Minister for the Environment, Rural Modernization, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment, Cozier Frederick is calling on the general public to embrace the importance of the 120 years in the Kalinago space. He was speaking during the launching ceremony of the Kalinago 120 Initiative held recently.
“I would really like us to embrace the importance of the 120 years in the Kalinago space, we need to work together to remember the past struggles, celebrate the achievement, and also to reflect on the journey moving forward,” he said.
He continued, “We want everyone to be inspired by our stories, we want everyone to find strength, to help us build a better future, and so we need the entire nation to join us as we honour our collective history…”
Frederick also called on the public to come together to share the stories and very importantly to learn from each other.
“It is a time to bridge the gaps between generations and it is a time to pass on the knowledge and the wisdom and to inspire a new wave of leaders and also a new wave of just ordinary people who want to contribute,” he stated.
He said further that there are a number of achievements the Kalinago people would have accomplished during the 120 years and they want to reaffirm their commitment to the ideals that were set up in the community in 1903.
“And so as we are preparing to commemorate the birth of the Kalinago space, we have to realize that it is an area that is of high importance to us and it is very critical in our lives,” Frederick noted. “And so the commemoration of the Kalinago establishment reminds us of the courage and determination of the people who came before us and those who laid the foundation upon which we now stand.”
He believes that it is through their dedication and unwavering belief in a better future that they have come to this crucial moment in their history.
“So the commemoration should not just be a nostalgic moment, it is a time we use to honour the sacrifices and the challenges that we had to overcome,” Frederick noted.
Frederick indicated that the course of activities for the 120-year anniversary is intended to instill a sense of pride and unity among the entire Waitikubulian population.
“Because it is fostering a collective consciousness that will help to bring the community together and also to bring the country together,” he said. “And so we really have to take stock of all the achievements that we have had, but also we need to find some time to identify some areas of improvement, which I believe is very crucial.”
He went on to state that the principles that establish the community must be evaluated, “and also to recommit the commitment to building that community with all of the challenges of the global community.”
Meantime, Acting Prime Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre said it is important that persons preserve and promote the rich diversity of the Kalinago heritage, including the practices, knowledge, and skills for future generations.
“This initiative is the ideal opportunity to increase awareness of the outstanding contribution of our indigenous people to national life,” he said.
Dr. McIntyre pointed out that the activities will also serve as a platform for stakeholders to map a more progressive future for the Kalinago Territory and focus on greater inclusivity and participation of the Kalinago people in national affairs. He said the Government of Dominica is fully supportive of this initiative.
Only a notorious Jacka will say,the life of the Kalinago people has not changed for the better under Skerrit.Why do you think the Kalinago people has not voted UWP since Francoise Barry?
How has it changed? please tell me.
Mr. Frederick. I would like to see a huge statue of a Kalinago warrior chief holding a Sisserou Parrot on the roundabout in Pond Casse please. As part of this celebration, although late, i believe this would add a sense of pride not just to the Kalinago, but to Dominicans on a whole when driving through the interior going to and coming from the Kalinago territory. If not this year, next year or that after, can this be done? I suggest with the help of Mr Roger Burnette (bronze sculptor artist)
So you are admitting you voted for a bottle of rum.Based on your comment you voted UWP for rum.I bet you did not vote DLP,if you did you would not posting that crap.That is why UWP refuse to change your name from CARIB,KYIB (eating people)to KALINAGO.
@Lin clown
Man why are you so shameless? Whatever you are on, is causing you to disgrace youself. To make matters worse you can’t even properly say what you want to say.
You sound more dumber and dumber daily. So is UWP that had to change their name? UWP that name them in the first place? The Kalinago are the ones to declare that. YOU …..
As if changing the name will make a difference!
In the 120 years of its existence, the name has changed from Carib Reserve to Carib Territory to Kalinago Territory, and now to the curious, “Kalinago Space”.
But be it a Reserve, Territory or Space, Carib or Kalinago, the underlying problems remain the same.
When all else fails, do a name change. It’s like feeding people cultural candy. Changing the name won’t address the more systemic issues and internal organizational problems impacting the people. If anything, they need land rights, housing, new roads, cultural recognition, proper decision making etc. more than they need a name change. This may well be another cheap and easy substitute for real change!
Am a Kalinago ,I think this should be a time to mourn not celebrating. Our lands were taken from us. We are treated as second class citizens, our votes are brought for a bottle of rum and money. We have little or no development in the community. Our palamenty rep just goes around driving his vehicle from shop to shop. Young people have no future in the district. This is a time for mourning
Coming from a Kalinago citizen, this is a damning indictment of the present administration.
These indigenous people who are the original and rightful owners of Dominica, have been treated from the first visit of Europeans to Dominica as lesser than.
No longer should the Kalinago people accept this neglect, deprivation, dispossession, disdain and disrespect. Lip service and election bribery would be robustly rejected but forward.
Wise up! Take a stand! Demand your inalienable rights. Become assertive!
.
And that should be for any government administration regardless of who is in power.