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Welcome Message by the Executive Director of the Rosie Douglas Foundation

Beloved Dominicans and friends of Dominica, today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history not only of Dominica but also of the entire Caribbean region. Your participation here today is a testimony of your commitment to be part of the engine of change to make a substantive and sustained contribution towards the economic and social development of Dominica.

On behalf of the members of the Board of Directors of the Rosie Douglas Foundation I welcome you to this our first annual symposium on the Diaspora in the development process, as well as to the first international tribute to the life and legacy of the Right Hon. Roosevelt Bernard Douglas late Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica.

It is only fitting that we honor him as he was the first Dominican political figure of international stature who worked tirelessly for the liberation of his country and fought for civil rights of Canadian citizens and devoted much of his life in the liberation struggle of Africa, in particular Namibia, and South Africa. A true nation builder he was dedicated to the education of the dispossessed all his life. In his ground breaking critic of colonialism the book “Change or Chains”, focused on education as the key to our freedom. Accordingly, he worked tirelessly to open the doors to educational opportunities to Dominicans in Cuba, Austria, France, the USSR, and the US, via the University of New Orleans Technical Assistance Program.

Today December 8, 2001 will go down in Dominica’s history as the Diaspora rallies its resources for the noble task of nation building, by gathering our intellectual capital and linking it to provide enterprise in banking, aviation, tourism, information technology, agriculture and agro- processing, as we continue our quest for economic independence, self reliance and self respect.

The Diaspora in the Development process Symposium will succeed because by faith and dint of effort, we have sought to take our rightful place amidst those who are working diligently to build a progressive Dominica worthy of our talent as a people.

As I welcome you rest assured that the future of our island and indeed the Caribbean Region rest with the substantive contribution of the Diaspora Caribbean Community.

God Bless you all

Sincerely

Athenia Henry-Thomas
Executive Director

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RDF Symposium Papers