Freedom. Koudmen was the root of the Kalinaga and Neg Mawon. Koudmen is the root of our music, Rasmo and Chubby, Gordon Henderson, Grammacks and Jeff Joe. All that is Koudmen. If it die, it because of 4 cars.
Dominicans just stand there, witnessing the slow disintegration of some institutions, the almost disappearance of some, the loss of autonomy/Independence of others. Cloak them up with partisan political influence and values gone. Kweyol traditions of helping each other, caring for each other, respect, love, pursuit of happiness for all, equality, regards for and respect of the law, no longer seem to be the attributes we want to display, adopt, put into practice. The present thinking among many is to put it in local parlance, run after riches, money, material stuff. and they do not care two hoots about the majority, the poor, marginalised, trying to make ends meet.
Communities and their residents are bawling. Koudmen, part of our African heritage of self-help, coming together for the common good have cushioned the hardships, bring villagers together, build livelihoods.
Truly, that cabal has torpedoed the true roles of Local Gov’t, Village Councils. Is Cult-ure !!!!!!
I was about t say I\’ll ask Him or Just Ask Him but then you said the cBal etc . same thing anyways!
De Hurricane should re-write his 1980 saong I\’;; ask hi \”
Koudmen or volunteerism was branded in the 70,s 80,s and 90 as communisn. So people do not want to identify with those concepts.people who engage in koudmen in Dominica are seen as failures and rediclued .
As for Rdf and Dass you guys have evolved into what people suspected the arm of a political party.i hope you guys can revive those organizations as private sector organizations dedicated to the advancement of Dominica.
The Koudmen tradition was a very important factor in helping build Dominica. Sadly it is dying, community day of service is no longer what it is used to be. We have become a more selfish people and everyone seems to be looking for himself or what he can get from the piece of cake. Secondly politics has played a very important role too. People no longer value community service, hard core supporters always look for some form of reward while opposition supporters are marginalized. Why would one volunteer their services when they are not allowed an input in service in their opinions when they are being sidelined? Its all about money and greed. Unfortunately its getting worst. I do wish and hope that the spirit of duty hard work and love will one day return.
we shall not make progress. replace Shall with Never will.
Gabe, Sister Shirely has said it zillions of times we a dead nation.
Does that answer ur question?
You really believe what you just said? Dominica is a dying or “dead nation”. You Skerrit haters will stop at nothing to derail Dominica’s forward movement. I share “Gabous” interest in reviving our traditional koudement practice in all its form. he mentioned the work that the DAAS has done, koudement style to assist with Dominica’s development. He however has been very quiet on a particular action that has successfully set aside the wonderful experience of koudement that the DAAS began out in the diaspora. because of his dislike for PM Skerrit, Gabou and the DAAS has remained deafeningly silent whilst questions are being asked about the DAAS land at Rosalie and the transfer of the DAAS monies into a private account. Guess what the perpetrator of that action against koudement is seeking to bring that brand of public management into the national treasury. by their silence they have supported the purveyor of anti-koudement.