I read this great article by Ayeola George called “If I were in Dominica for Independence 2011″ that I thought I would share – you can click here to read it.

I haven’t had the pleasure of being in Dominica yet at this time of the year and until my youngest isn’t in school I guess it is not going to happen but it is only another 4 years to wait before I can be at my first and as my birthday is a couple of days later it will be a great way to celebrate. By then I will be close to 50… what a thought

There is music, food, dance, good company and plenty of people around – all the things that Dominica do so very well.

I need to get myself back there in 2012! The video below isn’t from independence celebrations but from when I was at the literary festival in 2010…. just remembering….

Here are my top 10 best sounds on Dominican Diaspora profiles:

(Note : you need to be logged in to see these profiles)

Number One : Sylvia Smith

One in a million/come back to bed, Earth Wind & Fire, You Love – Bushman – love it

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/SylviaSmith

Number Two : Natasha Henderson

The heart and soul of Dominican Diaspora and from musical roots too so it was a tough call whether to make Natasha second or first but Sylvia had tunes that reminded me of my English black roots so won…!

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/NATASHAHENDERSONSHILLINGFORD

I had no idea what Zouk music was before DD but Natasha has some great calypso/zouk sounds… trendsetter is my favourite and I shared that one on my profile!  I lost count how many times I have played that tune now

Number Three : Cameron Pierre

Okay so he is a professional musician but I have loved his music since ‘discovering’ him on DD, one of the great things about the network is the music I discovered for myself since it started.

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/CameronPierre

Mo Better Blues is my FAV track and I have his album so that gets plenty of play on my ipod.

Number Four: Rodney Ross

Mr Manje Lokal cook and music man…

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/rodneyross?xg_source=activity

Number Five: Rhea Farrell (Moreau)

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/Rhea

A mixture of tunes I love to listen to over and over again. Most of which remind me of younger days

Number Six: Kalinago Woryi

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/Kalinago

As beautiful and strong as the woman herself this is a great mixture of music and I need to be in a certain defiant mood to be listening to it – not easy listening but great warrior music.

Number Seven : Bo Bannis

Love the calpyso tunes that are on here

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/BoBannis

Number Eight :  My girl Robyn

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/Robyn

I need to get her back in there to update her page but still love the Love Generation song and My Destiny

Number Nine :  Laurel Douglas-Falconer

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/LaurelDouglasFalconer

A great mixture of music to choose from

Number Ten : Ron ‘Baba’ Deschamps

My second favourite man on DD (Cameron Pierre will always be my favourite!) and a great man to talk to – we used to have 2 hour chats on skype about everything and nothing… funny man with stories and creative when it comes to art and music.

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/zafadomnik

There used to be more music on there but now not so much. It used to be one of my top places to go listen to music but I couldn’t not add him to my list.

So there you have it. This is the music that keeps me going every day as I sit and type at my computer. I bought a Young Bull  CD when I was in DA and would love to know how to add them but they are not mp3s – Bulldozer is my favourite tune. Will have to work that out. So those are my favs.

harmonyvillaforest

Even more dismal is the fact that so few Dominican women see the importance of owning the dwiyet. They give every reason under the sun why the do not own a Dwiyet , including ‘it is too hot and it is too expensive to make one’.

These are the same people who do not think twice about spending hundreds of dollars on a dress for a one-time occasion or to join a carnival band.It is high time we educate ourselves on what is ours so we can give it the respect that it deserves.

Why shouldn’t visitors be able to appreciate how stunning the outfit is while we shun what is uniquely ours? I chalk it down to bare ignorance.

Let’s make the effort to at least own a Jupe or a Dwiyet and wear it at every function where we want to stand out and look spectacular.

Rome was not built in a day but it was built any way. If you start on the outfit now and purchase your materials bit by bit and have the outfit made, you may just strike a dashing pose as a sweet ‘Doudou Matador’ this independence season.

About Delia Cuffy-Weekes

I love traditional things with a passion – I am from Grand Bay and I do my best to educate other people on our culture and preservation of same. I am the President of the Roseau Cultural Group and we continue trying to maintain the things that make us truly Dominican.

In the future (near I hope) we plan to produce a booklet describing the traditional wear through the years and placing it in context so people will better understand our history. Would like to do a video as well to present a well rounded package.

http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/profile/DeliaCuffyWeekes

Share your tips, this track helps; Al Green – Everything Is Gonna Be Alright

My current preoccupation is that of  the receipt of timely payment  for work completed.   As some may be aware I am an Independent Social Work Consultant & Educator, Trainer & Personal / Professional Coach.  I have many years of experience and feel I have a lot to offer in terms of my many years of experience  (over 25yrs in this work).  It seems that whilst organisations are happy to have an experienced person undertake pieces of work for them which they struggle to achieve within their existing team(s), once the work is completed and  the invoice is submitted, it takes an age to get your money. 

This has been a persistent irritation for me and my business.   Those of you who run small business’s will be familiar with the problem of poor cash flow and how this can be the ruination of a small business.    

I am glad I can still get work, I love being independent and in charge of my business and the flexibility of working when I feel most productive.  However the persistent cash flow difficulties make has me thinking that whilst I am working very hard (late evenings, lots of travel across London and elsewhere) am I working very smartly? 

I’m constantly evaluating my situation and here are my latest thoughts on how I might manage  the current difficulties;

• Invoice my clients more regularly,  moving away from monthly invoicing to fortnightly invoicing.
• Chase invoices after 7 days via a named person to ensure that they have been processed and ask when I can expect payment to hit my bank account.
• keep up to date with my book keeping, so as I am more financially organised.
• find a regular (part time) gig which will provide a weekly source of income 

If you have any other tips share them!

-part of rehabilitation plan

By Nester Phillip

Thursday September 9, 2010

ROSEAU, DOMINICA – The Government of Dominica is making EC$1M available in the first instance to banana farmers so as to boost production.

The new loan and grant facility available at the Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank (DAIDB) was announced at the Financial Centre on Wednesday with the Ministry of Agriculture having the funds accessible as part of the Banana Recovery, Sustainability and Diversification Plan’s Phase 1.

Agriculture Minister, Matthew Walter explained, “The Ministry is considering a programme which should target 48 percent, that is, the top 161 farmers, of the active farmers producing about five tonnes per acre per year and increasing their acreage from 507 acres to 805 acres.”

The programme will include rehabilitation, replanting and expansion of the crop based on farmer needs assessment at a time when the sector is plagued with underproduction and a decreasing farmer population. The average acreage of the top 161 farmers is approximately 4.5 to 5 acres. There are fewer than 350 banana farmers on the island.

As such $2,918 will be granted for two acres for rehabilitation; $8, 911 for two acres the purpose replanting and $4,455.50 for one acre to be used for expansion.

The total investment for the top producing 161 farms amounts to $2,621,805.50.

According to the minister, the banana sector is currently under producing with the average weekly production standing at approximately 8, 300 boxes.

The required volumes for the United Kingdom (U.K.) market includes 13, 000 boxes and 5, 000 boxes for the regional market.

“In essence, in the first year we expect to rehabilitate 322 acres at $469,798, replanting amounts to $1,434,671 and expansion of 161 acres amounts to $717,335.50. In aggregate, this year, the first year, we expect to invest in the banana sub sector $2.6 million. This is the first phase of the plan and we will ensure that the funds are being put to good use so that the desired out come is attained”, Walter noted.

The Ministry will deploy monitoring officers to ensure that the funds are well channeled and that the required performance is maintained. He assured farmers that as soon as desired production levels are met, the government will make more funds available.

Technical officers in the Ministry of Agriculture are currently developing a National Adaptation Strategy to deal with the new trade rules governing the banana trade with Europe.

“We are clear that farmers are in need of assistance, and that government is responding and addressing some of such needs. [The facility] will target banana producers who have remained in the industry and who will best utilize this form of support to increase production and to meet the quality demand by the Fairtrade and regional markets.”

Prime Minster and Finance Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit acknowledged agriculture as being critical to the country’s economic prosperity and recognized the investment as vital while resources are scarce.

Skerrit pointed out, “This is a fifty-fifty arrangement which means that if a farmer has $60,000 to invest in his banana farm, he will get $30,000 as a loan and $30, 000 as a grant. This is a significant investment because the government in itself is putting in direct grant funds into the banana industry.”

However, Skerrit expressed his government’s hope that the farmers will now feel incentives the banana farmers to go out and produce.

He asserted, “What we hope this program will achieve, is increased production. Farmers cannot do business as usual, we cannot have a one acre plot and put in one ton of bananas or two tons, we have to ensure that farmers move to ten tons of bananas per acre if we are to survive the very difficult banana market that we have in Europe.”

Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit (left) hands over the $1million cheque, as part of a first portion of funds to Chairman of the AID Bank, Ambrose Sylvester for the revitalization of the banana sector.

Take a look at some of the camping pics at; http://www.flickr.com/photos/24024092@N04/sets/72157624656413045/ we had a great time. 

I’m back now and although working…….. I’m  feeling very much that changes need to be made, changes which will mean being more conscious about what is important in life – relationships with your family and your friends are of course, because when you think about it, you’re not gonna wish you’d worked harder when your ‘numbers up’ are you? You’re gonna  feel happier knowing you spent lots of quality time with those you care about and love.

Enjoy what’s left of the summer – and spend time with those you love.