Attention:talk, threats and development

Balancing community needs with national development brings into the fore some of the socioeconomic challenges that plague rural communities in transition. Over the past 35 years the contribution of the Northeast coastal villages to national development has remained an obscured fact requiring immediate attention. Rural Dominica has remain the bedrock of the Banana Industry, which still features most prominently as the sector with the greatest socio-economic impact in Dominica. The past neglect, the evolving potential, and the renewed focus to our ‘fertile crescent’ represent an undeniable platform for sustaining the current national development thrust.

One challenge that stands out in the development process is the capacity for individuals in the communities to experience and facilitate the paradigm shift in behavior, perceptions and attitudes particularly as it relates to development programs. Skeptics make unrealistic demands appearing mischievous at times. There are elements in our rural communities whose intentions are bent on diverting people’s attention from the important issues that impact positively on everyone’s life.

Today this atmosphere is being created by a view rooted in political arrogance or simple ignorance deliberately adopted by some and unconsciously absorb by the least mentally endowed. Woodford Hill community is now caught in this web whereby a selected few choose a path of LOSS-LOSS in order to fulfill a base desire of sabotage under an obvious cloud of pretense. Why are we ‘but’ people? Why can’t we replace our ‘should-nots’ with practical suggestions or offer ourselves to assist in making things become the way we would all love and benefit? Our contributions could be positive for a change!

What really is the issue of beach access? The ‘unspoken’ word, the silent whisper has and continues to evade the mouthpieces of the media, law enforcers, and community residents. There is a silent fear that we will lose our patrimony…is this really so!?

There are a myriad of factions or angles existing in the beach access charade that seem to be the hallmark of the development challenge. Our laws clearly states that the public access and use of the beach is a legitimate right and treasured privilege of every Dominican; this undeniable right of use however has been discussed in a negative manner evading the real issue that impinges on our socio-economic development and compromises the self same rights. Today there is a violent, sabotage-oriented discourse on the beach access issue. To the proponents, we are trying to take away their patrimony. Yep-so what has been that patrimony of late!?

DRUGS…yes; taboo to discuss today! Yep, that’s what we have deteriorated into – a society that has become numb to the reality of its real plague. Not one voice is heard crying about the modern day beach heritage…yes the near and present danger that now exists and is being protected subtly. Our beach is the drug entry room; a private center for the induction of CARICOM Lords and the introduction of the ‘white’ and ‘green’ tourists that is enjoyed by those who control the ‘tourists’ movement by degrading our sons and daughters making them look as listless zombies or stuck tropical chimneys or mere jail matter!

Yes, our beach, you may complain, will now be graced by an influx of potential ‘zombie’ imports who are essentially real tourists or guests of the hotel. Do we draw a line on development, do we lose focus on the social prognosis of our communities, and do we leave things as they are so that we can continue to talk- blame hoping to score political points at the expense of our children’s survival and future? Why is everyone so silent on the drug issue…the real threat associated with our beaches today?

Are you aware that the beach-use threatened to end the countless drug drop-offs perhaps happening right this moment!? Are we listening to the sound of silence within our helpless community wanting, hoping, and praying that this evil will just go away? Why the deafening silence in our media, among our church leaders, in our schools, on the streets and at our homes? Has the beach development silenced the dialogue on the real needs of the community or is this a ploy to divert the nations’ attention by the families, friends and beneficiaries of the drug trade?

Without being apologetic or watchful I beckon zero-tolerance to the high-day hypocrisy that surrounds the development thrust. Please do not use the Woodford Hill Beach development as a lame excuse for not bringing to the fore the real challenges that exists in our northeast communities. I boldly say to the families of our sons and daughters who are so verbal on protecting our beach to put their money where their mouth is. Stand up to your sons and daughters and tell them that they are destroying our community; material wealth accumulation as a result of destructive, illegal and socially unacceptable actions sends the wrong message. The current loud voices crying in defense for beach use access must stop diverting from the real issues that plagues our communities.

The beach use must change from its current thrust if we are to preserve and protect our patrimony. The hotel development poses a challenge for us to look closely at the socially malevolent beach activities that we have inherited as a result of the drug trade: violence, disrespect, substance abuse, illiteracy, delinquency, and indecency. These create an atmosphere where harassment, molestation, and discourtesy towards people prevail.

We must stand up and be ready to protect everyone who visits our shores-our land; we must be able to walk freely in our communities without fear of being run-over by those whose lifestyle draws disrespect and poor industry. The pride and dignity, cleanliness and beauty of our villages is an equal patrimony requiring protection as beach lands that will not be tombed with us.

It is sad that ordinary citizens can no longer feel safe in their communities making the safety of visitors even more challenging. At the same time you hear with excruciating disgust the talk of ‘they’ want to take our beach! Sometimes I ask, whereto? The beach is physically here; therefore the challenge for us today is to engage ourselves in vivid, frank, progressive discussions on how best we can marry our community development to the beach development. Why the double talk? So often, persons contradict their initial verbiage of ‘I support the hotel development…’ with a series of ‘buts’. As a people are we ready to look closely at our limitations and consciously work toward self and community improvement or do we droop in weakness, sometimes seeing others in the precise yet ignoble frames that we see ourselves?

We are gradually becoming a society that is numb, perhaps sedated to the presence and activities of mischievous, unsociable, un-conscientious, naïve individuals whose defense of our beach is totally misdirected. Still we echo their sentiments despite being informed otherwise or being knowledgeable of accurate information. Can we work towards our own development; can we move from the dependency mindset?

I believe this hotel investment is opportune and is certainly a challenge for the communities of Wesley, Woodford Hill and Calibishie to improve not only the economic situation but to address and re-inculcate the principles of industry, respect, cleanliness, community that got blown away since David. Recapturing the pride of a clean environment among an accepting industrious people whose political convictions are as strong as family ties; why can we not use that energy to propel our own development?

As a little villager perhaps my voice is out of tune to many, perhaps I am crying foul listlessly-your attitude, perception and response to the situation will be challenged nonetheless. The Crompton Point and Woodford Hill Beach developments are God ordained moments that challenges us to look carefully at those negative attitudes and perceptions that fail to put development into an appropriate and realistic context so that everyone will be able to contribute within his/her ability.

Our country’s development does not need the abrupt, dismissing, headstrong or the timid, hideous, self-defeating approach portrayed by all sides of the political divide. We must be frank yet be willing to listen, particularly opposing viewpoints; we must build on what is important and mutually beneficial to all. We must be mindful of the continued silence on what is critically important and distinguish it from loud shouts of ‘wolf, wolf’ representing false alarms as loss of land, loss of access, no benefits-all to our detriment! The challenge for us is to look closer at our social situation and direct our voices, energies and finances into real tangible developments, steeped with challenges yet with enough promise, we pray, to keep our young people saying “wel bwoy, Domnika have options we, le we stay here noh man!”