Committee Members, and Positions

Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean: Chair

Jo-Anne George: Grantmaker

Dr. Sam Christian: Assistant Grantmaker

Burgess Xavier: Technology Coordinator

Earl Vector: Member

2004 Accomplishments

Research: Completed Dominica Opinion Survey (see attached Questionnaire).

The survey analyzed responses from 301 Dominica nationals residing in Dominica. The variety of questions included reference to sentiments towards various aspects of the public sector, the future of the nation, and crime related factors. The analyses were presented during the Feb 28^th DAAS meeting held in Buffalo, NY. A summary report of the findings was provided to the Dominica Police Force, the Dominica Prison Services, and Mr. Rayburn Blackmoore, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.

Completed Dominica Prison Survey

The survey was conducted in 2003 and analyzed in 2004. There were 103 respondents randomly selected. The preliminary report was presented at the Feb 28^th DAAS meeting held in Buffalo, NY. A summary report of the findings was provided to the Dominica Police Force, the Dominica Prison Services, and Mr. Rayburn Blackmoore, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.

Completed Wireless Internet Installation for Dominica Police (CID Department).

In February 2004, the R & D Committee received a request from the Dominica police for equipment for wireless access in the CID Department.  The Committee agreed to provide the technology. The following items were obtained and shipped to Dominica:

The shipping amounted to $41.75 for a total expenditure of $382.68.  Burgess Xavier installed the equipment for the police in May 2004. Dr. St. Jean has not applied for a refund of those founds.

Fundraising and Budgetary Statement

The Committee obtained $1000.00 from the University of Buffalo for gathering data for the Dominica Opinion Survey – to pay research assistants and other associated costs. An amount of $350.00 was donated by Dr. St. Jean for the Committee’s research efforts. He earned those funds from serving as a consultant with CIDA, collaborating efforts for its representatives in Dominica during February and March 2004. After failed efforts to deposit the money in Dominica, it was eventually sent to Dr. Fontaine in the US.  He confirmed receipt of the funds and deposited it in the DAAS US account. 

Dr. Clayton Shillingford was eventually refunded $388.52 for an advance he provided for payment of research assistants in Dominica.  Ms. Xavier and Ms. Pemberton served as research assistants. The research efforts in Dominica were collaborated by Ms. Jo-Anne George who did an excellent job of instructing the assistants, arranging for their payments, and performing small and large related tasks associated with ensuring that the research was done. Burgess Xavier was also very efficient on assisting the assistants with the necessary computer capabilities to complete the survey. The students entered most of the data in Dominica and then sent the hard copy to Dr. St. Jean by way of James Abraham, Sr. The current balance in the R & D pocket in DAAS accounts is $1,011.48.

Outstanding Debts

US$382.68  refund to Dr. St. Jean for purchase of the equipment for the police – as mentioned above.

EC$200.00 refund to Dr. St. Jean for advance he provided to Ms. George for the payment of the research assistants for preliminary research.

Plans for 2005 and Beyond

• In 2005, to publish results from the Dominica Opinion Survey and the Prison Survey.
• To strengthen the Committee
• To obtain an assistant chair and other needed Committee members
• To generate more funds for the Committee’s research efforts
• To crystallize plans for a book project on The Nature of Dominica People, and papers on voluntary organizational participation such as that in which DAAS members are involved.
• To make professional presentations based on lessons learned from the participatory action research that Dr. St. Jean is currently undertaking with DAAS.

Comments

I am thankful for the efforts made by Committee members. I feel a sense of remorse over not being able to lead the Committee to accomplish more over the year. However, I have gained a great amount of knowledge about the difficulties involved in running such a Committee with such a voluntary organization. I have informed Committee members that they should be vigilant in leading efforts to seek funds and complete research and development projects. We have not been able to achieve that with any level of satisfaction. However, we are learning. This is not an easy process and the key is to apply knowledge from lessons learned to improving future efforts. We hope that the Committee will do even better in 2005 than it did in 2004.

Completed and Submitted by Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean

January 15^th 2004

SIGNED