{"id":331335,"date":"2024-10-21T15:59:25","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T19:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=331335"},"modified":"2024-10-22T11:22:38","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T15:22:38","slug":"pm-to-south-east-residents-take-pride-in-your-heritage-use-it-to-your-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/homepage-carousel\/pm-to-south-east-residents-take-pride-in-your-heritage-use-it-to-your-benefit\/","title":{"rendered":"PM to South East residents: Take pride in your heritage, use it to your benefit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PM Skerrit speaking at Heritage Day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit advised residents from the community of La Plaine that their heritage ought not to only be used to entertain each other but also viewed from the perspective of potential economic benefit to the area.<\/p>\n

His comments came while addressing this year\u2019s Heritage Day celebrations held in La Plaine on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here to celebrate our culture in this part of Dominica and I want to say to us that we should not only use our heritage, our culture to entertain each other, we have to start looking at it from an economic standpoint as well,\u201d he said. \u201cHow do we use our heritage to promote heritage tourism in La Plaine and the South East and benefit from it?\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cYou have a very rich history of indigenous presence here in La Plaine, of European presence in La Plaine and in this constituency, this part of Dominica including Delices and Boetica you have a very strong tradition of the runaway slave culture\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister encouraged the residents of La Plaine and its surroundings to promote heritage tourism not only during the independence season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that we have an opportunity to make money from our heritage here in this part,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Culture Minister Gretta Roberts echoed the PM’s message, urging residents to take pride in their traditions, \u201cbecause they connect us to our ancestors and guide our youth who are tasked in preserving them for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

She referred to the traditional foods and culinary methods, \u201cthe way we prepare our dishes that have been cherished for generations, \u00a0the practice of traditional farming techniques, growing the same crops our great grandparents cultivated, the flavours of our local dishes, the bakes, the smoked fish\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Roberts mentioned further that the language carries the essence of Dominica\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe creole we speak is a vibrant expression of our humor, our wisdom, and our identity,\u201d she stated. \u201cIt remains alive in our homes, our villages, and in our celebrations.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cOther aspects of our heritage which are known to strive here in La Plaine and the neighbouring communities are our herbal remedies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, former leader of the La Plaine Bele Group and sportswoman as well as community leader, Hilda Prosper, received the honor of being named the Cultural Elder for 2024.<\/p>\n

Several other awards were presented to various members of the community for their work, both past and present.<\/p>\n