Newly elected Kalinago Chief, Charles Williams, is of the belief that there is too much “political intervention” in the Kalinago Territory and a divided people cannot go forward.
He plans to meet his people on a ‘hamlet to hamlet’ basis to forge ways to move on ‘together as a people.’
“There is a lot of political intervention in the Territory,” he told DNO. “And until we realize that political parties divide and they rule us, until we come to grips with that, we are going to be divided as the people of the Tower of Babel and we cannot go forward as a divided people.”
When questioned on his plans, Williams said he prefers to meet the populace first and make decisions as a people.
“So we will meet with the people on a hamlet to hamlet basis and we will make decisions,” he said. “So at this point in time I would not really expound on anything.”
Williams, who served as chief from 2004 to 2009, said his re-election is a reflection of the call of the people “to re-present myself for Chief and to give them the kind of representation that they were getting…”
“I presented myself and the polls spoke out and I emerged the winner,” he pointed out.
The chief, who is of the view that he usually brings forward a good case for the rights of the indigenous people, said he knew he was going to win but was expecting a bigger margin.
“If you look at the turn out of the voters, there are still quite some people who did not vote and those people did in fact were supporting me and that they would be there for me, for whatever reason they did not turn out to vote,” stated.
In the polls, held on Monday, Williams received a total of 316 votes.
Jumadine Frederick, received 201 votes and outgoing chief, Garnette Joseph, got 198 votes, while past chief, Irvince Auguiste received 81.
A total of 41 percent of registered voters cast their ballots.
Actually, what he insinuated is that they do not want any political Party in their territory. They would prefer not associating with them. They want to be self-ruled with him as their leader. This attitude is nothing new ever since I knew them as Caribs.
He should not lose sight of this that he is in Dominica, a D/can and he should not segregate himself and his people from being D/can nationals.. They need to assimilate in the D/can society while still retaining their identity, culture and heritage. This also includes to vote during the upcoming election.
United we stand. Divided we fall.
You are confusing yourself, by talking assimilation while you expect us to retain cultural cultural identity & heritage, perhaps you should seek to find out what the United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous People stance is on traditional rights.
The Chief is uniting his people among his people. This is what it is.
Perhaps you misinterpreted what the UN Declaration stated. Did the UN state that you should segregate yourself from islanders of Dominica?
You are a Dominican. Can you remove yourself from Dominica and being a Dominican?
You would want to create your own nation. It cannot be done in Dominica. For one, it is a small country.
Yes! you can retain your culture, etc. No one is taking this away from you just as they are not forcing you to integrate yourself if you do not wish. If you segregate yourself/continue to do so, what else is left but lack of unity, peace and unhappiness in Dominica?
In those days when the UN wrote this piece of Indigenous People, who were they referring to? Is the name, Dominica stated in this Declaration?
Anyway, as a Dominican, I hope you and your people regard the government of Dominica and vote when election time comes. Just think. You cannot go it alone.
Congratulations Carib Chief/ Kalinago Chief elect, Mr Charles Williams… The people of the Territory requires all the help possible to help them chart the way forward for the development of their community and their own personal development. On the issue of reparations from the Europeans, this is something that the First People must address during Chief elect Williams term in office.
Chief the first order of the day is to re-estabish the name “carib” cause some dreamer get up one day and start Kalinago and officially, by the gazette the name is still Carib, this is why we had a carib council elections and a carib chief. Come on chief do not make our unique race be ridiculed, we are proud caribs, kalinago is to general.
chief your statement is true we have politisions just keep fooling the people and sending them into more poverty just to get a vote lets put our foot down and tell the P M to stop what he is doing in the carib territory chance has started
Congratulations ! , Chief Charles Williams , wishing you much success and the best for the Kalinago people , as you step with confidence , into a role you are familiar with .
Ah ha! So Mr CHief tell us why you were so cozy with the UWP in garnering support for your reelection. Why did you proclaim publicly after your victory that “We defeated the llabourites”?
@Tweed,it is because the dlp candidate was asking his supporters not to vote mr Williams,i heard that myself,thats what they did at the last election but not this time.The people rise above that,and trust me there are labourite who voted this chief too,well mr williams goodluck and god bless
That statement is sooo incorrect, you do not understand how far from the truth you are,
The statement of we defeated the Labourites is very very correct because the Labour youth organization worked and campaigned with their candidate, along with the Labour party candidate for the constituency who campaigned thoroughly across the territory with their candidate, provided transportation among other things, you just cannot dispute that.
“And until we realize that political parties divide and they rule us, until we come to grips with that, we are going to be divided as the people of the Tower of Babel and we cannot go forward as a divided people.”
This is true for the entire society. See my thesis at http://non-partypolitalsystem.blogspot.ca/2008/04/intransigence-of-small-island-politics.html
Riviere…this is NOT ABSOUKTELY TRUE that political parties destroy. The parties are made up of people who betray the principles of governance as we see exhibited openly by Skerrit and the now hijacked Labour Party.
Parties are the foundation, a vehicle…the drivers (some politicians – for argument of this response, the Labour party) are loose, unqualified, careless and put the passengers ( we the people) lives at risk.
Correction: The Party System divides, not destroys. People destroy. A subtle difference, VE.
chief, that is very true regarding the political influence in the territory. Political leaders have a duty of care to the nation but instead they mislead the masses.