Following the launch of his new book, Dr. Thomson Fontaine has called on the government to consider including it in the school curriculum. Titled The Maroons of Dominica 1764-1818 – Resistance, Rebellion, and Freedom from Slavery, the book examines Dominica’s history in relation to the activities of the Maroons to end slavey on the island.
The former IMF official and economic adviser to the government of South Sudan said the historical content and perspective of the book is beneficial to students. He noted that students must be tutored on their past, and that national history must be brought back to schools across the island. He added that books authored by historian Dr. Honychurch and Polly Pattullo would equally be invaluable to students willing to learn Dominica’s history.
I think it’s important that this information is passed on to our students and taught at schools. I think it is important that our teachers are allowed to convey this message to our students. It is not good enough that this information does not reach our children. We need to be teaching them; we need to be telling them; we need to be letting them know about what happened. And I hope that books like mine, that of Dr. Honychurch and Polly Pattullo, those books can really be part of our curriculum.
Dr. Thomson Fontaine
Justice Irving Andre, attorney Gabriel Christian, Dr. Dale Dangleben, Roseau North MP Daniel Lugay and a cross-section of other prominent Dominicans praised Fontaine for the book and agreed that his book would be invaluable to students in the country.
Christian said the book addresses “the history of enslaved African ancestors who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today” and Dangleben noted that “you feel the sacrifice that they’ve [ancestors] made for us today. It is needed today more than ever since we have truly lost the understanding of our ancestry and the struggles that they went [through] towards liberation.”
In another development, many Dominicans are already weighing the idea that Fontaine may emerge as the new UWP leader after the tenure of Linton Lennox ends next year. While many Dominicans love and adore him as an academic and political juggernaut, critics said he is not capable of attracting supporters from other parties into the UWP at this time. This notion of taking over from Lennox remains speculation and has not been addressed by the UWP leadership.
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