Despite the downscaled activities for this year’s Independence celebrations, officials of the Division of Culture are hailing this year as a success and are applauding schools and communities around the country for their role in preserving Dominica’s traditional culture.
The celebrations which officially came to an end on Wednesday 4th November with the national day of community service, saw the removal of several popular activities and events due the global pandemic COVID-19.
Nevertheless, Minister for Culture, Hon Roslyn Paul said Dominicans still portrayed their culture throughout the season despite the many restrictions.
“I want to commend all Dominicans for the lively spirits even in that situation that we are in, in that environment of Covid-19. There has been a very uplifted spirit of our people as we celebrate our 2020 independence and we see that in terms of people wearing particularly the creole wear, the cuisine especially on creole day, the various local foods that we have been enjoying. So in whatever way, we Dominicans have been showing our national pride or patriotism and our love for culture,” she said.
Paul went on to state that the contribution made by schools, communities and cultural enthusiasts will reserve our culture for future generations.
Adding his voice to the commendations, Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence, described this year’s celebration as a major success noting that Dominicans maintained their patriotism and nationalism, which generated a spirit of pride.
“Particular areas of strength were the dressing up in creole wear, the preparation and consumption of local foods and the promotion of Dominican traditional music on radio and at business places. Events like the national days of prayer, the opening of independence, Creole Wear Fridays, Chapeau Paille Day, traditional cuisine lecture, national tree planting day, flag day, the national day observance ceremony, the cultural gala and the national day of community service were all very well supported,” the Chief Cultural officer reported.
Lawrence said the celebration was different but nonetheless, “it was effective and helped to stir up an excitement of love for culture and country and a deeper appreciation for all things Dominica”
This year’s 42nd Independence celebration was observed under the theme “Celebrating New Opportunities.”
“There has been an uplifted spirit of our people… ” said minister of Culture, Rosslyn Paul 🤭😁🥺😭😹. My dear lady, what matrix did you use to measure this??!!?
I suggest you look at the movie Good Bye Lenin.
HOTEP!
I vehemently beg to defer with Minister Roslyn Paula. The 42nd year of political independence has seen Dominica being re-colonized; the economy practically lifeless; social cohesion a fleeting dream; poverty at an unprecedented level and a government whose policies are antithetical to progress.
Unless transparency, accountability, inclusion, justice, equal rights are reinstituted in government and corruption is rooted out, progress will continue to elude the masses of Dominica.
How does she measure if it was a success or failure?? For propaganda purposes everything this government does is a success, of course only in their eyes. Impartial bye standers would tell you each and every time of failures and mediocrity. Corruption is the only thing that’s done well by Skerrit and his cabal. Sad!
For the most part valid criticism is seen as a negative and vehemently discouraged.
Taken to extremes it has been stated that if you criticize me you are criticizing God.