PROPOSITIONS FOR DOMINICA, WAITIKUBULI, NATURE ISLAND
■ I am neither industrialist nor environmentalist, but hear what I propose towards a better diversified Dominica:
- Avoid the pitfall of oil. We all know for ourselves how dangerous it is to be involved. i.e. Iraq, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Iran, etc.
- Avoid becoming a museum of the past just to be looked at as zoo animals.
- Avoid getting the country in further debt just so we could make believe we are self sufficient.
Instead, use the "Nature Island" status to draw a green field of study to our home.
Right now in the rest of the world LEED is the most politically correct topic. Why not establish a LEED University in Dominica. Let it be the first of it's kind, and let it become "World Renowned".
Dominica is indeed very green right now, so Establish a University directed towards "green studies". i.e. Botany, horticulture, Forestry, etc. Let it become "World Renowned"
Dominica has how many rivers? And we have how many Universities devoted to the study of these rivers?
Dominica is a volcanic isle. Where is our university teaching Vocanology? What about Geology?
Dominica is nestled in one of the most beautiful regions of the world's water ways, where is our school for Oceanography?
Catch my drift?
Now I agree with all those who stand opposed to industrialization.
Unlike the big nations aforementioned, Dominica is a very fragile and small ecosystem. She cannot handle this type of abuse for any period of time.
I also agree with those who believe she cannot stay agriculture only and survive in this global climate that is upon us. But I don't believe this tourist industry is the answer. Not like this. I think it can be acceptable on a much smaller scale. The kind of scale where you get persons like Oprah paying unholy money to come in.
What DA needs to do is shut down her borders just like USA.
Restrict who can enter her borders. Make the requirements very
stringent and costly. MakeDominica an Exclusive getaway from the hustle and bustle, the dog eat dog, the fast paced, fast lane, congested living.
Make her accessible only to those who aim to come in and work in the agriculture with their hands for a week or month. To sleep on the ground with only a foam mattress. To draw water from the river or from what was caught from the rain. To use the outdoor toilet facility and to walk everywhere. At the end of this visit, the traveler would have gained a new leash on life and would always treasure the experience received inDominica.
Stop changing my people to suit this mold of what these evil nations have grown together in their make belief lives. Dominica has the greatest treasure of all nations, but we are too blind to see it. The simple life is more blessed and more valuable than any gold, diamond, sapphire, ruby, or emerald on earth. There are too many wealthy people, and not so wealthy (but rich nonetheless) persons who would kill for a day as a Dominican.
Don't feed them fried chicken, burgers, and pizza.
Feed them fish, dasheen, tanya, mountain chicken, mango, guava, kennips, callaloo, yams, etc. I think the days of the green gold have only just germinated....
Once you get Dominica in the mouths and ears of this type of person, you make your laws such that no "non-birth citizen" can own anything in Dominica. Everything must be brokered through a "birth-citizen" for a period such that the "birth-citizen" is alive and residing full time inDominica. Once this "birth-citizen" deems it non-profitable to continue such contract or dies, said contract ceases.
Non-birth residents may convert status , but only after 10 continuous years residing in Dominica, and after a majority vote of the Island's birth citizens approves this request. The new citizen will have status changed, but will not be owner of any property larger than allotted byDominica into death. This property will remain in Dominica's ownership into death of Naturalized citizen, if no birth-citizen exist as heir. This allows Dominicans to stay in Dominica and not some impostor loaning money with the sole purpose of collecting the debt by seizure of property. No Non-Birth citizen, or unnaturalized person may ever ownDominica.
Let's create an air about Dominica to bring her back into the spotlight like the queen she is. Give her the respect she deserves. Right now, much of the economic proposals have or could turn her into a whore, a prostitute, a harlot to be used and abused for the pleasure of strangers only to be discarded when they had received their pleasure. I don't know about you, but I would never want my mother to be used or viewed this way. I vote we bring back the esteem of our home, so that all those who fled to become refugees in foreign lands will turn away from their foster mothers and return to one who gave them citizenship in life and death.
Dominica is wounded and is in need of our help.
Is anyone willing to answer the call? Those of us who are refugees, can we help bring back her virtue? Those of us who never left, not because we didn't want but, but rather because we couldn't, will we help her? Those of us who love and live every waking breath for her, will we be restrengthened to feel hope once more and flow hope back within her? I hurt for my mother....
Dame Eugenia Charles was not blind. She had a vision, and I believe her vision is real. There are many paths for diversification in our island home, but it is in our hands whether we choose right or wrong.
The future of our past is in our hands and at our doorsteps asking alms. Will we turn it away, give it a fish, or teach it to fish. I vote we teach it to fish.
Kindly contributed by Israel Francis.
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