Jarna's Infallible Law of...Patriotism

I have found myself in lots of tight spots over the years which I eventually and ultimately escape. Several of them potentially shaming and scandalous, others terribly awkward and some more which were...um...downright embarrassing.

Counted among those embarrassing moments is the shame I feel when  I come across foreigners who have unfair, untrue or just unfortunate perceptions of Dominica.

I decided to take an active stance in defiance of those Dominicans who enable and encourage those views and become Dominica’s Tourism Ambassador!

I have been on a mission since my sashing to right the wrongs that have been done to my beautiful country. While it’s a fun job, it can be daunting since I’m only one Supergirl. Therefore, I hereby seek to recruit you as a Tourism Ambassador. Here are our rules:

1.             We first acknowledge that we may be the only Dominica that people ever see.

This isn’t a made up rule. It’s a fact and we NEED to internalise that right quick. If you have ever travelled and struck up a conversation with anyone new, you would find that the subject is often your country. Imagine that that day was this person’s last opportunity to travel or ever hear about your Dominica. What would they leave with? 

2.   We don’t air our dirty laundry in public.

 Often under the guise of free speech and democracy we let our large mouths run off without our brains. Tourism Ambassadors don’t meet strangers and bad mouth the country of their birth.

I am by no means denying that things are wrong, hence my carefully selected words. Yes, as citizens we may have our gripes with the way things are done and we strongly suggest some changes and we know all the answers and if we were Prime Minister and blah blah blah – discuss it with God.

You may speak to people who have been to Dominica and thus are bursting to tell you what it was like for them, maybe it was generally good with one or two  bad experiences, Don’t spoil it for them! I stood at the Ferry Terminal in Roseau one day listening to two Dominicans who lived overseas bending a tourist’s ear about everything wrong with The System. The poor man, buffeted by negativity on the left and on the right didn’t even know how to respond.

Naturally, I spoke with him as self-proclaimed Tourism Ambassador and righted his bent ears. Imagine, that man had only had one bad experience in his entire time here and it was the fault of LIAT. Now he hears that Customs and Immigration authorities are out to get everyone.

Do you enjoy knowing that strangers know what goes on in your bedroom and kitchen? On behalf of Waitukubuli, I declare that she doesn’t like it either.

3.   We call Jack by his rightful name.

When something is good, Tourism Ambassadors say so. Because you are not 100% happy with the workings of your country, doesn’t mean it’s all bad. When something is good, say so.

The reverse is also true. Customer Service Reps fail when they refuse to acknowledge that something is wrong. The same is true for Tourism Ambassadors. If you are entrusted with a complaint about your country, take it in stride. There’s no reason to get upset and blow it out of proportion.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying about Jack and his jacket. I support it because who knows what Jack has gone through to get that one jacket!

4.   We make tourism our business.

For years and years we’ve heard it said that tourism is everybody’s business. That’s because it is. From the banker, to the farmer, to the entrepreneur, to the student, to the unemployed. Be invested! Get concerned! Be interested in issues that affect your business. Every single visitor to Dominica is a walking billboard, take advantage!

5.   We shame those who shame us.

These laws wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t say that we don’t take kindly to those who only seek to bring disgrace to us and our lovely country. We don’t appreciate, and are not ashamed to say, that we’re not ok with those who are telling tall tales to foreigners. We will find you. We will stop you.

That said, I hereby knight you Tourism Ambassador. Go forth and live the love that we feel for the rugged mountains, black sands and endless waters that have made us who we are. I hereby knight you, patriot.