Pay Up: Says Forestry Division to Visiting Dominicans

Dominica boasts of being a charming, quaint island, eager to welcome both visitors and visiting Dominicans to its shores.

However, a returning Dominica, though on the island for a short stint, would receive the same benefits as those who have lived in the country all their lives.

Sadly, this is not the case as some establishments, upon hearing an accent, deliver a wide array of treatment ranging from cold indifference to warm and pleasant interactions.

In the case of enjoying the attributes that make Dominica the Nature Isle, visiting Dominicans are being reminded they will be slapped with the cost of a site pass when attempting to see areas such as the Trafalgar Falls, the Emerald Pool, and the Cabrits National Park.

Unsurprisingly, this practice has been met with backlash, as those born and raised here yet who have travelled overseas to greener pastures feel entitled to the same privileges that those who remained on the island enjoy.

Division of Forestry officials admit they have had incidents with visiting Dominicans who are reluctant to pay the required fee.

"The biggest issues that we have most of the time would be with some of our returning Dominicans," said Forest Officer One with the National Parks Division, Lester Roberts. "This is where we have a little bit of an issue because what they don't realise is yes, you were born and raised in Dominica, but you no longer live in Dominica."

Roberts emphasised that, as it stands, nonresidents have to pay to visit National Parks and Sites. However. However, this does not go over well with some within this group.

"If you are not a physical resident of Dominica, when you come to a park, you will be treated as a tourist, and that is sometimes where we get the biggest issue because every tourist has to pay a fee to enter the park," he said.

He urged Dominicans, both residents here and overseas, to better acquaint themselves with the laws of the land to gain a more solid grasp of the Division's workings.

"And when they (Dominica-born visitors) come, the sticking point to them is they were born here; they should not be paying. However, they do not live here. The Act states that if you are not a resident of Dominica for the past six months, you will be treated as a foreigner, so you will have to pay to enter the park," he said.

Having wrapped up one festive season and gearing up for an influx of visiting Dominicans as another festive season approaches, The Sun listened keenly to what resident Dominicans think of the matter.

"Well, they can access the beaches and rivers for free, so why not the national parks and sites?" a curious bystander asked.

"I just find six months is kind of arbitrary," said another, "like if you go to study and come back during summer break, what happens?"

"If that is the law, that is the law; six months is six months. What again do they want?"

"Ahm, okay, but who is checking to ensure they were overseas for over six months? Which visiting Dominican is walking with their papers so you can check their place of residence?"

Aware of these concerns, Forester Roberts stated that the Division's staff is qualified and skilled in identifying nonresident Dominicans who visit the National Parks and sites.

"About how we determine if someone has been out or not, first and foremost, we have experienced Park Wardens and Park Rangers who have been doing this job for quite a while. So when tourists, a foreigner, or someone living overseas comes to a Park, the first person they should meet would be the Park Warden who would vet the visitor."

Currently, a single visit site pass costs USD$5.00, while a week-long site pass costs USD$12.00.