Daily News Photo by CRISTIAN SIMESCU Revelers dance Sunday during a celebration of Dominica's independence at the New Drive-Inn on St. Croix.

ST. CROIX - The Dominica United Cultural Group culminated the 31st anniversary celebration of Dominica's independence on Sunday afternoon with native meals and cultural activities.

The group organized several activities over the past week to celebrate the annual event. The group's secretary, Careel Shillingford, said they have organized and celebrated the event locally on St. Croix for 16 years.

Shillingford said this year's celebration started two weeks ago with a cultural dinner, where nearly 400 people attended to watch Dominica nationals Lennox Honeychurch, a Caribbean historian and preservationist, speak along with Kalinago Chief Prospere Parris.

Sunday's culmination event started with a Creole Mass at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Estate Barren Spot and continued with cultural festivities at the New Drive-Inn. Activities included a cultural wear fashion show, Creole music and dancing.

"It's important to keep Dominica's culture alive and to preserve it," Shillingford said. "Even though we live on St. Croix, it's important to share and pass it down to younger people. We are all Caribbean people and why not share our culture?"

The Dominica United Cultural Group is a nonprofit organization that benefits the Luis Hospital pediatric unit, V.I. Cardiac Center, Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged and Bethlehem House. The organization adopted the Evelyn Williams Elementary School and also plans to offer two scholarships to graduating high school students next year.

Dominica was granted independence by the United Kingdom on November 3, 1978.

- Contact Cristian Simescu at 774-8772 ext. 459 or e-mail simescu@dailynews.vi.