![\"Commentary\"](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/commentary2.jpg\")
Dominica is still reeling from the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Erika and we are yet to have an international conference of Dominicans at home and abroad to chart a united path for reconstruction and recovery. Such a coming together would require revival of our Koudmen – or cooperative self help – tradition. Where such is not done, soonest, we shall not make progress.<\/p>\n
There was a time when hope was not forlorn. Such an effort was started fifteen years ago and can be done again. At this time the younger Dominicans, with their vision and vigor, will have to step forward in leadership and brace themselve to national duty as never before. Those of us who were born in the pre independence era will soon fade away.<\/p>\n
As a recent commentator noted, development will never come where independence simply means fete and bacchanalia, with little time for profound reflection, unified purpose and integrity driven governance of our affairs – both public and private.<\/p>\n
On Dominica’s Community Day of Service 2015, this historical video archive of a united Dominican overseas community working for national development is worthy of being known to those who were not yet born when it took place in 2001, or those who have simply been misled as to the quality of our service to country over self.<\/p>\n
The Diaspora Development effort was an unprecedented display of the Koudmen spirit. The effort was led by the Rosie Douglas Foundation and Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences. There were three such Dominica Diaspora in the Development Process Symposiums:<\/p>\n
1. The first took place on December 7, 2001, in Brooklyn, New York.<\/p>\n
2.The second took place on Dominica between October 25 and November 1, 2002. The Dominica symposium was opened by the late Prime Minister Pierre Charles, attended by President Vernon Shaw, and chaired by journalist Lennox Linton; and<\/p>\n
3. The third symposium was held in London on August 1, 2003, with the leadership of Vincent John of DUKA, other UK based Dominica associations and the Dominica High Commission. Dr Clayton Shillingford of the Dominica Academy and Delmance “Rasmo” Moses of the Rosie Douglas Foundation both made presentations.<\/p>\n
These collective and\/or cooperative development efforts, were inspired by private sector driven enterprise and vision. The events were not subject to government direction or hegemony; all our people were welcomed. The Dominica Diaspora in the Development Process Symposiums were an uprising of sincere development driven effort. Such collective displays of our peoples’ power has a historical basis. It was such collective effort which allowed our Kalinago ancestors, and our Neg Mawon liberation fighters to preserve their freedom. It was that same initiative which allowed our newly freed ancestors, to build free villages following emancipation in 1834, and the end of so called apprenticeship in 1838.<\/p>\n
Koudmen activism by our ancestors aided our freedom. And so our Koudmen action of 2001 and thereafter, built new networks which aided community development, new housing by inspired returnees, tourism partnerships, installation of wind turbines and plans for geothermal energy. The Prince Margaret Hospital and many health clinics benefited from our assistance; revival of the Dominica Cadet Corps was fostered; a CD collection of Dominica folk music was launched; books and commemorative magazines with scholarly articles probing our condition as a nation were produced; aid to the Dominica Police Force, agriculture, partnerships in botany education with the world renown Smithsonian Institution and the Dominica State College blossomed; and development of the Botanic Gardens website proceeded apace – our Botanic Gardens site now being the best in the world. See http:\/\/da-academy.org\/dagardens.html.<\/p>\n
Today, those in power forget that the first Dominica State College and Government Information Service online portals were organized and hosted on the website of the Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences by co-founder Raglan Riviere. Mr. Riviere passed away this summer and we will always remember him by the legacy of Koudmen and truly worthy national service he left behind. Dr. Dave Shillingford valiantly continues that work in preserving our history of the Botanic Gardens and botanic science.<\/p>\n
It must be noted that the first online skills directory of Dominicans at home and abroad was started by The Academy in 2000. We pay tribute to a the many Dominicans who came together in 2001 to join hands in development. They can be seen and heard here on the documentary produced shortly thereafter by Maurison and Kathy Thomas of Moka Productions Community Television, a Dominican Diaspora owned enterprise in New York City:<\/p>\n