The last visit to my homeland, Dominica, was in 1991 over ten years ago. Not much has changed as far as the eyes can see. Dominica is still the unspoilt gem I knew as a boy. Her natural endowments are still crying out for harnessing into the eco-tourist Eden that planners have been talking about for several years now. The slow realization of this 'dream' can only be attributed to the care and caution necessary to avoid permanent damage to her eco-system.
Impressions are always personal and at times opinionated. Some readers might take exception to what follows below, but I offer no excuses nor invoke anyone's pardon for what I say here. We all know how easy it is to criticize and offer no remedies. This is not my style. Rest assured, you will find solutions to what I perceived to be serious problems in Dominica.
A period of nineteen (19) days is time enough to assess all facets of any socio-economic situation meaningfully. However, I will consider here only those areas which left an imprint on my mind:
What accounts for this upbeat atmosphere? I venture to say there has been a significant increase in the purchasing power of the people. This could hardly be a sign of a country on the verge of poverty! Then why is the economy of Dominica so depressed? Or, is this happening in the Capital only? Sociologists and social analysts should have a field day trying to unravel this phenomenon!
Building Construction
Gone are the days of small, but adequate two and three bedroom houses. Today, 'dream' houses on well-landscaped acres perch on hillsides and beachfronts with views to 'kill'. Building construction has been ongoing for years, but never before on such grandiose scale. My informants tell me this boom is the result of the return of expatriates building their retirement homes. My own investigations revealed that most such homes are owned by residents themselves.
Whatever the case may be, one must ask again where is the money coming from in this so-called impoverished economy? Are savings being depleted? Are banks and credit institutions lending freely? One thing is apparent, employment in the construction industry has remained very stable since my last visit. This augurs well for the economy.
Road Conditions
'Appalling' is too mild a word to describe the condition of roads in Dominica. On my previous visit it was a pleasure to travel the west coastal road. Today, it is painful to witness the deterioration. Avoiding potholes has become an integral part in the art of driving in Dominica. Sad to say, the very same weather that sustains our Nature Island is also merciless in its devastation of our roads and adjacent hillsides!
Road maintenance could easily be the major expenditure of the Public Works Department. Both tourism and agriculture depend very heavily on this infrastructure. But, is road maintenance given due priority in fund allocation? Why have the roads been allowed to deteriorate to this extent before repairs are done? Don't we have road maintenance gangs anymore? Have we forgotten the maxim, "a stitch in time saves nine?"
Political Atmosphere
From the day I arrived in Dominica I was bombarded by political speeches, commentaries, discussions, the 'Heng', and just before departing, by the call from Frederick Baron for his Freedom Party to sever its coalition ties with the Labour Party. Politics at home is the staple diet of everyone with a voice! I say this without derision. Politics permeates every fibre in our social fabric whatever the party dye. There is no respite.
Then, why is it said that Dominicans are not politically aware? Most seem to be able to analyze the situation and know the solutions to our problems. Leading politicians are not reticent to appear on television or radio to enunciate their positions or shed their pet peeves. They create the fodder for political consumption with which the public is never satiated.
The blame game is a real sport in the political arena. It creates a condition of stalemate that ensures its replay time and time again. There are never any winners or losers, except perhaps, Dominica! I say 'perhaps' because Dominicans appear to enjoy the tug-of-war, cheering this side then that side to the point of exhaustion.
Now Hear This
I came to the conclusion that nothing moves in Dominica without political propulsion! Politics has become the means as well as the end of any socio-economic activity. It is the reference point, the motivator, the engine and driving force of life in our beautiful Nature Island. Consequently, social and economic conditions are direct consequences of the political decisions of various governments. No surprise, I'm sure.
The impressions above are clearly part and parcel of these consequences. Therefore, no solutions to the problems alluded can be sought outside the political umbrella. Needless to say, this is an intolerable situation. Governments can't do everything even if they pretend to the contrary.
No wonder the Private Sector felt left out of the national development equation. Will the Integrated Development Plan balance the equation? Will politicians relinquish their strangle hold on the economic development decisions to the experts trained for that very purpose?
A Comprehensive Solution
It is high time for us to put our political house in order, literally. Politics has brought our Nature Island economy to a halt. It is time we freed ourselves from the mantle of the British Parliamentary system that continues to divide and rule our society in absentia. I urge our people to consider removing the fetters the British system has placed in our House of Assembly.
It is proposed that since Parliament is the seat of power in democratically elected 'governments' it is only reasonable to expect that all parties represented in Parliament should share this power equitably on a proportional basis. This seems the only logical way to ensure that the people represented by the parties have equal opportunity for full participation in governing their country.
In the case of Dominica, of the 21 elected House of Parliament, there are presently 11(Dominica Labour Party), 2(Dominica Freedom Party) and 8(United Workers Party) members. Power would be shared in the following proportion: 10% (DFP), 40% (UWP) and 50% (DLP). Assuming there were 10 ministries, then we should expect 1(DFP) minister, 4(UWP) ministers and 5(DLP) ministers.
There would be a Cabinet comprising all parties with the majority party (DLP) having the Prime Minister and the second party (UWP) having the Deputy Prime Minister.
Now wouldn't this create a Government of national unity where divisive party politics stops at the polls? UP
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