"Building a Seamless Dominica, in which overseas and resident Dominicans effectively dismantle their social and psychological barriers in the interest of all, is a task long overdue. Because these barriers are of our own making, we can remove them easily, if we are willing". (Raglan Riviere)
Achievable Joint Projects
#1. A series of published essays on the subject
"What should Dominica nationals at home and abroad do to improve their levels of trust, respect, and love for one another?"
The intention is simply to get families thinking seriously about the division between us and recording our thoughts with a view to finding practical solutions to this problem.
Rules of participation:- Contents to be based on discussion with parents and guardians
- Essays to be written by our youths, at home and abroad - primary and secondary
- Essays to be submitted to a SD Panel for evaluation.
These essays will be edited and published by Raglan Self-Publishing Studio under the label, Building A Seamless Dominica, and as a token of appreciation, each family will receive a DAAS Award of Participation.
#2. Opinion Survey - 'What People Are Thinking'
RESEARCH QUESTION:
What are the key factors that facilitate and inhibit satisfactory collaboration between Dominica nationals residing, (a) at home, and (b) in the Diaspora?
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK (See Draft Research Proposal):
Recent research has shown that collective efficacy defined as trust, solidarity, and shared expectations for action serve as an important facilitation factor for collective action aimed at the common good. Collective efficacy can be simplified as a strong sense of community among persons, and their ability to accomplish common goals. This social learning theory is being used as the point of departure for the building of a Seamless Dominica.
The relevant question to building collective efficacy relates to identifying the forces that inhibit collective efficacy, and then address them. It is herein conceptualized that a Seamed Dominica, - defined as 'a national identity typified by lines of demarcation characterized by the place of primary residence of the Dominica national – at home (local), or abroad (in the Diaspora)', - is an active force which inhibits collective efficacy, in the form of capacities for collective action between nationals who reside at home and in the Dominica Diaspora. Therefore, the building of a Seamless Dominica is conceived as an answer to this barrier.
This research therefore, explores the notions of a seamed and seamless Dominica through the claim that a seamless Dominica can best exist through satisfactory collaborations between nationals who reside at home and in the Diaspora. The question is, what are or should be the key elements of such collaboration, and how can they become a reality?
Research Director: Peter K. B. St. Jean, Ph.D.
"Before God and all mankind, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica and to the Sovereign Republic for which it stands; my love, my loyalty and skills, in the service of Dominica and my fellow Citizens. I promise to work diligently and help build a prosperous and peaceful Nation." - (Dominica Pledge of Allegiance).
