WSEE TV crew arrives in Dominica for Carnival 2010

A television crew from  WSEE TV, including One Caribbean Weather host Joey Stevens, has arrived on island for Dominica’s 2010 Carnival.

The Pennsylvanian television contingent is being hosted by the Discover Dominica Authority.

Stevens, who is well known for carrying a parrot on his shoulder while reporting on the weather, is accompanied by the General Manager of WSEE TV John Christianson and the director and producer of his afternoon weather show, Rob Frank.

They have already toured the Cabrits National Park and the Indian River since there arrival in Dominica two days ago. The overseas TV crew are guests at the Shangri-La Resort in the Roseau Valley.

Christianson remarked that the rainforests are fabulous and the natural sites are all inspiring. He pointed out that the people were extremely friendly.

“It’s been a pleasure to see everybody here, whether it’s down town in Roseau, whether its Shangri-La, the people have just been fabulous. We appreciate everybody here and it’s been quite enjoyable.”

Stevens said he has been grateful for the treatment received from the Dominican people. He describes their experience so far as a “great experience.”

“I like the people …Everybody always ask me what’s your favourite Caribbean island because we’ve been to so many and I say [and] I’m not trying to be politically correct to say ‘well I really don’t have a favourite’ because each and everyone, and I mean this in the most sincerity, is unique, is very unique. Dominica is very unique and different from
Barbados or St. Lucia or San Juan,Puerto Rico obviously. Everybody has their own spirit, their own vibe and you get that when you go there,” he noted.

Stevens observed that Dominicans have a certain pride about their country.

“One of the things I look at when I go is people, seriously, the reactions of people. When people come up to you and say ‘I watch the show. I know who you are, I know the parrot.’ You know they’re watching, but you get a genuine vibe from meeting people and how they really feel… I had said to Anita [Bully] that one of the nicest things that I picked up right away is when I came here on the first day ,I bet there were two or three people who said ‘Welcome to our country.’ That to me says that they have a pride for where they live,” he said.

The story of Bob the parrot began when the director of Lily Broadcasting – the company that owns WSEE TV – approached him two-and-a-half years ago and asked him to host the One Caribbean Weather show.

“He said have fun with it, enjoy it, think outside the box… I thought ‘how am I going to make this different I started wearing flowered shirts … most people like them … you don’t see a lot of guys doing weather in them, do you?” he remarked jokingly to the media.

Stevens said he thought it would be fun to have a sidekick. However, his first idea of a monkey did not go too well and so he conceptualised the parrot which would sit on his shoulder. Recently, the fake parrot’s claw broke and Stevens found another one during his vacation in Hawaii. This time, he controls this parrot with his hand. He said he liked the new one since he can animate it.

“I consider it weathertainment because we like to have a lot of fun. You know we tell jokes, we dance and we do all these honky things … when the weather’s calm. Obviously if there’s severe, then no it’s very serious,” Stevens added.

WSEE TV extends to 32 different countries in the Caribbean and Central America. They will be reporting on various aspects of Dominica’s nature and carnival. John Christianson, who also has responsibility for Caribbean advertising and public relations, said they will broadcast a two-minute segment of each spot for 30 minutes. The One Caribbean Weather Show also aired a forecast on local television channel on how the Montserrat Volcano eruption has affected our weather.