Come Emancipation Day, August 1, the Cultural Division in conjunction with the National Cultural Council (NCC) will be unveiling a statue at the Fort Young Hotel roundabout in Roseau in tribute to the Maroons.
Chief Cultural officer Raymond Lawrence they are in the process of installing this very important monument in commemoration of the “African ancestors.”
“We are in the process of installing an “emancipation monument” at the roundabout next to the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau,” he said.
“That will be a tribute to the African ancestors in Dominica … those who were slaves and the maroons for their contributions to culture in Dominica. That is expected to be formally unveiled on August 1, 2013 at a ceremony in the area,” Lawrence stated.
Dr. Alwin Bully has hailed the statue as “very good” and is very happy that it will be unveiled. “This statue is a fight for freedom and emancipation … it was made and designed in Dominica by local artist Franklyn Zamore and it is 7 feet tall,” he stated.
The statue, he explained, when unveiled will depict the maroons blowing a conch shell which was “how messages were revealed in the 18th and 19th century.”
Dr. Bully also stated that the statue will be “a tribute to all Maroons who blazed the trail many years ago.”
Pond casse and the roseau bayfront would be the idea place
After all, our black and carib heritage must be displayed somewhere. We are the true Hebrew Israelite children, our ancestors came from the tribe of Benjamin/ Benyamin.
One is insufficient and the placing has been erroneously identified. The suggested area is already too CONGESTED. Nontheless, the idea has finally taken root, even though long overdue.
We should have one of Jacco at the Pont Casse roundabout, one for Balla at the foot of Federation Drive and another for Angelique at the airport.
The next activity, since we are on it, is to establish a process whereby we can declare National Heroes. And by the way, the Marigot Development Coorporation has led the way with its’ Heroes Park.
Thought was Chavez head they were going to put there.. What a relief… anything other than that..LOL!
I didnt know Fort Young built that roundabout and that it’s named the “Fort Young Hotel Roundabout.” Interesting.
That is so good to honour the spirits of the ancestors who fought and resisted slavery. Like some commented, this should have been done a long time ago. We can’t forget our history as a people because if we do we will have no roots.
Great idea which should have been done a long time ago. But this little congested narrow neck of a major road junction is the wrong location. Since I am a little boy at the SMA vehicles running into and breaking down this narrow obstacle of a roundabout and breaking down whatever sign is placed in it! I could think of the bottom of Federation Drive or even to replace the old water fountain on the Bayfront or as someone said the Botanical Gardens would be the perfect location with a little theme park around it to accommodate some history slabs which could be sponsored by the private sector or individuals like myself. Is there already a statue in the center of the Old Market grounds which used to be a slave auction and execution place, now this would be a perfect home to honour the ancestors spirit, don’t you think? Either way you are putting this in the wrong place!
Pond Cassé roundabout would be perfect – all visitors to and from the airport would view and so fitting beneath Morne Trois Pitons National Park.
ridiculous placement – put the dam thing at pond-casse roundabout the maroons wee not in roseau
wonderful and a great location for it…good job guys (Cultural Division)
What contradiction !!!!Statue of Maroon slave in that roundabout – symbol of fighting against colonial rule by our forefathers and mothers? A reminder to continue to fight against a new colonial trend?
Complete turn around from the values of our Negre Mawon. Drive to that round about, turn right around and drive on to the new market, unto the new bridge. What hits you in your face? 4 FOO dogs, two on either side of the bridge. Chinese cultural symbol.
Freedom of Association, Freedom to assemble peacefully, among others, are rights enshrined by our Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human rights. Those rights would be taken away, or we could find it very difficult to exercise those God-given rights, given the way things are going on in our land. Many examples stare us in the face all over the world.
Dictatorship, new kind of slavery, involvement in illegalities of all sorts are incompatible (not in sync) with equal rights, freedom and justice, which our foreparents fought for with their blood. We see now with the cabal, Freedom and justice for a few, not for the majority of poor and downtrodden citizens. Whose fools they think we are?
That’s a good idear, should have been done long time
I was looking foward to see this monument above a large clock displaying the time to the public. Insteadof bells and chimmes use the three distinct communicating sounds of the corn lambi jubilation(corn ban mass), at daybreak, prosperity at midday(corn poison) and those thrilling death notes at 6pm representing the death of each day.
“This statue is a fight for freedom and emancipation..”
I echo Dr. Bully’s statement. Now, more than ever before, this monument will serve as a reminder and warning to those who would dare to enslave our minds into political submission.
Oh yeah. Statue oif Negre Mawon, but dictatorship is being entrenched in Dominica. No Law, No constitution could porevent me fromn…… Sales of our passports, accountability and transparency badly wanting. Passports even ending up in the hands of criminals.
What about cultural values, moral and ethical values being eroded day by day? Our Rights and freedoms are slowly being taken away in the dictatorship melee. Dependency. Increased poverty. Handouts. What has happened to the Agricultural sector under that lazy Govt.
The statue woould look like the one in Barbados, where the slave statue is blowing a conch shell? did the idea originate from the foreign advisor? signs of gearing up for elections?
The statue could, would, never bring about freedom, justice, peace, if we continue to allow corruption to take hold. The Constitution and laws of the land is being disregarded and disrespected left, right and centre. A new kind of slavery has invaded our dear Dominica.
Bin Bobol, Fertilizer Bobol, secret land deals, quick enrichment by those in “Power,” firebombings and ensuing defending and protecting we know whom, Red Clinic, dual citizensghip saga, Kick backs, and so on and so on.
CLICO former boss still with our diplomatic passport, although hundreds, maybe thousands, are still reeling in pain from the fraud and corruption that happened in that Insurance Co. in Barbados. In Dominica alone, almost $200,000,000.00 of our institutions’ and individuals’ money were grabbed. Social security, Creditr Unions, NBD, individual Dominicans are still feeling the disastrous negative effects of that huge fraud.
Instituions, just name them, are under heavy influence. Electoral Reform, as recommended by the Electoral Commission, OAS, CARICOM, seem to be Glo Beni which the devil fears. IPO under pressure from…… we know. For years, stubborn reluctance to give the Commission the money to provide Voter ID Cards and to clean up a “dirty” Voters’ List.
Free and Fair Elections, growing the economy, people’s participation in the process, in all areas of our development, respect for our Constitution and the Laws of our Land, justice, respect for each other, fighting against corruption and dictatorship, are what would bring us freedom.
Would the erecting of a statue alone bring us freedom and justice, when the trends show further mental enslavement? Be real.
Dominicans all, now is the time to evoke the fighting spirits of Balla, Congoree, Pharcelle, Angelique and others. Our country really needs to be free from all that corruption, dictatorship trends, increased poverty, drugs, crimes, unemployment and to focus on strategies and plans to create wealth for the country and to share that wealth equally among the people.
Love it! A great idea that will instill the memories of the past that lead to the present….
Can you imagine the lack of foresight there is in the planning and leadership in this country.The state house is soon completed there will be an increase in trafficin this area not forgetting the usual blocking of one side of this road for any activity/function at Ft Young Hotel,instead of removing this contraption in the road and resurfacing those huge holes we drive in around this annoyance the authorities find the best thing to do is put up a memorial there.What happen to the Botanical Gardens where we can go sit around quietly and reflex on our ancestors (slaves). Lord help us.They placed a dry fountain on the bayfront it wasnt good enough now this inappropriation.
My thoughts exactly. The location is a poor choice. I do not understand why we have to squeeze everything in Roseau.
Good observation. Pedestrians have to exercise a lot of caution at the round-about. The location of this monument will be an added distraction. But then, authorities make decisions without engaging the people. So, what do you expect.
Tourists should be very careful, if we are expecting them to stop to read about our black ancestors
.
Thank you thank you. Finally my statue is going up. Pleas sign Mandingo at the foot
:lol
PLEASE GROW UP WITH THECOMMENTS YOU ALL MAKE.
Shut the Hell Up! You have not even commented. sO STOP PUFFING OUT HOT AIR.?
Just do not let the Chinese design anything for us. I have heard a lot about Bala, Jaco ,Kongoree, by patriots like Angelo, Arundel and others .These men fought for Dominica, we ought to remember them. Or give us a famous KALINAGO HERO.
IT SEEM AS THOUGH THE PRESSURE FROM Q95, is bearing fruits now.Q leads the others follow!
I like that move but time for us Dominicans to start thinking seriously about National Heroes and paying them homeage. I guess the Maroon is Bala
I am soo soo happy is nothing chinese
so true. i was thinking is something chine too
LOL I was just just just JUST saying dat same ting wee?????