Local Government Commissioner Glenroy Toussaint has announced that 55 projects have been approved across the island for this year’s National Day of Community Service, scheduled for November 4.
“Things are moving smoothly for National Day of Community Service,” Toussaint stated. “We have 55 projects approved islandwide to be undertaken.”
The initiative, which marks the culmination of Dominica’s independence celebrations, will feature a range of activities including beautification, environmental enhancement, and small-scale infrastructure improvements. Toussaint emphasized the importance of addressing local needs, particularly in areas prone to flooding.
“We recognize clearly that particularly for the small projects there is need in some communities to improve some village roads and drains to mitigate the impact of flooding and things of that nature,” he said. “Those sorts of projects will be encouraged this year as well.”
Toussaint confirmed that all communities across Dominica will be included in the day’s activities.
“The projects will be in all of the communities in Dominica,” he noted.
He also encouraged widespread public participation, highlighting the day’s role in fostering national pride and community cohesion.
“It has become a national event on the calendar of events for the independence celebration,” he said. “The National Day of Community Service is really to engage people to participate in some activity, some physical activity during the day in their communities to enhance the community by and large.”
Toussaint underscored the broader goal of the initiative.
“It’s not only the work, but also there is a need for strengthening communities and we are hoping that can happen,” he stated.
Mr Toussaint, I would love to be informed of the mesurable criteria used by your Department to determine, on completion, the degree of ” community cohesion “. How is this evaluation done? What metrics are involved ?
Respectfully submitted.
For goodness sake… List the projects so people can turn out and participate!. You (DNO and the Local Government Division) have a unique platform (and I daresay, duty) to popularize and facilitate the whole Fete Koudme initiative. Use it. When people wake up on November 4th they should be able to go straight to a project and assist. You can help.. Please??
These initiatives/projects are quite commendable. My wish is that these initiatives should not be just once annually, but should be on going throughout the year.
There is a need for Civics to be an integral part of the school curriculum. So when these students grow into young adults, the volunteerism and the patriotism inculcated in them as infants to adolescents, will remain firmly ingrained. Hopefully, as young adults, they will continue to voluntarily give back to their country and try to preserve its ideals.
My wife and I are currently visiting Dominica. The natural beauty is incredible. But I fill a trash bag every time I visit a beach while locals continue to deposit their trash wherever it seems convenient (after charging me to visit the beach). I’ve been shocked at the level of pollution around the island and deeply disappointed by the blatent displays of racism we have experienced here. Charging people double because of their skin color is not going to help tourism. Fortunately, there were also kind people that we met. In light of this, I have ruled out any chance of buying property here and it is unlikely that we’ll return.