Online petition calls for original WCMF date

petitionJust one day after the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) announced new dates for the staging of the 2014 World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), a petition has been posted online opposing the idea and asking for a change to the original date.

The petition which has been posted on Change.Org is asking for the 18th Edition of the popular Festival to be hosted on the originally scheduled date of October 31st to November 2nd 2014.

On Thursday the DDA announced that 18th edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) was advanced to October 24 – 26, 2014.

“In keeping with the theme of integrating the World Creole Music Festival with Dominica’s Independence celebrations, the date for the Festival was advanced one week prior to the originally scheduled date of the last weekend in October,” the DDA said. “It is felt that this move will allow for a seamless transition between the two activities which showcases Dominica’s rich cultural heritage.”

But according to the petition posted by someone who used the name “Dominican Abroad,” many in the diaspora have already secured plans and made financial commitments to the original date.

“It will be very costly to adjust. That money is better spent supporting the locals,” the petition said.

Another reason given for keeping the original date is that many working individuals on island will, “most likely not be paid in time to fully enjoy the event if it is pushed a week in advance.”

“Leaving the date as is would allow many, who in recent years haven’t been able to enjoy Creole in the Park – Creole Festival – Independence Parade all at once to get the opportunity to do so,” according to the petition.

The site did not say when the petition will be sent to the DDA.

Attempts to get a reaction from officials at the DDA proved futile on Friday.

The official launch of the Festival is scheduled to take place in July.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PETITION

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83 Comments

  1. anonymous
    March 11, 2014

    The dates are fine. A ticket is easily changed if you really want to come to dominica. If not stay overseas ungrateful dominicans, local dominicans and the french will enjoy our carnival. I am against your petition, you can’t have things your way.

  2. Mem bet Mem pwelle
    March 10, 2014

    I cannot remember DFC announcing any date except now. So why would someone just decide to book their ticket before the dates are announced. WCMF can be held anytime of the year, this is an activity within the Independence celebrations hence the important event is celebrating Independence, therefore that activity can be held at anytime, whereas Independence has a set date.
    From the comments it would appear that we do not recognise November 3rd is our National Day of Independence and needs more attention than WCMF. It would appear that everything takes centre stage and the real occasion which is our national statehood day is side-lined then we bash at the young ones who do not respect these special events and occasions, but we are so engrossed with a SEWO which takes us nowhere.

    • Anonymous
      March 11, 2014

      you need to accept that 1) people have jobs, which means time off work has to be booked and arrangements have to be made 2) a holiday is extreemly costly, if you don’t book it well in advance and pay it off, you simply cannot afford it

    • A
      March 11, 2014

      Because its always the last week in October. check the records

    • Really?
      March 11, 2014

      So if the people are engrossed with “sewo”.. what will the foreigners be engrossed with? what are the organizers looking forwards to doing? and what is the overall aim of the DDA?… dont be so ignorant, the basis for change is not as shallow as your reasoning suggests. key word here is “festival”… take it how you want it but the date needs to change

  3. Educator
    March 10, 2014

    DNO,
    I light of the overwhelming negative response to the date announced by your readers, can you get a comment from Discovery Dominica on the matter?

    • Shari
      March 10, 2014

      Dominicans in Dominica welcome the idea. Lets face it, how it the park going to be made ready for the 3rd November celebrations the following day? Besides Dominicans last minute. I sure hardly any one of them have their tickets bought.

      • JoJo
        March 10, 2014

        Shari you talking for all Dominicans at home? Well, you not talking for me. Keep the independence celebrations out of the park. That poor park suffering too much already from Creole in the park and is now also a traffic artery. Put Independence in the Stadium, all of it to make it pay its way and safe our park. And no, I have not bought my ticket. Was caught last year when the organisers reduce the price about a week before the festival. I waiting again this time and take my chance, what do you want we don’t even know if the artists worth it!

      • HC
        March 10, 2014

        the same way lime ensure that the park is cleaned every night for the four days of creole in the park at the botanic gardens. DDA never says how much money that is made from that event and that they think that they should just come and send things up people’s throat….Many people have made plans for this year independence celebration and I saw it as an opportunity for them to get closer to the amount of people they wise to have in Dominica by 2015 and look at how they are just blowing it away.

      • Anonymous
        March 10, 2014

        Dominicans in Dominica? Really? You think it is because of Dominicans in Dominica why this festival happens year after year? Newsflash – the answer is NO. It is the Dominicans abroad, plus the neighboring French islands and other visitors that keep this festival flowing. Like YOU just acknowledge, Dominicans, especially the ones back home are last minute. The BULK of us outsode have ALREADY bought our tickets because (a) tickets are not cheap, (b) tickets are not cheap and (c) because tickets are not cheap, you don’t wait last minute. So to have already bought your tickets to get a good fare, only to have to pay so much money in change fees is pure nonsense!

        Regarding the stadium – It is NOT that hard to clean a stadium. If festival went on until 8am in the morning and the parade was at 10am I could understand, but that is not the case.

        Further more – there are TONS of unemployed people on the island, that i am sure will be happy to go pick up the trash laying around the stadium t get a few dollars in their pockets.

        Finally – this is Dominica, not Brazil after carnival. The stadium will not be so over run with garbage that it will take days and a clean-up crew of 500 to clear.

        POOR EXCUSE!!!

      • Toomatoe Tomato
        March 11, 2014

        I would tend to agree with you Shari. Many people book at the very last minute because we all look for airfare deals. Those of us who live overseas wait sometimes for excursions fares.

        If anyone has bought flight tickets already, which I doubt very much, would be just a handful. Knowing that flights tickets are non-refundable except for sickness or death, people do not book flights so early. Vacations are booked but airfare are not paid. Why would I give an airline my money a whole year in advance? When I may get a better fare later down?

        And we know Creole Festival Tickets have not been bought. So why all the up roar, so people really do not like change then?

        Independence is the real Celebration and and I agree because people come for Independence the Festival scheduled around it. Dominica Independence is what we celebrate. Like the 4th of July in America.

        How do we know, how difficult it was when as some say we let Creole Festival straight into the Independence Day some years ago? And what it took for such preparations?

        Sometimes a bit of inconvenience on our part could prevent a mountain of problems for others.

        If we really want to come down for Creole Festival and Independence as most of us want and love too; we will find our way home no matter what date it is.

  4. MissWorld
    March 10, 2014

    Why change it this year, when they been advertizing it for 8 months, make the change next year so we know a year in advance and dont have to change our plans. Smh very inconsiderate.

    Thanks for not caring what the people who pay to see the show think

  5. ROWROW
    March 10, 2014

    That’s not good! I not comeing to Dominica why change the date

    • Mem bet Mem pwelle
      March 10, 2014

      You are just one person, hundreds will come.

  6. NicE n NaughtY
    March 10, 2014

    You all don’t need a petition just BOYCOTT the show, that’s the strongest message that can be sent but all you so like partying i guess that’s a no no.

  7. Get this
    March 9, 2014

    Many who claim that they already purchased tickets, lie. lol. you have 6 months, you can make changes. And if you purchase a ticket so early you paid too much. Be smarter travellers.

    BUt seriously is a a wise economic decision. If you oppose this, you must ask yourself why. You oppose the date change because you are only thinking of yourself and not taking a holistic view of the situation,

    It is a good idea.. One one says everyone should remain on island the entire 10 days.

    one one thing is sure, Hotels, rent a car companies, bars, vendors, tour operators, everyone in Business in Dominica stand a better chance at more earnings having an entire 10 days fete starting off with the WCMF.

    Many who say ,: hire more people to clean” at what cost? who is gonna pay? while you don’t want to pay a US$75 ticket change fee you are asking the DDA to absorb the increase cost only to be convenient for you?
    NON sense.

    no one says you must participate in all the activities if you can’t. BUt many will.

    • Anonymous
      March 11, 2014

      I’m not sure what plane you flying that cost $75US to change a flight. Delta, American Airlines, Jet Blue, US Airways, ALL cost $150USD to change a flight. Liat charges $100USD to change a flight ($50USD each way). That is $250USD in CHANGE FEES.

      Speaking for myself, I paid $575 for my ticket at the end of January (JetBlue to Barbados/Liat to Dominica). Now tickets are $680. That means on top of the $250 in change fees I have to spend an additional $105 – COMBINED TOTAL OF $355USD. You think it is fair that (a) something that has been the same for 18yrs and (b) something that was HEAVILY ADVERTISED by this same DDA, was just suddenly changed and now you must spend more money because of it? You would think it fair if it was you?

      For those like you who are talking about we bought our tickets too early, you must also believe America streets have milk and honey too. Dominica is notorious for being expensive to come home to because our tickets are ALWAYS more expensive. Yes ticket prices change every day, it could be more expensive in January and cheaper in August, but there is no guarantee of this. So you buy your ticket at a price you feel best and know your plans are done and set.

      You all just don’t think. I’m sure you would like it if you was planning to come to New York for Labor Day, buy your ticket, make your plans and then the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), decides to just keep it on the 3rd Monday in August instead of the first Monday in September. I’m sure you will think it fair.

  8. Toomatoe Tomato
    March 9, 2014

    What are the normal days or dates for the Creole Festival?

    I know we celebrate Dominica’s Independence on November 3rd. And All Saints and All Souls on November 1st and 2nd.

    • Simply the Truth
      March 9, 2014

      Did you not read both articles?

  9. neutral
    March 8, 2014

    DDA cannot please everyone. Regardless of what date is chosen, there is always be people for and against.

  10. yes
    March 8, 2014

    i already bought my ticket. What am i going to do now. please don’t change the date.

  11. mays
    March 8, 2014

    dominican oversea,
    I am very sadden by the dates choosen by the wcmf
    because i will be missing the festival activities if kept on this dates. i would suggested this dates oct30-nov 1st,because most of us leaving abroad plan early for vacation .

  12. suspicious
    March 8, 2014

    Is the change of date for WCMF a camouflage for the possible election date. Just asking. Abra kadabra

  13. Lor
    March 8, 2014

    it is regrettable and unfortunate that the announcement of the date change was not made months early to allow for overseas people to make proper arrangements. The annoucement has come in too late for those who have made holiday and flight arrangements based on what has been the date of the festival from its inception, that is the last weekend of October. It was only last week, that my London cousins informed me that their flights have been paid for travel to Dominica for the 2014 festival.

    This will certainly not augur well for the DDA and the Government of Dominica.

  14. GREGORY ROBIN
    March 8, 2014

    The change of dates suites the local population, not those who are overseas, who may not have the time and money

    • no name
      March 10, 2014

      Don’t you think that the park is mostly filled by the overseas people as you call us?

    • Anonymous
      March 10, 2014

      “not those overseas who may not have time and money”…really? Do you really believe that the success of the WCMF all these years solely by the locals? Do your research! It is us “overseas” people that keep coming down to spend the bulk of the money. Unlike back home – we cannot take 3 weeks off at once, a month off at once. There is a reason the Tuesday/Wednesday after festival is the BUSIEST flight days, because most people have to LEAVE. Very few of us “overseas” people are going to be in Dominica for 17 days for independence – not when we want to come back home for Christmas a month later, not when we want to come back home for carnival a month after that.

    • JoJo
      March 10, 2014

      And Discover Dominica spending so much money overseas to promote WCMF? best then to safe that money and give local people a better price.

  15. jjk
    March 8, 2014

    Dominicans always opposing,do it my way.

  16. JOKIM
    March 8, 2014

    If something isn’t broken why mess with it please leave our Independence celebrations alone. WCMF was doing ok as it was these people in DDA don’t consider Dominicans in the diaspora it is all about them stop this selfish behavior. Some of us have already made plans to come home.

  17. repip
    March 8, 2014

    PLEASE DDA;Give the people at least an explanation nor,you owe it to the public.
    who are you catering for?
    what is your intention?DO you have any respect for the Dominicans in the diaspora?
    Talk about trying to kill a good thing, way papa.

  18. Discombobulated
    March 8, 2014

    Personally I like the idea of seperating the two. It gives businessmen and women an opportunity to make slightly more money. That means tourists will be on the island even earlier and leaving possibly slightly later or at the same time that they would have. I think the move is good. Squeeze as much money as we can by separating the two. Dominicans don’t like change so they won’t see the benefits. Plus, most only care about partying and are not business minded so they are not thinking of the monetary benefits. Just like how moving carnival would also generate more money for the economy if it was moved and not competing with Trinidad, this is a good move. No disrespect intended.

    • Get this
      March 9, 2014

      exactly. We need to to stop complaining complaining over this. You have a choice to go to the festival or not. if the date is not convenient for you then don’t go. It is convenient for me and many. we get to remain in Da for 0 days with a lot to do. Instead of one weekend.

      The longer we are in DA the more money that will flow. Many people supporting the petition are selfish and only looking at how things affect them not taking a holistic view of the situation.

      • Get this
        March 9, 2014

        10 days

      • Anonymous
        March 10, 2014

        The diaspoara and other visitors are the ones that sustain festival. In order for you to say you will be in Dominica to enjoy – Creole in the Park – Festival – Independence, you have to be in Dominica for at least 18 days, or 12 business days. We stress again that most folks have 15 business days off (3 weeks). You can argue as much as you want but the FACT is, 95% of the people who come home, are home for 10days (5 or 6 business days plus a weekend). We do this because our bosses look at us like you have 10 heads when you say “I’m gone for 2weeks” and many of us want to have a few days left over to go other places, do other things. People who come home and spend 3 weeks in Dominica are 90% older folks and folks that know that’s their one time off from their job for the year. That is NOT the majority.

      • Mem bet Mem pwelle
        March 10, 2014

        Exactly, what about the people who are preparing for the most important event which is the National Independence Celebrations.

    • MissWorld
      March 10, 2014

      Not exactly, actually extending the events puts local businesses at a huge disadvantage. First of all many people have already purchased their tickets to ensure the best price: such as myself and many of my friends who were planning an event after the festival, now the date is changed.

      Secondly most people who work hourly will probably only get 10 work days off, which will include the travel depending on where they are coming from overnight (for me app 21 hours travel from ohio).

      So finally many people are still only going to come for one week during the independence, cause it is a huge inconvenience to stay 2 weeks.Therefore in future will be choosing between WCMF week and Celebrating our countries Independence(and both should be important)

      There was a bring a friend Advertisement and the original dates were already listed, I am coming to see the wcmf with a group of 23 people and we will just be getting creole day and independence and doing the work we came to do on community day of service. What you think is going to happen when they see there is no WCMF, they just will not come back.

      If they want to change the date, do it next year, these tickets cost money, you know.

      • Mr World
        March 10, 2014

        Well Ms World, you are just thinking of yourself. WCMF could be held on any date, while the activities commenced as early as September, the WCMF is just one of the many activities leading up to Dominica’s national Independence celebration which is November 3rd. The Independence Committee, along with DFC and Cabinet can decide to change all dates except for Nov 3. You guys should wait for the announcement since we have a lot of time (at least 6 months). I may be extreme (just being realistic) what if these is an unforeseen situation and it has to be canceled or postponed; what happens? HELLO!

  19. intoxi
    March 8, 2014

    You have to ask yourself why the rush in announcing the date ,right after carnival? did they consider the people that will be affected? my Employer is not going to pay me before the 24th and I doe have a saving like the exc of DDA so how will I pay for my ticket? I tell you once you put some people in power all they do is look out for themselves and people in there circle and forgetting about the rest. I SAY NO!!! PUT BACK THE DAM!!!!ORIGINAL DATE all you to up and lack of common sense. HACHENNNN!!!

    • Get this
      March 9, 2014

      you are funny. i am sure you would be paid in Sept. Budget wisely. And if you can’t save , maybe attending Creole Festival is not a good decision for you.

    • I'mWondering
      March 10, 2014

      you don’t have a savings, but you would spend money to go WCMF? DO YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THAT IS?

      what if you suffer an emergency? Would your excuse be you do not have a savings.

      Just shows how ridiculous some of you are and all you are concerned about is SEWO!

      Aren’t you embarassed to say you do not have a savings?

      I guess sewo is the be all and end all.

  20. CaraW
    March 8, 2014

    The event will still be on the 4th weekend in November. I don’t see what the problem is.

    • CaraW
      March 8, 2014

      I mean October

  21. Anonymous
    March 8, 2014

    While everyone is quick to blame “tourism officials” of this decision I think that any decision that effects Independence day celebrations, like the parade in the stadium, would come from a higher level. It is only at the highest levels that complete disregard for the patrons would happen.

  22. Ashley
    March 8, 2014

    What is wrong with these ppl; thinking backward – to prepare for Nov 3 parade. What a poor excuse – employ people to clean the place and set up for the parade. Who they think attends the WCMF? So I’ve already planned my vacation and how do they expect me in the diaspora to attend? DDA please reconsider? But, but, but, who’s that smart person who suggested the change of date? Papa zor.

  23. Anonymous
    March 8, 2014

    what activities are planned for the lapse week?

  24. Simply the Truth
    March 7, 2014

    For the sake of all those who have already arranged vacation plans and flight plans, this advance date is disappointing for them.
    DDA can you rescind your change of date, at least for this year and then notify everyone that the following year, 2015 and thereon the WCMF will be held sooner?

  25. BEB
    March 7, 2014

    ;The dates should remain the same as before, the last weekend in October, to flow right into the Independence celebrations. To have the WCMF during the third weekend of October, would be too much a long lapse between the festival and the Independence celebrations

  26. Lougaoo Mem
    March 7, 2014

    I oppose the new dates and support the petition. Simple question. Why fix something that’s not broken? keep the package in tack and don’t rock the boat.

  27. ##D.A.##.
    March 7, 2014

    Bring back the original date. Like others my plans will be screwed up and the many, many friends and co- workers who usually travel to Dominica with me will not be able to commit due to this change. In my opinion that’s a lazy short sighted move and will do the exact opposite rather have a positive impact of our W.C.M.f. The World is but a stroke of a mouse away think before you all act, this is 2014. and not 1914. D/ca wake up!!!!

  28. whats life
    March 7, 2014

    doh blockay our country especially on a year like this when everything just going to fall through all weekend and mid week long thats the real deal

  29. brinsley
    March 7, 2014

    I agree with the petition 199%, the rocket scientist who thought of changing the date is too smart

  30. Anonymous
    March 7, 2014

    I’ve been told by someone at DDA that the reason for the change was because of the 3rd November event which takes place at the same site. If the festival ends on the morning of the 3rd there’ll be no time to prepare the stadium for the 3rd November parade

    • Anonymous
      March 7, 2014

      Please! All they need to do is either (a) end festival a bit earlier to let people leave earlier to start cleaning (b) have more garbage bags/disposals around the stadium to help cleanup (c) hire more people to help clean up the stadium. There are plenty of options to get the stadium ready in time for having the parade etc. Poor excuse. They rather not make the simple sacrifice of paying a few more people to help clean instead of inconveniencing thousands?

    • Anonymous
      March 7, 2014

      Please! All they need to do is either (a) end festival a bit earlier to let people leave earlier to start cleaning (b) have more garbage bags/disposals around the stadium to help cleanup (c) hire more people to help clean up the stadium. There are plenty of options to get the stadium ready in time for having the parade etc. Poor excuse.

    • Diaspora
      March 7, 2014

      Lol. Makes no sense. Move the festival to accommodate the parade. We live in in 2014 not 1914. Men have gone to the moon and sent robots to Mars. So getting a stadium cleaned is possible. Oh and wasn’t DA but I think parade was in the afternoon. I have tried to make sense of DDA reasoning but it just doesn’t make any sense. Maybe I need to drink two rum and then it will make sense.

    • Simply the Truth
      March 7, 2014

      If this is the case, it makes sense but those especially overseas who made plans to travel to Dominica, it could disrupt them. If they have already booked and requested vacation they may not be able to change their plans. Furthermore, if they have already made arrangements and paid a certain portion of their fare, the airlines/ travel agency will charge them for the change.
      It is some months away. I hope they are able to change and/or advance their plans and flight to Dominica without a penalty especially for their airline ticket. I wish them luck.
      Who knows I may plan to visit at that time and wish I could take a long winter break until spring next year. :lol:

    • awa wi
      March 8, 2014

      the independence parade could be held in the afternoon when it is much cooler and convenient

    • ##D.A.##.
      March 8, 2014

      More reasons to think long term. Build a venue with all the logistics to take care of those problems.{ Where is the money coming from some will ask?} I respectfully submit lets try and fail rather than fail to try”. and while we are building think of a car park, convention hall, ect,in time we will create employment, the venue can be rented for conventions, rallies, and a host of other events. I will work for free to be a consultant if my services are required for the betterment of my country. I am Dominica, Are You? the same persons who crow and employ us to come to Dominica bring a friend, spend all our money during our visit, by their actions and thinking it leaves me with the impression that,” Empty vessels really just makes the most noise”. If we are serious about Tourism, this and tourism that seems to forget we in the diaspora are doing and listening and making our contributions to the developments of Dominica more than the credit they give us. Bare in mind persons who travel to Dominica during our festivities come to spend big money and that’s the truth. Those who plan and take those silly decisions are the ones who always have their V.I.P. Passes walking around the venue feeling important and the are allegedely securing those V.I.P. passes to their family and friends some of them live outside of Dominica. So who they think is going to spend their money those of us year after year who come home and bring our friends to spend their money. therefore please do not expect persons like us adjust to your sudden change of date, consider all the above and leave the original date as is. If its not broken it does not need fixing. We go see and we are watching.

    • Looking In
      March 8, 2014

      Excuses, excuses are the order of the day in Dominica. How could some official at DDA tell you that they change the date of the WCMF due to the 3rd November events? Folks, in all the years that DDA have been having WCMF at the stadium DDA has never once occupied the entire stadium. Given that there are so much people unemployed around Roseau are you saying that DDA can’t employed a few people to clean up the stadium in a matter of hours? If they can’t, they can always use the SSU (the DA military arm of the CDPF) and also prisoners from the island’s prison in Stock Farm and put them to work at the stadium to cleanup and prepare the place. The logistic and planning are relatively a simple thing so what a lame excuse. We are too quick to accept lame excuses these days on the island.

    • March 8, 2014

      They had time before, why do they not have time now?

    • March 8, 2014

      Why it is that folks such as WCMF dont learn you have to consult with the public in situation such as these their reason for changing the date is very poor and a lot of us will have difficulty time out so I gree we leave the date as is because we always seem to make thing harder for all.

    • Righteous
      March 9, 2014

      Proper planning and a good dedicated clean-up and set up crew and there will be no issues man. Totally agreed with the folks who gave the suggestions of ending a bit earlier and having more trash receptors and an awareness campaign to avoid littering. The original dates make more economic sense. A versatile venue such as the stadium can be utilized as such with proper planning.

  31. Anonymous
    March 7, 2014

    I wrote to Discovery Dominica already. I will not be signing the petition. They know where I stand.

    Flood them with email, the message will come through.

    • There you have it.
      March 8, 2014

      ?

  32. derp
    March 7, 2014

    stupes leave the date as the one posted above, you all have to change, change is a must :P

  33. March 7, 2014

    seriously
    why would they want to change the dates.
    everyone coming home from abroad look forward to CITP , the WCMF and a chance to enjoy the independence activities. i’ve already booked my flight and it would cost me to much money to change my flight, money i could use to spend in Dominica.
    Colin Piper and DDA members please reconsider

  34. watchdog
    March 7, 2014

    When a change of this magnitude has to be made the time period should be for at least 2yrs in advance.Many of us have signed for vacation and booked flights. Come Januar y most of us working have to sign in for our vacation.We are mot as FREE as you guys in D>A

  35. niceness
    March 7, 2014

    Best they put it back as the last weekend in October like usual so that the monday and tuesday holidays will jus flow right through this yr…. simple common sense

  36. i must speak
    March 7, 2014

    i agree the dates should remain the same. its time for change does not pertain to all things.
    lol :lol:

    • Kawat Roseau
      March 7, 2014

      what date? 2013?

      • Young Patriot
        March 7, 2014

        thats y ur name is Kawat

  37. DA Child
    March 7, 2014

    OMG, this date change will surely mess up my plans for visiting Dominica for the WCMF this year. DD you all are trying to keep we the diasporas out of the festival.

  38. Anonymous
    March 7, 2014

    This is totally ridiculous
    i will support that petition 100%
    if i have to pay anything extra to amend my vacation dates i may well exercise other options,
    alternative countries , MUCH CHEAPER ones too.
    SORRY DOMINICA

    • Kawat Roseau
      March 7, 2014

      Dear Fellow Dominican,

      What was the dates of the ‘Festival’ last year? The dates of the year before that? And the year before that? Let me assist: 2013- Oct 25th-27th. 2012- Oct 26th-28th. Which original date are we referring to? 1997? 2010?

      God Bless Dominica.
      Kawat Roseau

      • Anonymous
        March 7, 2014

        There is a different in DATE and DAY. Very rarely does October have 5 Fridays. So let me ASSist YOU. In 1997, 2003 and 2008, when October had 5 Fridays, festival dates were October 31 – November 2nd. Do your research before you make stupid comments. Festival has been held the LAST Friday in October…this year the LAST FRIDAY is October 31!

      • Anonymous
        March 7, 2014

        There is a difference in DATE and DAY. Those DATES you give is because October had 4 Fridays those years. In 1997, 2003, 2008, October had 5 Fridays and Festival was held October 31 – November 2nd. I DARE you to show me otherwise. I was there so I KNOW this! This year October also has 5 Fridays, so the LAST Friday of the month is October 31! THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!

      • And then some
        March 7, 2014

        Oct 25-26, 2013. Oct 26-28, 2012. Oct 28-30,2011. Oct 29-31, 2010. Oct 30-Nov 1, 2009, Oct 31-Nov 2, 2008. Oct 26-28, 2007.

        Please DDA, back to the original date selection – 2014, Oct,31 – Nov 2.

      • Young Patriot
        March 7, 2014

        i guess thats y u call urself kawat

  39. Jon Carson
    March 7, 2014

    This is a brilliant move and my hope is that these inept tourism officials on the island of Dominica and DDA officials reconsider? This is a win-win thing and a perfect opportunity that seldom comes by, for us to really capture all the activities all at once, with a compact and economy flowing week.

    I wish this process much success because I, too, am affected by that date change and may not come to Dominica for the festivals. This is bad foresight by the organizers and I would hope that they will revisit their decision and rescind it for the sake of the country, if we are really serious about tourism and showcasing the island’s rich culture and heritage.

    God bless the Commonwealth of Dominica.

    • brinsley
      March 7, 2014

      I like your comment, although it’s a bit confusing. I originally thought that you were saying the date change is brilliuant

      • brinsley
        March 7, 2014

        I meant brilliant, because brilliant is what it really is

    • Blackie
      March 10, 2014

      I am not encouraging anyone to go through that kind of stress again.

      Oct 30-Nov 1, 2009, Oct 31-Nov 2, 2008. These dates were killers, people worked like Zumbies throughout the night to be back in the park for 7am on Nov 3. Its good to say change dates for those who do not understand what goes on behind the scenes, if the date must change, then have it 29-31.

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