|
|
Carib Territory
by Expedia.com; October, 1999 |
| "Approximately 3,400 people of Carib descent live in this 3,700-acre reserve on the island's wave-battered east coast. This is the Caribbean's largest remaining community of Caribs. In Bataka, Salybia, Sinecou, and other hamlets along the main east coast road, tourists can watch artisans at work and purchase crafts from roadside stands. Intricately woven grass baskets, hats, and mats are Carib specialties. If you can't make it to the Territory, stop in at the Kalinago Centre on King George Street in Roseau. This Carib-sanctioned center displays historical photographs and sells traditional Carib arts and crafts. |
| Carib Chief & Parliamentary Representative |
Kelly Graneau Becomes First-ever Minister for Carib Affairs.
 |
For the first time in Dominica’s history, the Carib Indians were awarded a separate cabinet position of a full minister. The new minister is Kelley Graneau who retained the Salybia constituency with the Dominica Labour Party (DLP).
Graneau has a long history of service to his community. He was a teacher at Salybia Primary School; Parliamentary Representative for |
Salybia Constituency (2000-2005); a Senator in House of Assembly (1995-2000); founding member of the Waroke Youth Movement; Chairman and founding member of the Sineku Development Committee; Chairman of banana district branch; core banana farmer; served for five years on Carib Council with Hilary Frederick as Carib Chief.
|
Williams Is New Carib Chief
By Pete Toulon, The Chronicle
 |
July 16/2004 - “Si yo vle si yo pa vle, yo ke touvey Charlo, se sa nou vle a schelment. (if they want, or if they do not want, they will find Charlo. That’s what we want now.)” Expression of jubilation from the massive crowd outside the Carib Council’s office as the Carib people hugged, raised up and congratulated their new Chief, Charles Williams who emerged victorious in Monday’s election. Williams, a hotelier, beat the incumbent Garnet Joseph 263 to 182 votes. |
Another former chief, Irvince Auguiste came third with 155, with the other candidates Elvis Francis 151 and Derek Joseph 102 at the fourth and fifth spots respectively.
Speaking to The Chronicle immediately after his election victory, Williams, who was defeated four times before Monday’s Carib Chief race, said his main priority is to see Dominica’s indigenous people gain a bigger share of what was originally theirs. “As I said during my campaign, we are the rightful owners of this country and we deserve much more than we get. I think we are the stronghold of the native people of this country of which we now occupy only 1% and for the people coming in occupying 99%. I want to say that this country belongs to the Carib people and we need a bigger share of development,” Williams said. He also envisions a tax free existence for the Carib territory and calls on the authorities to declare the area a tax and duty free zone. One of his economic plans as well is the establishment of a financial institution to assist in the overall development of the territory.
Monday’s election of a Carib Chief followed the nomination of five persons on June 22 who were willing to contest the position. According to presiding officer at the election, Helius Auguiste, voter turn out was encouraging and slightly better than the last election in 1999. There was also an increase in the number of youth registered for the occasion this time around. There were six polling stations facilitating some 1,677 persons registered to vote. “I believe the activity went on quite well with the voter turn out good and it was nice seeing a good, representation from the youth of the area exercising their democratic right at the polls,” Auguiste noted. Williams, reported to be in his mid fifties, will be sworn in sometime in August. |
 |
"...the Carib type, even in the remnant that survives to-day, shows an unmistakably Mongolian character and it would be hard to distinguish a Carib infant from a Chinese or Tartar child. They have the same straight, coarse, blue-black hair, oblique eyes, prominent cheek bones, and rather flat noses, while the colour of the true Carib is so light a copper as to be almost yellow." (H. Hesketh Bell, Administrator, 1902) Dominica is home to about 3,000 Carib Indians, descendants of the original inhabitants of the island, who live in the Carib Territory. It was established in 1903 consisting of about 3,700 acres of land and owned exclusively by the Carib Indians. |
| See what KALINAGO e.V. in Germany is doing for the Caribs of Dominica. |
|
