Acting assistant forest officer in the Environmental Education Unit, Norma Anthony is calling on Dominicans to help keep the country as the nature island of the Caribbean by polluting less and taking good care its forest and wildlife.
She spoke at a bird art exhibition held earlier this week at the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division as part of activities for the celebration of the ‘Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival’.
She said this is the 18th year that Dominica is participating in this festival.
“We are currently celebrating the ‘Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival’. It’s a month-long celebration which runs from April 22nd to May 22nd. Dominica participates every year. It’s a regional event. This year is our 18th year that we will be participating,” she said.
Anthony said that the bird art exhibition was a collaboration between the Forestry, Parks and Wildlife Division and the Waitukubuli Artist Association as part of activities for the festival.
“What we really want to bring out here today is to raise the awareness of the pollution that is happening in our water ways, rivers, coasts and our beaches. We know we had a serious blow after hurricane Maria. Maria dealt a serious blow to our forest and our bio diversity, So, what we are trying to let the public know is, let’s not try to add to that. We can prevent it,” she stated. “We cannot prevent mother nature but we can prevent things like pollution, throwing plastics everywhere. It affects the habitat and the feeding areas of the birds in nesting season of the birds…our wild life as well.”
The other activities outlined for the month-long event are radio quizzes and discussions, birding field trip with various schools, tree planting, choral speech with schools from the North East, birding while hiking on May 18th , a beach clean-up at Scotts Head on May 19 and a boat trip for bird sight – seeing.
The theme for this year’s ‘Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival’ is ‘Protect our birds, Be the solution to plastic pollution’.
Removing the parrots and sending them to Germany was a criminal act, the birds are part of Dominica and even on the Dominica flag. Who gave themselves the right to send the parrots to Germany the parrots belong to the people of Dominica. They could have been taken care of in their country. Who illegally made the decision? Saying that they needed to be moved for their welfare is a sham and a fraud on the people of Dominica, who got paid?
Acting assistant forestry officer. not even a forestry officer, not even an assistant officer. But Acting. My question apart from the concern of the pollution which i totally agree with her on is, how long has she been acting as an assistant to the forestry officers. Too many government workers working in acting positions without appointments.
PM said in many cases appointments arent done because there are no vacancies. Just vacancies to act.
Why don’t ask who stole the Parrots they had in captivity, as a tourist attraction and sold them for personal gain to people in Germany?
No job employment hampers the ability of people to own homes with inside toilet facilities, hence they go outside and squat over an open pit hole, most of the time simply defecate on the ground, that stench cause more pollution harming humans than any consequence the birds suffer from any sort of pollution.
If you knew what the hell you are talking about you would not have put yourself in such embarrassing position, you would know most birds you see in Dominica are migrating birds!
They are in Dominica and other places for a season!
Birds in North America travels to the warmer climate in the in the Caribbean and elsewhere in the winter.
Pollution is everywhere!
We do not have any birds native to Dominica only; except the parrots stole and sold in Germany.
I see parrots in Los Angeles year-round!
@Francisco, This is a beautiful young lady Dominican at that maybe just learning the rope as we would say in the UK. Please don’t be hard towards her regardless of her political views Red /Blue whatever. I also happen to know you are an intelligent person, only God knows how you did it but that is another matter…. One love.
Hello young lady, You should start by telling this double doctor to find our birds that was taken to Germany. Am sure they’ll never be returned 😥
When are they going to bring back the Dominican parrots that were kidnapped from the Botanical Gardens and taken to Germany for “safe keeping” after hurricane Maria, It has been almost two years since the hurricane it is time to bring the parrots back home so that they can breed and re-populate the forests. What was the real purpose of removing these birds, who got paid, were they sold? The beautiful Siserou is on the Dominica flag they belong on Dominica not in Germany where they are probably home sick and miserable. A petition needs to be started demanding the safe return of the parrots ASAP.
Nonsense talk ! Try getting back our Siserou Parrot first forestry officer. You have to protect parry and jacko parrot also
It doesn’t make sense to have trees and no parrot smdh
I’m glad you recognized nonsensical crap when you read it!
Who is talking?
What type of study, or scientific research has that woman conducted to arrive at the crap she spoke.
As soon as they have a political job they come out high and mighty talking fart, sweet sounding words; egotistical nonsense.
I lived in England, Germany, and now in the United States, every species of birds I see in Dominica as a kid I’ve seen them in Europe, and here in the United States.
There is a bird we see in Wesley we call junk-mouth; I see then here; even the humming bird; we call fu-fu are here; this shows how ignorant our people are.
Well she is god of the jungle, god of Dominica’s forest; so it is her duty to tell people do not pollute because we are killing what we know to be migrating birds, flying all over the world!
Note: Whales immigrate from winter climate to the warm waters even in the Caribbean!
So forget about the oxygen…Nonsense talk!
We definitely need more education and awareness on the impact we have on our environment. I just can’t even believe the amount of trash I see along the roads everywhere, the beaches, rivers. It breaks my heart to see Dominicans, who say they have so much pride for their country, just trash the place and create such an eyesore. There should be ongoing education, articles, radio, etc. We need to keep Dominica clean and beautiful and something we can all be proud of.
I believe in protecting the environment not only for ourselves but for the generations yet unborn. The pollution of our lands, rivers, seas, ponds, natural swamps and air must stop. We should strive to keep our indigenous flora and fauna from extinction. By the way Lady Anthony, what’s the update on the indigenous birds that were sold to Germany? Are they well yet? Would they be repatriated to their natural place of birth? The government should set the example for the people to follow. Bring back the aboriginal parrots.
Ibo MALAPROP France, Do some intelligent investigation and you will know that the parrots are doing very well. Stop POINTING FINGERS and criticize for criticizing sake. Everything for you is politics.
KID, your miniscule sprat brain doesn’t have the capacity for analytical thinking. There is a vacuum in your head where there should be a brain. Reason for making such a definitive comment because you give succour to every misstep and blatant wrong Skerrit does. He has sold the National Birds, won’t give an honest account for the billions of CBI monies, hid international fugitives in Dominica, gave no explanation of the EC $ 270 000 000+ PetroCaribe money, offered no defence for the garbage bins and fertilizer scandals and I could continue ad nauseam. How could any decent minded, honest person support such a reprobate? The present Ship of State is rudderless. Throw the captain overboard.
What about the stolen parrots
They were actually paid for with a scholarship, news vehicles and some cash.
You seem to know a lot more about this than everyone else. So, how much was the scholarship for, intended for what type of studies, and who – exactly – received this scholarship?
Next question: how many vehicles – makes and models, and who received those?
Final question: how much cash and where has that gone?
Really looking forward to your detailed reply, since nobody in government has breathed a word of any of these details since the parrots “flew away” in March, 2018.
Oh yes, and nor have the Germans provided any of these details, either.