January 13, 2004: Headlines: COS - Dominica: Writing - Dominica: The Daily Mississippian: Last year, Grisham writer-in-residence Shay Youngblood, who had been a Peace Corps volunteer on the island in the Caribbean in the early 1980s, rekindled my interest in Dominica

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Dominica: Peace Corps Dominica: The Peace Corps in Dominica: January 13, 2004: Headlines: COS - Dominica: Writing - Dominica: The Daily Mississippian: Last year, Grisham writer-in-residence Shay Youngblood, who had been a Peace Corps volunteer on the island in the Caribbean in the early 1980s, rekindled my interest in Dominica

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-242-91.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.242.91) on Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 4:30 pm: Edit Post

Last year, Grisham writer-in-residence Shay Youngblood, who had been a Peace Corps volunteer on the island in the Caribbean in the early 1980s, rekindled my interest in Dominica

Last year, Grisham writer-in-residence Shay Youngblood, who had been a Peace Corps volunteer on the island in the Caribbean in the early 1980s, rekindled my interest in Dominica

Last year, Grisham writer-in-residence Shay Youngblood, who had been a Peace Corps volunteer on the island in the Caribbean in the early 1980s, rekindled my interest in Dominica

COLUMN - Dominica, UM share rich culture

by D. Allan Mitchell
DM Columnist
January 13, 2004

From Ole Miss to Ole Mas: the University of Mississippi's first leader of a sovereign nation is 31-year-old Roosevelt Skerrit, a 1997 English and psychology graduate, who was sworn in a few days ago as the new prime minister of Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-eek-a).

As a literature student myself, I can finally tell my parents that studying English can lead to becoming chief executive of one of the world's most beautiful islands. "The leadership that I will provide to Dominica is one of inclusion," Skerrit said after being sworn in. "The country requires unity, co-operation and understanding of everyone." It's good to see a fellow Generation X-er say such sage things without "like," "dude," or ironic sarcasm attached.

Dominica first captured my childhood imagination in the pages of National Geographic almost two decades ago. Then, last year, Grisham writer-in-residence Shay Youngblood, who had been a Peace Corps volunteer on the island in the Caribbean in the early 1980s, rekindled my interest in Dominica.

I have never been to Dominica. From every account, however, it is truly a spectacular place that is consistently ranked high at the top of nature lovers and ecotourists desires as a must-visit place to clamber about its tropical rainforests like island goats. As a fan of Nobel laureate Derek Walcott (he is from nearby St. Lucia and spent some time in Trinidad) I have developed a love for the Creole culture and calypso romance of the Windward Islands.

Few people have heard of Dominica (please don't confuse it with the Dominican Republic), because it is lacking in one major aspect of other Caribbean islands. It has almost no naturally occurring beaches just like Mississippi. We had to build most of ours. However, if you like world-class mountain biking, sailing, whale and bird watching, skin diving, hiking, orienteering as well as lounging in hot springs this may be the place for you. Plus, given that there is a pipeline from Dominica to Ole Miss (some 30 Dominicans have graduated from this university), you might meet some old familiar faces.

My only hope is that the Croft Institute of International Studies and the McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College is hard at work putting together proposals for semester and summer internships in Dominica for their very bright students. Dominica is a unicameral parliamentary democracy, and as its developing economy re-imagines itself for the 21st century, I cannot think of a better place to learn about the joys, trials and tribulations of an emerging island democracy than in Dominica.

Mississippi and Dominica do have a lot in common, and I hope the university begins a long-term relationship with Dominica to help educate its sons and daughters just as we educated its new Prime Minister.

A Great American Public University has quite enough room for great Dominican students. Plus, any professor with deep interest in environmental issues should check out Dominica. There is very little environmental degradation there. Imagine an island very much like it was two and three centuries ago.

Mississippians can learn a lot from Dominica; for instance, this island nation has a high level of development in the area of cultural tourism, in which Mississippi is making big strides, but still has a ways to go. Perhaps the U. of M. could also start a teacher exchange with the Dominican State College. I'd love to see a Dominican "Ole Mas" Calypso Carnival in Oxford, Miss., and a Mississippi Blues Festival in Dominica.

Hotty Toddy, Dominica, Hotty Toddy! I hope the "whispering Southern breezes" of Ole Miss visit the "Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendor" soon. We'll try to set up a Dominican tent for y'all in the Grove in the fall.




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Story Source: The Daily Mississippian

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Dominica; Writing - Dominica

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