DNO POLL: Was it the right thing to change the WCMF date?

pollEarlier this month the Discover Dominica Authorities announced new dates for the staging of the 2014 World Creole Music Festival (WCMF).

According to the DDA the festival will now be hosted on October 24 to 26, as opposed to the original date of October 31 to November 2.

The authority said the new date allows for a seamless transition between the WCMF and Dominica’s independence celebration.

DDA’s chief executive officer, Colin Piper, said the date will favour the large number of French nationals who visit the island during the festival. He also stated that it will be impossible to prepare the Windsor Park Stadium, where the festival is held, in time for the military parade if the old date is kept.

However, the announcement has been met with opposition by some who argue that plans were already made based on the old date.

DNO is seeking the opinion of readers in a poll.

Was it the right thing to change the WCMF date?

  • No (57%, 858 Votes)
  • Yes (22%, 332 Votes)
  • It doesn't matter (20%, 305 Votes)

Total Voters: 1,495

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40 Comments

  1. patriot
    March 24, 2014

    Poll for what ?

  2. LINTON/ MARIGOT
    March 23, 2014

    Who they fooling about being to late with the change it is just March you can get your vacation to my knowledge you can request you vacation time 2 to 3 months in advance. Don’t believe them they are just trying to make it look difficult for our visitors and the Government.

    • Anonymous
      March 24, 2014

      YOU clearly don’t live in america and know how American corporations truly work. 2-3 months is NOT the times you put in for travel at the PEAK travel times of the year. Come Oct/Nov/Dec, every one is planning to be out of the office, as they scamble to use up whatever sick days and personal day they may have that will not carry over. KNOWING this as a seasoned worker, you put your vacation in as early as possible to avoid conflict. No one waits for 2 months to put through vacation they know for a fact they will be doing on. It’s only March and my Summber vacation – July/August, plus my Christmas vacation – Dec/Jan, has already been sumbitted! So spare me the bs. Once again – another dumb comment by another DUMBinican, who think they know, but all they do is watch TV.

  3. SMh
    March 21, 2014

    As long a Machel Montano and/or Destra on the lineup is what matters.
    No the Change of Dates.

  4. Native & indigenous
    March 21, 2014

    I think the relevant authorities did their research, the neighboring french countries are our biggest patrons, then what counts is which date benefits us most.i’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.

  5. Anonymous
    March 21, 2014

    The thing is when living in a different country you have to take those two weeks off really early. It will be hard to chang afterwards so i guess i won’t be able to make this year if the date is to be changed. :cry:

  6. Jessica
    March 21, 2014

    The only reason we even benefit form the Express is because it is in between he french islands. We lucky. This is a french owned and based mode of transportation. These people will talk in their favour, Not ours. The parade can be in the afternoon and we will have ample time to clean up. What is the motive for changing the date? Having patrons or making a profit? The later will suffice both where as the former will only satisfy it self.

  7. Looking in
    March 21, 2014

    I am sure I am not the only one who looked forward to being home for the WCMF and Independence celebrations in one trip, as most Dominicans living abroad do not get a whole lot of vacation time. Guess I’ll be missing out on both activities this year. Sad, but true. The Military parade being held the day after the last night of WCMF has never posed any problems, why now?

  8. waters 69
    March 21, 2014

    NO

  9. Traveller
    March 20, 2014

    ….and yes, Lime Creole in the Park would be great in the week after WCMF to create and nice compact 12 days from Friday 24th October to Tuesday 4th November. But Alas! The relatively short notice for our visitors. Lesson learnt I hope…we need to plan earlier!

  10. Traveller
    March 20, 2014

    I understand the need for the change but this should have been decided and done much earlier! The calendar didn’t come out after carnival.

  11. Toomatoe Tomato
    March 20, 2014

    To me this is simple. Some preaching change but when there is a real reason for change, we are stumped.

    As far as I can see it the only thing that cannot and should not be changed is the Independence Day Celebration and everything else should work around that. This year, if not changed, the Creole Festival runs into Independence Day and that is a no no.

    When is the Schools’ Independence Parade? In all the posts, I have not seen any mention of that; some people have to think of these things, some of us just show up, but the planners of these events have to fit everything in.

    I agree with the DFC. The weekend which is really the last weekend in October is the 24th to the 26th. The 1st and 2nd of November is not the last weekend in October, but the beginning of the first week in November and November 3rd is Independence Day.

    • Anonymous
      March 21, 2014

      Stress again – this has already happened a few times since festival began. In fact the FIRST Festival was in 1997 and ran straight into Independence Day with no problem. The same thing in 2008. Please feel free to look at the calendar.

      At the end of the day, this is POOR planning. They should have looked at the calendar since last year to see this “issue” and announced plans to possibly change it since last year. But no. They advertise heavily with the whole “Bring a Friend”, have people make plans and then change it. If this was a country where lawsuits could really happened I would sue them for false advertising and have them compensate me for my change fee and more expensive ticket! Wrong is wrong! French nationals do not fill the park and here in the US you have to put your vacation through long in advance. My vacation was put through and approved since January, ticket bought the first week of Feb. It is now too late to change my ticket without a fee. WRONG IS WRONG. This is not about being open to change. It is NOT that hard to clean a stadium. Same how you can announce a change of time, you could have announced that you want to end Fes an hour early to start preparing the stadium for 3rd Nov. Or you can plan to have the parade a bit later. Parade happened in the afternoon before. If you all don’t see this is complete bs, you are truly blind.

    • Anonymous
      March 21, 2014

      And stop being STUPID. Festival was not held the “last weekend in October” it always begins the LAST FRIDAY in October. Know your facts, look at history. There is a difference is DAY and DATE. It just so happens that this year October has 5 Fridays, something that happens every 4 years or so. In 2008 the date were the same – Oct 31 to Nov 2nd.

      You all just like to jump on band wagon before you all get facts straight and then talk about people complaining.

      • very fashay
        March 22, 2014

        masa copan! anonymous you really couldn’t have said it better! Trust me, i agree 100%

  12. LOL!
    March 20, 2014

    Last year’s Military Parade was in the afternoon and it was well appreciated. The place was cooler and lots of people showed up and enjoyed the Rally. Another afternoon treat would be great this year Mr. Prime Minister.

    PM give us an afternoon Parade and make all your people in the Diaspora whom you are targeting to invest in Dominica happy. The French is right next door they will always come even though its for a day. The people further off have a lot more planning to do.

    Make the right decision for the interest of your returning residents whom you are also targeting to vote in the coming election.

    Let me be your next advisor PM. A woman advisor this time, I will not ask for an extra salary, just love of country! :-P

  13. very fashay
    March 20, 2014

    No need to change the date when the simple solution is start the activity for sunday earlier, or change the venue of military parade! simple science! stupes, Mr. Piper, i respect you and all but your reasoning is primary school level, “the large number of french nationals” mi rass! Statistics aren’t always true, and whoever making those reports need to do their research! Most of the people come from the bigger countries and they make so many sacrifices and arrangements to be here for that time! so do something for them! and what about us here? we support it too!

    • March 23, 2014

      I support your comment, of changing the venue for the military parade, why not the beautiful Botanical Gardens, it’s been done there in the past, that would be a perfect setting, the parade is only a couple hours if not 3 hours for the most, why compromise a product that brings economic benefit to the country, for a parade that only last for 2 hours.

  14. truth
    March 20, 2014

    Lets see if it is not a election stratigy ,Elections might just be around that time
    Just throwing that out there,remember this country is plagued with pupets ,and they all have masters,
    so be carefull what you condem

  15. March 20, 2014

    Moan ,moan, moan Dominica the moaning nation, time waste long tongue people. Change is good for everyone

  16. Frank Talker
    March 20, 2014

    Here are some win-win suggestions:

    1. The last day of WCMF should commence earlier so folks can be out of the Windsor Park very early Monday morning, and therefore not affecting the military parade.

    2. The last day of WCMF can remain as is and move the military parade to early Monday evening when the Windsor Park is cool and relaxing.

    3. Commence a fencing project at the Benjamin’s Park in Portsmouth and move the WCMF to Possie this year. Get folks out of their homes for that weekend and boost economic activity in the north. Possie is flowing with beaches and rivers and endless apartments at Picard for weekend rental. There can even be a simultaneous creole activity on the Glanvillia Playing field.

    4. If point 3 above is too much work and innovation for the pen-tooting guys at DDA and DASPA, then move the military parade to Possie. Possie has secret beach, coconut beach, pointe round, belle hall beach, purple turtle, picard river, indian river, cabrits, tantan scenery, prince Rupert’s bay, picard hot water, river canoeing, sea kayaking, O my God! Do something, Mr. Piper!

    5. There is an old military cemetery at Kingshill which needs some urgent attention. Probably one year we can have a mini military parade there.

    6. My point is that the explanations given by Piper are weak and wanting. It smells of conspiracy theory. You can almost hear him saying something entirely different from the reasons he give. There has to be something we are not being told. Piper is hiding something. I would not be surprised is Malaysian flight #370 ends up here.

    • APACHE
      March 20, 2014

      i support you bro

  17. Jejep
    March 20, 2014

    It is a good strategy. Keep the people on island for a longer period of time. More money flowing, everyone happy.

    • Anonymous
      March 21, 2014

      Keep what people? It is a KNOWN FACT that most people come to Dominican the monday or Tuesday before Festival and leave the Tuesday/Wed after. Do your research. To separate the two dates means people have to be in Dominica for over 2 weeks to enjoy everything. This is NOT going to happen, very rarely has. Feel free to prove me wrong with facts. I come home for festival EVERY YEAR like clockwork and Dominica is fullest from Wed – Tues. After that its far and few – FRENCH NATIONALS included!

  18. Ashley
    March 20, 2014

    Goodbye WCMF 2014

  19. ???????????
    March 20, 2014

    Please people please note that there is no way the Stadium can be ready for the Military Parade at 7.00 pm. Unless that the parade be deferred to the afternoon. This is another option based on the fact that the Monday is the 3rd November and the Military Parade takes place in the morning. This should be only for this year but we must be flexible and make informed decisions.

  20. March 20, 2014

    then change creole in the park to Oct.27-Oct 31

    • KoKo Naughts
      March 20, 2014

      I feeling that one. Cause how many of us can get all that time off nah? That means we have to be in Dca from the Oct 19th to the Nov 5th, not adding the two days it takes some of us to get to Dca.

  21. DA child
    March 20, 2014

    It is better to keep the date as it is. People who come from over seas may not be able to stay one extra week. It may not be OK for many of them to say in Dominica all that time as it probably not sync well with their schedules. keep the dates closed as they are to allow more people to come and stay until after the Independence celebrations. Just my take!

  22. Bull Crap
    March 20, 2014

    This should not even be a question.babes on the explanation given its just common sense to change the date. this is business first. we hate change to much in this country.

  23. grell
    March 20, 2014

    DNO do more polls about better subjects that affect the lives of the poor people.

  24. Anonymous
    March 20, 2014

    NO

  25. Anonymous
    March 20, 2014

    The date can stay like this but now they should just put Creole in the park for the week after 27- 31st given that foreigner will be on island. Normally the foreigners would miss the first few days of Creole in the Park so now they will get all and i always believed that it should be after the festival..It will be a nicer and better vibes as we get closer to the actual independence day. Something to look forward to during the week as all activities are mainly scheduled for the weekends.

    • DA child
      March 20, 2014

      Nice point there.

    • LOL!
      March 20, 2014

      Did not think of that one but I like this idea. Critical thinking. You make send my dear

    • ##D.A.##.
      March 21, 2014

      Hold your breath, there might be some hidden agenda there. Lets keep our fingers and toes cross cause so might use all this RO,RO,as an excuse to surprise all of us. You read it here first. I am Dominican: Are YOU?

  26. Jon Carson
    March 20, 2014

    DNO I really don’t see the point in that poll at this time. To me, it’s fruitless and a waste of time and energy conducting that poll and arrived at that conclusion based on these facts: 1.there had been a tremendous outpour of oppositions online including DNO against date change. 2. An online petition was initiated and disseminated on the issue. 3. DDA and its boss Colin Piper has despite all that came back and kept to their date change 4. DDA and Colin Piper emails (both personal and work related) were swamp with emails in oppositions to the changes. 5. According to Colin Piper the Cabinet has approved his recommendation and is in agreement with date change and 6. Regardless to these objections DDA and Colin Piper came out with a statement reaffirming their position and rationale for the date change implying no matter what that the date shall remain as October 24-26, 2014.

    Given just the facts cited above, why the DNO online poll what is the purpose can it influence anyone at this stage to retrace or rescind their decisions? I have my doubts so I would object to the poll on that grounds. Let’s be realistic it makes no sense conducting that poll.

    • ???????????
      March 20, 2014

      Jon Carson, I was opposed at first but there are factors for this year which would mean to change the date ie. November 3rd is on Monday or the other thing can be to have the Military Parade in the afternoon. Remember the show stops at 4.30 am and it is highly impossible to get the Stadium ready for 7.00 am. We must be flexible and need to look at things not in our mind as is so it is. Things are forever changing.

      We must change our mindset. It may be so this year but not necessary like this in the other years until the same conditions shows up in the future. Just saying!

      • Anonymous
        March 21, 2014

        We are calling for change but find it impossible to make other changes that will be less interruptive to the plans of so many?

        Does festival HAVE to end at 4:30/5am? No, it does not. It can end at 3. At 4am, unless TrippleK or Kassav playing, the park itself is already empty, most people are already just walking around outside.

        Does the parade HAVE to begin at 9am? No. it does not. Perfect example, last year it was held in the afternoon and the turn out was amazing! So clearly, it can be adjusted to accommodate a clean up and prep of the stadium.

        There is MORE to this and you all are too blind to see it. I don’t give a rat’s tail about politics if this is a political move. I care about the fact that I already bought my ticket and got my vacation approved, only to have this bs happen!

        The dates should reamin the same. It is not that hard to clean a stadium. A few thousand people cannot produce that much trash. This is Dominica, not Brazil after Carnival!

    • DA child
      March 20, 2014

      This pole and others is healthy for discussion sake. At least people can share their thoughts and observations on the matter. The change of date can be good in some ways and bad for many other reasons. I quite understand where you are coming from but we are still under a democratic system.

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