The goals of most developing nations are in the pursuit of 'development' for its people. And the perception of this 'development' has for a long time been rooted in economic growth and increased GDP. Development, has for many years been equated to the affluence, mordern landscapes and technological innovations of the developed world and Dominica is, no doubt, party to this thinking.
Our changing consumption habits and patterns in recent years have shown an increasing and almost insatialable crave for 'exotic' goods and services, no doubt encouraged and influenced by our perceptions of the developed world.
While the intention of this paper is not to downplay the importance of the developed world or economic growth there is the urgent need to revisit our economic and social development agenda. It must be seen that economic growth and increased income is not development per se though an important prerequisite.
In the past 50 years the development agenda, among professionals, donor agencies, NGOs, national governments and international financial institutions, have undergone several changes. Whereas in the 1950s and 1960s the emphasis was on econoimic growth through industrialisation, the emphasis today seems to be 'people centred'. As a result, the United Nations Development Report (1990), defines development as 'the process of enlarging people's choices' a process defined by Sen (2000) as 'increasing the real freedoms that people enjoy'.
It was quickly realized that narrow views of development such as identifying it as increasing GDP or increasing income per capita or advances in technology contrasted with the whole dimension of human development and freedom (Sen, 1999). Though a necessary component of and a means of expanding human capabilities and potential, economic growth is not development.
Despite increased income in Dominca in past years (money hoarded by a fortunate few) there is increased marginalisation and poverty in some circles of our society. Associated with this increased inequity and decreasing income distribution are many 'unfreedoms' such as undernourishment and inadequate access to health, education and other basic services, as well as gender imbalance and inequality. Because of our increased desire of cultures and consumer goods from the north our cultural heritage and traditions are fast disappearing as well as our rich history. We have come to see our local products as second class no doubt. Are we truly 'developing'?
What about our ecosystems and our rich biodiversity? Rapid expansion of banana production in the 1980s without due concern for our soils, forests and rivers indicates that economic growth was the only aspect of our development agenda. What about our stance with Japan on whaling? In seeking 'quick' fixes and 'more' money - (forget Dominca's huge trade deficit with Japan) - we are also prepared to sarifice the world's resources. Yet we sing 'songs' of development every God given day.
What about the livelihoods of thousands of our small farmers and their households being displaced by a dying (or should I say 'dead'?) banana industry? Where were our plans for safety nets? We must have been caught up in the moment of 'green gold' success and could not have looked very far ahead.
It seems Dominica should be singing a new song or changing the tunes of the existing one on development. Please remember in the first line of this paper that the term 'development for' was used and not 'development of'. Maybe our country will really and truly be on the development path when the word 'of' is used instead of 'for'. In seeking a new paradigm for the future we should look at removing the 'unfreedoms' hinted at earlier and replace them with increased capabilites, opportunities and the empowerment of our people. Only when our development plans include these three as its foundation will Dominca be on its way. Only when our people are made to understand true patriotism and love for country, our culture and our products will we be on our way. Still further, only when we learn to appreciate our environment and that of the world around us will we be on our way.
In attempting to move in this direction, the old view of 'business as usual' should be stamped out. Our attitude towards work and life should change. The culture of indifference so widespread in our private and public sector organisations (government most definitely included) should die. Domincans should become tired of politicians using high office as an avenue for their own agendas in the guise of nation development.
In most recent years there have been more public investment in capital projects (and with it increased patron-client deals and nepotism!) in Dominca than ever before. More and more infrastructure! And what? Increased debt, increased adjustment programmes, increaseed retrenchment and decreased spending on social needs. This sounds like two steps forward and three hundred steps backward.
Also in seeking quick fixes in economic diversification we have allowed our leaders to slowly destroy our agricultural sector (our mainstay) with all its potential. We sre forced to look hard at others, such as the service sector and tourism prematurely. Our economic hard times today points only to the fact that our leaders were not ready for the changing world around them. Yet instead of lookig at globalisation as an opportunity and an avenue they were prepared to bury their heads, look busy and quick to blame. The means of reaching our own people and their resources is greatly enhanced as the world shrinks. There financial and intellectual assets are phenomenal! We have never assessed our position in geographic and economic terms whether be it for our agriculture, tourism or service sectors. There is the need to understand our space in terms of our immediate neighbours, that of our regional neighbours and the world at large and take advantage of all opportunities. Our forced economic transition (forced upon us) is more the fault of internal political contraints than from external global issues.
In Dominca, there have been no lack of plans, policies and politicians for country development. What we do lack however, is the will and committment of particularly the politicians in undertaking what really matters. Instead of looking towards people as the 'object' of development, the heads of politicians have been turned to things and towards their own political aspirations.
But let us not cry over spilt milk. Our energy should rather be spent on enhancing the environment in which our people can have fuller more productive lives in occupations they enjoy.
Our leaders should blame each other but put their energy in ensuring that every Domincan have the capability and opportunity for future well being. We the people should have as much a say in development issues (ensuring participation) and in the process of choosing leaders that they, first of all, have the ability
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