Marva Williams is the CEO of Discover Dominica, a Caribbean Island nestled between Martinique and Guadeloupe. Known as the “Natural Island of the Caribbean,” it is a hidden gem of stunning natural beauty with a lively and historied culture that is embedded in every preservation effort and diverse experience.
With a quick connection through Miami, Atlanta travelers can easily experience this lush destination.
The Atlanta Voice talked with Williams about Dominica’s rich biodiversity, sustainability efforts, and its beautiful culture.
The Atlanta Voice: Dominica is called the “Nature Island of the Caribbean.” Can you talk about how it earned that name and the beautiful wonders that surround it?
Marva Williams: “It’s been the Nature Island even before I was born; it’s not just something we say. We literally are the Nature Island of the Caribbean. Sixty percent of Dominica is protected by UNESCO, which means we don’t occupy 60 percent of our land, and that is fully natural, fully tropical. Our natural state also extends to our 365 rivers, which give us so many waterfalls. We do not boast of the white sand beaches. We have the black sand beaches because we have nine volcanoes, but that gave us the sulfur springs we have people come take a bath in. That gave us the bubbling waters in the sea. So, all those attributes, coupled with the people who actually push the tourism, are what really defines us as the Nature Island.”
AV: And Dominica also has the second-largest boiling lake in the world.
MW: “Indeed. We have the largest boiling lake in the Caribbean and the second largest in the world. And with our naturalness, we also have the longest hiking trail in the Caribbean, which is like 14 segments. You can walk in nature, bask in the ambiance of nature, and do it as an exercise, all while taking in all the different sites and attractions. We have over 1,200 species of plants.”
Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
AV: Can we talk more about how all these beauties and wonders feed into the preservation, the ecotourism, and the climate resilience that Dominica is known for?
MW: “We’re really into sustainability, and that is why our tagline, the Nature Island, is so ideal, because we literally walk, talk, sleep, eat, and dream nature. We’re actually investing in sustainability efforts in Dominica.
“Our sustainability is really community-focused. No island can be sustainable without the community being involved. For us in Dominica, our community tourism is widespread. There are things happening in the north, south, east, and west — different activities — and that is driven by the people within the island. They’re the ones engaging in the food-to-table tours. They’re the ones engaging in telling people about the locations.”
“I will give you an example: Dominica is one of two islands that still have indigenous people.”
AV: The Kalinago people.
MW: “Yes, the Kalinago. They used to be called the Caribs, but the Caribs, based on history, were affiliated with being fierce and always angry, and they wanted to take that away from them; they started to call themselves the Kalinago. We have about 3,000 Kalinago in Dominica, somewhere on the north of the island. They have their own territory and have that tourism offering. So, you can come to Dominica and live like a Kalinago. You can dress like them, eat their Kalinago food, immerse yourself in the whole Kalinago spirit, and even live in one of their houses.”
AV: It’s amazing that you still have the presence of the indigenous community there. How has that influenced Dominica’s cultural practices and traditions as the island continues to grow?
MW: “We respect the Kalinago and their culture and their manners of operation, hence the reason they have their own territory for themselves. With that respect, I can say that Dominica is still 60 percent Catholic. There are other religions. There are other cultures. For example, we have a little French influence. We have Spanish influence. We can say now that we have a bit of the Chinese and Japanese influence. But Dominica in general, we have our own identity, and so do the Kalinago. The Kalinago have their own identity, how they live, how they speak, how they eat, and how they engage with people from outside the territory. But it’s not something that has overpowered the overall uniqueness of the island; it is actually a compliment for us.”
AV: Sperm whales reside in Dominica year-round, and it’s a prime location for whale watching. Dominica will soon become home to the world’s first sperm whale reserve. What are the plans for that?
MW: “Dominica is the only Caribbean island with close to 300 residents from whales. We’ve called National Geographic once, and we said, ‘Hey, come here. We have this pool of sperm whales in our waters. Tell us why.’ They couldn’t figure out why.
“We’re in the process of building a sperm whale sanctuary, and all that is adding to our sustainability efforts. We’re building our geothermal plants, and that is because we want to solidify our footing when it comes to the sustainability aspect already. We’re currently building a marina valued at over $200,000. When that Marina is complete, certain measures will be put in place to protect the land, to plant back trees, to make sure that there are fruit trees and trees that people can use in the near future. So, there’s a lot going on as it relates to Dominica being an eco-resort and eco-destination, pushing luxury but also speaking sustainability and protection of our natural environment.
“Sustainability is also in our waters. Dominica is the number one—and I say that we’re the number one — dive destination in the world, towards the Southeast of the island only. We have about 20 dive sites that divers really, really love. Over the past couple of months, we’ve seen an influx of people coming in specifically for diving. We boast that our underwater corals are not man-made, and with that, we always encourage keeping a clean and green destination.
“Do not litter, because if you throw things in the sea, then that is going to affect the whole coral and the coral restoration. We have some of our stakeholders who engage in the coral restoration process.”
AV: You have all these Caribbean islands and countries that are far from monoliths. What, for you, makes the culture of Dominica so special, especially when it comes to food and music and the liveliness?
MW: “Everything we do is really traditional and really cultural. We carry that history and all that speaks to the naturalness of Dominica. Our cultural tradition is really celebrated at the end of September, going into October, and we celebrate Dominica’s birthday on the third of November; you have about six weeks of independence and culture. That is when it really comes alive with the celebrations. That’s where you see people wearing the traditional wear, which is the “wob dwiyet,” yet you will see people wearing the “jupe,” which is the skirt and the petticoat. People are dancing cultural dances that align with our history and our tradition like bélé and quadrille.
“The sancoche, our national dish, is a mixture of different fruit crops and vegetables, of which the coconut water, the salt fish, and the crabs are the highlight. In Dominica, we have two types of genres of music that belong to us. We have the calypso and then we have the buoyon. It flourishes during Carnival and the World Creole Music Festival. The language — Creole — comes alive. You feel an atmosphere of independence, pride, and power as a people.
“Our tradition, our culture, is very important to us. We always emphasize the authenticity of Dominica for its nature, its tradition, its culture, all motivated and pushed by the people within the island.”
AV: As more travelers visit Dominica, what are some things they should keep in mind to not only enjoy all Dominica has to offer but also be respectful about it?
MW: “We’re looking for eco-friendly travelers who are also in love with nature, which means they will protect nature by embracing the power of sustainability and what it means.
“We want more people to discover this hidden gem right in the middle of the chain of islands in the Caribbean. It’s for families. We are safe for solo travelers, and it is an amazing destination for couples looking to get married or celebrate their honeymoon.”
This interview was edited for length and clarity.