My Nature Island Brothers and Sisters:
While the world’s population has grown by more than 3 billion people in the last 4 decades, we celebrate our 40th Anniversary as an independent nation more dependent and with a smaller population than when we stepped out on our own in 1978.
The reasons why so many of our sons and daughters have been forced by governance failures and economic necessity to leave the land of their birth were painfully underlined in the departure of Ross University School of Medicine – a mature, high performance, 40-year-old investment – in the year of our 40th anniversary of independence. We have lost our way:
- We stand powerless as galloping unemployment, grinding poverty, disappearance of the middle class, rising crime and degradation of social services slaps us in the face each and every day
- We are the smallest and weakest economy in the independent states of the English-speaking Caribbean
- We are the 3rd most cancerous nation in the world
- We have a spiraling Non-Communicable Disease Epidemic
- We have lost over half of our agricultural output in the last fifteen years
- We are burdened with biggest brain drain per capita in the Caribbean
- We deposit a lot of money in the banks but cannot convince the banks to lend enough money from those deposits for productive purposes
- Government cannot facilitate the private sector as the main engine of economic growth. It could not enhance the climate for doing business and creating jobs
- Government cannot diversify from traditional agriculture into non-traditional crops, promotion of exports, and increase in value added
- Government cannot enhance the tourism product and increase its income earning capacity
- Government cannot facilitate a reduction of energy costs so as to achieve a reduction of electricity tariffs and thereby secure an increase in the competitiveness and viability of businesses operations.
- We do not have an international airport
The decisions we have taken, the policies we have pursued especially in the last 18 years have locked us into an inefficient and fossil fuel dependent infrastructure and unattractive, unhealthy, unsustainable lifestyles. We are not who we are! And in the words of an insightful Dominican teenager “we need to become who we are”
The first priority of the next 40 years is national recognition and acceptance of the simple truth that we are citizens of a country born to shine as the Nature Island of the World – the isle of beauty, the isle of splendor… with rivers, valleys hills and mountains… with healthy lands, pastures green and flowers of beauty.
We are Nature Island people. We should rejoice as united people in the unity of diversity that defines nature. We should thrive as free people on equality and justice according to the rules of divine order. We should sustain ourselves in peaceful co-existence living in harmony with nature. That is who we are. A nature island people – God fearing, strong, healthy and as resilient as the natural environment. That is where we are strong – Nature Island Strong!
At the 40th anniversary of independence milestone, let us leave behind the political, religious and other divisions we have created for ourselves, and discipline ourselves to become with the free, united, peaceful, harmonious, self-sustaining people that we truly are.
The national development efforts of government in the past 18 years have not worked because they have moved the narrative on economic advancement further and further away from the need for a national development philosophy that is in harmony with our true Nature Island character and identity.
This Nature island Development Philosophy gives meaning and purpose to the agenda for change that will make Dominica the best place to live, the best place to work and the best place to enjoy life.
In accepting ourselves as Nature Island people, we accept that all human beings are considered divine and deserve to be treated equally. We accept that nothing in nature lives for itself and living for others is a rule of nature. We accept the responsibility to take care of ourselves as much as possible in the quest for lives of peace, freedom and human dignity. We accept the challenge of living in harmony with the natural environment…
Within the next ten years:
- We must create a success story of nature island citizen engagement and participation that brings government, people, businesses, civil society groups and neighborhoods in a collective effort to make Dominica the real, authentic, one and only Nature Island of the World
- We must establish a nature island context for education and health care and ground them in the scope and human development benefits of our natural resources
- We must infect the culture with the values, attitudes and behaviors that will allow our ecosystems, our biodiversity to support our sustainability
- We must set and achieve aggressive targets for water quality, food security, clean air, green businesses, green jobs, climate resilience, minimizing our carbon footprint, reducing consumption and eliminating waste
- We must complete the shift to renewable energy technologies
- We must connect the transportation sector to renewable energy through electric mobility
- We must place priority attention on environmentally friendly design and construction of buildings that will minimize environmental impact and allow nature to work for us instead of working against nature and thereby driving up energy consumption.
Let us truly appreciate the abundant blessings of Land, Water and Plants and their importance in feeding us, clothing us, sheltering us and funding our participation in global affairs and our integration with the family of mankind by helping others to meet these basic human needs in life supporting ways.
On the Nature Island our plants on the land provide food and drink as well as materials for clothing and shelter. The myriad shades of green, the flowers of beauty model resilience and decorate our lives. We breathe clean air; we drink clean water; We eat natural food. On the nature island our food and drink should be our medicine and our medicine should be our nature island food and drink. Our herbs should heal the nation. Our herbs should heal the world. Therefore, no plant or herb should be illegal in the nature island of the World.
The Nature Island Development philosophy offers the lovers of nature around the world a brand in the advancement of civilization that can identify with and support to succeed especially in recognition of the fact that the true Nature Island of the world will automatically become, the first climate resilient country in the world. This will be nature’s safe haven of peace and tranquility in a troubled world that most human beings on planet earth would want to visit.
It is a very serious offense against humanity for the isle of beauty, the isle of splendor; the nature island of the world; the nation with the most generous blessings of green per capita on God’s earth to have so many of its precious children frustrated, sick, unemployed and condemned to hopeless dependency in lives of everlasting poverty.
In becoming who we are, we will ensure that our agriculture secures our health and wellness by making us self-sufficient in natural food and drink and providing plant-based solutions for our medical needs. By sharing these blessings with a world in need, we will grow our economy and generate wealth like we have never seen before.
This is our vision of hope for “My Love, My Home, My Dominica”, the Nature Isle of Beauty “in which everyone rejoices All for each and each for all…”
Happy Independence 2018 with endless love and blessings in abundance.
Lennox has no ways and means in implementing anything nor is he an example of good governance in Dominica. He spoke about agricultural but he has no ground. After the Hurricane he was no where to be found. He tainted the name of Dominica everywhere he went and that’s the Independence message he’s coming with? Is Dominica really the 3rd Cancerous nation in the world??????? What a total snake tongue baffoon. Take your address to the toilet LL you won’t win.
Dear Mr. Linton,
So long Nature Island concept has been alive. Dominica has tried to market itself as the Nature Isle of the world for over 40 years. This concept is not new or innovative. Like the UWP you are stuck in the past. Time for new ideas not the same old same old. We speaking climate resilience now. The world is on with resiliency to climate change
I must commend Mr. Linton for such a great and interesting speech.
You lead with conviction and not personalities. You will become the next Prime Minister of Dominica.
% and views expressed, we the Dominicans populace cannot be fooled fooled. That’s rather stupid of you, Lenox Linton to write an article and turn around prasing your skills and yourself. Who doesn’t know who the leader % is? Don’t you think 💭 you are making a mockery of yourself and your BLUE VEX People. All the trash you are writing ✍️ they are being placed in my archive to show your mentality and character.
Mr For Real. Here is something you should include in your archives. After 22 years in existence this “ONE TERM” Team Team party can only offer jibber jabber. They have only one gear, REVERSE. They cannot go forward just backwards and they want positive progressive DLP members to follow them. This one term losers and haters gang is like the dead dry wood in team team, bois shesh. This dead wood with jibber jabber coming out like termites is seeking to destroy the nature island.
U labourites all talk about politicizing but u did not hear that long political story the night in the stadium? Where everything was promised? Through everything on the wall to see what sticks even marijuana to b legal after Lennox said it and was criticized. 20 years and the country have nothing still minimum wage of $4:50 an hour that all u like poverty.
Lennox with his vision will lead us into the next 40 years millions of dollars for the labour government and nothing being done only now they want to build few homes 1000 homes how much ppl in Dominica need homes
@Strong view November 5, 2018
Lennox is already way up in his senior years. If you are expecting to be your leader for the next 40 years, your views are not that strong after all
So coca leaf should be legal? Ok Great, lets make cocaine!!!
I was in Dominica for the independence celebration and it is hard to understand why this lazy opposition is saying nothing is being done! I was truly impressed by the amount that is being done & what has already been done since Maria! Some people will say anything to get power. #PM is working
That’s a man who that wants to be in power an that’s a independence message to the country come on this man has no heard
Interesting and realistic independence message… It’s not the messenger you must concerned about but the message of truth that was laid out and the simple remedies to get DOMINICA back on its feet again
Lenox, talking about Ross so many businesses are being closed in New york DA is not the only country business comes and goes. You all are crying down saying that nothing is being done in the island we came and see what you all are saying are shameful lies.
@mine
No one can spend a few days in a country and make a proper assessment as to living conditions and the standard of living of the populace. Spend a year in Dominica then talk. Finding a reasonable paying job is like finding a needle in a forest. Paying your mortgage, utility bills and having enough money left to make a proper shopping for the family, and do a little saving ,is impossible for the average citizen. Have you seen the condition of some of the secondary roads? Did you fall ill and had to visit the hospitals? Were you satisfied with how you got to Dominicans? Was it by direct flight? Even the blind man is crying foul with the physical and economic disarray of the country. The time is ripe for a break from this clueless administration. Change is a MUST if Dominicans are ever to rise again.
yes you came to see what? or did you come to SEWO? This is the comment I expect from gullible people like you. That is exactly what Skeritt wants to hear from the likes of you. He patch a few roads for the festival and DFC and DDA had two little ads enticing all you DIASPORANS to come home, like fools you fall for it and saying you came and see and is all lies. I was there right after Maria last year and again this year and is the same crap just a different day.
I once invited someone to DA, and after the vacation I asked him “so what do you think? His response was ” I had a great time with your family and friends. It is one thing to visit but a rude awakening to live there. I feel sorry for the people who have to stay”. That is from a foreigner who came to visit.
Who cares about businesses closing in the USA?Do you live in the USA?Why don’t you tell us about the functioning institutions in the US,which Dominica does not have? It’s only under this lying PM, Skerrit would an important company like Ross allowed to leave Dominica.Gross incompetence.
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now
There are no lower-class, middle-class and upper-class people. As we continue to try to extricate ourselves from the archaic colonial ideologies, let us work harder to rid ourselves of the class mentality. People are in low income, middle income or upper income, but there is no such thing as one set of people in a higher or lower class than the other. There are people with lots of money but have no class and there are people with a little money but have a lot of class.
This man is very sick we have to excuse him for his guiles .One would hope he would think as a human for the 40th independence but noo he just can’t help himself.So 😢 to know he is a Dominican who wants to run the country, Lord please help this guy he really need help. If you love your county so much you would try to be professional at least for ones.
“This man is very sick we have to excuse him for his guiles .One would hope he would think as a human for the 40th independence but noo he just can’t help himself” Y9ou are right Marcelle, a very good accommodating description of you r failed inept Skerrit. This political clown, responsible for the Bin and Fertilizer Bobol has killed our nature island, with no more bananas, grapefruits, limes etc. being produced and soled overseas. It is just passports he is selling and we cannot see the rewards of this. Who is the thief in Government, we need to know.
Good message indeed…
continuing. lots of educated men and woman in dominica do not hold you all selves hustage with one person for these years try something new try the other guys to see what they can offer. this is not a marriage.wake up people
We can try something new.. but not with this idiot.
I know Alex did not release the poll for the leadership of the UWP.. and he knows why he didn’t want to.
The fact is ppl don’t want LL. Period.
I wish there was a way to leave skerrit and his followers alone in there mess and never remove him from power without it affecting the opposition and to sit and watch them perish with the master and don’t save them. I just wished that. but god is in control, even the wheat and the tears have to grow together till the harvest. Even if dont like Linton what is wrong with him giving a beautiful speech?and talking truth at that. Skerritt was hitting on Linton while he most probably was sitting at the stadium, Linton must have been there because Skerritt recognizes him before starting his speech and during his speech he talk about some among us who don’t want better for the country. skerrit know in his heart that dominicans love dominica is skerritt Dominicans fedup with leading the country we like him as a person but not to rule the country.uwp haters get that in you all big head. we are all dominicans brothers and sisters we all have a country we love and lots of educated men and woman,
Amen! Amen! Ament!
This “ONE MAN” gov’t syndrome is killing Dominica Hon Lennox Linton. But, if only he was Jesus Christ… the son of God. Believeth in no MAN but me because I’m a selfish GOD… the scripture says!!!
They was talking about fraud but when Sam said about diplomatic passport you all said he lied. god knows all of us and who we are.
Absolutely enthralling address, a mixture of truth and hope. A good leader must be intelligent, visionary, articulate, truthful, inspiring and convincing. To put it succinctly, a good leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. The country takes on the tone of the leader and his/her administration. After forty (40) years of Independence, after the last eighteen (18) years of one party rule, can anyone honestly declare that the country is heading in the right direction? The answer is a resounding “NO!”
Presently in Dominica, public servants salaries seem permanently frozen as cost of living rises, jobs are constantly disappearing, and the poverty rate exploding. Paying your monthly water, electricity and other bills is an enormous headache. It’s a struggle between visiting the doctor and buying food. Better can and must be done. Give CHANGE a chance at the next polls.
What a boring speech what did you do to help after the hurricane what would you do for your country you sound like you have no plans but just trying to win any way possible.
Wallace you sound like a loose canon with no directing and wonders who is it that yo are referring to? It ust be Skerrit, obviously, because he has been about for over 18 years and there is no way that you compare this failed clown, failed Skerrit to that of intelligent Hon Linton who exposed the thievery of the Bin Bobol and fertilizer Bobol, the t abuse and misuse of states funds. Your failed about leader and hi blind supporters, the big boys with influence denied that this Bobol thievery took place. When the evidence e presented it es all you all stood for thievery and said that t was a mistake only to protect Skerrit and not Dominica It shows where you blind loyalists are not in the interest of Domininca, but that of your failed Skerrit. He must Go. make way for honest intelligent, intellectual Hon. Linton and his team of highly honest and intelligent members.
Failed Skerrit and his corrupt incompetent Labour Government ust Go. Get Out
Wallace if someone comes to your home and they are not welcome you can say “GET OUT” ,but you have to be in (inside). You can also tell them “YOU MUST GO”. Then you GO ON back inside and lock your door. The person outside can say “YOU MUST GO” until they are blue in the face , until the end of time, but it will be in vain just like a team, team bois shesh.
They will remain outside forever in shame and will never get in, crying and knashing their teeth.
Soon it will be crying time again for the team team.
yes you are right I might I might be a loose cannon but I can make a decision in my life and I can say what I did to help my country before and after Maria can your idol Linton do this can you ask hi what he did on the day of community service ask him what is his vision the future
than trying to hold his position and drag down UWP while trying to do this? I think you and all his supporters should take a close look at leader Linton can he hold a shovel can he hold a cutlass can he hold a pick axe I don’t think so then he is not a man of the soil so here is your loose cannon sit back and think of this do your best keep on doing what you do best nothing.
He has already done enough for the country by pointing out how corrupt the present government administration is and the foolish manner he has you all displaying. Only those in the drivers sit can commandeer the ship. When his time comes to do so he will gladly take the helm honestly and with exemplary leadership.
Mr Hussey. Opposition forces are good for only one thing i.e. blowing blue bubbles which cant be seen against natural blue sky. Erica and Maria was a test, were tests which they failed. They all went missing in action. ( M. I.A.) Some real deserters dressed in blue uniforms. Well people are giving them exactly what they offered, what they deserved. They had a meeting with visiting Dominicans, no one turned up. They had 5 residence dressed in blue in attendance, and as usual they said nothing. Because that is all they can offer….a big fat blue nothing. This gang of mobsters have nothing to offer. Their BIGGEST LIE of all is that they are not in government so they can do nothing. Children were out there helping to cleanup but grown men could not. Paid to represent people ( for attending 2 meetings a year) , not attended,…BOYYCOTT and QUIT…..are their middle names. Oh Yes also TALK and NOTHING. ” Missing in this TEAM TEAM speech was” Maycia Quick,……Quack” !!!!
Good morning and happy independence to you and your family and your team and every 🇩🇲 and may the Lord bless you and team no weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn Isaiah 54 that is your guard and protection
Samuel GreenawayNovember 4, 2018
And who is the “you” and “your” that you speak of?
“no weapon formed against you shall prosper”!
Pray, tell me who has the weapon formed against who, concerning this news article.
Strong message for a better dominica.
Hi Hon. Linton, thanks much for this well researched, well prepared Independence Day Message. Well script, and well presented. Very thoughtful and deep messages representing what we feel and want for our Domininca. We are looking forward to see the exit of Skerrit and his corrupt Labour Government and make way for this well known leader, Hon Linton and his reputable team of highly committed and professional UWP Team, prepared to take the reigns of government and make decent in representing our people of Dominica to take us from this crisis of poverty, corruption, poor governance to one of people s` ownership, trusted custodians and in partnership always with the good people of Dominica patiently waiting for leadership, decency in government and prepared to take our people and ailing nature island to where it is suppose to be. This corrupt past inept Skerrit Labour government has failed us big time. It is time for them to go and welcome Hon Linton & his decent UWP Team. Forward we Go!
I can’t with this guy!!!!!! How do you politicize independence? This man doesn’t inspire me at all. Could muster up the strength to not be partisan at this moment. It’s sad that he’s so desperate for the title. Before you reply to my comment please note. I SAID WHAT I SAID. BON!!!!!
TheshookoneNovember 3, 2018
This man can inspire no one! Not even his meg followers; the majority of them are just pretending to be inspired. It is very easy to know who they are –you can know them by their name, which is always posted on this news site, whenever it is something about politics
The only reason Skerritt still in power is because UWP’s ineptitude
How can you blame the UWP when thousands of voters are flown into Dominica for free, from the Diaspora, every election cycle? Blame corrupt electoral practices by the current regime. Blame those of influence who remain thunderously silent in light of the egregious electoral malpractices.
After those two monumental cases of corruption, the Garbage Bins Fiasco and the Fertilizer Scandal, Skerrit and some of his dishonorable members of his Cabinet should have been jailed instead of re-elected.
Blame cowardly and biased journalism for not fully and relentlessly pursuing and ventilating the minute details surrounding these blatant, atrocious breaches of trust and colossal impropriety.
I’m convinced that CORRUPTION is the main factor that has the country is this run-down state. The country is presently suffocating, it needs to breathe again, smile again and soar again.
I totally endorse this message.
It puts the much hyped, but wrongly perceived, “climate resilience” in its correct perspective. A year ago I expressed similar rational in my DNO commentary “A State of Self Sufficiency” https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/commentary-a-state-of-self-sufficiency/
It is sad as the UWP leader to be so decisive and devious. You choose to crawl under a stone in Canefield rather than joining us for the 40th Independent Celebration. No Lennox Linton, you don’t have what it takes to a LEADER, ONE NATION 1 PEOPLE UNDER GOD. Please throw your message in the Marigot Atlantic.
Again you are making a fool out yourself, “% aka” Viewers Expressed, your independence message was DOA, Dead 💀 On Arrival. You political rethrotic is one of division and hate. Most of us Dominicans 🇩🇲 migrated for economic reason including yourself, Lenox Linton, an address of reconciliation would be more appropriate. The red meat 🥩 you a throwing out to your base is only resonating with them. We are in Dominica and we a seeing, therefore, we cannot be fooled. Your manifesto is of poor choice 🙅♂️ now. Your base is always with you, now you got to convince me that you are the better choice! No I didn’t see that in your address, therefore, I don’t think Lenox Linton has the ability to be an effective person or leader! What have You, Linton ✅ done to elevate the plight of Dominicans,, how many jobs have you created? How many workshops and inspirational events have you created for the youths? In my opinion your hot baseless biases isn’t working. Just a reminder you were rejected!
You have decried the Opposition leader for his superlative Independence message and you have a right to your opinion. Haven’t you seen the deplorable conditions under which many of you fellow Dominicans live? Haven’t you their cries of desperation and pain? Skerrit presently has the steering wheel for a near two decades and driving the country over a steep cliff. Where is your outrage against this corrupt, beggarly administration? Under his leadership the country has faltered badly. Embarrassment, scandals, economic & moral decline, poverty, vagrancy, murders, illnesses, out-migration, nepotism, cronyism, intimidation and militarization of the police have been the order of the day. These are real concerns to be genuinely upset about.
More flowery statements and an abundance of negativity. How are we going to achieve those lofty goals? Every government since independence have struggled to find that product mix in order to arrive at a sustainable economy. We always had water, suitable land for farming on a scale that would energize the economy is limited. What is stopping the the opposition to lead the way in this new economy of which they speak? Why can’t they export water? They proved that they could not export as Athie was given a license to export water and to date not one pint of water has been exported, failure. The opposition started a financial project it turned out to be a Ponzi scheme, failure. Let us not forget the export business that also failed miserable. This opposition message inspres no hope it gives the impression that the opposition has thrown in the towel.
The last 14 years were the worse years I have experienced since we became an independent nation. If we are honest with ourselves we would describe the last 14 years, as the dark years marked by suffering, fair, poverty, panic, and full of sorrow, all because of the failed leadership of Skerrit.
When Skerrit became PM he met 1. Brizee’s Mart swinging with over 50 persons employed. He and Charles Savarin closed it and forced many to be unemployed. 2. Skerrit met a very strong Public works that would go around the country cleaning roadside, unblocking culverts, patching holes and building new roads. Skirrit and his gang killed it and that’s why storms destroying us 3 Skerrit met a strong Palmolive Belfast that employed over 80 of us. That he killed as well. 4. He met a Banana Industry that would cause over 2000 farmers to receive a cheque every week. He killed it and sent farmers home 5. He met Ross University with over 1000 foreign students and an income for over 2500. He closed it
The last 14 years have been……… ohhh I think I know why. That’s cus ull lost the lost again and again……
@ Stubborn Facts, you forgot some other industries that Skeritt killed. Seeing that you included the banana industry that died under the UWP why not include the vanilla and lime industries, at least give your political propaganda a bit of life. By the way DCP is operational, guess you were not paying attention.
So you are deliberately forgetting the billion dollar company,Ross.Skerrit killed it.Wicked!!
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now
Beautiful piece indeed patriot Honourable (LLL)Leader Lennox Linton .The 12 pointers highlighted, pointing to how we have lost our way did not mention:
Desecration of our constitution
Desecration of our electoral laws
An increasing number of people on social welfare
No foreign direct Investment
We do not have a proper hospital
We do not have functional institutions
Passport selling is the backbone of the economy,etc,etc.
I am confident that this DLP regime will soon be kicked out of office though.The state of desperation of the leader,says it all. Example when he told the visiting Dominicans as long as he is PM certain sections of our Electoral Laws will basically be ignored by him to ensure that they vote, hopefully for his party. …..Desperation Indeed!!!!
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now