Residents of the Kalinago community are gearing up for the Kalinago Chief Elections officially scheduled for July 22nd, 2019. As a small Indigenous community, the Kalinago Territory is required to elect a Kalinago Chief and Council every five years, as the local governing body of the 3700 acres of communally occupied land.
The election season of 2019 is peaked with a new wave of excitement as seven (7) candidates have put themselves forward to contest the position of Chief. As part of the race, one female candidate is also vying for the position expected to be occupied from 2019- 2024.
The demand for quality leadership and better representation at the council level has contributed to the high response rate of candidates, most of whom proposes to revolutionize the future developmental thrust of the community.
Ahead of the elections, the Kalinago Connections Inc, a local NGO based in community has taken up the mandate to facilitate the Kalinago Chief Debate, aimed at creating a forum for candidates to articulate their plans and proposals to a wider cross section of the local electorate.
Coordinator of the event, Ms. Natasha Green, indicated that, once approached to identify a suitable NGO to host the debate, the Kalinago Connections Inc was suggested given its ongoing role in facilitating social media discussions of matters pertinent to the community.
According to Ms. Green, ‘facilitating this debate is embraced as an opportunity to extend our responsibility to encourage discussion and the education of our residents.”
“This election is a historic occasion for us as the indigenous people of Dominica, granted that we now have a cadre of persons putting themselves forward with a new zeal to serve and to improve on the shortcomings of our past leaders”.
“Having been privy to some of the propositions by the candidates, we can begin to understand that there is a 2019 and beyond demand for a better Kalinago Territory, a Territory guided by new policies and structured long term initiatives for the holistic development of the area”.
“The debate therefore, will provide the opportunity for the respective candidates to elaborate on their plans to be implemented if successfully elected into office to serve as the Kalinago Chief’.
The program is expected to take the format of the US Presidential Debate whereby each candidate will receive a fair chance to respond to relevant questions. The audience will also get the opportunity to ask questions.
The event will take place at the St. Cyr Resource Center on the evening of July 18th 2019 from 7-9pm.
Dominica News Online (DNO) will stream the event live on its Facebook Page and on the site.
excellent for the Caribs aka Kalinago.
Happy that the candidates in the Carib territory have embraced the debate process to let the constituents hear them put forward their plans to improve the lives of the indigenous people. I hope it turns out successfully. Now, double doctorate dude, that’s how you educate the citizens in the modern era, by having debates on the substance of your campaign. We don’t all have the same gifts, and we know that fluency is not one of yours, however, you address the UN assembly and other forums. You even said yourself recently, I don’t know if you were stale drunk, that you are prepared to debate the leader of the opposition. Bring it on.
Debates are for people that have nothing tonight because in a debate questions Will be asked. That’s why Skerrit will run from debates because he knows very well that he will be unmarked
Wow! I love that. Let us hear from the candidates and decide who best articulates his or her plans for the territority. Way to Go! Let everyone be judged even before the term ends by the level of success based on his or her articulation. It is sad though that while the Kalinago peole can raise their level of politicking our national politicians are shying away from it. For years I have heard the opposition leader calling on the or prime minister to debate him on the issues of national significance. The prime minister is determined not to do it. Why? Is there something he is afraid of? Is he afraid that certain information will be revealed? Is he concerned that the opposition leader will prove too eloquent and intelligent over him? Come on Skerritt. If you are tge man you say you are follow the Kalinago people and take on the opposition leader. Remember you owe the Kalinagos a few million dollars.
Great initiative by the Kalinago people as a debate of this nature is needed on a national level among the major political parties. Messrs. Linton and Skerrit should square off in a national debate strictly issues oriented. Mr. Linton has welcomed such a proposal but Mr. Skerrit has refused since it’s not a cursing match. Mr. Linton is sure to run circles around Mr. Skerrit as the latter only sounds articulate by reading from a prepared script. All candidates contesting the next general election should debate the burning issues impacting the country one on one. Let’s see who would ‘chicken out’. Again, great move by the Kalinago people. I’ll be listening.
Step aside chief williams, you are fired (expired), give the young people a chance.