Black Immigrant Daily News

One determined businessman from Canada has taken the irrevocably bold step of packing up his belongings and heading to Dominica to pursue his passion.

Jesse Hoffman, born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario, came to Dominica for the very first time in November 2021 to join his business partner Sutherland Haskell and run their first restaurant.

Hoffman, who holds a Master’s degree in cinematography pivoted to professional cooking when at a crossroads in his career.

He told The Sun he had never visited Dominica but followed his dream and good advice.

“My business partner Sutherland Haskell lived here before,” Hoffman said. “During a visit in 2020, he heard about the renovation taking place at Melrose House.”

Photos were shared, a business plan fleshed out, and the vision came into sharper focus. The decision was made to grab on to this opportunity.

“We had known each other from cooking school and we had talked about pursuing a business venture; opening a restaurant together. So when this break came along and we decided to jump on it,” he said.

Hoffman admits he did his best to not develop any preconceived notion of the island as he spoke with people who had visited or lived in Dominica previously. Upon moving to the country in November, he spent considerable time getting to know the island and its people.

“We visited a lot of different natural spots and places to eat,” he said. “So right away I was able to get a taste of the different qualities the island had to offer. It didn’t really take long for me to be quite enchanted with everything here.”

The co-owner of Lacou Restaurant, who was staying in Belfast initially, moved to Roseau when the restaurant opened in early 2022.

“That is when real day-to-day life started and I was getting to know the city, finding my way around, adapting to local customs, and getting a feel of the people,” Hoffman said.

In his mere nine months on the island, Jesse already has a deep appreciation for Dominica, its residents, and more.

“The country itself, I always felt what an incredibly beautiful and well preserved, natural habitat it is,” he said. “The people have been very welcoming, very kind, and generous overall.”

The chef confesses one of the major adaptations of the big move, was to Dominica’s culinary culture.

“There is an adjustment that comes with moving to a small island in terms of access to products and the different kinds of amenities and things that are available to you versus in bigger cities where you can go out and experience any type of food you want,” Hoffman said.

From the business point of view, he says it has been quite a motivational learning experience to introduce new cooking techniques to the local cuisine.

“It has been very interesting to bring our style of cooking – which is more European style – here and see how the locals enjoy it and react to it because there is a very strong food culture in Dominica. And from the perspective of a restaurant owner, it is a totally different system of sourcing products here,” he said.

The business partners, who plan to take a break in August, vow to be back in September with more grand ideas for their restaurant.

“We are going to be working on Lacou 2.0 so to speak by continuing to put some of the vision we had since the beginning,” he said. “So yeah, it is a long-term process.”

Hoffman remains forever grateful for the chance to continue on his newfound path in his newfound home and help influence the palate of the Dominican people.

“This has been a really amazing learning experience for me to come here. I have worked in restaurants in the past but I never owned one and to do it in a totally new country, it has been challenging but really rewarding. So, I am very happy to be here,” he said.

-By Andrea Louis

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Black Immigrant Daily News

A focused, determined, multi-talented young woman, who Dominica has embraced as one of its own, is committed to giving back to church, community, and country for as long as this is where she calls home.

Marie Pascale Affana from Cameroon, West Africa, came to Dominica in 2009 to pursue a degree at the All Saints University School of Medicine. She successfully completed her studies and is now a doctor of physiology and employed as a lecturer in the same subject.

Because she loves teaching, saying ‘yes’ to the job offer from All Saints was a no-brainer. However, Affana shared with The Sun that there was something else that made her stay.

“Being a Catholic Christian I firmly believe that we all have a mission,” she said. “I pray a lot to understand what my next step will be, I listen to the Holy Spirit and I feel that God has directed me to stay in Dominica for my mission.”

During her stint as a student, Marie got a better understanding of the country’s residents.

“The people are generally very honest, kind, and look out for others. I remember the first time we went grocery shopping we forgot some items on a bus. The driver came back to our place to give us those items,” Marie said. “We were so surprised.”

She made sure to engage herself in the community and give of her time and talent, to have a deeper appreciation of life in Dominica.

“I am involved in church ministry, youth groups, and choirs. I am also the Director of the Sixth Form Sisserou Singers,” she said.

Marie enjoys experiencing Dominica’s culture as it is reminiscent of her Cameroonian heritage.

“Dominica is so rich with culture and I like the fact that culture is not too far from what I know back home,” Affana said. “When you come here you see how the culture which has left the continent has been integrated and it is so beautiful to see.”

Online information about Dominica was difficult to find while researching back in 2009. Marie revealed that one of the biggest adjustments, of moving here was the lifestyle.

“I would say it is closer to the western world and the diet consisting of a lot of meat and pies, whereas I am accustomed to more fish and ground provision,” she said.

Another adaptation was leaving a large population of over fifteen million (at the time) and coming to a population of 70,000.

“The fact is many people know you. There is a lot of crossing in circles. It was different in a good way where most people would look out for you,” Affana stated.
Dominica is famous for its natural beauty and terrain, which Marie came to realize is a source of pride for the people.

“Of course, the landscape of the country. Cameroon has mountains and all that but Dominica, you have special mountains and a lot of activities are hiking,” she said.

In her 13 years living in Dominica and making many good friends who have welcomed her into their families, Affana’s impression of Dominica has changed for the better.

“It has been a very beautiful experience when you’re in a place for all that time,” she said. If you don’t like the place you really wouldn’t stay.”

Her plan is to continue giving back to the country until she feels she has completed her work here.

“I will always be grateful for the fact that Dominica gave a lot to me and I feel giving back to Dominica is the least I can do. I want to keep pushing with the youth ministry at church,” she said. “I am planning to push for a music education programme in my church that is going to launch this summer.”

This vocal powerhouse, known for her hit songs ‘My Baby Oh,’ ‘Bucket list’, and ‘African Prince’, has also collaborated with the local Kompas band Xtasy and says music continues to be a strong part of her future and she only sees herself growing as a recording artiste.

-By Andrea Louis

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

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Moruga dancehall artiste Daniel Hamilton-

Moruga dancehall artiste Daniel Hamilton spent the last moments of his life chatting and laughing with a “close friend.”

Then the unthinkable happened.

Police believe the friend shot Hamilton dead before getting into a car and driving away.

The 26-year-old Hamilton was one of five people gunned down within a 24-hour period.

The others are a man who is yet to be identified, who was shot dead at Guayamare Village, Charlieville at around 9.05 pm; couple Acori Mason, also known as Bless, and Rosanne Granger who were in a car when they were fired upon at Jubilee Street, Aranguez Branch Road at around 10.20 pm; and Micah Cipriani of Roslyn Street, Belmont was killed while walking along Norfolk Street near St Margaret’s Lane around 5.50 pm on Tuesday.

Hamilton lived with his father at Poui Road in St Mary’s Village. He died in the yard of the family’s home at around 8.30 pm on Monday.

Relatives told Newsday Hamilton was in the house with his girlfriend, got a phone call and walked outside.

The friend walked into the yard, and they were heard talking and laughing. A relative saw them chatting, but paid no mind until gunshots were heard about 15 minutes after the friend arrived.

People then heard a car screeching as it headed towards the Moruga Main Road.

Unaware that Hamilton had been shot dead, his father and girlfriend went outside to see what was happening and found his body. He had wounds to the head and face.

Hamilton worked as a scaffolder.

About three years ago, he started a singing career, under the name was Daniel. The Protect My Life singer was not married and did not have children. He was his father’s only child.

A friend, who asked not to be named, said on Tuesday, “It was only when we heard his girlfriend screaming that we recognised that Daniel was shot.

“The place was dark, so we did not see anything. We heard about six shots, and he collected four

“He was a cool person. He did not like drinking. Sometimes we had to beg him to drink a beer with us.”

No one else was injured.

Hamilton’s cousin Kershon Hamilton and other relatives and friends gathered at the roadside and shared memories of him.

Micah Cipriani, killed in Belmont. 

Kershon, who was not present when Hamilton ws killed, said, “I opened Maddawg Entertainment studio at my home about a year ago, just to record him – I am a mixing engineer. We did a lot of work. Daniel was popular in the community and was hoping to make it big in the industry. I would be releasing his music sometime.

The police do not yet have a motive for the killing.

Kershon Hamilton said, “He hardly used to leave his house. He was never in trouble with anyone. He never had an altercation with anyone.”

ASP Persad, Insp Ribeiro, PC Latchman and other police from the Homicide Bureau Region III as well as ASP Bertie, Insp Phillip, Sgt Haitool and other Southern Division police, visited the scene.

The killer was still at large on Tuesday.

Mason, one of the Aranguez victims, and another man were both before the court for attempted murder, wounding with intent, and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Police retrieved 28 spent shells and one live round of 5.56 mm ammunition from the scene. Approximately 20 of the shells recovered contained markings of the TT Air Guard. Mason and Granger’s bodies were removed to the Forensic Science Centre.

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Agentes de la División de Arrestos Especiales y Extradiciones de la Policía de Puerto Rico, capturaron el martes, a Alberto Luis Rivera Colón, de 31 años, quien figuraba como uno de los más buscados a nivel isla.  

El arresto se logró como parte de una investigación en curso del Negociado Inteligencia y Arresto en el barrio Valenciano Abajo de Juncos.

Contra Rivera Colón pesaba una orden de arresto relacionada a un doble asesinato, radicado en ausencia en octubre de 2020, y por hechos ocurridos en Las Piedras en el 2014.

Según la investigación de la Policía, Rivera Colón, y otros tres individuos, citaron a Jean Paul Rodríguez Ortiz y a Juan Dennis González a un parque pasivo aledaño a una iglesia en Las Piedras. Cuando llegaron a la zona, Rivera Colón y sus acompañantes abrieron fuego contra estos sin mediar palabras.

Contra este sujeto pesan dos cargos por asesinato en primer grado, y conspiración (Art. 2.44 CP). La orden de arresto había sido expedida en el Tribunal de Humacao.

Durante el día de hoy, Rivera Colón será llevado al Tribunal de San Juan ante el juez de turno. De no prestar la fianza, se ordenará su ingreso en la cárcel 705 de Bayamón.

La Policía exhortó a los ciudadanos a colaborar con información que conduzca a la captura de otros prófugos. Pueden comunicarse a la línea confidencial del Negociado de la Policía en el 787-343-2020. No se requiere comparecer a ningún proceso. Su identidad permanecerá en anonimato.

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