Miss Dominica’s first regional success has been recognized as another opportunity for the Caribbean spotlight to shine on Dominica.
Nadira Lando was crowned Miss Caribbean World a little after 12:30 on Sunday morning.
She beat sixteen other contestants from across the Caribbean who competed in the Tortola-held (BVI) pageant.
“Similar to the notoriety and the good press that we received from (cricketer) Shane Shillingford and his performance, any Dominican that goes out there and does well is doing a great deal for the country,” Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) CEO Colin Piper told DNO about Nadira’s win.
Admirable, is how he described her victory.
“We certainly are proud of her, we offered as much support as we could and were grateful that besides the public sector her team, which is very close to her, were able to provide her with that lift and made sure that she performed to the best of her ability,” Piper said.
This is the first regional crown won by Lando since she was crowned Miss Dominica during the 2012 carnival season in March.
She follows the footsteps of Nakita Bruno who won the crown in 2006, Marah Walters, 2008, and Marcia Baptiste who won it in 2010.
Some DNO bloggers have questioned the level of support given Nadira by the Dominica Festivals Commission, suggesting that her chaperon had to pay her own way to the BVI pageant.
What was regarded as a low-keyed welcoming reception on her victorious return here has also been criticized.
Colin Piper told DNO he would look into those concerns.
He said however that he anticipated that Nadira received what has become the customary support.
“It is customary that we work with the organisers of the pageant, and we support financially the queen for her passage and that of her chaperon as we have done for all the queens before. And I don’t think that the support that we offered to Ms Nadira Lando was any less or any more than we have done to queens before,” The DDA boss said.
its strange, MR.Piper signed the cheques etc, the Queen and her chaperone received everything financially from DFC, the signed vouchers can prove it. The builder went on his own so he had to pay his way, he wanted to go and mount the costume himself so he went. Chaperones in the past have mounted their costumes of their contestants so he wanted to go he go.
T
That’s the very evident attitude of the staff at the DDA and DFC once it’s not their people who are in the spotlight.
In any case, its very fair to say that the Kalinago People should not have expected any better since this only brings sharper focus on the customary snubbing and marginalisation of the Kalinago people.
For the information of the public, they are already planning how to make up if she wins Ms Carival and Ms Caribbean Jaycees later this year because they have admitted behind closed doors that the treatment metted out to the “Peoples Queen” was totally unprofessional.
i looked at the interview on the news last night with the reigning queen. Is it me or was the person interviewing more nervous than the young lady? LOL
I beleive People Should get there Facts straight before letting fume out of their mouth. Facts: number one the queen got all what she needed and more for the pageant: number two DFC did not and have not said they are unble to found the queen regional pageant. Number three : People who work to do go do it and those who do not have find some work. Have a nice Day.
STUPES-ALL THAT SHE NEEDED AND MORE FOR THE PAGEANT??? ARE YOU SERIOUS?? HER COSTUME BUILDER HAD TO USE HIS PERSONAL FUNDS TO TRAVEL WITH HER.LOVE FOR COUNTRY DON’T YOU THINK.
after the coronation of the miss Dominca, i think she and her chaperones should become the property of the state, after all she is miss Dominica. I dont think her chaperones and her costumes builders should have to finance their own air fare. Funds should be made available in the budget to take care of future miss Dominicans!
Well said labour whatver!
The DDA needs to break the trend and support now only the Queen but her chaperones as they are the ones who help make it happen.
On another note – it seems every two years D/A winning the crown: 2006, 2008, 2010 and now 2012
“What was regarded as a low-keyed welcoming reception on her victorious return here has also been criticized.” AA! So people doh have work to do then? To drive up right Melville Hall Marigot?
I for one is fed up of this Kalinago this, Kalinago that business. Thats what happens when you are from a small country so one has to pick on every little thing to make themselves stand out. She is Dominican..full stop. Stop all this segregating
All the best to Dominica and to the young lady on her well deserved win. Please Dominicans, be more supportive of your own. You all make everything -even if it is positive into a controversy and problem.
We who are not of your country are reading too.
Jadirah
I may be wrong but I think many people in Dominica are jealous of the recent achievements of the Kalinago’s, They are making great strides all about. No kitchen required was seen all over the world and it is shedding a very positive light on Dominica and it’s people. I can’t tell you how many times I heard” Carib Sort Oui!” Well turns out they are just the opposite, Congrat’s to you Miss Dominica we wish you well.
you are wrong.
I think that ALL Dominicans’s are proud of Ms Lando and its not a matter or being carib or black. That ‘ sot’ term is a something that is said by all ( even if it s not a pleasent thing to say). So i dont think this is an issue of carib vs everybody else when must of the population and trace back to a carib relative
gosh everything in Dominica is a controversy. Why am I not surprised that a controversy would develop from something so positive?
uggggh! It’s always so much rancor about any and every thing! And often based on mere speculation.
Well said!
Nadira my dear, thanks for the INTERNET for i would not have known about you,and being Kalinago it was the iceing on the cake,you represented Dominica well,good luck to your future years, stay fucus, for your Education is number one,and congratulations……
Mr Piper,
Move the management of the queen show business from the DFC to the DFP. I think they are more competent.
we have to be careful that we don’t treat Nadira as if she were suddenly more special than all other national queens before her.
I understand her popularity and I expect her to go out and win more crowns but let’s not get carried away here. As the DNO story stated, three others have won that pageant. Let’s see what more Nadira has in store for us!
A low key reception is nothing to complain about…this is only her first pageant. I am thinking that as she continues to go out and represent and bring home more crowns, she will be treated accordingly.
Also, let’s not forget that she arrived back home on holiday days…a low key reception is in line with that.
If the Dominica Festivals Commission cannot support the winner of the pageant to compete at other festivals then they should not have a festival.
This is a shame – Piper is the head of the DFC – he knows if the chaperon was given a ticket or not – clearly they cannot expect the girl to travel on her own.
She also deserved a good home coming – she won over 16 other girls – she deserves to be commended.
Shame on DFC
True say.
They always have money to waste on all non-sense trips but cannot get the money to support worthy causes. What a shame Mr Piper, DDA and MOT!
No money, No damn DFC!!!
as was stated before , YES WE ALL ARE PROUD OF HER but it was only her first pageant and as she continues to do her best and win even more titles so too will the welcome she receives.
Dominicans always like to hear their name! It is a fact that the support given to these young ladies from the Festival commission is sub-standard at its best! How could her chaperone have to pay her own way? Is she suppose to be there on her own? Such crap!
DFC/Queen Committee needs to do better than that. It is unacceptable that they don’t find it fit to send a welcoming party to the airport to greet the queen who has won a regional pageant. Brickbats to the DFC/Queen Show Committee for their usual failure in this area.
Mr Piper knows quite well that Government never have money to provide timely support and its always left to the people who for love of country use their own personal resources to step up to the challenge. Left to government including the DFC, Dominica would never shine in these events let alone being victorious.
Their best is to wait for the good news and then go on their propaganda mediums and extend crocodile sentiments!!!
What exactly does the title of Miss Dominica earn any young female? It there some educational or financial benefit to this?
And these questions are not meant to be negative… they are just for insight into what happens after. I know what happens to many contestants in the larger countries who make pagents their lives…it’s like a career, or a stepping stone to having the career one wants – because you get money, scholarships etc.
I’m just curious as to what happens with the Dominican Queens
ADMIN: Lando got a scholarship for UWI.
nothing happens to them
Am I missing something here? So many people liking this comment. Isn’t it public knowledge that Miss Dominica receives a full scholarship?
I did not know!!
That’s you, the typical Dominican!!!!
it goes to show not everyone is aware of this so called “public knowledge” info you claim.
Just say – she gets a scholarship
It’s like with you Dominicans, if someone ask a question you know the answer to, you feel superior. Well, yah, there is a saying that 1 can never learn too much. You need to learn to “humble” yourself!
Theyt receive educational scholarship as far as I am aware…. they are then supposed to make the most of this stepping stone….
Their winning prize is a government scholarship.
Is that one of the same scholarships UWI giving to the Kalinago people??? I remember past queen sharlene Richards going to Grambling State University on a “so-called” government scholarship and almost got kicked out a semester because the govt didn’t put her name on the list of scholarship awardees, thank God she had her own money. LOL!!!
These pageants are a joke. You go and display yourself to bring in money for DFC and for what???