Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit advised residents from the community of La Plaine that their heritage ought not to only be used to entertain each other but also viewed from the perspective of potential economic benefit to the area.
His comments came while addressing this year’s Heritage Day celebrations held in La Plaine on Sunday.
“We are here to celebrate our culture in this part of Dominica and I want to say to us that we should not only use our heritage, our culture to entertain each other, we have to start looking at it from an economic standpoint as well,” he said. “How do we use our heritage to promote heritage tourism in La Plaine and the South East and benefit from it?”
He continued, “You have a very rich history of indigenous presence here in La Plaine, of European presence in La Plaine and in this constituency, this part of Dominica including Delices and Boetica you have a very strong tradition of the runaway slave culture…”
The Prime Minister encouraged the residents of La Plaine and its surroundings to promote heritage tourism not only during the independence season.
“I believe that we have an opportunity to make money from our heritage here in this part,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Culture Minister Gretta Roberts echoed the PM’s message, urging residents to take pride in their traditions, “because they connect us to our ancestors and guide our youth who are tasked in preserving them for the future.”
She referred to the traditional foods and culinary methods, “the way we prepare our dishes that have been cherished for generations, the practice of traditional farming techniques, growing the same crops our great grandparents cultivated, the flavours of our local dishes, the bakes, the smoked fish…”
Roberts mentioned further that the language carries the essence of Dominica’s culture.
“The creole we speak is a vibrant expression of our humor, our wisdom, and our identity,” she stated. “It remains alive in our homes, our villages, and in our celebrations.”
She added, “Other aspects of our heritage which are known to strive here in La Plaine and the neighbouring communities are our herbal remedies.”
Meanwhile, former leader of the La Plaine Bele Group and sportswoman as well as community leader, Hilda Prosper, received the honor of being named the Cultural Elder for 2024.
Several other awards were presented to various members of the community for their work, both past and present.
if u look at him welll….he looks like maduro….he is slowly getting there….dictatorship
DNO, please correct the headline it is not North East but rather South East Residents.
ADMIN: Thank you. It was a regrettable error and we had it corrected.
I know the article says is PM that said that, but alas, trust me, Everytime I see mister, the more he looks like some bad spirit, which reminds me of the bible verse in 2 Corin11:13-16:
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
mister looks like an evil spirit, sounds like an evil spirit and as for lies? he even lies more Satan . is that what corruption does man? We need to cast out that evil and wicked spirit of hell
I am sure the caption should have read East and not North East.
Erm, did La Plaine move. Last time I went there it was in the southeast.
Every time Roosevelt says anything, no matter how trivial or meaningless, DNO seems compelled to publish it. Many times he would distort the truth and muddle the facts, without dissecting his statements, they are conveyed as if they are authentic.
The news media should be an impartial watchdog. As Roosevelt is not known for veracity, he should be fact checked every time. DNO you are either inadvertently or deliberately given credence to this man’s hyperbole. By doing this, you are not part of the solution but art of the problem.
Be fair! Why don’t you publish much more of issues from the other sides. For example, Dr. Thomson Fontaine attended court for the bedtime today. It was postponed again. This is totally unfair. Would you publish it? I’m certain NOT!