DOMINICA CELEBRATES FLAG DAY 2023
As part of its 45th independence calendar of activities, Dominicans celebrated Flag Day 2023 on Monday, October 16.
Flag Day was instituted by the Division of Culture as part of independence celebrations in order for the population to display and give recognition to the flag. The flag is one of Dominica’s symbols of nationhood and national identity.
The flag was designed by the late Dr. Alwin Bully in early 1978 as the country prepared for independence.
The flag features the national bird emblem, the Sisserou Parrot, which is an endangered species.
The green field represents the lush vegetation of the island.
The cross represents the trinity and Christianity, with its three colors symbolizing the natives, the fertile soil, and the pure water. The 10 green five-pointed stars represent the country’s 10 parishes.
As part of this year’s Flag Day activities, the Division of Culture organized a motorcade as part of the celebrations which began at botanical gardens and ended in Fond St. Jean.
Acting Senior Cultural Officer Mr. Carlton Henry says the Cultural Division’s goal is to heighten awareness of the significance of Dominica’s flag and how unique it is in the Caribbean.
The Botanical Gardens Flag Day motorcade went around the city making stops at various schools.
Meanwhile a brilliant display of Dominica’s flag could be seen in Newtown as Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau- South Constituency Hon. Chekira Lockhart Hypolite hosted a flag day event along with schools in her constituency.
The event held in celebration of Flag Day 2023, commenced with a parade of students from the Newtown Primary School, Charlotte Nursery and Ginger Preschool.
Hon. Lockhart-Hypolite joined students in the fun filled event.
She says the day calls for introspection and greater contributions of the individual to the development of Dominica.
“Today is Flag Day in the Commonwealth of Dominica and as you know we have the most beautiful flag in the Eastern Caribbean. And so today I join with the students of the Newtown Primary, Charlotte Nursery and the Ginger Preschool where they are displaying their Dominican flag with pride as you can see and they have all the energy in the world. But what I really want to say to Dominicans is that today is a day for us to do some introspection as to what is it that the Commonwealth of Dominica means to us, what is it that the flag means to us and have we been promoting Dominica in a positive way as opposed to negative. What have we done to develop our community and our country?” she stated.
She strongly encourages participation of schools in extracurricular activities as it leads to greater cultural preservation in the future.
What i try to do as a Parl Rep, is to visit my schools very often. And to encourage teachers and also the principle to get them involved in extracurricular activities. It cannot be academics alone. So for example the Newtown Primary School should be offering a drumming class. Currently we have a Bwa Bwa Academy. Let us get our children involved in the cultural aspects of things so that we can keep it alive. Because as we see right now it is the older folks and then when they are gone, we need to be able to sustain our culture. And so what I try to do is encourage them to get involved in the culture of things in Dominica,” Hon. Lockhart Hypolite added.
National Flag Day is the first national emblem to be observed during National Emblems Week.