Minister Responsible for Culture Gretta Roberts has said the re-launch of the National Emblems Book will enhance Dominica’s national pride and not only preserve but promote its cultural traditions and heritage. She was delivering remarks at the re-launching ceremony of the National Emblems Book held at the State House Conference Centre recently.
The first version of the book was presented 35 years ago in 1988, and the National Emblems Committee felt the need to revise and update the first version of “The Symbols of Nationhood.”
“I believe the re-launch of this booklet will certainly enhance our national pride and add to our efforts to preserve and promote the cultural traditions and heritage of our country,” she said.
According to her, national symbols are not meant to be drawings on paper or depictions of an idea or a concept, they are in fact powerful symbols of nationhood.
“They serve as a springboard to nation building by inculcating from the earliest ages, a deep sense of patriotism and pride,” Roberts stated.
She further said that the country’s national symbols form the very core of a national character.
“Emblems help to promote national pride and dignity, they foster a greater sense of belonging and strengthen our sense of national identity,” she noted. “This booklet, therefore, is a practical and tangible way of expanding the knowledge of our national symbols among the general populace.”
Roberts pointed out that within the education system, it will prove especially useful to provide students and youth with a greater understanding and appreciation of the significance of the national symbols and the protocols that surround the use and application of these emblems.
“Because our emblems symbolize who we are as a people,” she stated. “It is essential that we continue to educate and sensitize the public through the media, through our classrooms, and through various platforms on the relevance and true meaning of our national emblems and to inculcate, especially gives to our younger generation a culture of patriotism and nationalism.”
Roberts went on to state that in addition to the focus on academics, the country needs to reintroduce and prioritize the study of civics at all levels to ensure a greater appreciation of our heritage and culture, our values and traditions, and also our national symbols which signify our pride as a people and identity.
Meantime, Acting Chief Cultural Officer, Earlson Matthew said the cultural division continues to play its role in appreciating the significance of Dominica’s national emblems and the relevance of its culture and heritage.
“The cultural division continues to play its role in that regard and we will continue to throw our support behind initiatives such as these,” he said.
Matthew believes that National Emblems Week forms part of the independence season.
“Flag day will be celebrated on the 16th and that will be celebrated island-wide,” Matthew noted. “Private businesses and establishments and government offices are encouraged to show patriotism and represent your flag in whatever way or shape possible.”
When one click on the internet http://dominica.gov.dm/about-dominica/national-symbols gives all the relevant information, are hard copies really necessary?
Children learn mostly by what they see not by what they are told. When young, impressionable citizens watch and listen to the nasty, venomous discourse, and the bad-natured behaviour of the Speaker, the PM and the other parliamentarians of the ruling party, there is where they get their baptism in crudity, hostility and criminality.
Civics, the study of the rights and duties of citizens in a society, is a good thing to inculcate in our citizens at an early age. But, we the adults, must not only teach it we must practise it as part of our daily lives.
Tell me, I forget. Show me, I remember.
Stupes tan. All these people can do is talk but in truth they are all empty vessels making noise and noise only…nothing tangible to show as evidence of their 19 years of noise under Skerrit, except attending funerals . Well, for them they have all gotten much richer than their salaries can justify