Kalinago Territory marked a major milestone Monday as 15 residents graduated from a tour guide certification program

The Kalinago Territory marked a significant milestone on Monday as 15 residents graduated from a tour guide certification programme aimed at enhancing tourism and preserving the community's cultural heritage. 


Addressing the graduates during the ceremony, Kalinago Chief Annette Thomas-Sanford said they now carry an important responsibility to accurately share the history and culture of the Kalinago people with visitors. She emphasized that the newly certified tour guides have a key role to play in correcting misconceptions and inaccurate narratives that have long been told about the Kalinago community. 


The initiative was made possible through a partnership involving Seacology, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernization and Kalinago Upliftment, along with support from the Dominica State College and the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association, which delivered the training.

Sanford further advised the graduates not to wait for opportunities to present themselves, but instead to create their own. She encouraged them to apply the skills and knowledge acquired through the programme to develop sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.

Kalinago Chief Annette Thomas-Sanford.