标签： Dominica

In a powerful address marking World Marriage Day, the Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau, Reverend Kendrick Forbes, articulated a profound theological and social defense of traditional marriage. Speaking before congregants at the St Joseph Roman Catholic Church this past Sunday, Bishop Forbes positioned the institution as the fundamental building block of both the family and society at large.

The Bishop’s homily defined marriage as a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, characterized by “total self-giving, fidelity, courageous trust and hope.” He emphasized its procreative purpose, describing spouses as “co-creators with God” in bringing new life into the world. This perspective frames marriage not merely as a social contract but as a divine vocation, a calling “written into the very nature of man and woman” as articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Elevating the discourse, Bishop Forbes invoked the language of the Second Vatican Council, referring to matrimony as an “intimate partnership of life and love” and an “indissoluble covenant” that perseveres through both prosperity and adversity. He stated that the family’s mission is so critically vital that the fate of humanity itself “either stands or falls by it.”

World Marriage Day, observed annually on the second Sunday of February, served as the backdrop for this celebration. The event is globally recognized by many Christian denominations as an opportunity to honor married couples, reaffirm the family as society’s basic unit, and celebrate the virtues of “fidelity, sacrifice, and joy” found in daily married life. Bishop Forbes’s remarks thus provided both a spiritual justification and a social argument for the enduring relevance of the institution he leads his flock to uphold.

Tana Valmond, a young Indigenous woman from Dominica’s Kalinago Territory, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Kalinago youth appointed as a Blue Future Youth Ambassador with the Bowseat Organization. This U.S.-based environmental program, recognized as the world’s largest youth conservation initiative focused on creative arts, operates across 142 countries with a mission to develop environmental leaders who approach ecological challenges with artistic perspective and innovative thinking.

Valmond’s appointment represents a significant breakthrough for Indigenous representation in global environmental advocacy. Her unique background combines artistic mastery with deep environmental commitment, qualities that have elevated her profile within the organization to her current role as an Alumni Advisor. As a self-described passionate advocate for environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, and the arts, Valmond wears her Kalinago identity as a badge of honor and aims to serve as an inspirational figure for Dominican youth.

Her environmental awakening came from observing firsthand ecological degradation—coral reefs bleaching, rivers drying, and coastlines eroding. This inspired her to become an agent of change, drawing upon her Kalinago heritage which emphasizes symbiotic relationships with nature. In her essay ‘Protecting the Ocean: Lessons from the Kalinago People,’ she explains how her ancestors have lived in harmony with land and sea for centuries, using traditional knowledge to guide resource utilization.

Valmond attributes her accomplishments to her faith, citing Matthew 5:16 as her spiritual motto: ‘Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in Heaven.’ She expresses immense pride in representing both Dominica (which she calls the ‘Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour’) and the Indigenous Waitukubuli community on the global stage, seeing this ambassadorship as the opportunity of a lifetime to promote environmental awareness through her voice and artwork.

A medical breakthrough that fundamentally altered the understanding of human reproduction emerged independently from two gynecologists in the 1920s, yet its application sparked a century of religious and ethical debate. The discovery that a woman’s fertile window occurs approximately 14 days before her next menstrual period was first identified by Japanese physician Kyusaku Ogino in 1923 and later by Austrian doctor Hermann Knaus in 1928.

While Dr. Ogino’s research, published in Japanese, initially remained unknown in the West, his work and that of Dr. Knaus would eventually converge to form what became known internationally as the Rhythm Method. The two pioneers held strikingly different visions for their discovery: Ogino focused exclusively on addressing infertility to help couples conceive, while Knaus, a devout Catholic, saw potential for birth control through periodic abstinence.

The method’s adoption by the Catholic Church created one of history’s most significant intersections of science and religion. In 1951, Pope Pius XII formally approved the technique as the only contraceptive approach morally acceptable to the Church hierarchy. This endorsement came despite Ogino’s own objections that his findings were too unreliable for contraceptive purposes.

In practice, the method’s effectiveness proved highly dependent on regular menstrual cycles, minimal travel, and low-stress environments—conditions difficult to maintain consistently. This variability earned it colloquial labels such as ‘Catholic roulette’ and ‘Roman roulette’ among skeptics outside Catholic circles.

The legacy continues through organizations like ASPIRE, a pro-motherhood advocacy group operating across six Caribbean nations including Dominica, which promotes research and dialogue on reproductive health justice, demonstrating how this nearly century-old discovery remains relevant in contemporary reproductive health discussions.

Rotary International’s District 7030 Governor, Soraya A.J. Warner-Gustave, has concluded a highly productive official visit to the Commonwealth of Dominica from January 28 to February 1, 2026. The extensive tour strengthened collaborative ties with local Rotary and Rotaract organizations while advancing numerous community development initiatives across the island nation.

The visit commenced with strategic engagements at the Rotary Club of Portsmouth, where Governor Warner-Gustave inspected ongoing playground development projects at Temple SDA Primary School and Dublanc/Bioche Primary School. These initiatives form part of a broader strategy to combat childhood obesity through promoting physical activity and creating safe recreational spaces for youth development.

A significant environmental conservation effort was demonstrated through a tree-planting exercise along the Indian River, aligning with Rotary’s global environmental objectives. The district governor also participated in strategic discussions with corporate sponsor Secret Bay to ensure sustainable support for the club’s community programs.

A landmark moment of the visit featured the unveiling of Portsmouth Secondary School’s first Peace Pole, where Governor Warner-Gustave addressed students and faculty on the critical importance of peacebuilding and youth leadership in community harmony.

The engagement extended to the Rotary Club of Dominica, where the district governor conducted separate meetings with the Rotaract Club of Roseau and Interact Clubs of Dominica State College and Dominica Grammar School. These interactions highlighted Rotary’s commitment to youth empowerment, with particular emphasis on developing leadership capabilities among young change-makers.

At Dominica Community High School, the governor inspected the newly implemented Snack Benches Project, which provides designated seating areas to enhance student comfort and inclusivity during break periods.

A particularly notable ceremony involved the formal handover of completed improvements at the Acute Psychiatric Unit, underscoring Rotary’s dedication to advancing mental healthcare infrastructure and services. The district governor commended the collaborative efforts that made this vital healthcare initiative possible.

The official visit included a courtesy call with Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton, President of Dominica, reaffirming Rotary’s commitment to national development through humanitarian initiatives and potential future collaborations aligned with Rotary’s strategic focus areas.

The visit concluded with a celebratory cocktail reception at Sunset Bay, where Rotarians from across generations gathered to strengthen fellowship bonds and reflect on the accomplishments achieved during the comprehensive tour. District Governor Warner-Gustave expressed profound gratitude for the hospitality extended and reaffirmed confidence in the ongoing efforts of Dominican Rotary clubs to create meaningful impact throughout the nation.