The Dominica Natural Disaster Fund (DNDF) was set up in 1990 in the wake of Hurricanes Gilbert (1988) and Hugo (1989) and renamed the Dominica National Development & Disaster Fund (DNDDF) in 2012. This historic event was the culmination of a series of meetings held from 8th October 1989 at the High Commission in Earls Court London involving the three main London based Dominican Associations, namely the Dominica UK Association (DUKA) in the East, Dominica Overseas Nationals Association (DONA) in the West and Dominica Development Association (DDA) in the North of the capital.

In the unfortunate event of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, landslides, etc., it is important that every effort is made to provide emergency assistance in a planned and co-ordinated manner. Due to Dominica’s history involving such disasters it was considered necessary for the Dominican Associations and the High Commission to pool their energies and resources to ensure that urgent action can be taken to provide assistance whenever the need arose.

The original main Objects were concerned with: • To relieve persons in Dominica/Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies and elsewhere who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress as a result of local natural disasters. • To relieve persons in the United Kingdom and elsewhere who have suffered in a similar way. Over the years it became clear that there was a need to retain the main clauses dealing with natural disasters, but also address the priorities of national development and other socio-economic issues that are relevant to Dominica and its communities. Accordingly the following additional Objects have been introduced: • The management of developmental self-help programmes and projects initiated by individuals or groups in the Commonwealth of Dominica, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. • To establish and manage a Development Fund distinct from the Disaster Relief Fund for the purpose of facilitating the development of special community welfare and self-help projects in the Commonwealth of Dominica, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. • To develop and facilitate better linkage, networking and collaboration among and with organisations in Dominica, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. • To develop strategies and action plans for meeting the needs gap of the youth through education, thereby instilling a sense of citizenship and cultural identity by encouraging their full participation in projects involving disaster preparedness and socio-economic development benefiting their communities in Dominica, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. • To develop strategies and action plans for meeting the socio-economic needs of senior citizens in Dominica, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. • To act as a forum for discussion, consultation and the development of strategies and action plans for disaster preparedness and relief, and meeting the socio-economic needs of communities primarily in Dominica and the United Kingdom. • To act as an umbrella group for the purpose of co-ordinating and developing strategies and action plans, accumulating resources and expertise and targeting their deployment for assisting the social and economic development of communities in Dominica and the United Kingdom.

The DNDDF logo depicts the helping hands of our people dispersed throughout the continents. The focus is on Dominica and the need for preparation to mitigate against the adverse effects of Natural Disasters that too often devastate our “Nature Island” and other similar states. The DNDDF motto is therefore “Ready to Assist“, in recognising the need for the Dominican Diaspora to participate in a strategy for Disaster Preparedness and socio-economic development of Dominica. In 1492 Christopher Columbus arrived in the Caribbean and coincidentally and significantly, the registration number issued to the DNDDF by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales is 1001492.

In 1990 formulation of the Governing Instrument or constitution and agreement between the founding member Associations was completed and signed by three representatives of the member Associations: Mr Vincent M John; Mrs Mervin Caesar-John and Randolph Victor (d) representing DUKA; Ethelca Brand, Alphonso Charles (d) and Ivor Davis (d) for DONA; and for DDA Mr Gerry Williams, Mr George St. Paul and Ms Stella Delsol. The witness to the signatories on 10th November 1990 was the late Honourable Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, the then Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica during her visit to England. The GI was reviewed and changes made on 19th May 2016 to give the DNDDF greater clarity, democracy and facilitate more effectiveness in its operations.

The Associations’ representatives tasked with compiling the Governing Instrument were Mr Alphonso Charles (d), Mr Randolph Victor (d), and Mr. Vincent M John). Further reviews were undertaken in 1992 and 1994, when the Management Board sought to expand the scope and objects of the DNDDF in order to address the high priority assigned to economic development in the work of the voluntary organisations.

Further reviews of the Governing Instrument commenced in 2003, firstly with the encouragement of the High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr George Williams and then the Acting High Commissioner, Mr Brian Bellevue, both aiming to expand the scope of the DNDDF to include a wide range of socio-economic development objects and to provide an “umbrella” forum for all Dominican organisation to liaise and formulate initiatives for meeting the needs of communities in the UK and in Dominica in a spirit of partnership and shared vision. Between 2006 and 2010 the Governing Instrument was comprehensively reviewed in consultation with the Charity Commission covering the following areas: • widening of the Main Objects • increase the Powers • expansion of the provisions for membership • changes to voting rights to include small groups • facility for co-option of individuals • arrangements for Associate Membership • provision for setting annual subscriptions • clarification of the election of office bearers • specific financial reporting arrangements • facility for collaborative activities • provision for the apportionment of net proceeds • the establishment of separate disaster and development fund accounts to facilitate the achievement of both key over-riding objects of the DNDDF • amendment to quorums • clarifications of clauses At the AGM in May 2016 further amendments were made including: • Introduction of one-organisation-one vote • Clarification of the nature of the DNDDF as an organisation whose members are registered charities who have a right to vote and voluntary community groups who are eligible to participate in all aspects of the DNDDF through their up to three authorised representatives but do not have a vote • Clarification of the role of Ex Officio members The Charity Commission has been consulted and their feedback included in the reviewed Governing Instrument. The Management Board approved the reviews to the Constitution which has been endorsed by the Charity Commission. elementum orci phasellus ipsum tincidunt eu.

Efforts made by the Management Board to increase the membership base included correspondence, representations and presentations to Dominican Associations in London and as far afield as Preston, Lancashire and Bradford in Yorkshire, etc. All Dominican organisations are eligible to join the DNDDF, irrespective of size and registered charity status. Currently Members of the DNDDF are: The Dominica UK Association (DUKA) Dominica Overseas Nationals Association (DONA) Dominica Secondary Schools Supporters Association (DASSSA) Waitikubuli Cultural & Tourism Initiative Slough Dominican Association Sineku Trust Dominica Youth UK The High Commission for The Commonwealth of Dominica in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is an ex officio member of the DNDDF.