Independence and the National Question - Dominica Academy of ...

interest, corrupt dealings, lack of due diligence, attention to detail,
incompetence or avarice.
Such delinquent behavior in governance evinces a fundamental lack of self
knowledge and self respect. All who consider themselves self respecting
Dominicans must do more to appreciate the importance of understanding our
history. With such knowledge there can be no self respect; lack of self
respect results in poor choices made by the government and the governed.
As civic minded people, we need to know of our heroes and must be proud
of them. We, therefore, must study the principles that inspired Loblack,
Allfrey, LeBlanc, Eugenia, JB Charles, Rawle, Rosie and Pierro. They were
all nationalists, and/or socialists; in that they put love of our island and its
people first, and fostered social justice—before all else; certainly, before self.
While Eugenia Charles was criticized as a conservative, she was possessed
of great dignity and self respect which benefited most Dominicans. In many
ways she continued the social programs started by the DLP such as home
ownership, cooperatives and education. While her party was considered
conservative and assailed by those who favored a socialist path of
development, there were never any serious allegations that she used her
political office to gain wealth or sold out the natural resources of the country.
Neither were there any allegations that she sold off national assets via
hidden contracts which she refused to disclose upon being called upon to do
so, as is the case with the summer 2008 geothermal fiasco. In that instance a
relatively unknown Russian-banker backed firm was given dominion over
our geothermal resource in the south of the island in complicity with a socalled
Labour government which has lost its way. Negotiated in secret, with
no tender or public disclosure, not even the residents of the area were
consulted; it was presented as a fait accompli.
To Eugenia Charles’ credit she gained control of our energy company
Domlec, from ruinous foreign control; something we must revisit after it was
sold for a pittance in the past. So she too deserves credit for wisdom shown
on ownership of our natural resources by Dominicans. Even the United
Workers Party did well in reaching out to Cuba and making higher education
via such alliances with friendly nations a priority. Wisely, the UWP
continued promoting social democracy. Where it erred, and was seen as self
dealing and not acting in the national interest it lost respect and soon lost
power.
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