Discussions of community livelihoods in Dominica will take centre stage when the University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus Dominica and the Division of
Culture hosts the 12th Annual E.O. LeBlanc Memorial Lecture with a Panel Discussion on
Thursday, 9 October 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Alwin Bully Auditorium at UWI.
This year’s panellists and their respective topics are:
Mrs. Miranda Stephenson: “Toloma: Roots of Sustainability & Community Resilience”
Mr. Derrick Theophille: “Annou wivé bò lanmè-a: The Fishing Culture of Soufriere & Scottshead
Mrs. Gweneth Frederick: “Kalinago Crafts: Weaving traditional practice and modern business innovations.”
The Moderator is Mr. Micah Walter, Coordinator – Private Sector Relations, Industry.
Commerce and Innovation in the Ministry of Labour, Public Service Reform, Social
Partnership, Entrepreneurship, and Small Business Development.
“The theme of Dominica’s History Week during Independence Celebrations is reflected
in the theme of the E.O. LeBlanc Memorial Lecture,” explains Dr. Kimone Joseph,
Head, UWI Global Campus Dominica. “This year, we will explore how our local
communities have historically sustained themselves through a combination of traditional practices and modern innovations that infuse cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and economic survival to contribute to the resilience of several of Dominica’s communities.”
The E.O. LeBlanc Memorial Lecture public lecture series forms part of the National
Independence Calendar and focuses on cultural themes in celebration of the life and
work of Edward Oliver Le Blanc, Dominica’s first Premier. He was devoted to culture
and was an avid reader and poet.