Statement from the President of the Bar Association on Law Week 2026
On behalf of the Dominica Bar Association, I am pleased to announce the observance of Law Week 2026 under the theme “Legacy, the Law and You,” from May 23 to 30, 2026. This year’s programme reflects a focus on how we can use the law to preserve property for present income and for future generations.
The week will include a sports tournament and family fun day with the Commonwealth of Dominica police force, attendance at a church service, a student court exposure initiative, a public speaking competition, a continuing legal education session for members of the profession, and a culminating Oldies Party event in support of the Bar Association’s scholarship fund.
The public speaking competition will be for high school students, on the topic “Mother has, Father has, God, Bless the child who has his own” – Is Generational Wealth Building a Legacy or a Sense of Entitlement?” This will be held at the Prevo Cinemall on Tuesday, the 26th, at 2:30 pm and will be carried live on Emo News.
The Week’s public education event will be a special panel discussion designed to inform and engage the wider Dominican community on copyright.
This panel discussion, titled “Protecting Your Sound: The Legacy of Bouyon and Other Musical Artforms Through the Protection of Artists’ Intellectual Property Rights”, will be held at the UWI Lecture Theatre on Wednesday, the 27th of May, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The discussion will examine the legal and practical importance of protecting the creative work of Dominican artists, with particular focus on Bouyon and other indigenous music as an essential part of our cultural identity and legacy.
As President of the Bar Association, I believe this discussion comes at a particularly important time. Firstly, because it has been requested, and secondly, because Bouyon, cadence-lypso, and other Dominican musical expressions are not only sources of pride and creativity, but sources of musical pieces with valuable intellectual property that deserve to be protected and respected. The panelists will be Ms Artlyn Nesty, Attorney at Law and Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property, and musical artists, Michele Henderson, Shelly Alfred, and Gael “Trilla-G” Jno. Baptiste. Through this discussion, we hope to help artists, creators, industry stakeholders, and members of the public better appreciate how the law and good industry practice can preserve legacy in the musical art form, support livelihoods, and strengthen our cultural future.
Following the discussion, there will be an opportunity for one-on-one pro bono consultations. The Bar Association invites all interested to join us for this signature Law Week event as we explore the connection between law, culture, and legacy. This event was also kindly supported by Arden Sounds, Josephine Gabriel & Co., and Evolve Entertainment. It will also be carried live on DBS and Emonews.
The Bar Association looks forward to welcoming the public to this timely and meaningful discussion and to celebrating Law Week 2026 in a manner that honours both the legal profession and the proprietary legacy of Dominicans.