Today marked the official opening of the celebrations of the 31^st anniversary of its independence. Under the theme of “Progress and Development,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Minister for Community Development, Culture, Gender Affairs and Information, Loreen Bannis-Roberts, addressed the group that had gathered at the Old Mill Cultural Center to participate in the opening ceremony. The event featured performances artists and musicians that included the Paix Bouche cultural group, the Sisserou singers, Michele Henderson, Ophelia, and Daddy Chess. The 2009 Miss Wob Dwiyet contestants, the reigning Miss Wob Dwiyet and the reigning Miss  Dominica were also present. Speaking to Dominica News Online in anticipation of the ceremony, Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence said that “Hopefully… it will be a very exciting opening ceremony at the Old Mill which in itself is a heritage site in Dominica. The old mill has a very intriguing and interesting history of sugar plantation and sugar industry and lime plantation… and also architectural industry, a history of slavery and emancipation, and also a cultural history.”

See also http://www.dominicanewsonline.com/all_news/culture/7562.html

Photo above from the 2008 Independence celebration can be found at http://www.dominica-weekly.com/dominica-events/dominicas-greatest-independence-opening-show-ever/