“When I started the network I didn’t expect it to grow so quickly or to have such a massive impact” says UK founder Diane Corriette “knowing so little about Dominica was my main reason for starting it and in the short time it has been in existence it has produced a number of other initiatives like Uniquely Dominican and Dominicasource.com started by Masborn Williams, Grace Henderson and his business partner Michelle Ellis.”

Starting in June 2009 Dominicasource.com (known as “The Source” in Dominica) has already developed a huge following.

“As soon as I spoke to Masborn I knew his team – some of whom who are based in Dominica – will be the best people to run the network.” said Diane.

But things didn’t stop there. “I really wanted to have support in Europe and again my instincts lead me to the right person. Natasha Henderson had put together a team to run the first ever Dominicans in Europe Gala, which took place in Paris. It was an ambitious plan to undertake with no budget and few people for support. It was Natasha’s determination and passion for what she was doing that made me realise I wanted to continue working with her”

The four professionals have come together and made a commitment to make the Dominican Diaspora Social Network one of the highest achieving online networks for Dominica. The ethos of the network focuses on developing self reliance, raising awareness and community support.

“The four of us have two things in common” continues Diane “a passion to make a difference and a desire to contribute to our community”

Masborn Williams & Michelle Ellis from Dominicasource.com expressed their views on being part of the network.

Masborn : “I hope to bring my love and passion for my country. I am eager to join Diane and Natasha and every other country loving Dominican on the Dominican Diaspora network towards this exciting but meaningful venture. ”

Michelle : “I am proud to be a part of this Dynamic team. In joining forces I believe that we can move full speed ahead with the movement that Diane has started. I cannot wait to share with the world what exactly Dominicans are capable of.”

Just as passionate and equally excited Natasha Henderson, daughter of Dominican musician Gordon Henderson talked about her contribution

“Being part of this team is above all my way of giving back to the community and I am committed primarily to promoting Dominica’s music talent on the Global scene and assisting artistes in making a living out of their art. We are going to look for sponsors who will have an interest in reaching out to our community and making us part of their corporate & social responsibility remit.”

Although less than two years old the Dominican Diaspora social network has made a valuable contribution to Dominica. It has reconnected family and old friends who left up to 40 years ago and it continues to be used not only by the younger generation but by the 40+ age group , the baby boomers and the elders of Dominica too. A fact that Diane is very proud of

Lola Louis, a member and regular contributor to the Dominican Diaspora social network had this to say

“I re-connected with my cousin Ronald (Baba) Deschamps on the Dominican Diaspora network after 30 years and all the fond memories of my youth came flooding back. Dominican Diaspora has been the catalyst for so many reunions, wonderful experiences and amazing opportunities that have emerged from Diane’s vision.”

“It is an extreme honor to be part of this dynamic, competent and passionate team” says Natasha “We all share the same vision and with the support of the entire Dominican Diaspora Community I am confident that we will take this network to the next level and bring along long term benefits for Dominica and the Dominican people.”

Masborn Williams echoed those views and said “In my opinion each Dominican can do something to promote our beautiful country. Dominicasource.com and Dominican Diaspora joining forces will provide a great online presence to promote Dominica to the world. I am looking forward to great things for Dominica.”

The new management team will begin to look at what projects they want to undertake and work with the members of the diaspora network to bring new opportunities for promoting Dominican talent.

“I am very proud of what the network has achieved. It has provided me with a sense of belonging and connection that surprised even me” says Diane “Myself, Natasha and the crew at Dominicasource.com really want to bring together people from Dominica and run community projects that will promote out talent. I believe that this is now possible and as long as we have the community supporting us, our dream will be realised”

In this very quick 10 minute lesson Delia takes me through how to reply when someone asks “what’s happening?”

How to say I am in my house in London and that I am going to work.

You can join the kweyol group on Dominican Diaspora at

Below is an audio extract that includes an opening address from the Chairman of the Reunion committee Hubert Charles

The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Mr Roosevelt Skerrit

and the first reading of the event is provided by Dr Lennox Honey Church who reviews the work of Jean Rhys.

The audio starts off by expressing the need for the festival

“………..reunion celebrations which is of major significance to Dominicans and our friends that we thought that an event of this type that speaks to the cultural and psyche of the Caribbean people what makes us who we are would give us a grounding in the celebration of reunion and coming together”

The speaker then introduced/welcomed the Chairman of the Reunion committee Hubert Charles.

Mr Charles said

“…………We focus attention on culture. Simply put ladies and gentleman our experience in this field suggests that in the fields of language dance drama and certainly in terms of compostion and coral music we have nothing to be ashamed of in terms of the contribution over the last 30 years. Indeed our products have been world class”

The next part of this audio is an address from the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Mr Roosevelt Skerrit

“……. This evening event is also a landmark activity of the reunion committee drawing on the literary resources of Dominica and also from our friends from the region because in fact they are part of us”

“…… I am hoping that not only those of us who are here but the whole of the country can take time off to come to the book fair and literary fesitval and make their own contribution”

“….. and though the reunion activities started on a slow pace but as time goes by it has been becoming even more exciting and there have been more persons participating in events that which are planned by the reunion committee. And one cannot doubt the fact that as a result of the reunion activities we have seen an elevation and improvement in the village festivals and feasts across Dominica and we will see the drawn up participation of a wide cross section of dominicans in this festival. and these are things under cultural heritage and traidtions of dominica we must not let go away we must ensure that we harness it in the moment so we can pass it on to the generations to come….”

The final audio is a reading from Dr Lennox Honey Church who “kicked off” the event giving an honorary review on the work of Jean Rhys that has been taken from the book

“Caribbean dispatches beyond the tourist dream”

“….. she (Jane Rhys) is widely regarded as one of the best women novelist of the 20th century and her books have been reprinted in many languages

Her stories of luckless women taking advantage of by unreliable men have been made into films, television dramas and radio plays.”

Audio Source : With thanks to Albert and Tempie

http://domwriters.ning.com/profile/ALBERTANDTEMPIE

http://www.dmichael.co.uk/Cause_Consultancy

Here’s some information about David Michael…

I was born in Dominica and had my primary school education there. I grew up in Bellevue Chopin. My mother is from Hagley in Grand Bay http://www.grandbayrian.com/ and my father is from New Town.

I moved to England with my family in the mid 1960’s and settled in Luton, Bedfordshire. I came to work in London in the early 1970’s and have been living here ever since.

After secondary school, I joined the Metropolitan Police Cadet Corps and then the Metropolitan Police Service as a Constable. I served for 30 years in the Police Service and was promoted to Detective Chief Inspector. During that time I have maintained contact with successive Commissioners and Police Officers of the Dominica Police Force.

I am in touch with the Dominica Associations in London and on occasions have been very active with the Dominica United Kingdom Association (DUKA) and Dominica Overseas Nationals Association (DONA). I am also on the mailing list for the Dominica High Commission in London and support events and functions hosted there.