Boldface, I must say, I rather enjoyed your constructive criticism, response and admire that spirit. As far as my subtle manner in which I also dish out some maypwe, you are correct. Do remember that I have also inherited the Dominican gene, that genetic makeup that can be frustrating to accommodate…LOL

Dani, well what can I say. You are also correct in your submission and I thank you for the compliment and title of “Mr Wisdom”. I do not feel smart in this present company; I will have you know….LOL
And yes, you are also correct that “I have been a strong advocate, “HAVE BEEN” does not mean I still am. I have come a long way on this topic of interest and to a conclusion that my people do not want this Oil Refinery in there backyard. That I respect and accept for many a reason as stated by so many. What I resent is the way we conduct ourselves when we do not want something. We tend to legitimize our cause at the expense of disrespecting others opinions and resorting to a “vieux baguy” status.

Constructive criticism is an amazing tool that needs to be employed when discussing any contentious issue. Exulting a compassionate attitude towards the person qualified for criticism is a critique I would subscribe to anytime. I do not posses a “my way or the highway” attitude and feel it is necessary to be victorious in any discussions that I partake in. I try to respect the opinions of everyone (even if I disagree with them) and have on occasions changed my position based on such communications. I have come to such a conclusion on the Oil Refinery. I have been enlightened and educated by many of you to the reality that exists with this proposal, and I respect that.

The people of Dominica have made it quite clear that they do not support this idea and I will respect their wishes. What I will not respect is when it is suggested that because I do not live in Dominica I do not have the best interest `of the “little man” or Dominica at the forefront.
Too many times in discussions of relevance, we as Dominicans have resorted to “Destructive Criticism” as the basis and means of our arguments, when we are not in agreement. Destructive criticism is intended to harm someone; it derogates and destroys people’s prestige and self-esteem on whatever level it may be displayed. This may not be done intentionally or out of sheer ignorance and foolishness. This is totally counter-productive and is usually a reaction from persons who are envious, cruel and spurred from those who judges in fields which are not there own.

I thank each and every one of you for allowing me the opportunity to partake in this discussion and hope we can exert that passionate rendition displayed in the future for the love of our homeland.

Blessings to all.
Christian Volney.
An understanding of….
Laboremus pro patria…..”Let us work for the fatherland”

Comment by Christian Volney
2008-07-14 10:42:50

I have been a strong advocate for the oil refinery (which has not come to fruition to date) as a sustainable means to the Dominican people from an employment and economic point of view. This is a much-needed sustainable base of revenue generation for the governments coiffure in combating the ongoing demise of the banana industry.

So after you said “i have been a strong advocate for the oil refinery” which clearly delineates your position, you want to call people ignorate for challenging this view, and then you still dare to LIE and ask…

“Where have I stated that I am passionate about putting an Oil Refinery in Dominica?..”.

and the thing is RIGHT THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE on the blog and you are acting as if somebody is trying to victimize you?

so tell me..if you say you are a “strong advocate” how can you be upset when somebody says you’re passionate…

Put your money where your mouth is.

I was going to tell Mr. Wisdom that dominicans DON’T NEED the EIA report. We are educated people with brains of our own.

Asking us to wait for the EIA report is like telling somebody whose house is right next to a bushfire that he should first wait for a fireman to come and assess the situation before attempting to put out the fire.

I am from Russia and in my country was built the Nuclear Power Plant. It was took a place the “due process”. The EIA report and its recommendations told us that it is a VERY SAFE Nuclear Power Plant IN THE WORLD AND NOTHING CAN BE HAPPEN WITH THAT. So, guess what? The SAFIEST Nuclear Power Plant had the WORST nuclear power plant ACCIDENT IN HISTORY. Do you know how much people was dead? 10 000 at one moment and AFTER - 2 MILLIONS because of radiation. What about environment of the region? It is dead zone for many years now.

Would you feel passionate about any “due process” and EIA report and its recommendations now? Whould you play with the future of the NATURE island?

The Oil Refinery of cause not as big as the Nuclear Power Plant and do their damage by other way, but for small island as Dominica it is more than enough.

with all due respect to you i have read the blogs and i d understand your position. At the sme time I thought that you indeed dish out your own type of insultive criticism but in a more subtle mannner. I have already given my idea of this refinery and i believe due process isn’t really necessary especially when we are aware of the results of this refinery. Due process I believe is only necssary when it promotes positive anwsers. I don’t think many or anyone on here called you a biggit. But as for discrimination in schools that person must have attended CDCC to have come up with that idea :-). You are resorting to name calling youself. Nobody’s opnion should ever referred to as slavish or idiotic! its their own opnion. yes they said your bread was buttered. Its that person’s idea that you can make a life in many places in which they can’t. I agree that doesn’t mean you can’t give your thoughts as well, but because I also live somewhere else I will respect the decision of Dominicans not to even think of having something that can potentially harm the environment and dominica. We are all name callersget over it Volney! Your word shouldn’t always be the last word!

My opinions have been ostracized; I have been accused of racism and bigotry and responsible of discrimination in the school system.
That is a pathetic display of communicating a resolve to a very contentious issue. This is how we problem solve issues in Dominica by resorting to name calling and idiotic suggestions of zero relevance to the topic of discussion.
How can we forward any agenda with such a mentality…Oops, sorry, I will probably be branded for this language!
Peace and wellness to all.
CV

As to contributing to discrimination in the school system, how have you come to this conclusion? You have an incredible aptitude for drawing conclusions off the wall and I find this quite disturbing, but not surprising.
You obviously do not know me personally, or how my life has unfolded growing up in Roseau as a Boy, for that comment would never have been made.

“You feel like Dominicans living at home have proven their stupidity and ‘SLAVE MENTALITY’ by remaining here and that they are hence incapable of deciding whether or not an oil refinery would be to their detriment?”

Incredible comment and one that signifies little to me, what else can I say. I am disappointed that you feel that it is necessary to try and degrade me, comment with such ignorance, and portray someone you do not know (quite obvious) as being some sort of bigot and or racist.
I concede to these comments at this time; I thought we could have engaged in a meaningful conversation open mindedly, but it seems as if we have lowered the benchmark and it now has become redundant to continue or dignify any further.

Peace to you both.