Psychology
Francis O. Severin, Director of the Open Campus of Dominica at the Pan-Caribbean West Indies University (UWI) is renowned for being able to interpret the psychology of Dominica and Dominicans, including their actions.
He believes Dominica essentially sees itself as a peaceful country. When something shocking happens, such as a crime, everyone unites to reflect on the situation and the Dominicans are aware that they have to insistently preserve this placid approach.
This is a society where everyone knows each other. Nothing changes regardless of where you go. Wherever you are, you will never feel anonymous and you will always feel safe. And this solidarity extends beyond the barriers of social class. Dr Severin gives the example of a senior executive who lost his job and ordinary people offered him a basket of fruit and all kinds of other favours. He said: “This way of life provides security, but it also makes us more fragile, because it creates anxiety – the fear that it will all be lost to modernity, American TV channels broadcasting 24 hours a day, satellites and values introduced by migrants, and so on.”
Severin believes these reassuring human relationships conceal a trap. The country’s political system is based on the kind of democracy which developed in Westminster and is well respected, but the practice of helping one another produces a feeling of recognition for the person who has done something for you. This gratitude, for example towards a minister who has built a road close to your village, is a misplaced sentiment. The people in power believe they deserve this recognition. Those who win power hold grudges against the people who did not support them and those who lose, lose everything. This leads to politicians frequently switching from one party to another to join the winning side, whereas they originally campaigned for another agenda.
