The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit, joined the nation to mourn the death of Dr Alwin Bully, a distinguished Dominican playwright, artist, and cultural administrator and also the designer of the country’s national flag. Bully died on March 10 at the age of 74.
Following his demise, the whole nation is deeply saddened and is giving its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Alwin Bully. PM Roosevelt Skerrit said that the government honours him for his deep, endless love for Dominica and his efforts to impart knowledge, tradition, culture and values while teaching everyone to appreciate and revel in the richness of the Dominican heritage.
Dr Alwin Bully was a national icon of the highest class of Dominica, a true patriot and a hero who represented the country and its people with pride and distinction, and the country will always treasure his memory, added PM Skerrit.
PM Roosevelt Skerrit added, “On behalf of the Government & People of Dominica, I express heartfelt condolences to his wife, Anita, his children Brent & Sade, and all who mourn his death.”
Born in Roseau on November 14, 1948, Alwin Bully studied at the Dominica Grammar School, the Convent Preparatory School, the St Mary’s Academy, as well as the University of the West Indies – Cave Hill.
Throughout his life, he was a vital aspect of the education and promotion of the arts and culture in Dominica: dance, choral music, theatre, playwriting, folk music and carnival, to name a few.
Alwin Bully, in 1978, designed the national flag of Dominica as the island prepared to gain independence from Britain in November of the same year. The current flag only includes small alterations from the Cabinet before it was legally established by The National Emblems of Dominica Act (Act No. 18 of 1978).
Governor Sir Louis Cools-Lartigue signed the Act on October 31, 1978, Gazetted November 1, and was effective on November 3, 1978 – Dominica’s Independence Day.
Some of his achievements included:
• Representing Dominica at the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Britain – 1965
• Launched the “cultural desk” in the Ministry of Community Development which later became the Cultural Division – 1978
• Served at the UNESCO regional office (Jamaica) to apply his creativity to the Caribbean region – 1978