The government of Dominica is planning to stage a Reunion Year in 2018 to commemorate Dominica’s 40th anniversary of Independence. It is proposed that the Reunion Year of activities will run from January to December 2018.
In this connection a special Reunion Committee has been appointed by Cabinet to oversee and assist with preparations and planning for the staging of Reunion Year 2018. The Chairman of the Reunion Committee is Mr. Hubert Charles, former Ambassador to the OAS in Washington.
Reunion Year is primarily aimed at inviting overseas-based Dominicans to return home sometime during Reunion Year. The Year is also meant to build unity among the population, encourage tourism, promote cultural, economic and educational activities and help strengthen national identity and pride.
The Committee held its first meeting last week and one of its first tasks is to try to find a suitable theme for Reunion 2018. Towards this end a special simulcast to be aired on three radio stations has been organized for Tuesday June 6th 2017 from 9 am to 10.30 am.
The three radio stations carrying this special broadcast will be DBS Radio, Kairi FM and Voice of Life Radio. Members of the public are being invited to call in during the proposed time to submit their ideas for an appropriate Reunion theme. Members of the public can also submit their theme ideas to the Ministry of Social Services at Government Headquarters no later than Friday June 9th 2017.
The Reunion Committee is also working on a schedule of activities which will be launched soon.
Question: need to start purchasing tickets. Any dates yet?
Can we use this reunion year to do a complete retrgistrstion of electors? That would be an ideal opportunity to clean up the voters list.
Who are the other members of the committee?
Excuse me but isn’t mr. Charles living in the U.S.A? How can he run a committee in Dominica?
They were upset when Q95 was involve in the Portsmouth rally now they it left out you all are still upset. What is wrong with you all.
Why don’t we use2018 to increase revenue streams , by every Dominican comming to the nature island , encourage them to open a bank account at one of the credit unions, or at the national bank of dominica . That money can be borrowed by some entrepreneurs to build a water company and buy a boat to ship our water to the rest of the caribean . We have to come up with ideas to develop the nature island our selves . We have smart people who are capable of doing that . When we come down the beer we are going to consume we don’t own the factory . When are we going to wake up from that deep sleep and start to think and do for our selves . Jamaica has 8 billionaires not one is black , there is no black bilionair in the caribean . Every yr all we do is jump up and down, are we going to stay that way indefinitely .
You are not real man. Roosevelt Skerrit boasting that he has plenty of CBI money sitting in our national crapaud bank. You think I risking putting my money in the local economy when developers of approved projects get cheap CBI financing and concessions. Is not their own money they using but our own. I would be better off putting my money into real estate or the stock market in other countries with a healthy economy. Sorry bro. but that is my opinion.
Reunion for what?. What’s the rationale for the reunion? What do you all mean by a reunion in such a political, religious, socially n financially devided country? There should be no reunion at a time when every dollar should be used to build back Dominca. From what is made visible, since government does not give a report of the post errika recovery, less than 30% of rehabilitation work has been done. Let’s take as an example bridges…. Do many bridges are either non existent or compromise…
So why this reunion in such hard times in Dominica, not forgetting the CBI drama. Do you guys think that folks want to spend their money to visit a country with all this turmoil n strife…..
No need for this reunion period. Reunion now is a distraction n smoke screen…. You guys can put whatever committee in place led by whom so ever your guys choose, still saying no to this Labour Party so called reunion…… People need to protest against the bad governance instead of this reunion.
The funny thing of reunion 2k18 is it have how much Dominicans flight that book that day to leave Dominica for France, The UK, Gwada, Antigua
look the political crazies (touloulou)…. will start to make Reunion about them!
Self serving fools!
May I suggest that the Reunion Committee is inclusive and representative of all strata of Dominican society. It should be non-political. In the last election nearly 43% of the popular vote did not support the government. They represent a large proportion of the Dominican citizenry and to exclude them from the Committee, its decision making process and allocation of public money puts paid to the avowed aim of ” building unity”. This is a golden opportunity for government to practice what it preaches and score valuable P.R. points. I would welcome a harmonious Reunion that caters for all Dpminicans equally, regardless of political affiliations.
Reunion has never had anything to do with politics… you mentioning, means its your way of thinking!
The government says that the celebrations for the reunion year 2018 are meant to build unity, Yet In the same breath it omits Q95 from its planned simulcast next week. So much for unity! If they are sincere in their message they should engage the entire population and all members of parliament. This sounds like a labour pappy show right from the start and if so I will have no part of it.
What am I coming to do, if is to walk on garbage all over the island. Think of cleaning the island so tourism will improve, and tourist is not afraid of getting sick. Build programs to help the senior citizens of the country and do more to take out homeless people on the street. Come up with avenues to bring down the rising crime rate on the island.Tthese are the things that are important to the country. If you want us to come so badly that you are forming a reunion for Dominicans to come, let us see the improvement in the country.
So what about Q95 hahaha.. Instead of uniteing you deviding for 2018..
independence has done nothing for me. i refuse to celebrate it. i wouldve rather been under the french or british. sorry
Nonsense. Once is the Government we not coming. Too much pretense and victimisation
Politics, politics, and more politics
This is a sinister plot by Skerrit to bring home people under the pretense of reunion, then call a snap election….In other words, legitimize the transportation of voters. Why else is there this plan for reunion and it has to run from Jan -Dec……l smell a rat….and that one is cornered
Why leave out Q95. This is a reunion not a division. This is Dominica for all of us regardless of our ideology. Wake up Mr Charles you have been a diplomat. All our media folks must be involved. I hope you can correct this . Use your diplomatic skills. NEGOTIAT Its a REUNION!!!!!
I say Hubert Charles is now participating in and encouraging the further division of Dominicans by excluding those who listen to Q95. Can you divide and unite at the same time? What is the example being set for the youth here.What a legacy these guys are leaving for those to come SMH!!
What kind of reunion is that, you are having a simulcast with 3 radio stations and living out the most listen to radio station and you are calling it reunion
It is a perfect opportunity for those living abroad, who have not been home in years, to come and see for themselves what is going on in Dominica. Las pwen bouche moon manger pimen. By the way if you dont like to see the progressive things, console your self by visiting petite savanne. But be careul not to glance over belle vue on your way bak.
Dominica will soon be Independent for 40 years? Wow! How time flies. It is something to look forward to.
Imagine the influx of Dominicans including their relatives and friends, even some who are not Dominican-born.
If the Good Lord wills, you may see me and my family then but closer to November 2018.
I will spread the news to those who may not yet know about it. I am an excellent, personal advertiser; verbally and by internet.
I will be following the articles and taking notes of what will be transpiring on DNO. Looking forward to that.
Good thing I’m in DA every year for independence so that announcement is not great news or excited news for me.
Mr. Charles you mean all the time you are there quiet, so many times Dominicans called on the learned to speak out and you never said a word. Now you are talking about Reunion while you seat and look at the country divided into pieces. How are you going to re unite it ? Tell me . Will it be for one set of people ? Hope air transportation will be provided for all . Re union 1988 all parties were involved it was not a one party thing, you all need to go back to the drawing board and start by forming a none partism committee.
Dr David panton chairman and CEO of a private equity firm navigation capital partners , manages $5 billion of private equities funds. He co founded and became managing partner of the caribean investment fund a $50 million private equity firm in Kingston . Adjunct professor at Emory university. He is a Jamaican, I see Dr Roosvelt skerritt in both these men, a leader with a vision. Mr Charles we need more than carnival and culture, we need a blue print with a plan to create something new. Government is not the answer , educated people like you must lead the way with the ideas to create the new jobs. You sir help change the way they teach our kids at the university of the westindes , that institution is like a failed state. They have not produced people like Dr David panton to create the jobs. All they educate people to do is begg for jobs.
A good start but not necessarily convenient for some people to tune in or call a ministry; particularly non-residents. As the committee gathers momentum it must move quickly with efficient communications. A simple email address would be super useful regarding ideas and feedback including that of a theme. Its 2017. Simultaneously you can move on with social media as well. Lets make the process more user friendly and efficient.
Starting on a bad note for REUNON 2018. To leave out Q95 is a shame because this is where the educated people listen. Hubert Charles make the correction ASAP, just big up and say it was an oversight. Who are the members of this committee? Is civil society and the private sector involved?
I know for a fact that Mr Hubert Charles is very capable of doing the job of introducing us to a brand new model in 2018. We as Dominicans should not continue to say we are a small island state. St Barts have a population of 7,209 people and their GDP per capita is higher than metropolitan France at $37.000 per yr. Let’s talk about Denis O’Brien an Irish man from island with a vision, that came to the caribean with a model and incorporated a company in Bermuda and based in Jamaica and central America in 31 markets. 14 million wireless users. Mission statement, win cash, win groceries, or minutes to call back home. By the way he is a billionaire. In college he studied politics, history, and logic, got a scholarship at Boston college, after college came back home . He was interested inearning money from a young age of 14 . He started working as a bell boy in the hotel. He honed his entrepreneurial skills by working hard in his father’s company. No where did you see he was begging.
In my humble if a special radio simulcast is being aired ALL radio stations should be included. There ought to be NO such thing as some included and others excluded.
Is this reunion going to be another case of “divide and rule?”
Please stop the divisiveness.
Voice of Life ? The most listen to radio station is excluded. I have a suggestion for the theme
“40 years of Independence, 16 years of divisiveness”
Doomsayer! Bearer of bad news which do not exist.
””’the year is meant to build unity among the Nation”’
Three radio stations ein ? the most listen to ones ?
that is how the building starts ?
UNBELIEVABLE
On the investment side I read Phillip Fisher , Warren Buffett , Benjamin Graham , on the industrial side I read Aliko dangote of Nigeria , in dominica what do I read to be successful.
READ UNTIDY
At least Dominica will be celebrating 40 years of Independence. There is nothing anyone can do about that but to celebrate it and hope for the best in the future.
Every island has a story, welcome to ours
40 years of Independence
How can we celebrate independence when we are relying on Red Clinic, NEP, nepotism and arbitrary handouts from government? We were better off under the British, honestly.
Skerrit celebrating 40 because he’ll never make I to 50?
Mr Hubert Charles is one of the most brilliant scholars that I know everything that he described is on point . We as a people have to demand more of our selves and leave the world in a better condition than our ancestors . Let’s make an assessment of how did we do after the British gave us independence . In the beginning did we have a plan , and do we have a plan now. Culture and carnival we are very good at , what other areas are we good at now. How many millionaires have we created , how many manufacturing plants, how many products in packages do we export , how many water companies do we have now, how many job creators do we have now. The richest African in the world is the second employer after the government in his country . China just build their first passenger jet after 50 yrs . How many billionaires came from the university of the westindes . There is one millionaire with a few millions, Williams construction company out of Barbados . Stop saying we are small , follow…
Very good point 100%+
To My P.M et Al I have never met nr do I care to. Are going to have all the differences which you brewed over 1.5 decades go away for the reunion and it deja vu all over by 2019?
Good luck on that. Those in the diaspora who want a holiday ask dem to pay for tickets just like they do for elections lol
This is Ridiculous Mr Charles I live in Canada and I listen to DBS and Q95
Why do we continue to leave like a divided country .There are so many educated people in Dominica and some of us are the ones creating the isolation in this Nature Island.Mr Charles please make a difference let wisdom prevail.
So what’s the big force about q95 if u listen to DBS and q95? OK then! q95 is excluded you have a choice to listen to the broadcasting on DBS so stop cry over spill milk.SMH!
Isn’t DBS carrying it live? Hahaha what is ur point. I don’t understand all u hate the American and like it biskets so.
All u not supporting nothing positive in Dominica but all u want to enjoy its good time.
Just like CBI all u trying to kill it but all u want the money to spend for all.
WISDOM MUST START WITH ALL YOU. START BEING PATRIORTIC. START PUTTING COUNTRY FIRST. START TO RECOGNISE DOMIMICA IS OURS AND NOT FOR LABOUR AND PM. MAKE ALL U CONTRIBUTION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOMINICA.
But all u cannot hate Dominica want to kill the country. Wishing it fail just bcus u all don’t like the leader and at the end all u want to wine and dine with our good time.
As far as I am concern dominica is moving well without u all support.
It’s better not to have distractions in our way. Keep not supporting keep trying to kill. We are doing just fine without all u.
Dominica will have a big blessed and fun field reunion next year without all u support.
So hey and…
That’s a reunion for labourites at state expense just before the election! Good thing I will not be there!
Thank u for not being there. Cus ur presence is like a drop in the big bucket.
We are doing just fine without u all. U all a very few in numbers.
Just like wen u all don’t come to parliament or opening of. Ridge or ground breaking of the hospital stadium and many others.
We still have big lovely activities.
So pls don’t come we have and will continue to do very well without u all.
CBI DONT HAVE ALL U SIPPORT AND WE IN THE BILLIONS GOING. OUR CHINA RELATIONSHIP WE DIDNT SEE U ALL AND WE DID AND DOING CERY WELL. Our hospital soon complete and we didn’t see u all. So please advice ur few people if they coming with their negative energies don’t come.
We are moving on to hire hights in Dominica and 2018 is no exception.
So thank u for not coming.
Wen u wash ur political body in red lavinder topintime and tabac zorbi in last quarter moon in the river mouth come to our reunion.
Till den go get some prayers from father Thomas and the pope and Peter R.
This response bears all the hallmarks of the typical DLP structure and support. It is one that is based on herd mentality and exclusion, yet trying to present an image of unity that falls at the slightest breeze.
A clear example of a country going backwards is being displayed in the high level of poor literacy from the DLP support. It is obvious that many lack basic education which is not being addressed. The slave mentality is not being eradicated but encouraged on many levels as it suits those in power.
What is being administered is a dependency culture based on Red Clinic and CBI. Both of these concepts, bearing all the traits of corruption and bad governance, are used to fuel the party and its support. Where else in the world, apart from dictatorships, is this a normal form of governance?
The mention of billions from CBI, these have yet to translate into national infrastructure, industry or assets. Is the Chinese built hospital being funded by CBI? Or is it a ‘gift’ from…
….Or is it a ‘gift’ from China? What is the cost? I suggest you take a look at China’s record of doing business in African countries to understand that the financial interests of the few will be at the expense and future of the majority to bear.
Lastly, I will say that as a people we will still be enslaved by blind acceptance of the God we were given without question. Read the background to the formation of the Bible (Council of Nicea), know who Cesare Borgia is, understand the role played by African spirituality (and the Sumerians) in the formation of Abrahamic religions.
Here we go Skerrit just throws someone into the ring,why cant the young people of Dominica be included int the planning of our 40th,smh,this guy has been in the spotlight all his life give someone younger a chance.This the bull thats killing and dividing this doomed country.
There you go discriminating against the elderly – senior citizen. You can offer a suggestion; not criticism and insult. Shame on you!!!
He has much expertise to offer. Appreciate it.
What kind of nonsense is this , while you are trying to unite the population for reunion year by your example you are leaving out q95 SMH
Do you know or sure whether they were not invited and they declined? It is my understanding that Angelo Allen and some others left because o the coverage of the red sea movement in Portsmouth last month. I also learnt that Q95 listenership is declining.
If the Q95 audience is declining it is not because of Angelo but Matt. That man lazy as hell. He thinks he is mr. Fine Foods and Dominica brewery all in one, lets the advertisers do all the work themselves and fill the time in between with putty, small talk and tittle tattle aided and abetted by that genius of reporting Carlisle. After Angelo left that radio station has no spunk, believe me. Not that the others have much of that either but I always looked forward to Angelo to bring some real life and information to the station. Matt may think he is indispensible but I am not listening to him again. He is totally boring.
If they were to put it on q95 all you will call with politics nonsense.
Hope all the garbage is picked up by then
I have a cabinet full of garbage and one old speaker but Solid Waste refusing pick it up. You think they afraid they get contaminated?