Generation Y Dominica

The ‘Tender Touch’ Champions

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #TellItLikeItIs, is a blog for our generation

Soca music is one of the most popular genres in the Caribbean, and around the world. Soca powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago where the sound originates, has put their stamp on the genre and is home to several well-known Soca artists.

As is typical in the Caribbean, each year a new ‘riddim’ is released into the musical market. It could come from any Caribbean island and in any Caribbean genre. That riddim is then taken up by various artists as a musical experiment to produce a song. One such riddim trending for 2020/21 is the ‘Tender Touch’ Riddim, produced by ‘Advokit Productions’ in collaboration with ‘Julian Promos.’

The Tender Touch riddim has seen the signature voices of Patrice Roberts, Nailah Blackman, Hey Choppi, Olatunji, Melly Rose + Skales and man, did they nail it. Each artist brings their own flavor to this delicious musical cocktail.

Let’s look at the top 4 artists who are dominating the Tender Touch Riddim.

First up is Patrice Roberts. This Soca queen and dynamic vocalist has been blazing her way in Soca music for several years and she keeps climbing to new levels, which comes as no surprise since Patrice hails from a strong musical background and community. She currently collaborates with the King of Soca, Machel Montano, in his band Machel Montano HD and Patrice also has close ties with family members who have carved out a name for themselves on the musical scene, such as Bunji Garlin. It is no wonder her melodic voice compliments the groovy Soca Tender Touch riddim as she sings of love, loyalty, and commitment to her significant other in her song entitled ‘Tender’.

Up next is Nailah Blackman. This breakout Soca artist also has music running through her veins. Her grandfather Garfield Blackman, also known as Lord Shorty or Ras Shorty I, a very well-known calypsonian and The Father/inventor of Soca music in Trinidad and Tobago.
Though a young artiste just 23 years old, Nailah has several hits to her name including ‘Workout’, a collaboration with Kes the Band, and ‘Baddish’ where she teamed up with popular female artiste Shenseea out of Jamaica. Nailah sings on the Tender Touch Riddim with her banger – ‘Trouble Wine’.

The next artist to grace the Tender Touch Riddim is Melly Rose Ft. Skales with ‘Shine pon me.’ This song puts a unique spin on the Soca riddim and is perfect for those who need a bit of upliftment, with the catchy hook ‘Let your blessings shine upon me papa God..’. Melly (Melissa St. Rose) who is Trinidadian born and a unique artist herself has released a number of singles which emulates similar authenticity and vibrancy (such as the recent single & music video ‘Body good’ which highlights female body image empowerment), all part of her artist persona. Nigerian-born rapper and singer songwriter Skales featured, adds in more flavor to the song that makes this track on the Tender Touch Riddim definitely worth the listen.

Wrapping up the top four artists who dominate on this riddim is Olatunji (Yearwood). This Trinidadian Soca sensation was born into a family of talent as his father, Edward Yearwood, is a well-known composer in Trinidad and his mother Mairoon Ali an actress and radio personality. The 35 year old artist started out in the music arena during his teen years and by 2015 gained worldwide recognition by winning the International Soca Monarch groovy competition with this piece ‘Ola’. Olatunji continued producing hits over the years and it’s no surprise his voice is among the many on the Tender Touch Riddim. His song dubbed ‘Angel’ speaks to a special woman and the love he receives from her. A true love song which would flatter any female listener.

Though we’ve touched on the top four artists, absolutely all the artists featured on this riddim have delivered phenomenal songs. The Tender Touch Riddim continues to receive widespread airplay across the Caribbean region and internationally. Go check it out if you haven’t!

Written by: Andrea Louis

For: Generation Y Dominica

2 Basic but wise investment strategies for beginners

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #TellItLikeItIs, is a blog for our generation

Money, money, money. Everyone wants more money. Everyone says they need more money and need it now. But how exactly does someone strategize to get more cash in hand or what steps can someone take to boost his or her financial standing at the very basic level?

We’ve taken into account the possibility that you’re on a shoestring budget and have come across the best first step investments you can make to see some financial returns.

Firstly, you need to be disciplined when it comes to saving money. We know this can be hard and sometimes it is a struggle to choose between needs and wants, but trust me, being frugal with your spending is worth it. If you need more help you can enlist your friends and family to hold you accountable so you don’t spend unnecessarily. With this money you put away you can use it to invest in a venture of your choice which earns some financial rewards.

If you have trouble holding yourself accountable, you can always turn to the bank to help with your savings. Set up a system whereby a set percentage of your salary immediately goes towards a savings account. That way, there is a portion of your monthly income which you can’t touch because it’s safely tucked away. When the time comes you can then access these funds and put it towards a worthwhile investment of your choice.

Now that we’ve gotten the savings aspect out of the way, let’s look at how these savings can be wisely invested. There are numerous avenues for investing, especially in today’s modern world and advancement in technology. This article however shares suggestions for those who have never considered investing in the past and want to test it out at a very basic level first before diving in.

Gain Interest

Since we’ve spoken about the bank being involved in your saving project we’d suggest you take it a step further by ensuring you have a fixed deposit. One key difference between a fixed deposit and a savings account is that a fixed deposit account is a sort of investment, where the money is deposited for a particular period of time and the bank pays interest on the money deposited, unlike a savings account which can be easily accessed for personal use. The interest gained on a fixed deposit is much higher than that of a savings account, and you can acquire this interest at the end of the term of the fixed deposit while choosing to leave the money which was initially deposited, untouched.

Buy Shares

Another great investment is buying shares in a local company. Be sure to do your research on this one first. Choose wisely, see which company generally reports a profit at the end of each financial year then buy some shares in that company. This way you can reap some of the financial benefits from the earnings made by and own a part of – the company.

The payment of dividends to you the shareholder is one of these great benefits. A dividend is the distribution of some of a company’s earnings to a class of its shareholders. These payments can provide you with regular investment income and enhance your return. And you may be wondering : where do I get the money to buy shares in a company? Easy answer: the money we encouraged you to save at the very beginning.

The 2 strategies outlined are routes that will take some time to see returns. But that’s why it’s called a ‘money tree’, it takes nurturing. But growing your money is an important, well thought out process, to ensure you reap maximum benefits.

Warnings about Quick schemes

You may be thinking, even at the basic level isn’t there an easier way to grow my money? Like some super inorganic fertilizer that I can just pump in the soil to make my money tree bloom a little bit quicker? For instance, what about playing the Lottery? Well yes, even that is an existing investment option to gain money quickly; that is if you win. But with every investment there are risks and with these types of investments, greater risks exist. What if perhaps you invest and invest for years but never win more than $10? Also, at what point do you evaluate the money spent vs. the rewards gained? Now I’m not saying don’t play the lottery, but just do so understanding your investment’s risks, having a strategy and being mindful that you may not get the ‘Super Six Jackpot’ for the next few years if ever.

Finally, here are two more words to consider – ‘Pyramid schemes’. A pyramid scheme is a sketchy and unsustainable business model, where a few top-level members recruit newer members. Those members pay upfront costs up the chain to those who enrolled them. As newer members in turn recruit underlings of their own, a portion of the subsequent fees they receive is also kicked up the chain (from investopedia.com). These get rich quick strategies seldom work and come in various packages, but the same concept exists. So, be alert. While it is enticing to be told you can invest fifty dollars and get three hundred in a week (If I had a penny for every time I heard a ‘great’ offer like that), just pause, think for a moment and weigh the pros and cons.

We wish you all the best in your financial investment ventures and hope these tips were helpful in setting you on the right path as a beginner.

Written by: Andrea Louis

For: Generation Y Dominica

Skin Care tips for Caribbean Women (& Men)

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #TellItLikeItIs is a blog for our generation

Photo credit: Milada Caribbean St. Marteen

Isn’t living in the Caribbean lovely? The sun, the sea and the sand are all welcomed benefits of ‘Island life’ (and a dream for those in colder countries).

We are fortunate to have such luxuries at our fingertips, but Island weather still has its impacts. The elements of nature in paradise can affect our skin.

Let’s talk about ‘skin care’ and look at some top tips (for both women & men) to care for your skin while enjoying the Caribbean climate.

Protect your skin from taking in excessive sunshine.

A little bit of the sun’s UV rays are actually good for the skin. It creates vitamin D which the body needs. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body and these nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

Too much sunshine however can damage the skin and so should be regulated. For example and just to name a few, too much sun exposure can lead to:

Skin changes. Some skin cells with melanin can form a clump. This creates freckles and moles. Over time, these can develop cancer.

Early aging. Time spent in the sun makes your skin age faster than normal. Signs of this are wrinkled, tight, or leathery skin and dark spots

Eye injuries. UV rays can damage the tissue in your eyes and can burn your outer layer of your eyes called the cornea, blurring your vision. Over time, you can develop cataracts which leads to blindness if left untreated.

Skin cancer.

Tips

Cover up when going outside; wear protective clothing, sunglasses and hats, manage sunshine intake by remembering to take breaks in the shade every now and then and use an umbrella for those unavoidable long days out in the sunshine.

Avoid dehydration

Needless to say an abundance of sunshine and even swimming in the ocean can cause dehydrated skin which can be dry and itchy and perhaps dull looking, too. Your overall tone and complexion may appear uneven, and fine lines are more noticeable.

Tips

Stay hydrated. This is the number one tip for maintaining healthy skin. Consistently drinking water to keep hydrated is an awesome and easy way to avoid dehydration, maintain great skin, flush out toxins and improve your skin tone.

Moisture, Moisture, Moisture

The sun’s heat dries out areas of unprotected skin and depletes the skin’s supply of natural lubricating oils, thereby reducing moisture.

Tips

Moisturize. aside from using protective measures, try using a moisturizer that restores moisture to the skin and has essential oils and nutrients that are good for the skin, or use natural products. For example, Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which is why it’s often touted for its ability to hydrate and nourish the skin and improve elasticity. The fat in cocoa butter forms a protective barrier over skin to hold in moisture.

Bonus **

At final. When it comes to Caribbean skin care, here are a few other island style tips:

Keep your face and body clean: There’s not much explanation needed here. The skin is the body’s largest organ and first line of defense against bacteria. Healthy skin = healthy body. When you wash your skin, full body, face, you are removing impurities like the dirt, grime and oil that build up on our skin through out the day.

Use Natural face Masks & other natural products: Locally made or natural mud masks from volcanic hot springs called Sulphur mud works wonders for the skin. Thanks to the volcanic structure of most Caribbean islands, this is readily available and purchasable. Also, feel free to make use of other natural and organic skin care products found in the Caribbean such as cocoa butter which is very beneficial to the skin.

Eat Right: There is an abundance of natural foods; fruits, vegetables and the like grown in the Caribbean. Having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables will not only add an extra glow to your skin. The high water contents of these foods, coupled with the antioxidants, help fight cellular damage in addition to other benefits.

Sleep tight: There’s a lot to be said for beauty sleep, and researchers are correct. Getting the much needed hours of sleep not only improves your mood, energy and overall physical health, but it also shows in your skin. Skin uses the time spent sleeping to repair and restore itself. If you cut back on the amount of time you spend sleeping then it will show in your skin. So be kind to yourself and try to fit in those 6 to 8 hours of sleep when you can.

Written by: Andrea Louis

For Generation Y Dominica

5 things to do when you’re stuck at home and super bored (for adults)

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #Tell it like it is, a blog for our generation

Often times you hear people say they wish they could get a couple more hours of sleep, or they wish they were home, especially on a rainy day. However, if you were home and super bored because you’ve had more than your fill of sleep, what would there be to do? Lucky for you, we have some suggestions coming right up. Here is a list of 5 things to do when you’re stuck at home and super bored .

Number one on this list would be reading. This is the easiest thing you can do. A good novel can be exciting and make one go through a range of emotions based on the skillful writing of the author. Reading a good book can make time fly by without your knowledge, and soon after starting to read, you don’t even realize the day is almost done. For those book lovers out there I’m sure there is a novel or two you haven’t touched yet and you are just waiting for the perfect time when you have nothing to do, to devote all your time toward devouring that book.

Another good use of time while bored at home and number two on this list is DIY (Do It Yourself) projects. These can range from something as simple as an arts and craft project, to fixing an actual problem on a section of the house. DIY videos are super easy to find online and this is one way to grow your skill set in an area or discover something new that you’re good at. Once you get engrossed in a DIY project of your choice, you may just keep going and going until your tummy tells you it’s time to eat.

Number 3, get in shape. There are two groups of people out there, people who work out and get fit and those who say they want to work out and get fit. Whichever category you fall into, you can surely achieve that new fitness goal on a few days when you’re home and super bored. As they say, there’s no time like the present right? Well use the time you have on your hands and work up a sweat. If you’re a pro with your equipment at home then great for you, however if you’re a beginner that’s even better. You can ease your way into the stay fit lifestyle by starting off light and easy at home and working your way up the progress bar. Exercising at home is a great way to spend a couple of hours, work up a sweat and feel refreshed.

If you’re looking for another way to burn calories at home, but you’re not exactly a fitness junkie, then here’s an activity which is both time and calorie consuming. Our number 4, Cleaning. You read that right, cleaning. How often do you complain to yourself that there’s so much work to do around the house? Or rooms to clean, old items to throw out, things to tend to around the yard etc.? Well, a good old boring day at home is the perfect opportunity to tackle these tasks. Depending on how thorough a cleaner you are, doing this activity around the house can take anywhere from a couple of hours to more than half a day. And believe me, you will feel rewarded for the effort you put into cleaning your house when you see the end result.

And rounding up the top five list is: Watching TV, or a series, or movies. Now I know for a lot of people this may have come in at number one, but the other stuff was way more beneficial. Still, watching tv is one of the most entertaining ways to pass the time when you’re super bored at home. It’s a great way to teleport yourself out of boredom and into the scenes unfolding before you. Some may use this down time to watch documentaries and educational videos and or to be better informed on a variety of things. Others may use this means to catch up on a show, or follow a new trending series. Whatever you prefer, feel free to set time aside to relax and enjoy a bit of entertainment.

There you have it, 5 things to do when you’re stuck at home and super bored (for adults) and just in time for the stay inside rules and regulations of the day . And yes, we all know that ‘mama said there’d be days like this’ (although mama never mentioned anything about worldwide lockdowns and mutating viruses), but hopefully with all of these suggestions, you can cutback on the boredom and frustration you feel when you’re stuck at home with supposedly nothing to do.

Written by: Andrea Louis

For Generation Y Dominica

Top 5 Dominican dishes that every visitor should try

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #TellItLikeItIs is a blog for our generation

Hungry anyone? I certainly hope you are. Today we’re diving into the top 5 Dominican dishes that every visitor should absolutely try. Tasting Dominican local cuisine is one of the things that complete the Dominica experience and should certainly be added in as a huge part of every visitor’s travel itinerary when planning to visit the Nature Island.

Let’s get right into it!

^{#1 Broth}

A broth or ‘braff’ as we call it locally, is number one on our ‘must try’ list of Dominican cuisines. This dish is a ‘one pot holds all’ sort of meal that consists of a mouth watering soup, flavored with a mix of natural green seasonings and your choice of meat (fish, chicken, pork or smoked meat for a unique taste). This dish is not complete without a few additions of hand rolled dumplings, vegetables, potatoes and or ground provisions of your choice. Dominican broth is more commonly served on saturdays and If you’re looking for a flavor filled way to enjoy the weekend, this is the best choice of local cuisine that’s also notably packed with essential nutrients.

^{#2 Chicken Pelau}

This dish is common throughout the Caribbean, although it may have a different name or can vary in preparation styles. Chicken Pelau is a popular dish which consists of brown rice, chicken, and lentils (peas). The meal’s ingredients are cooked with ‘gravy browning’ which gives it a rich flavor and brown color. Everyone who grew up in Dominica will agree that there’s something about the aroma and taste of chicken pelau that reminds you of your fondest childhood memories. Thankfully, visitors can also have the experience of this delightful meal, by purchasing this from local restaurants when visiting the island (typically available on a Saturday also).

^{#3 Sancoche}

If you’re in the mood to have a party on your taste buds then this next dish Sanchoche, will sure give you what you’re looking for. Sancoche is a cook up of salt fish or codfish stewed in coconut milk, along with green seasonings (particularly onion, black pepper, chive and other condiments). This dish is quite tasty and can easily be eaten for lunch or dinner, made complete with added provisions.

^{#4 Bakes}

Number 4 on our list of delicious delights are bakes (also called Johnny cakes or fried dumplings in other Caribbean islands). These are thin or rounded, fried, golden brown, circular, unsweetened dough treats which can be eaten at any time of day. Once fried, they are served plain or stuffed with codfish, cheese or tuna, which makes an excellent grab and go meal suitable for any time of the day.

^{#5 Fish and chips}

Our fifth and final pick is Dominican Fish and chips. What’s so great about the fish and chips? Well, it’s pretty ordinary in most parts for the island, but if you travel to the south, then you’ll know why this simple yet delicious meal has made our top 5 list. Maybe it’s because the south has a lot of coastal areas and fishing communities, but something about the preparation of fish by southern vendors is definitely to die for. You can get your fish steamed and sautéed in vegetable sauce, grilled or pan fried, doused in onions, herbs and natural seasonings and served along with a side of crispy French fries or salad. Locals and visitors alike drive 5 – 20 minutes south from the capital city Roseau, (depending on how far south you wish to go from Newtown to Scottshead), hoping to grab a bite of ‘the catch of the south.’

There you have it, the top 5 meals you absolutely must try while visiting Dominica. Granted, there are other foods which should be listed, but these are the top 5 that say ‘welcome’ to the visitor and ‘welcome home’ to the returning resident.

Written by: Dilma Bastien

‘Support de Local’

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #Tell it like it is, a blog for our generation

Dominica, our home island, is a nation overflowing with resources. The land has rich and fertile soil which nurtures an abundance of produce such as ground provision, fruits, and other crops. Our beautiful island is also home to its greatest resource, the people. Our numerous artists and musicians have been making a name for themselves on the regional and international scenes.

Dominica has delved into the manufacturing and agro processing industry to get creative with local produce and experiment with the variety of manufactured goods which can come from the island’s natural resources. Artists have also been pushing themselves to get Dominican music out there and garner more foreign support. Despite these efforts and rave reviews of local goods from the regional and international communities, there is an ongoing call for Dominicans themselves to ‘support local.’

Why supporting local is unpopular

Let’s look at the agro processing and manufacturing industry. Dominicans have gone the route of transforming produce such as plantain, banana, cassava, and dasheen into items such as chips, drinks, and flour (especially for those looking for healthy alternatives to white flour). Unfortunately, you would more easily find a Dominican buying plantain and banana chips produced by a foreign company than that produced by a local company. If you venture to ask why this is so, the top answer would be ‘the cost’, as compared to the alternative.

Another reason would be the packaging, which doesn’t seem to be as attractive as that of the off island companies. While it is the content that matters, you can’t deny that packaging plays an important role in the purchase; it definitely counts and is only natural for persons to gravitate towards that which catches the eye. Over the years though, Dominicans have been making strides in packaging products. Just take a look at items like Big G’s pepper sauce (boasting diverse flavors like coffee), or Shaw Life Saver seasoning, you will admit they give international products a ‘run for their money.’

**Graceson John (Big G) & his exotic collection of Pepper sauce flavors. Photo credit:** Gremophoto & DNO

Other concerns which can be raised in ‘supporting local’ are volume and quality. In some areas, the quality needs a little more work to compare to international standards. And when it comes to value for money, if you were to get six candles (from a foreign manufacturer) for $12.00 wouldn’t you purchase that faster than three (locally) produced candles for the same price?

According to local producers, manufacturing items locally is a costly initiative. Hence the reason that the end product is more pricey than that of a product manufactured overseas. Factors which contribute to the high cost of manufacturing and agro processing in the country include: cost of raw material, cost of importing packaging material, and the effort & labor used to create the end product, as they have not yet achieved economies of scale.

Benefits of supporting local productions

Efforts are continually being made to improve local products and to give them wider exposure to the Dominican public. A few initiatives include the ‘Strictly Local Christmas Village’, organized by DEXIA, and ‘Creole In The Streets’, organized by the NDFD. With these attempts, small inroads are being made to boost the popularity of local products among the population and increase local acceptance.

One of the main benefits of purchasing locally manufactured goods is that it contributes to job creation. Another benefit to buying local is that it can help reduce the country’s import bill. However, we understand that people look out for their pockets and try to be practical in their purchases, working with limited incomes & salaries. So while ground is being gained, it is still an uphill battle and there are still other economic actions (such as an increase in minimum wage for instance *just a suggestion*) that can be implemented to make more spending money available to consumers.

The struggle of the artists

Another similar, though less tangible challenge exists for supporting local musicians and artists. These individuals work tirelessly to put out quality material, not just for local consumption but for international audiences (and many out of their own pockets and with limited assistance or resources) but do not receive the adequate amount of support needed. It has been revealed over the years that Dominicans aren’t well versed on copyright laws, royalties and how to monetize their work outside of local show performances, which are all key elements of success in the music industry worldwide. Other concerns of artists have been the treatment at local shows, the pay they get for performing, and lack of support from relevant stakeholders.

The saying: ‘a prophet has no honor in his hometown’, can speak volumes for those in the local entertainment industry as they constantly compare the treatment they receive in other countries to that of Dominica. Also the treatment and compensation of international artists who perform at our music festivals, compared to what they receive is another major issue. Luckily the Association of Music Professionals (AMP), has recently elected a new executive which has vowed to work in the best interest of local artists so they too can see true local support.

**Members of the new AMP Executive Photo credit:** DNO

Benefits of supporting local artists

Generally, the support level by the general public toward local artists has transformed over time. Although it may have started off rocky, we can proudly say that public support has grown tremendously over the last decade. Not only are the original pioneers of Dominican Music and those who came after like TK International being embraced, but new generation artists like The Signal Band, Colton – T, Kalihi, Navy (formerly called Mel) and Tasha P to name a few, who have been ‘putting in the work’ for about a decade or so now are finally being embraced. This is also evident in the support lent by the private sector through sponsorship of various events. Even the government is beginning to play their part a little more by offering stage time to these artists at our renowned ‘ World Creole Music Festival’ . The Discover Dominica Authority, our local Tourism hub must especially be mentioned and commended for its key role in helping and supporting the artists of our time. Supporting our local artists who produce quality work and put in the time and the effort, is something that we highly recommend. Not only does it put our island and culture on the map, it shows a true unity of our island’s people. Their success should be celebrated and uplifted as we proudly boast them as products of Dominica.

Although support for the artist is not yet absolutely perfect or sometimes seems to come full circle, it continues to make these small successful steps; also largely owed to collaboration among the artists themselves to strengthen their industry.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that all goes well for those in the entertainment and manufacturing industries and as well play our role. Because while international based support is great, local support should always be what propels and sustains any locally based field of creativity.

Signing off with this last phrase,‘ Support de local!’

Written by Andrea Louis

For: Generation Y Dominica

Make a wish

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #Tell it like it is, a blog for our generation

‘When you wish upon a star, it makes no difference who you are.. When you wish upon a star your dreams come true’.

There’s that sweet refrain that plays as the Disney World Castle comes on screen signalling another exciting and enjoyable production. That catchy melody is Disney’s signature tune and over time it gets lodged in your memory.

As an adult meditating on the words of that tune, you begin to think: Is this Walt Disney’s subtle way of giving us a gentle push towards following our dreams? Is it his way of encouraging us not just to dream, but dream big and if we were to wish hard enough those dreams will come true?

Walter Elias Disney, commonly known as Walt Disney, after whom Walt Disney World is also named, was a trailblazer in the American animation industry. He was versatile as a film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur. Walter Disney was also a masterful cartoonist creating the famous and well – known characters Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Pluto, just to name a few. These characters will forever be a part of our childhood memories and our children’s memories as they are iconic to Disney World and Disney Studio productions.

If you know anything about Walt Disney, you would know he fell in love with the art of drawing from a young age and followed his dream, or passion, which led to his Disney empire and it wasn’t easy but he was determined and succeeded.

Walt Disney taught us to dream through the animated works he created. Does anyone remember Pinocchio, with the elderly woodworker Geppetto who wished upon a star for his wooden puppet to become a real boy? Bambi, and Cinderella? Or even the live action movie Mary Poppins where that famous nanny taught the Banks parents to focus more on their children to develop a more connected family home? Do you realize these productions have a common theme?

These movies have encouraged us to dream, with the underlying message that with hard work, determination and dedication our own dreams can come true.

And the first line of that opening song, ‘When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are’… this is further reinforcement to the fact that no matter who you are in life, your economic, social, financial status, your ethnicity or religious belief, you are entitled to wish and live in the hope that your wish will become a reality.

I dare you to let this philosophy apply to your everyday life and current unsatisfactory situation. Do you dream of a better job? A better life? Take the necessary action and perform those small steps that lead the way to your new reality. Now of course we have to be practical about dreams and realize that there may be obstacles that we could encounter, similar to Bambi who learned to see the beauty and tragedy in his forest home. But once we remain determined and steadfast in setting goals and taking steps toward achieving our dreams, then believe me, there’s just no stopping us.

Written by: Andrea Louis

For Generation Y Dominica

BOUYON STYLE

An article in honor of Bouyon Day.

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #TellItlikeItIs is a blog for our generation

‘No CK, No Carnival’… a popular line of lyrics in a song by the Bouyon band, WCK. Well, this year 2021, thanks to the current global pandemic situation, authorities have affirmed that there won’t be any Carnival.

In December 2020, the Minister for Tourism announced that the government had taken the decision to cancel Carnival 2021. Whatever that means apart from the absence of the usual J’ouvert and two day street jump-up leading up to Ash Wednesday, no one fully knows for sure, except that it’s all in an effort to avoid mass gatherings during these times.

Carnival is an integral part of Dominican culture, and Bouyon music is an integral part of our carnival culture. Familiar songs and rhythms like ‘Kulture Shock,’ ‘BandWagon,’ and the ever popular ‘Balance Batty’ are commonly known to all who live or grew up here in Dominica. These are songs of WCK (officially meaning Windward Caribbean Kulture), formed in 1986. Several years later and with the changing style of Bouyon music, WCK added on the tag line ‘Original Bouyon Pioneers’ as they are credited with being the first band to bring this genre of music to Dominica. Bouyon music is a sweet mix of Dominica’s traditional music (like Bele and quadrille) and popular cadence genre infused with a bit of electronic music. Since then and even up until now, other bands and Bouyon artists have come on the scene.

*Photo credit: Fetty Mark’s Bacchanal video*

Dominica’s current leading Bouyon band is Triple Kay International, or TK International as they have rebranded themselves. When TK International first entered the music arena approximately twenty years ago they won the hearts of a wide cross section of the population with their mellow, zouk influenced bouyon; a twist on the initial style. We also have other prominent bands and artists who are dominating the Bouyon World such as Asa Banton and ‘The Signal Band’.

The Bouyon music sound has continued to evolve throughout the decades. Present day Bouyon 2021 reflects that change. It’s now at a high tempo, energetic pace which is a break from the groovy, slow swag music we grew up with. Another noteworthy difference between Bouyon of the 20^th century and the 21^st century is the lyrical content. In the early days songs centered around some form of social commentary, or events which happened on a regular basis such at ‘Mete Véyé’ (a Peeping Tom), ‘Conch Shell’, which spoke to our strong fishing tradition, of ‘Kulture Nou’, highlighting our cultural practices passed down from generation to generation etc. Now, the lyrics follow a modern trend.

Something else we’ve noticed over the years is ‘who’ sings Bouyon music. When the genre planted its roots and began to grow there were bands, with a front man, who produced the music. Now, while we still have the bands, we have an ever growing number of individual artists making a name for themselves in the art form. And speaking of individual artists, we must tip our hats off to the Bouyon Queen Carlyn Xavier-Phillip, stage name ‘Carlyn XP’ one of the few lead women in that industry and Starsha who’s making a strong entrance.

Bouyon music continues to evolve and we now have another phase which has been dubbed ‘New Generation Bouyon’, which has a few of the basic elements of Bouyon music and is being pushed by a younger generation of artists.

This homegrown Dominican genre of music is gaining attention far and wide, although unfortunately, in the wider region it is being categorized as Soca music, a distinction which we have to keep reminding our Caribbean of. But closer to home, our French neighbors in Guadeloupe, so impressed by this music, have added their own flair to it, giving birth to ‘Bouyon Gwada’, extremely popular among youth there, but a few years ago had posed a problem to authorities because of the aggressive lyrics and related influence.

As was said earlier change is inevitable, hence the continued evolution of Bouyon music comes as no surprise. Some of us prefer the groovy tempos we grew up on, others this new fast tempo. How will it evolve next? Only time will tell and all we can do is wait and see. Nonetheless, we still very much appreciate this artform and its existence, a true credit to our culture. Happy Bouyon Day everyone!

Written by: Andrea Louis

For Generation Y Dominica

For more on Bouyon music and its changes throughout the decades, check out Generation Y Dominica’s mind blowing ‘Bouyon Panel’ video 2021, parts 1&2 below.

Following the ban on plastic, here’s what it will take for this generation to really go green

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #TellItLikeItIs is a blog for our generation

Go Green! Save Planet Earth! Preserve the Environment! Save the Ozone Layer!

These chants have been echoing for decades as the human race has slowly but surely come to realize the devastating impact of its actions on nature and the delicate balance of the world’s ecosystems.

Up to recently, countries around the globe have taken some measures to go green and preserve planet earth for future generations. Just look at the Paris Agreement of April 2016, with 195 signatories all pledging to do what was necessary to cut down greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. This is just one of the numerous courses countries have embarked on to put ‘earth saving’ measures in place.

While we in Dominica are not a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions we are also taking actions to go green. In his 2018 Budget Address, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that the country will be taking more concrete measures to go green and develop its resilience through the banning of single use plastic and Styrofoam food containers.

Business places have come on board with this announcement by providing their customers with reusable shopping bags and the Government also took on the massive nationwide project of distributing reusable shopping bags to the populace. Other entities have joined the effort by ensuring they provide biodegradable food containers to consumers when serving meals and so on.

Some of you may be thinking, what can I as the upcoming generation Y do? How much impact can I have on helping Dominica to really go green?

Here are a few tips:

For starters, how about we go digital? We are in that modern age where technology rules and just about everything has an online option. We are the generation to lead, and further develop, the technological revolution so why not do it? In this way we are using less paper, saving the trees, and definitely going green. Doing all this, while keeping our health in mind of course (staring at those computer screens can really add up).

While we’re on the topic of technology, how about we turn off computers and lights when we’re done using them? This simple act will reduce the demand on harvesting fossil fuels to provide energy to keep these electricity driven items going.

Since we’ve touched on energy, let’s opt to use renewable sources of energy, and advocate for these sources to be more readily available. We know of DOMLEC’s hydro power plant, we have heard of the government’s plan to develop geothermal energy on island, we also hear of solar farms being used to provide energy to people’s homes. Let’s get onboard with these programmes and push to eventually have wind energy as an option in Dominica.

Speaking of fossil fuels and energy, have you ever thought of owning an electric car? These vehicles are extremely beneficial to the environment as they have zero exhaust emissions. And if you use renewable energy to power your vehicle you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions even further. This as well would help the country go green. If the electric vehicle isn’t an option for you, how about carpooling? That way we reduce gas emissions by using one vehicle to transport several people to one area, instead of using let’s say five different vehicles.

Have you heard of the three R’s? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? Why not engage in that practice to go green? We can get creative with our purchases to reduce the amount of waste we produce. And we can recycle material like glass, aluminum, and cardboard so they can be used for other purposes.

As generation Y we can’t underestimate our influence in helping this country reach its national goal of building resilience and going green. And naturally where we see something that can be improved we must do what we can to lead by example and set the trend on how to really go green for 2021 and beyond.

Written by: Andrea Louis

For Generation Y Dominica

Our Grandmother’s medicines may be helpful but her foods may very well be the end of us

Straight forward, witty and timeless. #TellItLikeItIs, a blog for our generation

Ma Pampo, Dominican centenarian 128 years old. Photo credit: Portrait by Gabrielle Le Roux Photographed by Wendy Walsh.

‘Health and wellness’ is a key phrase in this day and age that we live in. Especially amidst these coronavirus times as we all strive to live longer healthier lives past 2021. In addition to now diligently keeping a regular stock of vitamins at home in order to remain as healthy as possible, dear Gen Y, I think it’s time we had ‘The Talk.’

During the course of our life, getting sick with something like the common cold, a flu, stomach ache or even a strained muscle or two from playing sports or going on a hike is pretty normal. And it’s no real bother to us Gen Y, because with these ailments, something we could always rely on was a local remedy from our mother, which was passed on to her by her mother and her mother before her ‘granny and great granny’.

Traditional medicine plays a big role in Dominican households despite the availability of western medicine thanks to our rich African and Kalinago cultural practices still existent today. A strong bush tea to clear a cold is easier accessed, healthier, more soothing and preferable over Tylenol any day. And for the sore legs and muscles there is always some homemade concoction to be rubbed on the area to make the pain go away. Drinking ‘young guava leaf’ to cure a ‘bad stomach’ and most of granny’s other methods work. As a matter of fact, many local bushes and plants have conclusive healing properties and have been documented.

It is always comforting to know a home remedy exists for basic ailments. Also comforting is granny’s cooking. From chicken pelaw to pig snout, souse, deep fried chicken, baked macaroni, fig pie and the works; delicacies handed down through out the generations. But just how good are these foods past the pleasures delivered to our taste buds?

Let’s have that talk. Granny’s food is not good y’all. I mean not that it doesn’t taste good, that’s a given. What I mean is that it’s not good for our health over time to eat this way every day. There is a common misconception that because we are Caribbean and more so Dominican, that we are naturally inclined to live longer, but that’s not true. And while we can surely say that our daily diets thankfully do consist of less fat and sugar than the typical American fast food diet for instance, we are still not in the clear. We simply cannot keep riding off of Ma Pampo’s 128 years achievement, even if she has said that her claims to success were based on a diet of dumplings and bush tea (bush tea maybe).

Research has shown that the foods that make up most of our Caribbean and local diet contain high levels of salt and starch which are not good for our health. Needless to say, these are direct contributors to a major problem facing our and future generations today- Diabetes, hypertension and other such non- communicable diseases. Granny’s secret ingredient to that Saturday broth is not just special herbs and seasonings from her garden, but salt salt and more salt. What about our regular weekday lunch packed with dasheen, yam, plantain, rice and sweet potato? These foods are super high in starch and can raise our blood sugar levels. Speaking of sugar, let’s not forget to mention the enjoyable confectioneries – tamarind balls, gooseberry jams, coconut cheese and all the like that are loaded with tons of it.

A Pan American Health Organization study on Dominica conducted in 2012, showed that trends recorded over 2006 – 2010 uncovered the leading causes of mortality in Dominica to be cerebrovascular disease, followed by diabetes and ischemic heart disease (page 263). Another study shows us the top 10 causes of death and disability by diseases in Dominica, depicted below. Check out the high ranking ones in blue.

From the looks of things, it seems like hypertension and diabetes appears to be in the family cooking pot more than in our family genetics. Here’s another little fact that you probably weren’t aware of, granny’s foods are handed down from slavery times. If Ma Pampo were still here she could validate the same, that “our enslaved ancestors were forced to eat whatever was provided to them by the slave owners. They often ate the entrails and appendages of farm animals, including pig’s feet, cow’s tongue, liver and oxtail. These foods had little nutritional value but the slaves made these scraps as palatable as possible by adding herbs as well as large amounts of the fat, sugar and salt that were readily available. This diet from the days of slavery was so entrenched in their day-to -day existence that most of them continued to eat the same food years after emancipation.” quoted from thecaribbeancamera.com.

Judging by the statistics, this cycle of delicious but deadly foods need to be broken with us, and quickly. There is and must be a way to preserve the beloved African culture and flavors while maintaining a healthier lifestyle. This is not to say that we can’t enjoy local foods which have been handed down over the years, but it’s time to look at reducing the portions and or significantly reducing the unhealthy additives! We also need to explore creative alternatives altogether. ‘Ital’ meals with beans and vegetables seasoned in the right way with natural herbs are also very delicious and extremely Afro – Caribbean. Don’t we want our kids to be healthy?

And Gen Y, we know that you are concerned. Not only are many of us directly related to or know of someone whose grandparents or parents have suffered with and lost their limbs or lives to diabetes and the like, but the age range is getting younger and younger.. And amidst these Corona Virus times when people with diabetes are viciously struck down by this deadly disease, we know that you are most concerned. Google search trends (below) show the highest spike in google searches on diabetes from Dominicans, in 2020 for the month of March, which might likely be related to heightened health concerns during the outbreak of COVID.

Dear Gen Y, let’s make our meals healthier. How about something as simple as adding more fresh vegetables to your plate, using less sugar in teas and juices or less salt to season our meats? It all starts here and it can begin right now. Let’s be that generation who will take the steps necessary to live longer healthier lives so that we enjoy the multitude of things that this life and world has to offer. That said, we love you granny.

Written by: Dilma Bastien

For: Generation Y Dominica