Acting Prime Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre has said that the government will continue in its efforts to lift the country’s indigenous people out of economic dependence and to increase opportunities for them.
He made the disclosure while addressing the launching ceremony of the Kalinago 120 Initiative held at the Ministry of Finance Conference Room on Friday.
According to him, the Kalinago culture and heritage are among the most outstanding features of the Dominican character, and he believes that these unique attributes must be celebrated and preserved.
“The Government of Dominica will continue all efforts to lift our first people out of economic dependence, increase opportunities for them to build their wealth, and create avenues for growth in agriculture and enterprise and education,” Dr. McIntyre said. “One way we have done this is through the establishment of the Kalinago Development Fund through which we are addressing the existing socioeconomic needs of the Kalinago community.”
He continued, “It builds on our recent interventions in housing, agriculture, small business and crafts, development, and disaster risk mitigation.”
Dr. McIntyre added, “Under the fund, the Kalinago people can access funding at the most concessionary interest rate of only 2 percent.”
Furthermore, he stated that the government must identify new avenues to bring Kalinago into the mainstream of the social and economic lives in Dominica.
“How can we harness their incredible gifts and talents to improve their social and economic circumstances? He asked. “How can we assist the Kalinago people to leverage their skills, their crafts, and the uniqueness of their culture to attract more visitors to the Kalinago space and increase economic activity?”
He went on to state that as a people and government, “we must always find ways to do more to honour their dynamic culture.”
This he said includes their arts and crafts, stories, songs, local languages, agriculture and fishing practices, cultural values, beliefs, and rituals to name a few.
Meanwhile, Dr. McIntyre pointed out that ongoing in the Kalinago Territory is an over five-million-dollar resilience building project which includes the construction of a multipurpose facility to serve as an emergency shelter, a community centre for skills training, and other educational, cultural, and social activities.
“The project is part of our efforts to boost climate resilience, capacity and empower residents to respond to disaster effects,” he explained.
He revealed that since the passage of Hurricane Maria, the government has handed over a number of houses to residents under the EU-funded housing reconstruction program, “and another quantity of homes will soon be presented to the Kalinago people with the aim of reducing risk vulnerability in the eight hamlets within the territory.”
This he said is part of the government’s commitment to build no fewer than 200 homes in the Kalinago Territory to provide residents with safe resilient shelters, a better quality of life, and greater independence.
Dr. McIntyre also mentioned that an additional 107 homes were approved under the Housing Recovery Project and are at various stages of completion.
“These are just some of the ways we are empowering the Kalinago people to sustain livelihoods, increase earnings and household incomes…,” he said.
“Acting Prime Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre has said that the government will continue in its efforts to lift the country’s indigenous people out of economic dependence and to increase opportunities for them.”
Instead of paying $64,000.00 rent to one man to live in a State Mansion, perhaps government should start the ball rolling by paying a $64,000.00 monthly rent to our indigenous people for stealing their lands? The whole of Dominica was theirs when allegedly Columbus came.
Caribbean politicians are the best artists in the world. They paint the most glorious pictures of the future of their countries. Sadly, many credulous citizens are awed by these pipe dreams and air castles.
The Kalinago people should not fall for these ghost projects any more. They should be demanding the US $10 000 000 that the former Venezuela president, Hugo Chavez gifted to them that mysterious disappeared. Not even 1 cent of it they received.
I am an evidence driven person. I verify then believe. The Roosevelt led incumbency is notorious for falsehoods and empty promises. Nuttiness is their mantra.
After twenty years of unbroken governance by the clueless and heartless Roosevelt led oligarchy, they are now promising to lift the country’s indigenous citizens out of economic squalor and dependency.
Dr. McIntyre, the whole country has been reduced to beggary. Ninety- nine percent (99%) of resident Dominicans are living in wretched poverty. Joblessness, underemployment, starvation wages, rising food prices, high utility bills, and mostly CORRUPTION in high places, have the country in dire straits economically.
The economic measures that are proposed for the unmoneyed Kalinago people should be extended to the whole country. A rising tide lifts all boats.