Bus Blues & Boycotts

TO RIDE OR NOT TO RIDE...

We in Dominica have gotten used to an outrageous phenomenon: when external factors cause the price of petrol to go up, we square our shoulders and somehow learn to cope with higher prices for gas and bus fares.... But when global or regional prices return to "normal", our local prices do not seem to reflect that. Think about the fact that, presently, we do not really blink twice about paying about twenty dollars for a single round trip between our two largest municipalities. (And the centralization that makes going to Roseau absolutely necessary is another story in itself.) I am sure it has even happened to many of us that our reason for making the trip costs less than the fare itself, and this may be true for car owners as well.

Meanwhile, for bus drivers, it is very understandable that they do not want to give up the few extra dollars or cents that have made repaying loans or just putting food on the table a tad bit easier. It is tough enough to make a decent profit due to circumstances beyond the nation's control. And when the increased costs to drivers comes from our own government's policies, it can be, in a sense, even more frustrating. 

Buses in town are often lined up and awaiting customers to fill up the seats before heading out.

Well, the soon-to-be-implemented Highway Maintenance Levy (HM Levy), courtesy of our elected political administration and revealed at the controversial budget address a few weeks ago, may create that very scenario, come September. Bus drivers interviewed by Dominica News Online reporters expressed disapproval and disappointment with this decision, not only because their expenses will be higher but also because their customers will no doubt bear a great part of that burden. One driver from Mahaut seriously urged that the levy collections be used to improve road conditions. Hmmm, it is almost as if he knows that that is not the true motive of this tax. And one should indeed wonder why our "highways" need to be maintained at the extraneous expense of vehicle owners rather than having the cost deducted from the countless other taxes that we all currently pay. Read more of DNO's reporting on this issue here.

Now, it is one thing for bus drivers to have to hike their fares so that they can keep making a living wage. It is another thing for bus riders and private vehicle owners to have no choice but to spend more. At the very least, the drivers are able to churn out a direct profit, albeit inadequate. For everyone else, especially those who must take the bus to get to their place of work, it is just another flat-out expense. People cannot decide to get paid more by their employers to offset the higher bus fare. It does not work like that. It just means less money at the end of the month.

And perhaps the demographic most affected by this policy is the student population, in particular students from rural areas who attend the Dominica State College (DSC). I dare say a large fraction of college students do not work full-time, and nothing can quite compare to the stress of constantly-increasing expenses in the absence of a steady income. Those not fortunate enough to have parents or sponsors who can handily cover the high costs of tertiary education will tell you that this situation compounds a smorgasbord of existing hurdles to students' academic achievement: cross-country travel is costly, diminishes time that could be devoted to study, reduces social contact with students from other backgrounds, limits extracurricular involvement, encourages truancy, causes noticeable exhaustion, and incurs indirect costs that would not otherwise arise. Moreover, spending hours a day squeezed in a bus while being held to the same standards of scholastic performance as those who live minutes away and/or in more affluent homes is a plight that, were it not for the innovation and resilience of rural students, would be far more apparent.

Stockfarm bus stop in Roseau, where DSC students are 'put down', coming from the college campus.

Keep that in mind as we delve into another DNO article that follows the action of the Stockfarm Bus Association (SBA) in light of the HM Levy. College attendees have, until now, been afforded a student discount, regardless of age - students pay $1.25, while adult non-students pay $1.75 for the short ride up the hill to the DSC. Vice President Phillip Dover depicts the reluctance of some SBA members to hike the fare by just FIFTY CENTS for adult students whom they feel are "abusing" this system. SBA drivers will be subject to the same $150 HM Levy in September as all other drivers, mind you, yet Dover said only about half of his comrades felt justified in charging the adult students $1.75. A $1.50 flat rate for all students was the final decision, but Dover notes that Stockfarm drivers sometimes make less than $50 a day during off-seasons such as summer holidays. With less than 40 buses covering this route, it amazes me that they are able to support themselves at all in between semesters.

Alright, we have shuffled the proverbial deck enough. Let us pull out the race card.

It was only 60-odd years ago that, in many other Southern states in the USA, racial prejudice was as real at the bus stop as it was in the lynch mob. Yes, that's right: bus seats (like water fountains, restaurant entrances, and post offices) were segregated according to state law.

"White people only could sit up front and black people could sit from the fifth row back, however if a white person didn’t have a place to sit in the first four rows, then the black person sitting in the fifth row would have to give up their seat and move further to the back." - Sir Daniel, WordPress blogger (x)

Segregated business places were common in the Jim Crow era.

This practice was barely tolerated by people of color until a few courageous young people took action. Between 1944 and 1955, four women - Irene Morgan, Claudette Colvin, Mary Louise Smith, and Rosa Parks - refused to give up their seats to white people on buses in Montgomery, Alabama and Middlesex County, Virginia. Of the four, Parks is most widely renowned as she was the best face of the revolution that followed her brave actions. Of course, she was arrested like the other three women. But, upon being released on bail, Parks (the NAACP secretary at the time) became the poster child of an effective strike-back against the unfair policy that had led to her conviction: a bus boycott.

On the same afternoon of her trial, the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) was formed and elected as its president a young minister named Martin Luther King, Jr. The MIA's very first action was a boycott of Montgomery buses, using Parks' defiance as an exemplar of bravery and the pursuit of justice. Realizing that they comprised nearly 75% of bus passengers, black people in Montgomery refused to take the bus, choosing instead to walk or hitchhike. Black vehicle owners began carpools and taxi systems that allowed the boycott to continue undaunted, despite sabotages and wild arrests from the state.

Black-owned taxi operating during the Montgomery bus boycott. Note the empty bus in the background.

 The boycott lasted an astounding 381 days: from December 5, 1955 to December 20, 1956. It ended when the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) was forced to order Alabama statesmen to amend the law that segregated the bus lines. Finally, people were free to sit wherever they wanted on the buses. All it took was for black people to keep their money in their pockets. Other racist laws persisted in Alabama and throughout the US thereafter, so it cannot be said that the boycott elicited a sudden love of racial integration in the white government, only that it hurt them financially and they had no other choice in order to recover their profits through taxation of public transportation revenue. Read more about the boycott here and here.

Now, do not misconstrue the bottom line. This is not to paint Dominican bus drivers or our government or our people as the villains in our unfavorable public transport dilemma. The truth is there may be no clear-cut villains, though the majority of us are victims. This comparison is meant to inspire us all to peaceful revolutions that can lead to advantageous change. It should remind us as civilians that our most compelling point of negotiation is our position as law-abiding taxpayers and that we deserve equitable and reasonable treatment from the systems that we pay to serve us as well as from the persons we elect to represent our interests.

Should we boycott the buses? Maybe not, because bus drivers stand to lose as much as we do once this levy comes into effect. It is not inconceivable that one family unit or household may consist of a bus driver covering one route and a company worker riding on another route, with both partners needing to support themselves and, possibly, their children. In such cases, what is gainful for one may be detrimental to the other.

Should some of us begin the trend of bicycling to work or school? Maybe, as it would:

• save money by purchasing a quality bicycle as a long-term investment; 
• allow us to follow in the footsteps of countries around the globe that gain revenue from bicycle sales (see top 10 cycling countries here)
• reduce the impact of vehicular exhaust on environmental pollution and respiratory health, most notably with respect to ozone;
• (thus) further our island's reputation as an eco-friendly destination...a "Nature Isle", if you will;
• strengthen our efforts to lower the incidence of obesity and endorse healthy habits among our population;
• and, naturally, eliminate unattainable expenses for disadvantaged or low-income individuals.

Then again, maybe not...as it could potentially put short-route bus drivers completely out of business and, of course, is not applicable to those who need to travel long distances or across mountainous, dangerous terrain. Furthermore, Japan's ban on commuting to work by bicycle is a prime example of how a civilian trend like cycling can be snuffed out by corporate policy.

But should we - and by "we" I mean all of us affected - demand a respectable audience with our elected leaders to air our concerns, hash out our ideas, voice our discontent, and come to a decision that benefits (or merely least harms) all those involved?

Hell yes.

What would you do?

http://the-perks-of-being-black.tumblr.com/post/126453340396/kipplekipple-reverseracism

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

THE GOOD

The 19th annual World Creole Music Festival is bound to be an action-packed explosion of song and dance, as the government has invested over a million dollars to ensure the celebration is a regional highlight of culture and music. The WCMF lineup is hotter than ever and absolutely packed with high-profile names and well-loved entertainers in the genres of zouk, soca, bouyon, cadence, and much more. I mean, just take a look at the names on the list!

WCMF 2015 lineup, compliments Dominica Festivals Commission.

A captivating video shared by the Dominica Festivals' Facebook page shows even more incredible names and some unmistakable hits that can only be more impressive live on stage. Watch the video below and peep the names underneath it!

Featured in the video above are Devine Songz, Kreyol La, Timaya, Chronixx, Triple Kay International, Dédé Saint-Prix, Ophelia Marie, Kathryn Thelamon & George Decimus, Jocelyne Béroard, Jacob Desvarieux, Jean-Philippe Marthély, E.sy Kennenga, Jean-Marc Ferdinand, Pascal Vallot, Frédéric Caracas, Zouk Machine, Luc Léandry, Lady Saw, Swinging Stars & Calypsonians, Asa Bantan, Extasy Band, T Micky, Bouyon Pioneers, Popcaan, Blaxx, Olatunji, Benjai, Fadda Fox.

And at just $120 per night or $325 for a season ticket, this has got to be one of the most highly anticipated musical events in the entire Caribbean. Say 'sak pase' if you plan to be there!


THE BAD

Three of our young men were found safely off the coast of Venezuela after being reported missing last Saturday, August 1, DNO reports. The three fishermen, identified as Nixon Edward, Jerum Telemacque, and Yannick Bruno, were unharmed when discovered adrift in the Caribbean Sea. We say tremendous MERCI BEAUCOUP to the Coast Guard officials from Martinique who assisted in this rescue search.

Last month, Gabriel Laurent and Xavier Antoine of Good Hope were also found safely after three days lost at sea. They had set out from San Sauveur to go fishing on the night of Thursday, July 2 but failed to return. Good Samaritans aboard a French vessel were thankfully able to save them and the men were home by Saturday, July 4. (DNO)

San Sauveur fishing boats.

Furthermore, if you'll recall, these young men are just as fortunate as Lyndell Daway and Tyrone Etienne of Vieille Case, who, in April 2013, repaired their vessel when they encountered engine problems while out at sea. Daway and Etienne thus returned home safely after six days on a fishing expedition gone awry. (Inside Dominca)

I know, reader. This is all good news. Why is it under 'The Bad'? It's because I wanted us to use this opportunity to remember those brothers of ours whom we could NOT rescue or find, those men forever lost but still loved by their families and the rest of us.

Remember Leron Etienne and Justine Carriere, who also were reported missing in April of 2013 but were not as lucky. They realized their vessel was about to sink, so Carriere used his cell phone at about 4am on Sunday to call and ask a friend to get another boat captain to go get them. Two hours passed before the captain was able to go look for them. They were reported missing on Monday morning but searches proved ultimately unsuccessful. (DA Vibes and News.DM)

Less than a year later, in February 2014, two more fishermen went missing on a fishing voyage. Brothers Samuel and Andy Mitchel left shore on February 1 and by Valentine's Day, the Coast Guard was forced to call off the search for the Portsmouth youths. No sign of the men or their boat were ever seen again. (Caribbean News Now!)

And, in case you think this kind of thing only happens to us, check out the documentary 21 Days (uploaded by Guillaume Rico, co-directed by Dale Eliott) about six (6) Saint Lucians who also got stranded at sea on February 15, 1985.

Three of those involved were high school teenage boys who were on board the fishing canoe by chance, and the story is told from the perspective of the sole survivor, Kennedy Phillip, who eventually washed up in Colombia. The movie is a true masterpiece rife with drama, made haunting by Phillip's near-stoic recollection, and ending with heartbreaking tragedy.

THE UGLY

Just kidding. There's nothing ugly about Dominica. At least, nothing that needs to be talked about right now.

Have a great week, everybody.

Bits of Bliss

 Happiness is....realizing Dominica is remarkable in countless ways.

They say a negative mind can only reap negative results. With all the troubling news overwhelming the world nowadays - from civil wars to terrorist acts to race-based murders to gender oppression to child abuse to animal cruelty - we the Panel must take a few moments to praise the GOOD that unfolds right here in the Nature Isle. Enjoy the good news from the past few weeks!

• Miss Dominica 2015 Miss Odessa Elie continues to make Dominica proud!
  Our talented sweetheart made good of her trip to Antigua and, on Sunday, July 26, captured the 2nd runner-up prize at the 54th annual Jaycees Queen Pageant. The Best Interview award under her belt, Miss Elie must be one of the "gems beyond compare" our national anthem speaks of so highly. Congratulations to her!
  
  And let's wish her the best as she moves on to Nevis this weekend for the Miss Caribbean Culture Pageant. Isn't it comforting to have beauty, grace, AND brains representing us? I love it. Read more at DA Vibes here.

  

  The stunning Miss Elie at right.

  
  
• 767 Girls Rock!
  As if we didn't know! But thank you, thank you. Founder of the movement (and underrated heroine) Jael Joseph dubbed four of our nominated ladies with fierce, slaying awards as follows:
  
  Dare to Care: Princess Margaret Hospital physician Dr. Gilda Nesty
  Jill of All Trades: Ministry of Public Works civil engineer Jodie Dublin Dangleben
  This Girl is Loyal: LIME Corporate Communications Manager Ferdina Frampton
  The Boss Extraordinaire: Tropical Shipping Dominica General Manager Tamara Lowe
  
  The message is pretty clear: ladies, do not underestimate yourselves! You can do whatever you put your minds to, with passion and hard work. Read more at DA Vibes here.

  

  #767GirlsRock! L to R: Frampton, Lowe, Joseph, Dangleben, Nesty.

  
  
• LA Special Olympics is putty in Dominicans' hands!
  If Friday, July 21st was any indication, Dominica is sweeping the floor with the competition at the biennial Special Olympics World Summer Games, this year being held in Los Angeles, USA. Our representatives are "Crispine Dailey, Micheal Detouche, Claudius Shipley and Stephanie Laronde competing in track and field and Adrina Aaron, competing in Bocce." (DNO) So far, they've secured three medals - Shipley and Laronde with gold in the 200m and 50m races, respectively, and Aaron with a bronze in Bocce.
  
  "In the 2010 Special Olympics Caribbean Games, held in Jamaica," says DNO, "seven athletes represented Dominica and all seven returned home with various medals including gold, silver or bronze medals." I have a strong feeling this year and this event will be no different. 'Is a habit we have'. Read more at DNO here.
  
  All we do is win! L to R: Olympic medalists Aaron, Shipley, Laronde.
  
  
•  Bellevue Rawle Grotto Home gets a makeover!
  Volunteers from the USNS Comfort, a USA Navy Hospital ship, got their hands dirty on Saturday, August 1, and painted the Community Hostels Inc.'s (CHI) new building, expected to house an estimated 40 people. And that's not all the sailors have done. The crew, led by Religious Specialist First Class Jonathan Coreson, has also read and presented to children at the Roseau Public Library, speaking about various aspects of healthy living.
  
  Their third and final project on island is the painting of the CHANCES facility for children at risk, located in Jimmit. Read more about the Navy's mission here and more from DNO here.

  

  USNS crew members brighten up the CHI's exterior.

  
  
•  Kerdisha St. Louis shatters hair shaming in 'Natural Hair Movement' article!
  Let's face it: dark-skinned face discrimination from every direction, including inward, and the praise that light-skinned girls often get because their hair is considered "better" can sometimes feel like adding insult to injury. In her DA Vibes write-up, however, Miss St. Louis breaks down the slavery roots of Euro-centric standards of beauty that power this nasty phenomenon and she drives those roots right back beneath the ground where they belong.
  
  Of the growing trend among our women to wear their hair natural, she says, "The consciousness that Dominican women have for their hair now is not only a fashion trend but a genuine love of self that begins with their hair." We all are beautifully made, Miss St. Louis's article assures us, regardless of our complexion. Be proud of your unique features! And do patronize the many "naturalista" hair products created and sold on island!

  

  ALL black hair is a beautiful crown on the head of a queen!

  
  
• Association K'nawa builds Kalinago canoe ' Kubulika 2'!
  A gommier tree from the depths of Syndicate has had the honour of being transformed into a traditional kanawa by expert naval carpenters of our Kalinago community. The Association's 50-strong envoy from Guadeloupe banded with Dominicans at an official launching ceremony on Saturday, July 25, at the Community Tourism Facility near Indian River in Portsmouth.
  
  The celebrations included addresses from various local Ministers, a blessing by the Karina Cultural Group, and performances by the Heartbeat Band of Portsmouth and Mas Ka Kle of Guadeloupe. Read more at DNO here.

  

  The illustrious Kubulika 2.

  
  
•  Biologists confirm historic sighting of rare seabird in Dominica!
  The non-profit organization Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, has spotted the black-capped petrel - also known as 968 Diablotin - in the heights of the Dominican rainforests and will report their findings at the imminent BirdsCaribbean International Meeting in Kingston, Jamaica.
  
  Dominica's protected forest reserves have provided a safe haven for the petrels to breed, something it does only briefly during the year. With 968 Diablotin's total numbers in the low thousands, the sightings provide hope that our verdure can help ensure the continuation of this rare species, believed until now to only nest in Hispaniola. The Division of Forestry, Wildlife, and Parks will work closely with EPIC biologists in early 2016 on breeding ground expeditions, when they anticipate the petrels will next return. Read more from DA Vibes here.

  

  The black-capped petrel, AKA 968 Diablotin.
  

  
  
•  Talented Dominican youths rake in the goods at regional competition!
  During the week of July 12, a few gifted Dominicans furthered the exceptional reputation of our country at the Music, Model & Talent Showcase of the Islands, a huge conference held at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, Bahamas. Shivaughn Johnson won 3rd place in Monologue and 2nd place prizes in Beauty Spokesmodel and Commercial Print for her modeling abilities, while Janae Jackson and Carsim Birmingham came in 3rd and 2nd respectively with their solo singing performances.
  
  The Island MMTS strives "to provide a safe, professional event for talent training, mentorship and advancement into international markets for Caribbean entertainers, models and actors." I know a local model or two who could really shine at such an event - cough, Carlyn Valmond, cough, Tallia Celestine - ahem, excuse me. Read more at DA Vibes here.
  

  

  Dominica wins more prestige, thanks to gifted young people, at the Island MMTS.

  
  
•  U-21 volleyballers kick some serious shutyomouth at Junior Championships!
  The Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA), a sub-zone of the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA), is hosting its Junior Championships and, apparently, only two months of training is enough to turn the raw talent of Dominica's young men into a lean, mean volleyball machine.
  
  En route to grabbing 4th place overall, the U-21 team first pummeled Anguillan and Grenadian contenders with 3-0 and 2-1 victories, respectively, before losing in straight sets to familiar St. Lucian nemeses in the semis. With the bronze medal then on the line, our beginner's luck finally ran out as the boys were knocked out by the St. Maarten team. Coach Robinson appears optimistic that more training and improved facilities will seal the deal for us in the future. S/O to Arden Elmes and Faywani Foye! Read more at DNO here.

  

  Dominica's U-21 boy's volleyball team. Top: L to R - Ray Robinson (coach), Faywani Foye, Darnel Pollock, Marcus Cornelius, Arden Elmes, Lesroy King, Kede Edmund, Jeffrey Edmund (trainer/asst coach). Bottom: L to R - Tamir Lawrence (captain), Wayne James, Caron James, Akeem James. (DNO)

  
  
• Bending it like Beckham in business attire!
  The story behind this one couldn't possibly be more exciting than these two photos....it's just amazing to see that heels and dress pants don't stop us from blasting footballs like it's nothing at all. Hon. Austrie looks like he's definitely done this before. Go Team Dominica!
  
  
  

  

  Goooooooooaaaaaaaaaallllllll!!!

  
  So there you have it, guys: there's no shortage of "le good stuff" here in Dominica. We're not the 4th happiest place on earth for no reason! You just have to know where to look. ;)
  
  Want even more good news? Click here or here or here!
  

  
  

Cuz Has Spoken

BUDGET FEEDBACK

WARNING! WEAR GLOVES WHEN READING THIS POST BECAUSE IT IS DRIPPING WITH SATIRE AND SASS.

The Honorable PM.

The budget address was delivered on Friday, July 23, 2015. It confronted several areas of concern for Dominica, and the PM used the opportunity to “clear his chest”, for lack of a better phrase, as he “kept it real” with us, his loyal subjects people. Excerpts—and cheeky feedback—are given below (direct quotes are in red).

“We built the new Dominica and we have absolutely no intention of wrecking it.” Indeed, for how can one wreck that which is already broken? In spite of having built a “new” Dominica, the same “old” problem of lingering abject poverty remains. But worry not! We have been appointed a highly qualified Poverty Reduction Analyst to help curb —I mean analyze—the poverty problem in Dominica.

“The dreamers have sought to make heavy weather of Dominica’s debt to GDP ratio.” Oh how convenient! This was precisely the topic of the Panel’s last post; however, it is beyond me how a ratio that creates and separates socioeconomic classes could possibly be construed as ‘heavy weather’. Dominica is $1.047 billion in debt. Perhaps we should pay our ‘Supreme Leader’ – as one of DNO’s commenters dubs the PM (and I hope desperately, but honestly doubt, that it was uttered in jest) – the unquestioned confidence in all his actions that he demands (/sarcasm). “However, debt is relative,” he continues, proving my point. A country’s debt is not so important as its ability to repay it and thrive in spite of it; hence, the ratio. Ah, it is rather endearing how you flatter my naiveté. 

“There are really only three known sources of revenue for a country. These are gifts and grants, which are now becoming scarce; taxes, levies and similar impositions, which are limited in scope and capacity; and, loans, which have to be repaid.” In the scarcity of grants (though he will later say that there are already “commitments from friendly governments for grant financing”) and the common sense rationale of not borrowing when knee-deep in debt, the PM quite eloquently implies the argument that taxation is the solution. Astonishingly, I agree. However, the idea that hiking rates is the ONLY way to increase tax revenue is ridiculous. This, by the way, just so happens to be the stance of economist McCathy Marie (see paragraph 13).

To bolster my opinion, the PM also divulges that the ‘Citizenship By Investment Programme’ (the ECP) is expected to bring in $70 million, while the Value Added Tax (or VAT) will contribute $128.5 million in the upcoming fiscal year. That is to say, if Dominicans have money to spend, they will surely spend it on taxable items and that sum will far exceed the money gained from economic citizenship. How then can it be that the ECP is our best chance of increasing revenue and lowering debt, as has been repeatedly suggested?

The PM continues on a multi-paragraph tangent to justify the terms under which loans were taken by Dominica (and, in so doing, attempts to discredit his unnamed—and perhaps imagined—critics), an issue that is significant on its own but not pertinent to the majority of complaints that have actually been lodged against his administration. Oh no, I and Dr. Thomson Fontaine independently concur that less morally questionable, more reasonable means of garnering revenue must be implemented; of the ECP, Dr. Fontaine says “it is a very sad indictment of the government that, [sic] that is the only choice that they have” (see paragraph 17).

“…a multitude of lives have been touched for the better by the policies and programmes of this Government.” He goes on to name indoor plumbing, student bus fares, higher education, and public transportation to exemplify his point. His illustrations are truthful in that they have indeed materialized. As to whether or not this translates to more money in Dominicans’ pockets, we’re still processing that.

Next comes a plethora of positive growth statistics for which the current administration must truly be lauded: real growth is on the rise in Dominica, says the PM, from 1.7% in 2013 to 3.4% in 2014, and the highest contributing activities are “Public Administration, Education, Financial Intermediation and Wholesale and Retail Trade” (click links for definitions), all of whom have their assets wholly or partly entrenched in the hands of the wealthy or the government itself, in any case. In other words, the rich are getting richer, while the poor…you get the point.

“…an increase in receipts from the collection of corporate income tax more than offset a shortfall in the revenues from withholding tax.” (Again, please click links for definitions.) Could this be because fewer Dominicans are gainfully employed? I’m just asking for a friend.

“For [the] fiscal year 2015/16 the capital programme is $184.2 million funded as follows:
• Local Funds of $51.7 million
• Loans of $33.1 million
• Grants of $99.4 million

The fact that more than fifty per cent of the capital programme is financed by grants, in a period when grants are becoming scarce, is testament to this Government’s success in developing foreign relations that redound to the benefit of the country.” It may be testament to something else but you can ponder that on your own.

The plans mentioned for the agricultural industry are, in my opinion, feasible, sustainable, exciting, and commendable. Any objections may be voiced respectably in the comments.

The numerous tax exemptions with respect to “approved developments” of hotels and resorts are a bit questionable, especially since they seek “to accommodate exemptions on withholding tax [and income tax], on rental income of villa owners, for a period of ten (10) years”, in which echelon the PM is rumored to be one such owner. Of course, that’s just a rumor.

“The assessment so far is that during the fiscal year, the following direct jobs are being created Madam Speaker:
• Two hundred and fifty jobs (250) created in the banana and plantain industries;
• Twenty-eight (28) skilled and unskilled workers will be engaged in the abattoir;
• Twenty-two (22) workers will be engaged full time at the coffee plant;
• Forty-six (46) poultry farmers will now have sustained employment;
• Over five hundred (500) workers will be engaged in the construction of Range/Kempinski Development;
• Placement for thirty (30) new graduates under the National Employment Programme and continuing engagement of 400 interns;
• Ten (10) full-time employees will be engaged in the pack houses and additional officers will be taken on in a part-time basis based on the level of activity.”

Yes, that’s at least 1,286 new jobs. Assuming our unemployment rate has remained steady at 23% (or 16,100 Dominicans) since 2009, that means (rounding off 1,268 to 1,300) about 14,800 persons (or 21% of the population) will still be unemployed. I’ll just leave these numbers here.

The emphasis on specializing local doctors to deal with pertinent conditions affecting our citizens is, as are several other parts of the budget, comforting and beneficial. I hope, in the future, the importance of sponsoring the university education of individuals interested in non-traditional career fields will also be addressed. After all, we do need designers, technicians, chefs, farmers, musicians, historians, journalists, and therapists as much as we need doctors, lawyers, and businessmen. 

As for the Law Revision Act, while it is imperative that our laws reflect an understanding of but not necessarily a submission to modern society and global trends, I do not see why CD-ROMs stating these revisions should be sold and not given for free. 

“One of the areas of concern, Madam Speaker, relates to the willingness of citizens to pay taxes that are due. If those of us, who are required to pay, keep this obligation, Government would be in a better position to provide more goods and services.” I agree wholeheartedly. The success of our nation hinges on our fulfilling our responsibilities as law-abiding citizens of this great nation. We cannot expect to have our rights respected if we do not perform our duties. And we should not have our rights skirted or bargained with for the sake of political policy. 

Note also the contrast in specificity between the accusation of tax evasion versus the description of improvements to physical infrastructure (namely roads, for which you should soon anticipate a highway maintenance tax); the PM stated only that “the police will step up their surveillance” in order to stop defaulters from evading license fees but gave a near-comprehensive list of the road works projects undertaken by his administration, as well as the expenditures involved, all the way back to 2005. Tally for yourself the number of substantiating examples – unwillingness of Dominicans to pay taxes = 1, infrastructural improvement projects for which the government should be praised = 14. 

At least twice, furthermore, he urged us to either figure out a better strategic plan on our own or shut the hell up. Of course, I paraphrase. But still…ouch. And among his last statements lay this gem: “there seems to be the unwritten rule that everything said and done by the government of the day, [sic] must be criticized…”

Unfortunately, sir, criticism is absolutely necessary in the face of policies made by fallible human leaders and of strategies that profoundly influence the daily lives of tens of thousands of people under the governance of a small few. Critical analysis is designed not to undermine or attack they who suggest policies but to refine those policies to perfection and to ensure, through the democratic process of freedom of speech and expression, that these policies remain in the best interest of the people. I mean, Dominica is still a democracy, isn’t it? The disdain that often meets such criticism does nothing but cast shadows of doubt upon the confidence that ought to exist in an electorate for its political leaders. This right to constructive criticism is my inalienable right as a concerned observer and even more so as a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Since the administration so deeply values the privileges of its people, I am certain that this and other rights of mine and yours shall not, now or ever, be infringed upon (see Spain); instead, may these ramblings of a young adult navigating the political and economic atmosphere of her own country be met with respect as they seek not to assault but critically analyze (see definition here) the policies of a long-standing governing body.

Girlllllll....

All Hope Is Not Lost

Investopedia defines the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country as "the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period", usually in a year. The site goes on to say that:

"GDP is commonly used as an indicator of the economic health of a country, as well as to gauge a country's standard of living. Critics of using GDP as an economic measure say the statistic does not take into account the underground economy - transactions that, for whatever reason, are not reported to the government. Others say that GDP is not intended to gauge material well-being, but serves as a measure of a nation's productivity, which is unrelated." [emphasis mine]

Read that last part carefully. Material well-being is NOT the same as productivity. In other words, a nation with state-of-the-art infrastructures but overwhelming poverty is still not a healthy nation! And if that doesn't describe the investment trend employed over here in the Nature Isle, I don't know what will. But let's delve into the specifics of our GDP first.

The GDP equation is as follows:

GDP = Consumer spending + Government spending + Business investment + (Exports – Imports)

Now, honestly try to recall: how have we in Dominica divided our GDP? Have we been spending exorbitantly as consumers? I would argue not, since upwards of 25% of us live in poverty and the outrageous 15% VAT has made it extremely difficult to purchase anything outside of basic needs. Has our government spending been outrageous? Compared to Nigeria's senate salaries, no (1 Nigerian Naira = half a cent in USD). But it's not beyond reproach. How about our business investments? Well, two years ago, small business owners at a National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD) Small Business Consultation complained of the unreasonable requirements and stipulations surrounding small business loans, and it was the local financial institutions that responded by reducing requirements and lowering interest rates. Surely our exports compensate for all this? Nope, exports of banana and other goods have all been declining for decades, what with few concessions for farmers and heavy competition from the global market. Okay last shot: is our import bill too high? I'd argue that it isn't, but it is troubling to see the nature of things that we import - they're almost always goods that we can, should, and often DO produce for ourselves: bottled water, fruit drinks, paper, and so on.

So, to where is all that money disappearing? Of course, of course there are other, more complex factors contributing to the quality of life in a given country...but if our administration is doing all the right things, why are most of us struggling just to get by? Why are we even on the IMF's reported list of worst economies in the world? The answer is simple: INFRASTRUCTURE.

The people up top have made one thing absolutely clear to us: the condition of our physical infrastructure is incontrovertible proof of our prosperity. We look around and see that neighboring countries have international airports, so we decide that we need one too. Never mind that our stay-over statistics paint a sorry story. We've been promised a new Princess Margaret Hospital and have rejoiced even before it has materialized. Never mind that health care costs are up to the ceiling and we still have very few specialized doctors to occupy the posts therein. We've got a brand new West Coast highway, but less than half of our working class population owns a vehicle. And, by the way, very little of the capital that funds these infrastructural feats comes from our own treasuries; these are mostly paid for by foreign investors or borrowed at the expense of taxpayers' money.

So I ask again: to where is all our money going? Maybe we will get our answer next Friday when the Prime Minister outlines the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. He has already made it clear that "if we want the country to get to a particular point in time, then we have to make a contribution to that endeavor" but stated that it is imperative "to invest both in the social infrastructure and also the physical infrastructure" of Dominica. (DNO) One cannot help but think (after his recent ultimatum of either continuing the Economic Citizenship Program (ECP) or increasing taxation) that by this he means higher taxes are almost certainly waiting in the wings, that the controversial "social programs" will continue, AND that more foreign investments will come pouring in to pretty up our physical infrastructure without actually benefiting the living standards of everyday citizens. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Already, economists McCathy Marie and Dr. Thomson Fontaine are painting bleak but non-parallel pictures of our financial situation, particularly in the wake of the IMF's report. Fontaine worries that we will be in dire straits if we run out of resources and default on our external debt, while Marie assures us this state of debt is old news and that most other Eastern Caribbean countries are on the verge of external debt crisis, just like us. Both agree, however, that any degeneration of the current situation would be disastrous. But Marie went so far as to say of the ECP that "...whether we think it is morally repugnant or not, we need it." Read more of their analyses here.

We have several industries here in Dominica in severe need of genuine attention and productive investment. The notion that the ECP is our only viable, profitable venture symbolizes to me 1) the stance of a governing body that has not even the decency to feign sincere efforts to revitalize our economy and 2) a people brainwashed into unquestioningly accepting helplessness and dependence on the "overt kindness" of those in authority in order to have civil needs met. If I am distorting the truth, comment by telling me how the new presidential state house has served the economy in Dominica in a way that personally affects the majority of our population. And, while you're at it, remind me who footed the bill.

I'll wait.

Same Old, Same Old

A few months ago, a Haitian teenager was bound, beaten and hanged in a public square in the Dominican Republic. His crime? Allegedly stealing money won from gambling. The young man, known only as "Tulile", was reportedly a shoe shiner (yes, people still shine shoes), and police are denying that race was an issue in this crime. 

Haitians in DR scramble to produce documents or be deported.

Yet that conjecture does not seem far-fetched amid the escalating violence that has ensued against Haitian immigrants who are now being forced out of the Dominican Republic and back into a less-than-ecstatic and already-struggling Haiti (listen to a short NPR commentary on the history of Haitian naturalization in the Dominican Republic by clicking here). Skin colour, you see, is more than a physical attribute in many societies, some of which are right in our backyard. Says Azam Ahmed of the New York Times in an article about this deportation crisis:

"One reason for the relative diplomatic silence...is the troubled relationship many countries have with migrant workers who enter their borders illegally seeking employment..."

Aye but that "troubled relationship" really refers to child labour, slave labour, ridiculously low wages, unreasonable hours, or substandard working conditions for those immigrants, as well as ludicrous margins of profit for the corporations and people that abuse them. Why would any sensible politician complain about migrant workers who keep afloat the businesses owned by their most generous donors and puppeteers?

Of course, there is probably not a country in the world who can boast of having no illegal immigrants elsewhere. And we would do well to keep that in mind as our diaspora grows at a rate comparable to that of our population decline. Yes, I am specifically chastising those of us who mistreat Haitians in Dominica while envying or relying upon our relatives in the US and UK. We have too long considered ourselves, sometimes wordlessly, superior to those who have far better work ethics than many of us do.

Our young men bewail the lack of employment opportunities on island...yet I have never seen or heard of an unemployed Haitian man. Do we not all live in the same country? The menial labour we feel too beneath us, they gladly do and do superbly. And where they cannot find jobs, they create them. Notorious in some areas for craftsmanship and sewing, Haitian men in Dominica often supplement their "day jobs" with tailoring that equals the high quality we expect of our locals, among other odd jobs. Personal experience, however, shows that Dominican men lack that type of innovation and humility. A conversation overheard:

Man: "De country tight wi boy...."
Woman: "Yes wi. Five dollars cannot even buy nothing na!"
Man: "I telling you. I self just need a job and I set."
Woman: "Oh I hear they was looking for people to do construction?"
Man: "Who dat? I looking like a Haitian?"

This sort of unthinking presumption of racial superiority is not just deplorable and ignorant but a frightening echo of the slave system used by whites to portray Africans in a denigrating light. We should never, even unwittingly, create any resemblance between ourselves and the melanin-challenged proponents of black oppression and genocide.

/sarcasm

[Meanwhile, an outspoken Trumpet head feels entitled to make racist remarks about immigrants (watch a hilarious Daily Show excerpt from Vox by clicking here), overlooking the fact that those immigrants comprise a hefty portion of the underpaid labourers that drive his business ventures. Have a look at the surging pinata sensation springing up from this by clicking here and the list of corporations who have cut ties with him here.]

Hundreds of thousands of people of Haitian descent have been scuttling to provide documentation to prove to officials in the Dominican Republic that either: 1) they have a legal right to work there; or 2) they have at least one Dominican parent. Adam Raney of Aljazeera shares:

"In the Dominican Republic hundreds of thousands of people - not all of them migrants - live with the threat now of deportation. Maybe they were born here but can't prove one of their parents was Dominican. Maybe they came to work in the sugar fields. Maybe they fled the 2010 earthquake and since then have eked out a life here. All that matters to the government is that they prove they have a legal right to stay here. Not so easy, as many of these people were born in shacks and have no documents to speak of."

 Raney goes on to show how ironic the Dominican Republic's repugnance for illegal Haitian immigrants really is when, just a few decades ago, New York experienced an upsurge in illegal immigrants from - you guessed it - the Dominican Republic. (Read the rest of Raney's article here. Learn about Haitians in New Orleans here) So, our Spanish counterparts share our habit of slapping the less fortunate with one hand while begging Uncle Sam for scraps with the other. And the only thing preventing mass deportation of the Republic's Haitian population is the scrutiny of the rest of the world, which, as we know, will not last forever. While it is still a hot topic, some Caribbean organizations have called for boycotts against traveling to and buying products from the Dominican Republic. It is thus clear that other countries sympathize with the Haitian struggle, but the Republic holds a deep-seated contempt upon which it feels justified to act.

A Haitian mother broods after losing the means to support her children.

And that very attitude is reflected in our dear, sweet Dominica. Sharing the first name of the Hispaniola nation with which we are often mistaken, we also share its disdain for Haitians. I mean, the least we could do is to be fair and treat ALL of our immigrants with equal disdain, but you won't find any Spanish migrants receiving the types of insults to which Haitians are subjected. Oh no, some Spanish immigrants provide a different type of service with which no Dominican man is displeased (search comments for mention of Spanish women here), neither will he risk his reputation even if he were. Or perhaps we are inherently friendlier to persons with lighter complexions, as many dark-skinned ethnic Dominican Republic residents - who have been kicked past the border because their compatriots thought they were Haitians - will tell you.

We do indeed too quickly forget history's lessons. Many Haitians emigrated not out of mischief, boredom, or selfishness but after having managed to survive Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or the 7.0 magnitude earthquake of 2010 (and the tsunami that followed). They're not here to ruin our country; in fact, they bolster it tremendously. They came here because they were homeless or without livelihoods in a homeland reduced to ruins by horrific disasters. Hundreds were children who had lost their parents or vice versa. And most have since carved out decent lives for themselves on our shores, displaying modest gratitude for the basic necessities that we take for granted. And if anyone should know the devastation hurricanes and earthquakes can cause, it's us. If scenes from Hurricane David (also here, here, and here) and from our 2007 earthquake do not stir up any of the empathy we ought to have for those fleeing disaster zones, then we should be ashamed. THEY are just like US.

L - 2010 Haiti earthquake; R - 2007 Dominica earthquake

Why do we seem to ignore the histories of our nations? Is it too inconvenient for us to be likened, even in tragedy, to fellow West Indians who share our misfortunes both in natural disasters this millennium and in slavery the last? We can strive harder together towards mutual prosperity, or we can water down the past so as to not feel accountable for those seeking refuge in our beautiful country. And in case you were wondering where we might have gotten the latter from...

A whitewashed version of history is now also being taught to students in the USA, particularly in Texas. Social studies textbooks in that state are being criticized by notable historians because they conveniently omit Jim Crow laws, downplay key facts pertaining to racial segregation, and cite the right to slavery as a "secondary cause" of the Civil War (going so far as to praise biblical figure Moses for his contribution to the Founding documents), no doubt, one could easily argue, for the purpose of engendering a new generation of unwitting 'anti-racists' blatantly unaware of the unpleasant history of its nation. Similarly, we in Dominica seem to be reading intently from some imaginary narrative that paints Haitians as the same kind of sub-human creatures that white supremacists believe us to be. Besides the sheer hypocrisy, are we truly so quick to discriminate others for the same reason we are discriminated against and, incredulously so, on the basis of their doing precisely the jobs that we don't want to do? So many of us rake in attention on social media under the banner of the #BlackLivesMatter movement; we had better not be so foolish as to think Haitian lives don't matter as well or as much as ours.

The path to genuine and universal equality is arduous, the destination far away. So as we cheer small victories like the removal of the Confederate Flag from South Carolina statehouse grounds, let us not forget that the battle is not over. Bree Newsome may be our imprisoned heroine for now, but Trayvon, Freddie, Tamir, and countless others are still dead. One symbol of gross injustice may have come down from its mast but the ship of racial prejudice still sails, propelled by the tropical breezes of the Caribbean Sea.

L to R: Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice. May they rest in peace.