Support for 2006 as ‘Year of the Rivers’

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Support for 2006 as `Year of the Rivers'

"Religious leaders from the Catholic, Evangelical, Rastafarian and

Vedic faiths were present at the declaration, to lend support to

WEF's efforts at protecting the rivers."

 

 

The Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA) is giving support to the

Waitukubuli Ecological Foundation (WEF) in its bold declaration as

2006 `Dominica's year of the rivers.'

 

This proclamation, according to WEF officials, is to end the

destructive cycle and take action for reforestation to protect the

environment.

 

"The campaign of public awareness must begin. 2006 is the year we

must start the process of restoring the rivers, the rehabilitation,

the cleaning and the replanting of the river banks to combat

deforestation," said WEF official Singolla Blomquist – Williams at

the declaration ceremony alongside the Layou River Thursday

 

"2006 is the year we lay the foundation for a comprehensive programme

of the maintenance so that in 2026 and beyond, we can still proclaim

Dominica as the land of 365 rivers and not the land that had 365

rivers," she said.

 

In support of WEF's attempts at saving Dominica's depleting rivers,

Atherton Martin, President of the CCA says he will promote the issue

internationally.

 

"I have the privilege of offering our fullest support as the largest

environmental organisation in the region," Mr Martin said.

 

"We lend you our support and in concrete terms, come June this year

at the Commission for sustainable development at the United Nations

in New York, we'd be happy to take this issue to the General

Assembly, through the commission on sustainable development.

 

"In August at a Global Summit at the Global Environmental facility,

held in Cape Town South Africa, we also would be privileged to give

good representation to this work to protect the rivers of Dominica as

a symbol to the world," Mr Martin said.

 

Religious leaders from the Catholic, Evangelical, Rastafarian and

Vedic faiths were present at the declaration, to lend support to

WEF's efforts at protecting the rivers.

 

The Rastafarian leader Sister Adamah performed an African ritual to

preserve the waters, chanting, "Our destiny is great, our body is

well, knowledge in over standing and knowledge in wisdom, the

patience of a hunter who knows the way. Give us the strength to

destroy what is bad and the strength and courage to start and

continue what is good."

 

Both the President of the Dominica Association of Evangelical

Churches, Pastor Bill Daniel and Bishop of the Catholic Church His

Lordship Gabriel Malzaire prayed and blessed the river.

 

"Let history record that we did not allow the rivers to dry without

attempting to do something about it," said Bernard Wiltshire,

President of WEF.

 

"Future generations may well blame us and blame generations before us

for not having had the patience and the carefulness to protect what

we've inherited.

http://www.thetimes.dm/modules/news/article.php?storyid=411