Dominica’s Maroons fight to end slavery chronicled in Dr. Thomson Fontaine’s first book (with photos of the launch)

Dr. Fontaine autographs a copy of his book at the launch

A book which chronicles the history of Dominica’s Maroons and their fight to end slavery on the island, has been launched here in Dominica by its author, former Government statistician and economist at the International Monetary Fund, Dr. Thomson Fontaine.

In the newly published history book, ‘The Maroons of Dominica 1764-1818 – Resistance, Rebellion, and Freedom from Slavery,’ Dr. Fontaine tells the story by providing readers with layers of newspaper articles obtained from the national archives in the United Kingdom, parliament sittings, and other vital information which he researched over four years.

Speaking during the launch on April 4 at the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), Fontaine revealed that the journey to document Dominica’s past began for him, a few years ago while listening to a  lecture by Dr. Edward Scobie, one of Dominica’s foremost writers on African history.

“He wrote the most definitive work about the origins of Africa…and he talked about Bala and Grand Fond and he talked about Rosalie as well. So when I started thinking about this, I decided to go online. I signed up to a newspaper portal that has old newspapers, and I decided to type the word Bala into this search engine. And I was shocked and floored when reference after reference after reference showed up,” Dr. Fontaine revealed.

His online research produced over 250 references to Bala in newspapers in countries such as the United States (North Carolina and Philadelphia), Ireland and Scotland, to name a few, which covered Bala’s exploits and what he did on December 17, 1784.

“Very incredible stuff. And so I spent, in the book, about three chapters on Bala because, in a way, that gives you a very good insight into what the Maroons were all about and what their thinking was all about,” the author stated.

Dr. Fontaine told Dominica News Online (DNO) that he is elated about the feedback he has received thus far on the launch of his first book which he was able to complete during the COVID-19 lockdown.

He labelled his four years of research on Dominica’s past as an eye-opener and stressed the need for such publications to be included in Dominica’s syllabus as he believes the education system will be doing a great disservice to the students if they are not taught about their past.

“I think it’s important that this information is passed on to our students and taught at schools. I think it is important that our teachers are allowed to convey this message to our students. It is not good enough that this information does not reach our children. We need to be teaching them; we need to be telling them, we need to be letting them know about what happened. And I hope that books like mine, that of Dr. Honychurch and Polly Pattullo, those books can really be part of our curriculum,” he said.

According to Dr Fontaine, he has two other projects which he hopes will be completed within the next year.

During the book launch, many, including Justice Irving Andre, stressed the importance of accurately documenting Dominica’s history and noted that Dr Fontaine’s book places its central focus on the actions of the slaves to free themselves as opposed to previous narratives.

“And it sends us a message that those of us who don’t want to play our role in freeing ourselves, we do so at our detriment…Thomson’s book speaks to us in a very eloquent fashion, haunting us daily and that is why it’s so important that everyone obtains a copy of this important book because it is an integral and important part of Dominica’s history,” Dr. Andre stated.

Similar remarks were also expressed by Gabriel Christian, a Dominica-born attorney based in the US, who commended Dr. Fontaine for being the first Dominica of African descent to dedicate himself “to the scholarship necessary to speak truth to power and to render in the written word, the history of enslaved African ancestors who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.”

“It is also a very important time in our history, because just a week or so ago, Dr. Fontaine was arrested by a police service that has now been deformed in great part into an agency of a one-party state culture led by Roosevelt’s Skerrit. I make no bones that to say that this is ironic that the first Dominican of African descent who’s dedicated himself to his history of African liberation struggle, himself is facing the struggle where he is under false indictment, false charges, simply for speaking out for democracy, honesty, injustice,” Christian added.

For his part, Dominica-born trauma surgeon based in the US, Dr. Dale Dangleben, is of the view that Fontaine’s history book, “is the most in-depth account” of the Dominican neg mawon as it gives a “true cinematic” account and brings the readers into the past with the ancestors.

“You feel the sacrifice that they’ve made for us today. It is needed today more than ever since we have truly lost the understanding of our ancestry and the struggles that they went [through] towards liberation,” he said.

“I applaud Dr. Fontaine and his book itself will go down in history as we research our own history. As I read this book, my heart sings as we look at this eurocentric thing that was shoved down our throats and we reject it,” Dr Dangleben opined. “I have rejected it for a long time. The heroes that were made for me, such as Hawkins and Drake, we reject and Dr. Thompson brings forth Bala and Congaree.”

The book is available on amazon.com and additional copies have been sourced and will be sold in local bookstores.

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24 Comments

  1. May 10, 2022

    All these guys do to get attention is to collate book materials wherever and call themselves authors – self-styled authors. These guys are pleading for attention from the Dominica public in order to win their votes and favours at the next general election but, it won’t work. Good TRY. They want to show Dominicans that they can lead and, they cannot – big impressionists.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 3 Thumb down 10
    • Bellebeff
      May 11, 2022

      You read the book ? The man has a PhD what do people with PhD’s do ? I’ll answer that for you ,they research and publish. Politics or not he would have published either way. You sound like a fool tbh.

    • Ibo France
      May 11, 2022

      Nothing to ruminate on. Just his usual daily diet of horse manure.

  2. PRO
    May 9, 2022

    Interesting that Honeychurch couldnt show support seeing as he wrote a similar book

    • CON
      May 14, 2022

      @PRO : Yes he wrote a similar book, but thru the eyes of his deadly ancestors he has referred to as European “explorers”.

  3. May 9, 2022

    Why do you keep calling the PM’s wife unlettered. She is something of value to him and something of value also to her Roseau constituents. I object to you calling Melissa unlettered. After all, she does have some level of education and can read and write. Is your wife or friend fully educated? You have never referred to her in anything that is you or any shit that comes out of your mouth. Why don’t you introduce us to your wife, Mr. Educated?

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 1 Thumb down 7
  4. Massacre
    May 9, 2022

    Very good book to revive the minds of Dominican youths to let them know who they were and how hard our ancestors had fought so that we can be free today.
    I would like Dr. Fountaine to write a book on how our Caribbean leaders have somehow re-enslave us into this dependency culture. The chains were removed from our hands , but some leaders have placed them on some of us heads.

    • Bellebeff
      May 11, 2022

      Sir there are many books like that which digs into the structure of our political structure. Sighhh just a simple search on Caribbean Politics on Google will take you there…..

  5. Alson Richards
    May 9, 2022

    Thank you Dr Fontaine, I very much appreciate your effort, you actually help us to walk a little taller. As a Diaspora Dominican with strong ties to Nature Island, I will be getting a copy, plus one for each of my children.

    God’s blessings on you.

  6. BobD
    May 7, 2022

    Walk Strong Dr Fontaine. We need people who look like US to tell our story. Your present political debacle is really superfluous, it will all work out. continue to enlighten.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 5
  7. Lin clown
    May 7, 2022

    We are not putting any damn book in schools until Thompson Fontaine and Gabriel Christian gives us a true account as to what happened to land and money given to DASS on behalf of the Dominican people.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 4 Thumb down 30
    • Toto
      May 8, 2022

      You pathetic little cretin. Who is we. Are you the minister of education now. I glad you enjoying the freedom of expression on the internet so we all can witness the venom you spewing every day. You are too miserable a person and I feel sorry for you. Get a life.

    • Ibo France
      May 8, 2022

      If silence be good for the wise, how much better for fools.

      Lie Clown, it is better to keep silent and to be thought of as a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

      You can educate a fool but you can’t make him think. Lie Clown, I really think that you are incapable of learning anything worthwhile.

    • Braindamage
      May 8, 2022

      Congratulations on the launching of your first book…
      As for Clown, he was one of my student that barely made it to standard one.
      Behave yourself Clown….

    • Merlin
      May 9, 2022

      This has nothing to do with a book on the role of african people who enslavers called Maroons just becausetheyfought back and retreated. I like when you write sensible stuff but this tone clearly went off the deep end.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • May 9, 2022

      Lin clown; Out of respect for the contributors and subscribers to this news network I would have told you what the Ukrainian soldiers said to the crew of the Russian warship when they were asked to surrender their post after is was bombarded. Do me a favor and keep your “horse manure” to yourself bro.

  8. Our parrots are laying eggs
    May 6, 2022

    that is truly remarkable. i really anticipate reading your book. however, what would make the entire experience better is the convenience in purchasing your book. so in the future please try to make it available on the online book stores. kindle etc.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4
    • Annon
      May 10, 2022

      Just simply READ the article, you will find it says…available on Amazon.com, that covers Kindle, the article also says ..and more will be sourced.

  9. Ibo France
    May 6, 2022

    Where has the indomitable spirit of our Maroon ancestors gone? We need that perseverance, determination, courage, ‘never say die’, rebellious attitude in Dominica today if Roosevelt’s stranglehold on the country is to be loosened.

    Dominicans today are the diametrically opposite to our Maroon ancestors. No wonder the population is often verbally excoriated, economically suppressed and psychologically abused and controlled by a amoral buffoon and his unlettered wife.

    Excellent job Dr. Fontaine! Dominicans need to recapture that defiant spirit of our Maroon ancestors who paid the ultimate price for our existence today.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 4
    • Just Asking
      May 9, 2022

      Please explain how can everything be based on taking Skeritt out or nothing. I too would like a change of the guards but we are not paralyzed until he gets out, think critically. We can still read a book can’t we? Or wait till Skeritt gets out to do some reading?

      • Ibo France
        May 11, 2022

        Paralyzed until he gets out? Where did that come from? Are you hallucinating or something?

        Please comment when you have something meaningful to contribute. Your comment truly baffles me.

        • Just Asking
          May 14, 2022

          I’m speaking of the wearing of Skeritt blinders, either way. You comments always seem to come from a baffled standpoint anyway but, I may be wrong?

    • Gary
      May 9, 2022

      The indomitable spirit of our Maroon ancestors are gone, and replaced by tribal Politics. When the Maroons were fighting their oppressors, it was not done on their perception and assumptions of the oppressors. In Dominica, perception and assumptions of a few are the requisite for revolution or change, and you Ibo France is a proponent and chief propagandist of the few with such agenda. Recapturing the defiant spirit of our Maroon ancestors is not going to come from a book written by Dr. Fontaine, utter nonsense. The defiant spirit of our Maroon ancestors was resurrected, removing The UWP out of office, for their
      disastrous fiscal management of the Country.

      • Ibo France
        May 11, 2022

        Precisely the response that is expected from the most frenzied operative of this autocratic regime.

        Dominicans have become placid, indifferent and timid. Roosevelt has reduced them to mendicants. Many have come to owe their daily existence on handouts from him. They are mortally afraid to lose such so even when subjected to his egregious insults and uncommon rage they dare not complain nor rebel like our forebears.

        Dominicans need to become self-reliant in order to reclaim the fearlessness, verility, fortitude and heroism.

        Some people think that I’m too relentless in speaking out against Roosevelt and his concoction of vagabonds, thugs and degenerates that parade as a government. It is the habitual LIAR and his disgraced Cabinet that keep giving fodder to his critics.

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