Taking Christmas to a New Level



It is in the true spirit of Christmas, but, in truth . more to help alleviate a long existing problem in our society that has long required action beyond “Best Wishes” . So we congratulate Fr Franklin Cuffy who will next month lead his “troops” at the Londonderry Youth Mentoring Camp for problem youth . It is overdue .



It is more than time that someone or some agency took this type of action to begin the rehabilitation and the healing process for those of our young for whom violent behaviour has become too much the norm . Fr Cuffy’s Camp (we use his name for convenience – he has many helpers and sponsors, including government) is due to last a mere one week . It is a start, but a more long term plan needs to be pursued .



One example we can learn from may be in an American programme by a Service Club that has made much headway .



The “Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services” is an agency that works with 12 to 18 year olds who are typically repeat criminal offenders on probation and have been sent to an Optimist Youth Home for the chance to rehabilitate rather than be in danger of making wrong choices that lead them to a life of further criminal activity . Most of the problem youth also struggle with aggressiveness and anger that they need to learn to cope with . “Our challenge is to offer these youngsters support and help with their problems and new strategies that will permit them to live productive independent lives as adults” says a Director of Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services . “We want them to be able to repudiate the cycle of violence and abuse that was a part of their formative years” .



Optimist Youth Homes operate a residential program for 100 adolescent boys; seven group homes that house a total of 30 boys (and 12 girls!) - and a private high school . The agency has a new state-of the-art academic and vocational training centre - The EveryChild Foundation Youth Learning Centre – which has opened to serve the diverse needs of severely troubled adolescents .



Like Fr Cuffy’s program, it all started small . The Youth Homes & Family Services was established in 1906 when a couple took on an orphaned nephew into their home on a farm . Another boy arrived the same year and by 1908 there were 13 boys living on the farm . Home for Boys was eventually established and in the late 1920’s local Optimist Clubs started working with the home . With the clubs’ dedication and financial contributions, the home’s name changed to the Optimist Boys Homes & Family Services as the agency’s programs expanded .



Youth Homes & Family Services kicked off its annual Mentor Awards Gala this year by dedicating yet another youth learning Centre . The program has obviously made great strides . Fr Cuffy and his mentoring programme can, too, if it gets the kind of support it most assuredly deserves . We trust everyone concerned will rally round . It will be their best Christmas gift to their country .

Dominica: The Caribbean "Nature Island"
Melissa Barton
Approaching Dominica by sea, it's easy to see how Victorian writers could imagine remnant populations of dinosaurs surviving in the tropics, as described in novels like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. The island looks primeval and pristine, craggy and dense with rainforest — its rugged interior almost uninhabited, leading to the nickname "Nature Island." Located between Martinique and Guadalupe in the Lesser Antilles, Dominica is one of the youngest islands in the volcanic Caribees and it is still being formed by volcanic activity, making it an ideal destination for the geologically minded traveler.

Nicknamed "Nature Island," Dominica is nestled between Guadalupe and Martinique in the eastern Caribbean. It is a hot eco-tourism spot, boasting abundant wildlife and a rugged, untamed countryside. All photos by Melissa Barton.

Dominica's two airports are small, so visitors from the mainland United States must catch connecting flights from other islands, including Martinique and Barbados, or from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Melville Hall Airport is about an hour and a half from the capital city of Roseau, and Canefield Airport is about fifteen minutes from Roseau. Travelers visiting multiple islands may want to take a ferry from Martinique or Guadalupe. After arrival, you can rent a car, but be aware that you will have to drive on the left side of the road and that you will need a Dominican driver's license ($12). To get a license, you need to be over the age of 25 and have at least two years' driving experience. Taxis are an affordable alternative, and tour companies offer a variety of options to suit every interest.

Once on the island, make your way to your choice of lodging — Dominica has accommodations to please both luxury and budget-conscious travelers, from inexpensive guesthouses and hotels to secluded rental cottages, but you won't find large resorts to interfere with the tranquil scenery. Relax for a bit and take in the flower-scented air and the sounds of birdsong, and then prepare to head into the rainforest that covers two-thirds of the volcanic island.

A good place to start is the must-see Trafalgar Falls, about a 20-minute drive from Roseau. At the falls, visitors can see a thick volcanic deposit called the "Roseau ash," created during the most recent large-scale explosive eruption of a Dominican volcano. About 28,000 years ago, the Morne Trois Pitons-Micotrin volcanic center erupted violently, producing a thick ignimbrite deposit of ash and pumice fragments that blanketed the island and extended out over the seafloor.

Dominica is known for its geothermal springs, many of which visitors can dive and swim in. The springs arise from the volcanoes forming the island.

At Trafalgar Falls, the Roseau ash deposit is welded — boulders below the falls exhibit rounded lithic fragments and flattened pumice. Take a few minutes to swim in the cool waters of the lower falls, or soak in the hot springs of the higher falls. Trafalgar Falls is a popular tourist destination that can be visited in an afternoon, as well as a good area for sighting wildlife such as lizards and native birds.

After Trafalgar Falls, rent some snorkel gear and go for a dive at Champagne Hot Springs, an underwater hydrothermal area and coral reef about five kilometers south of Roseau. Warm, bubbling water and sand discolored by dissolved minerals mark the location of the springs. The reef itself is small but healthy, and is inhabited by trumpet fish, seahorses, squid, sand sharks and other marine life. Champagne Hot Springs is a safe, easy dive or snorkel appropriate for beginners. No guide or certification is necessary, as the reef is shallow and close to the shore.


Hiking through the Valley of Desolation to reach Boiling Lake is a must-do activity on Dominica, but it's not for the faint of heart. Be sure to wear old clothes and sturdy boots, and hire a guide. The 26-kilometer hike passes through the jungle and traverses fumaroles, hot springs and steep, muddy terrain.

For more adventurous travelers, the 26-kilometer roundtrip hike to Boiling Lake through the Valley of Desolation is a must. Boiling Lake is the second-largest volcanic lake in the world, located in an active geothermal area filled with acid hot springs and fumaroles. This is a steep, difficult, muddy hike, and travelers should allow at least three hours each way. Sturdy hiking boots, old clothes, plenty of water and a guide who knows the way are vital. Hire a guide in Roseau before you head out.

The hike begins at Ti Tou Gorge, the last place to fill up your water bottles. The first part of the hike climbs for almost an hour, crossing several high ridges as the trail winds through a rainforest loud with birdsong. There are no switchbacks; much of the trail is slippery and steep enough to require stairs.

You'll then climb another 760 meters in elevation, only to leave the rainforest and begin the descent into the Valley of Desolation. Vegetation is sparse here due to the hot, acidic environment — lush, vivid green moss is the most common plant. Steaming geothermally heated streams wind down the valley past sulfur- and iron-oxide-encrusted rocks. The waters are often blue-gray from kaolinite and other dissolved minerals, and some of the pools are rimmed with green, probably a type of extremophilic red algae such as Galdiera or Cyanidium. In some areas there are deposits of black pyrite, and clouds of warm, sulfurous steam from the hissing fumaroles blow over the trail, alternating with cool breezes.

Boiling Lake itself is nestled among small hills away from the fumarole field. The waters, which range from dark blue to turquoise, are often partially obscured by steam, but the violent bubbling of the lake is easy to see and hear. The lake occasionally undergoes periods of reduced water levels and geothermal activity — the water level can be quite cold at these times — most recently in December of 2004. Researchers at the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Unit are studying the causes of these periods of drainage.

It's a good idea to plan a quiet day relaxing on the beach or other low-key activities after the grueling hike to Boiling Lake. Dominica is known for its many beautiful lakes and waterfalls, as well as the abundant birdlife. The island is also one of the best places in the Caribbean for spotting whales, particularly sperm whales, which calve in the coastal waters year-round. You could also spend the day touring Roseau and checking out the spicy, Creole-influenced local cuisine.

Boiling Lake is located at the bottom of the Valley of Desolation. The bubbling lake is in the crater of a volcano.

After recovering, avid hikers can tackle one of Dominica's nine volcanoes, many of which offer hiking trails. Morne Diablotin, in the west, is the highest, but Morne Aux Diables, Morne Anglais and Morne Trois Pitons are also popular. A guide is required for some of these hikes. Guides are easy to find in any city and often near trailheads, but visitors who like the details planned ahead of time may prefer to hire the services of an established guide company.

Other popular activities on the island include horseback riding, ATV adventure riding, biking and of course, snorkeling and diving off the coasts. Aerial tram rides through the rainforest canopy offer birdwatching opportunities. Any number of tour companies can set you up with the tram ride, as well as guided hikes and other eco-tours.

Packing and preparing for a trip to Dominica can take a little forethought, due to the island's rugged nature. But if you bring appropriate hiking gear and research your routes in advance, rest assured that your trip to the Nature Island will run smoothly and be an adventure to write home about.



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Barton is Colorado-based science and travel writer, who has previously written for Transitions Abroad and the Colorado College Alumni Bulletin. She has a degree in geology from Colorado College.

Of Myths Folklore and Legends – The Story of Lougarous and Soukouyants
Thomson Fontaine


In the 1950s, 1960s and into the late 1970s tales of Lougarous and Soukouyants were everywhere. For those of us growing up in the far flung villages of Dominica such tales provided useful and sometimes terrifying entertainment to wile away the dark silent nights.

This was before the advent of electricity in the villages and in household after household young and old would gather to relate tales of those dark, evil creatures. Years later, although I have grown up and supposedly moved on, such tales are as vivid as when I heard them as a kid growing up in the village.

According to the storytellers, Lougarous and Soukouyants were all amongst us. These were men (Lougarous) and women (Soukouyants) living in the villages who had given their lives to the devil and in exchange had super human powers to do such things as vanish into thin air or be transformed into fireflies at night, or cast spells.

The tales were tall and terrifying. To my young mind, fear of the dark was the inevitable consequence. I dreaded the dark. Every movement or the whistling of the wind could be one of them coming after me. And those dreaded fireflies? We called them la loo and la belle. The smaller ones the la belle were the Soukouyants and the bigger, brighter ones, the la loo were the Lougarous.

I recall one time, through no fault of mine having to brave the night all alone after being left stranded at a neighbor’s house. Today, many years later, I remember that night as though it was yesterday. Those darting fireflies were everywhere, tugging at my shirt, blowing against me, threatening to carry me away into the night. I screamed my way home that night. The 500 yards felt like 500 miles.

So powerful were the Soukouyants that they were ascribed god-like powers. Consider this story. This particular Soukouyant from La Plaine was said to routinely fly to England in one night and return before day break. On one such journey, she entered the Queens palace and stole the Queen’s dress.

Villagers swear by this account. Several of them recall seeing the woman wearing the dress at church on Sunday morning. Much later, I learnt that this particular woman was undone when on returning from one of her nightly sojourn flying the night skies, she made the mistake of passing directly over the church where some villagers were waiting for her with a special concoction. She was blown from the sky and the next morning found dead in the church yard.

In another story, a carpenter was given a single piece of wood to build a cabinet for one of the villagers who was rumored to be a Soukouyant. In the middle of the night he arose to strange noises coming from under his house where he had placed the plank.

Suddenly it hit him. This plank was meant to kill his entire family. Getting up from bed, he crawled under the house and retrieved the plank. Then he started to walk the half mile to deliver the plank back to the lady’s house. As he got closer to her house, he realized that the plank was becoming heavier and heavier threatening to crush him. He offered up a prayer: “ Papa Bon Dieu par muen courage pour faire ca” (Dear God give me the courage to do that). Apparently it worked. He successfully returned the plank to the lady’s house. The next day she was dead.

Today, as I write these stories they seem ridiculous, but like most children of my generation at the time they were true. The truth was everywhere. Soukouyants were named. As such during the day, you saw them, knew where they lived and so you avoided them. Even a casual look in your direction would send you fleeing in fear.

We were warned not to let them approach us or touch our heads since they would prevent us from learning. Parents kept supplies of red lavender that were religiously applied in the form of a cross on their children’s head, ostensibly to ward off the dark powers. Children attending secondary schools in the town would receive a special bath of herbs and wild weeds during the summer break to keep the spells away. How could we not believe?

Two years ago, I think I was finally able to put the ghosts to rest. On my return to the village, I saw one of the ladies who were supposedly the most powerful Soukouyant in her day. She must be well into her nineties, yet she looked strong and alert and was taking a casual stroll down the street. As I looked at her I paused; a thousand stories rushed through my mind.

I was about to pass her without saying a word. Just then, I looked up at her. She was looking directly at me. “C’est ou qui savant Thoma qui autres payee?” ( So it’s you the child of Thomas that is overseas?) she asked. I was stunned. How did she know me? Surely growing up as a kid I had never looked closely at her. I was simply too fearful. How did she know? Could all these stories be true?

Then I smiled, told her that yes it was me. Then I complemented her on the way she looked. “It’s really nice seeing you”. She too smiled, then turned and continued to walk down the road. I looked back at her. Could it really be true? No way, I told myself. Then I started thinking of the pain and suffering this poor woman must have gone through having to bear that burden of being labeled a Soukouyant for all those years.

Rather than being revered as she should be, she had become a social outcast. I wondered what she was thinking when she saw me. Then I began thinking again of all those stories. The names of the famous ones in the village. Most of them long dead.

The island of Dominica was officially recognized as one of the top dive destinations in the Caribbean when readers of Scuba Diving magazine voted Dominica the 2 destination overall in the Caribbean/Atlantic category in the 2007 Reader’s Choice Awards, up from 3 for the previous two years.

La Dominique est le meileur endroit pour la plonge
Translated into French by: DELROY
L'ile nature de la Caraibe, La Dominique a recu un prix d'etre un des meilleurs destinations pour la plongee dans la Caraibe quand Scuba Diving magazine a vote pendant le 2007 Reader's Choice Award dans la categorie Caribbean/Atlantic.

HIV/AIDS testing
well i am happy to say that i got the results to my HIV test yesterday and as expected, the results were negative. i must say that even though i did expect that result that the moments leading up to getting the actual information was a period of anxiety and nervousness. but i'm glad that the results are as they are and i did make a vow to continue to protect myself to the best of my ability, and yes that will include abstaining to a certain extent, lol. i encourage everyone to get tested, knowing is beautiful.

D

la connaissance est le pouvoir
Translated into French by: DELROY
VIH/SIDA
je suis tres content a dire que j'ai recu mes resultats d'examen de sida, et comme prevu, je suis de bon sante' je dois dire que meme si j'ai bien prevu les resultats que ces moments, en attendant, c'etait vraiment penible. mais j'encourage tous le monde de faire l'examen de vih/sida car la connaissance est vraiment le pouvoir.