National Parks, World Heritage Site to Clean and Green Policy

Hon. Ron Green’s and the United Workers Party’s proposal to Dominica to adopt “The Clean and Green National Policy,”, as the framework for its Development Agenda in the 21st Century, is a logical culmination of the work started by Christopher Maximea and others in the Forestry Division , since the 1950-1960s. As was noted by Dr. Colmore Christian, and published in Dominica News Online, Sept 18th

“Nature base tourism is currently Dominica’s primary foreign exchange earner. This is only possible because of the foresight and hard work of Maximea and the pioneers of forestry in Dominica….he took a Government agency which in the 1950-1960s was ridiculed, and developed it into one of the most professional, nationally respected, and productive units within the public service…Many of his critics and opponents in the 1970s and 1980s, are today among the loudest and most vocal supporters of nature based tourism. …Christopher Maximea had a clear vision for Forestry and Natural Resource management in Dominica. Maxine was elated when in 1997,The Trois Pitons National Park was enlisted as a World Heritage Site(Natural Areas Category)by UNESCO….He was the recipient of The Meritorious Service National Award in 1998 in recognition for his contribution to Natural Resource Management in Dominica. ”

CLEAN AND GREEN-CONTINUING A CLEAR VISION

It was this Clear Vision which Guided the United Workers Party in 1997, and prompted the then Minister of Tourism, Hon. Norris Prevost, to take the necessary actions to enlist The Trois Pitons National Park as a World Heritage Site. It is this same Clear Vision and foresight, which today has lead the Hon. Ron Green and the United Workers Party, to propose to Dominica, a Clean and Green Agenda, as the only way forward for us, Dominicans, to sustain ourselves in our Nature island. It was this same Clear vision, which prompted the UWP Govt. In 1998, to bestow upon  Maximea, the Meritorious Service Award. It may not have been clear to some, but even then UWP was laying the foundation for Clean and Green.

As many doubted and even sought to ridicule Maximea’s  vision of the 1960s for a National Parks System  as part of  a long term Natural Resource Management system for Dominica, so too the present Labour Govt. has sought to ridicule The National Clean and Green Agenda, being articulated by a wide cross section of forward thinking Dominicans, lead by Hon. Ron Green and the United Workers Party.

Clean and Green- Hope21.The Next Wave of Human Development.

Dominicans Can Feel Assured. Dominica is not alone on the Clean and Green Agenda. In fact The European Union, Dominica’s largest development AID donor over the last decade, is well ahead, in moving their economies to Clean and Green, and President Obama is positioning the United States of America to catch up as fast as possible. Moreover, given the support and accolades showered on Dominica by such World bodies as The UNESCO World heritage Center, and Green Globe for its past achievements in the direction of “ Clean and Green”, Dominicans can feel assured that “Clean and Green”  is the right way for Dominica to go. The resounding endorsement and praise for Dominica’s efforts, given by Director of World heritage Center, Dr Bernd Von Droste, at the inscription of the World heritage Site, bear testimony to Dominica’s wisdom in going Clean and Green: Said Dr Droste “Dominica, after only two years since it adhered in 1995 to the World Heritage Convention, in a remarkable speedy process which reflects the competence of its services, was able to nominate this site for the World Heritage List and overcame all the obstacles of a very complex process of nomination, of identification, of limitation, of preparing a very exhaustive dossier within that short time. And also doing the seminar that is being held at this time in connection with the ceremony on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Caribbean, an international conference. Your country, the Commonwealth of Dominica, was applauded by all participants for setting high standards for the whole region, high standards of conservation, for efficiency of work….. The identity crisis in the Carib­bean was mentioned today and yesterday by participants as one of the problems in the region apart from the other large problem which is called globalization. World Heritage plays, in this context, a very important role because we recognise ourselves in this Heritage, in our specificity in the Caribbean region. The natural sites, of course, show our common commitment to keep our biological diversity intact because that is what keeps ourselves alive particularly on islands where we need to be protected against erosion, where we need to control the flow of water and where we need to keep the ecosystems intact because on the island any rupture and eco-systems failure puts us narrowly down to mere survival….. I would like to wish, before the handing of the certificate, that Dominica remains an island of hope in the stormy time of globalization, an island of example for action in conservation and sustainability, setting an example to other countries. Because unspoilt nature and authentic cultural properties have become, in a world of increasing detraction, rare, everyday rare, more rare than yesterday and therefore it accumulates more and more value just by the lapse of time which is just the unfortunate way the world goes today. And I think there you have a responsibility to keep this very, very prestigious and unique place. I hope, therefore, that there would be a golden future for the Commonwealth of Dominica and its people, which we appreciated so much because we experi­enced your hospitality. We admire this small country, its efforts and its dedication. “  For the first time in its history, Dominica has a leading Political party, the United Workers Party, embracing the Clean and Green vision as the way forward for our development. Dominicans all, are called to open their eyes, and embrace our golden future or mere survival.