Photo via Matadorpulse.com

And the Winner is!

A huge congrats goes out to Mei-Ling McNamara, the winner of the Discover Dominica Photo Contest.

Mei-ling’s Photo entry where shes exploring mother-nature was judged best by the Matador Team, who hosted the photo contest for the last 4 months.

Mei-Ling is a is a writer, photographer, advocacy journalist, and international development worker who is currently authoring a new travel guidebook to Senegal with Bradt Travel Guides.

For her winning entry, Mei-ling will be receiving an all expense paid trip for two to the untouched Caribbean island of Dominica. The trip includes airfare from the US or Canada and 5 days/4 nights at Calibishie Cove, one of Dominica’s premier hotels.

The only downside to the photo contest in my opinion was that the Matador Team should off revealed the winning photo and give a brief description as to why Mei-ling’s photo was chosen as the winner entry.

Hard luck to everyone else who entered, and congrats to Mel-ling.

Happy 31st Birthday, Dominica!

Thirty-one years as an Independent nation may be considered as an insignificant stage in the life of any nation, but by this period we should have develop a basic concept as to the general direction in which we want to go as an island nation. We have not.

Today, as we celebrate the 31st anniversary of independence, we need to ask ourselves whether we have made the best use of political self-governance or whether we’ve squandered it? And if we’re to survive the next 31 years and beyond, our leaders must create a more vibrant economy. We need to also take advantage of the fact that our nature island has unique natural features which are in great demand worldwide and we need to come-up with new cost-effective ways to market that image.

Besides the fact we’ve occasionally slid and stumble along the path to development, Dominica is still one of the most peaceful countries in the world and one of the most naturally beautiful. Whether you believe it or not, we Dominicans enjoy a quality of life that is envy of many countries in the world.

Let’s use this 31st Independence anniversary as an opportunity to give thank to the Almighty for the blessings He has bestowed upon our land.

Finally, we at Dominica Weekly would like to extend happy 31st Independence greetings and best wishes to all Dominicans everywhere.

The World Creole Music Festival (WCMF)was conceived out of a need to provide a stage for Dominican Musician and musical expressions, and to increase Dominica’s visibility overseas.

Held during the last weekend in October, and now in it’s thirteenth year, the 3-night festival has grown to one of the only truly indigenous music event in Dominica and the Eastern Caribbean.

The creole festival has attracted some of the most renowned musical groups and soloists from the creole-speaking world. Groups such as Ti-Vice, First Serenade, Zouk Machine, Magnum Band, Zin, Taxi Creole, Kassav, Tabou Combo, Exile One, Gramacks/New Generation, WCK, Carimi among others as well as solo artists like Sakis, Ophelia, Tania St. Valle, and Franky Vincent have thrilled festival audiences over the years.

And this year the WCMF was no different; we at Dominica-weekly had the opportunity to checkout night two of the thirteen World Creole Music Festival - which featured bands like Morgan Heritage - who put on a phenomenal performance, Sweet Mickey, Caribbean Vibes, Triple Kay band, and Dlux Band.

Here are some highlight moments, and a short video from night-two of the 13th Annual Creole Music Festival.

P.S. Just maybe…if we can get some help from the Dominica Festivals Commission we will be able to cover all three nights of the festival next year.

Dominica is blessed with an abundance of foods that everyone will enjoy. Thanks to its rich fertile soil and temperate climate, many types of produce grow very easily here - for example:Citrus fruits, coconuts, bananas, coffee, cocoa, spices and many others. All thanks to the local farmers and markets vendors.

That’s why, to highlights the farmers and vendors contributions to the national development, “Market Day with a Difference” is observed on the last Saturday in October at the Roseau Market and markets around the island.

This years Market Day with a Difference was filled with excitement and beautiful colours. Many of the farmers/vendors came out dressed in their National “Creole” Wear, while showcasing the variety of produce (Organic or Non-Organic) Dominica has to offer.

Here are some scenes taken from Market Day with a Difference 2009 at the Roseau Market…Enjoy!

Thousand of music lovers packed the Botanical Gardens Thursday for the forth and final day of the 2009 LIME Creole in the Park.

It’s been an amazing four days of Creole Food, Art & Craft, Creole Music and Culture, there were a few challenges this year including the weather.

The final day kicked-off with performances by Genesis Steel Pan, Karifuna Cultural Group, Nature Boys Band, and Dominican reggae artist Harry Mo.

Following Harry Mo was DJ Midian and then the long anticipated performance by the TripleKay International, who didn’t disappoint their huge fanbase who came out to support. Next on stage was Ziggy Rankin alongside Tempo.

The final performance came from Internationally acclaimed Jamaican reggae artist Cecile, who brought down the curtains on LIME Creole in the Park 2009 with a phenomenal performance.

As I concluded our coverage of Creole in the Park 2009, I think it’s fair to say that everyone who came out enjoyed myself and had a good time sharing great experiences.

To all the Dominicans in the diaspora and foreigners, who were unable to be here to share the fun and excitement - I hope our coverage of Creole in the Park 2009 helped in anyway. With that said, I encourage you to continue visiting Dominica-Weekly.com for more coverage of Dominica’s 31st Independence Celebrations.

The crowds continued to pour into the Botanical Gardens on day three of LIME Creole in the Park as local reggae band Caribbean Vibes, Midnight Groovers, Claudette “CP” Peter and Taxik Band out off Antigua were set to the stage.

Day three started off with performances by the Cool Steel, Pointe Michel Cultural Group, Kros Vybes, and the Waitukubuli Dance Company.

Following the Waitukubuli Dance Company was Caribbean Vibes - one of Dominica’s more popular reggae bands. Their assorted brand of somewhat conscious roots-reggae music, but with hint of R&B dominated the stage and whatever else was going on around the park at the time.

King Josiah and Claudette “CP” Peters alongside the Taxik Band out of Antigua continued the afternoon with their brand of lively and uptempo soca music had the crowd moving and shaking.

Midnight Groovers was the final act of the night. The Kings of Cadence Music entertained the massive crowd with some sweet Cadance music - the type of performance that could only be described as “epic” in the eyes of foreigners and local patrons.

Stay turned to find out what happens on the final day of LIME Creole in the Park 2009.

Here are some snapshots from around the park on day three…Enjoy!

Despite heavy rainfall in the earlier part of Tuesday morning, day two of LIME Creole in the Park when on as scheduled.

Day two started with a cultural performance by Paix Bouche Jing Ping,and was followed by one of Dominica’s young and upcoming bands - SOS Band.

Next on stage was Paix Bouche Cultural Group, followed by Jeff Joe alongside Freddie and Friends entertained the crowd with some sweet Cadance Music. Next on stage was Phase 5 (Steelpan), and to start-up things on a different note was the “super” WCK Band.

In the final performance of the day was the greatly anticipated Carib Calypso Connection session with King Karessah, Dice, Daddy Chess, Hunter, Sye, Observer, and de Energizer; backed up by Dominica’s number one party band - the Swinging Stars Band; who brought down the curtains on day two in the Botanical Gardens.

Stay tuned to find out what happens on day three.

Day one of LIME’s Creole in the Park is officially over as the Fanatik Band brought down the curtains with a fantastic performance to what is considered to be the largest turn-out on day one since the event started seven years ago.

Creole in the park (”An Explosion of Creole Food, Art & Craft, Creole Music and Culture“) was created from the need for a day event during Dominica’s National Independence Celebration, but now in its seventh year the family oriented four-day event has grown into an experience beyond words and day one was no exception.

Day one kicked-off with a strong cultural performance by the Giraudel Jing Ping Cultural Group as people started to assembled into the park. In the second act of the day was La Sel Diffewans, followed by a performance by Athie Martin and Friends - which was then followed by the official opening ceremony for LIME’s 2009 Creole in the Park.

During the official opening ceremony musician and one of the originators of Bouyon music, Cornell “fingers” Philip, and the Dominica Folk Singers were the recipients of this year’s Creole Lifetime Awards.

Later, on stage was the young and excited XS Groove band, they were then followed by DJ Flip who warmed-up the massive crowd for the Bouyon Hustlers; the MFR Band out off Portsmouth, and then ever-energetic Sakis Lapo kabwit out off Grandbay serenaded the crowd with traditional drum rhythms. In the final performance on day one, Fanatik Band brought down the house with a versatile performance.

Here are some more scenes from CITP - Day One

Stay tuned for day two

Released just in time for Dominica’s 31st Anniversary of Independence and 13th Annual Creole Music Festival; Doo Doo Mwen is a Creole song with a hint of Latin flavor. Composed by Dominican Artist, Barbara Bully-Thomas and performed /interpreted by Maxine Alleyne-Esprit.

Produced by Cornell Phillip; Lead guitar by Julie Martin; Bass guitar by Freddie Nicolas. Keyboard and other instrumentation by Cornell “Fingers” Phillip, a founding member of the WCK band, originators of Bouyon music. The cover was designed by Dominican Artist Earl Ettienne.

Doo Doo Mwen is sure to become a hit during this independence season, considering the amount of positive feedback coming from Dominicans at home and abroad.

Please listen to the song, and lets know us what you think…Enjoy!

Photo by frankh

I’m not a complainer. Really, I’m not. But having lived my first 68 years in the USA, I find that things being different take me some getting used to. Understand, please, I’m not asserting that “different” is wrong. It’s probably right for here; only I’m unused to it.

So, I’m sucking it up and learning to accept those different things. Still, I think it may amuse Dominicans reading this and help inform and prepare Americans, and Europeans and other “1st-worlders” wishing to settle here as well.

I’ll write about those differences – big and small – from time to time, and will preface it with this paragraph so that you know I’m not complaining.

Difference #6: The attitude towards littering.

There’s an eye-catching scene in an episode of the popular, award-winning TV series o AMC called “Mad Men” in which the lead character’s family moves off from a picnic in a park by simply shaking all their litter from their blanket onto the grass and moving off. It was noted by nearly every TV reviewer as one of the excellent examples of how the American attitude towards littering has changed since the early 1960s when the series is set.

I mention that to reassure readers that Americans are no better than (or different from) Dominicans in this regard. The “Dominican Difference” in this case is only one brought about by a vigorous public anti-littering campaign financed by the government, conservation groups, etc.

I could write a lot of things you’ve probably heard or read about Dominica’s litter problem and the differences between the local solution and how it was mostly solved in the US. (I say “mostly” because poor peoples in the ghettos in the US still litter out of hopelessness, frustration, and the sense that the place belongs to absentee landlords.) The US can afford to collect and recycle and fine people (who can pay). Even there, companies sometimes litter if they think they won’t be caught, and the mob profits by collecting trash and dumping it for free instead of paying to recycle it or dispose of it properly.

But all that having been said, one simple fact is inescapable, in Dominica or anywhere for that matter – the solution begins with a changed public attitude towards littering. I haven’t seen enough of that change here. I wrote and e-mail to Domlec noting that their crews simply litter the ground with bits of non-biodegradable cable, and never received a reply. I see people of all ages simply litter daily. And many people act as if filth washed down their open drains is no longer their problem. They’re wrong: At best it’s unsightly and foul-smelling, but at worst it causes and/or spreads diseases and vermin.

Feelings against littering are growing here, but there’s a lot of lip-service too. We don’t have forever. Cleaning up Dominica is vital for our health, our price, and our precious environment. Once again, – the solution begins with a changed public attitude towards littering.