Forestry Officer (acting) Stephen Durand has admonished the Dominican public to behave in a manner that reflects our belief in Dominica as the Nature Island of the Caribbean.
Durand spoke to Dominica News Online (DNO) during a bird-watching boat trip organized by the Dominica Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division at the end of activities to mark Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival 2019.
In response to a question about whether Dominicans were following the advice of the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division about the way we engage our environment, Durand pointed out that in order to live up to the name, Nature Island of the Caribbean, we must be conscious of what we do as Dominicans.
“We are at a critical point after Hurricane Maria; the forest was impacted heavily. However, you are still seeing activities that are unaccepted – activities such as hunting, cutting down of trees etc,” the Forest Officer lamented. “We need to be more conscious.”
A group of students from the Thibaud Primary School along with members of the media were given the boat trip on the Sting Ray 2 to Pointe des Faux (located between Scotts Head and Grand Bay). The birding activity provided the opportunity for the students and other persons on the trip to observe birds in their environment, look at their nesting habits and learn more about birds generally.
The boat trip to the Bird Colony on Pointe des Faux has been undertaken every year by the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division for the past 16 years. Every year, a different school is given the opportunity to go bird watching. Last year it was St. Martin Primary School’s.
The Dominica Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division joined the rest of the Region in observing “Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival 2019” from April 22nd 2019 to May 22nd 2019, under the theme “Protect our birds – be the solution to plastic pollution”.
Assistant Forestry Officer (acting) Norma Anthony told DNO that during the month-long observation, the Division held various activities with schools and communities including school visits, art exhibitions, a beach clean-up in Scotshead, radio quizzes and live discussions.
I have visited Dominica on a cruise in April this year and I have to agree that a lot more could be done to make the island look cleaner and more inviting to tourists by cleaning up port areas which create a first impression. This is a beautifull place if everyone that lives here takes care of it and will bri g more money to the economy through Increased tourism
As I shuffle to and fro these United (and sometimes divided) states, folks often say to me “I detect an accent” followed by “where are you from?”. Upon informing them that I am from Dominica, quite a few proceed to share that they either have been to Dominica, work with a person from Dominica, went to school with a person from Dominica or are a patient of Doctor who studied in Dominica. Some even add “beautiful island, friendly people.”
While I am pleasantly surprised at their responses given our country’s relative small size, I am even more heartened that the general perception of our people overseas is very favorable.
In light of this, Nature Islanders we should always try to be on our best behavior and to rep our country to the max at home and abroad. You never know who is watching or taking notes. Let us all do our part to make sure our “little rock” shines brightly, always.
The problem with this ubiquitous loitering and uncaring attitude for the environment, is lack of education and no enforcement of the laws against littering. The smelly drains, the unsightly landscape strewn with piles of waste prove that patriotism is just about dead. Government buildings should be in immaculate condition, drain cleaners properly supervised, dumping on open spaces of land should be strictly prohibited, sanitation inspectors should frequently inspect people’s yards. This will contribute to good health and the longevity of life. We can do better.
Our problem is that we have no respect. Not for the environment, not for our neighbors and in turn not for ourselves. Dominicans used to be lovely people. Now we are materialistic, jealous, entitled and inconsiderate.
How can we make Dominica more attractive when we have place heavy taxes on her port of entry to The Visitors and Nationals
We lived in Dominica from 2008 to 2014 and visited nearly yearly from 1987 to 2007. In that time, the worst polluters and least concerned about the environment were the Dominicans.
the average Dominican doesnt care. Hell not even the political parties care. Look at how they make the place look ugly with their Red and Blue. Well this time i hardly seeing blue around, but the cloth on a whole on poles, trees etc is ugly and makes the place look worse than it already looked.
To add i see people throwing anything anywhere. The cement truck drivers dump their waste anywhere, in ravines in rivers, even on people’s private property if they get a chance. The Garage (roadside operations) allow oil and vehicle waste to go in our drains, or they just leave it there. Many times garages as mass breeders of mosquitoes.
Our drains and culverts are forever blocked with trash. We dump garbage right under signs that say no dumping or EC$5000 fines. Noone cares here. Noone really cares about the environment or how we use it. We can go to as many seminars and have as many consultants, we know all what they tell us but we dont care. only Nature isle because we are…