By the end of the 20th century, the Black Caribbean community had become one of London's largest ethnic groups. By 2001, it numbered around 345,000 people, representing 7% of all Londoners and 61% of all people of Caribbean descent living in the United Kingdom.
"Identity! Sometimes it makes my head hurt -sometimes my heart. So what am I? Where do I fit into Britain, 2000 and beyond?" Andrea Levy, a writer, is English born and bred. But her parents are Jamaican, and the colour of her skin not white. As a consequence, she is not always made to feel at home in the country she thinks of as home. In this article by her from The Guardian Weekend, February 19, 2000, she explores the question of identity, and its significance in a multi-cultural society like the United Kingdom.
“No Pets, No Blacks, No Irish”, a few famous words which would be emblazoned on ads in shop windows for people intending to rent accommodation in 1960s Britain.
The Empire Windrush's voyage from the Caribbean to Tilbury took place in 1948. Believe it or not, very few of the migrants intended to stay in Britain for more than a few years.
I visited the land several times over the next few following days; bearing in mind the land measures just less than 7 acres. I wanted to really take in the views, allow it to penetrate my spirit and allocate the right position on which to build our home...
The flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica consists of a circular emblem of red bearing a Sisserou Parrot standing on a twig encircled by ten lime green stars...
Discover One of the Best Kept Secrets in the World...
Dominica is Paradise!
You awaken to the sound of exotic birds singing, and the soothing sounds of a deep blue sea washing gently ashore. As you step outside your suite, a golden sunrise, palm trees and a warm tropical breeze greet you . . .
Alex Boylan & cameraman/editor Zsolt Luka left the CBS Studios in New York on July 17th with nothing but clothes and their equipment. They left with no money, & intended to travel across the world by acquiring the good will of the people. Using their website, they would book travel and find places to stay via the internet. Users would find housing from family members or themselves, give them advice on where to go next & Alex would simply be at the whim of the people.
It worked. After nearly six months on the road, Alex & Zsolt returned to New York on December 23, after 159 days on the road. They went from the Caribbean to South America to Africa to India to Southeast Asia and back to the United States, all with no money in their pockets.
Alex Boylan, former Amazing Race winner travelled around the world for FREE, for 5 months. He named Dominica as his "favourite destination". He also talks about a man called Screw!
Dominica has taken the lead and the rest of the OECS are expected to follow soon. Public dialogue on a proposed OECS Economic Union was launched in Roseau on Wednesday April 23rd 2008, at a grand ceremony at State House, the official residence of the President of Dominica.
Addresses were delivered by OECS Chairman, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael and the Chairman of the OECS Economic Union Task Force and Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Sir Dwight Venner. Members of the audience then had their turn to direct questions and comments to a panel comprised of members of the Economic Union Task Force (a group set up by OECS Governments to lead the process).
This programme brings you some of the highlights of the launching ceremony as captured by the Dominica GIS.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) came into being on June 18th 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries signed a treaty agreeing to cooperate with each other and promote unity and solidarity among the members.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), originally the Caribbean Community and Common Market, was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas[1] which came into effect on August 1, 1973. The first four signatories were Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Windsor Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Roseau, Dominica. It also serves as the national stadium and is currently used mostly for cricket matches. However it serves as the venue for national activities such as the World Creole Music Festival, The Finals of the Calypso Competition and the Miss Dominica pageant among other activities.
In all the political turmoil which preceded and resulted from the demise of the short-lived West Indies federation the only institution whose existence remained unchallenged was the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaica, the most populous and prosperous member, voted (1961) to leave the federation, fearing that it would have to shoulder the burdens of the economically underdeveloped members.
Dominica should not be confused with the Dominican Republic. Dominica is located between French-controlled Martinique and Guadeloupe in the eastern Caribbean.
The official name of the island is 'Commonwealth of Dominica' Dominica's pre-Columbian name was Wai'tu kubuli, which means 'tall is her body'... Dominica is referred as the 'Nature Island', where two-thirds of the island are home to the tropical rain forests and thousands of plant species.
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