Dominica’s indigenous people continue to showcase their skills and ambitions as they endeavour to maintain their reputation as the most skilled on the island.
Honourable Minister for Kalinago Affairs, Casius Darroux, announced ongoing projects in furniture making and sewing at the Kalinago Territory.
He referenced a recently-concluded furniture and woodwork training from which a cooperative furniture workshop may result.
He says equipment have been sourced and ordered from overseas.
The Kalinago Affairs Minister intends to transform the territory into a green zone while creating employment- by use of the furniture shop’s sawdust for farming, by purchasing unusable lumber from boat-builders and through a tree planting project.
“We cannot have this furniture shop and expect the forests to be cut down so we are hoping to launch a tree-planting project. Individuals can begin planting trees and in the next 10-15 years, we can harvest those trees in a sustainable way. We will also be protecting our water resources.”
Meanwhile the Hon. Minister boasts that an initiative by the Ministry Of Commerce, Enterprise and Small Business Development is doing well.
The Sineku Resource Centre Enterprise Development Centre, launched just weeks ago, employs women from the Kalinago Territory.
These women produce school uniforms for which the honourable minister affirms there is a steady market.
“It is my intention, under the Constituency Empowerment Fund, to get industrial sewing machines for the individuals so that in the new school term, we can get deals from Government and instead of parents going to town with invoices to get uniforms, they will get them right here in the Kalinago Territory. We are surrounded by schools here.”
He listed the Castle Bruce and North-east Comprehensive Secondary Schools, the Mahaut River preschool and Primary School, the Salybia Primary School and upcoming preschool, Atkinson Primary School, Isulukati Preschool, Concorde Primary School and the Lighthouse Christian Academy.
The Kalinago Affairs Minister only cautions that the women to provide quality to their customers.
“Once we have quality, I can get Government to buy into our products. I am hoping that one day we will have the biggest garment manufacturing business in the Kalinago Territory.”
Other races are more resourceful than Black people. The Kalinago territory have positive minded people. All the Negroes can do is talk politics and do nothing to help themselves.
KUDOS to my people in the reserve you guys are true DOMINICANS.
This is an ambitious initiative in also keeping them occupied. Practice makes perfect. One day they will reap the financial benefit of their skills. Everything takes time.
Good luck!
This is real initiative! It is something that could be repeated throughout the length and breadth of Dominica. Furniture making and sewing are crafts in the true sense of the word. They are far more viable and do more for self-esteem than making knick-knacks for tourists. School bags could be another item on the agenda. But whatever the product, quality must be the hallmark.
As someone said Hospital included…you all talking plenty no action..pies in the sky
Congratulations Hon. Darroux, you are representing your kalinago people well, please continue the good work. Do not sleep keep the ball rolling.
Also push for the Marigot Hospital, the people of Concord, Atkinson to Crayfish river are served by the Hospital which is part of your constituency.
you are a true leader. keep on the good work bro.
YOU SEEMS TO WATCHING OUR PM AND DR STYLE.
KEEP EMULATING BRO
why dont the Kalinago properly BRAND they goods and craft.
that would mean structure, fair trade, fair prices and overall fairness… but alas…too many profit from chaos for there to ever be order…
you have any suggestion as to how they should BRAND their goods and crafts “FOR DOMINICA”?
All this is good to hear but by itself, will not lift the Kalinago out of poverty. What you should be thinking is HOW do you use the land resource of the territory to acquire loans/money so that individuals can develop themselves. No Kalinago, except those residing OUTSIDE, can get a loan from financial institutions locally.
HOTEP!
Thanks for the news, DNO. I thought this guy had resigned long ago. First time I am hearing anything from him.