Land of Dormant Dreams: A Walk into the Future

By Jean Ricot Dormeus

A novel true to the genre, this book deals with romance, deceit, violence, fall, and renewal. You’ll be surprised to see how our hero falls and regains his standing by acknowledging his fault and by always being positive in the face of constant skepticism. He’s not alone. There are several other characters—those I would call second- and third-rank heroes—who show that by their involvement, there’s a brighter future for Zenitha and Zenithians. Indeed, she will realize her dormant dreams and reclaim her past of Zenitha—“the pearl!”

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546267065

Jean Ricot Dormeus

Jean Ricot Dormeus hails from Haiti and worked for more than two decades in his country’s diplomacy. He currently provides political and technical services to the Organization of American States as Representative in Guyana. Dormeus advocates the application of timeless principles and values, as well as cultural transformation, to overcome the bottlenecks to progress and success, both individually and collectively. His novel “Land of Dormant Dreams” promotes this transformation process which requires commitment and consistency. This is an invitation to march towards the fulfilment of our dreams day by day until we reach the zenith of our potential.

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© 2018 Jean Ricot Dormeus. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Published by AuthorHouse   11/12/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6707-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6705-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6706-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018913327

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Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?

- John 11:40

To my wife, Marie Carmelle

To my children, Jean Ricardo, Bellyne Tania,

Lise Nathalie, Lynn Carla

To my grandson, Ricky Elijah

To my mother, Marie Avenia

In memory of my father Joseph Belot

The subtitle of this enlightening book, A Walk into the Future, is also a walk into the past and the present of a land known to have been at its zenith! Thus, the mythical name of Zenitha, which can stand for all those countries in search of development in all fields – the material, the spiritual, the educational, the ethical, the political and the economical. Well-balanced, these are the foundation to escape from violence and poverty, as we travel on the path to progress.

Written as a novel, Land of Dormant Dreams deals with reality, a reality that spans two centuries and which makes us think of Haiti. The main hero of the book, Arsene, wonders aloud about the current situation of Zenitha, and asks pertinent questions regarding the fall of the land which had been the beacon of hope for the downtrodden everywhere. How did you get there, Zenitha? He answers most of the questions –to my satisfaction, and to yours, I hope.

A novel true to the genre, it deals with romance, deceit, violence, fall and renewal. You’ll be surprised to see how our hero falls and regains his standing by acknowledging his fault and by always being positive in the face of constant skepticism. He’s not alone. There are several other characters, those I would call second and third rank heroes, who show that by their involvement, there’s a brighter future for Zenitha and Zenithians. Indeed, she will realize her dormant dreams and reclaim her past of Zenitha, the Pearl!

If you are interested in future development of the Zenithas of the so-called underdeveloped world, if you are committed to their transformation by changing habits, beliefs and attitudes, you will not stop reading until the last paragraph where, finally, the dreams become reality. Good reading!

Raymond Alcide Joseph,

Former Ambassador of Haiti to the United States of America.

Author of the book For Whom the Dogs Spy

The essence of this powerful novel calls to mind the prescient command of Harlem Renaissance literary giant Langston Hughes, to Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly, as this work speaks to the power and pursuit of dreams to transform the human condition in mythical Zenitha. Jean Dormeus combines lucidity with a power of imagination and a deep familiarity with contemporary existential realities facing most of humanity to present us with a commendable piece of literature. Buy it! Read it!

Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith

Vice Chancellor and Principal

The University of Guyana

It is an integral part of the human condition to dream and to pursue those dreams. It is also common for many of us to have regrets for not having pursued some of those dreams…. In Land of Dormant Dreams, one can be easily seduced by the ambitions, aspirations, engagement and musings of Arsene. He forces you to look at life through his eyes and to aspire to a Zenitha of old, a Zenitha that can still be and which it must become. In the hardened world of individualism and self-preoccupation, Arsene’s optimism almost seems naïve and misplaced yet refreshing and in ways reassuring. The juxtaposition of the past, present and future and the way he treats with them gives the book a sense of context and forces the reader to stop and reflect and to want to join Arsene on this important journey or self-actualisation, growth and rebirth.

H.E. Dr Kevin M. Isaac | High Commissioner

St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis High Commission to the United Kingdom

Author of Breakfast with my Fathers

When genius and fiction find each other in literary expression, excellence results. Dormeus has been able to combine the precepts of his youth with the enormous talent which he brings to fictionalizing the world he prefers. His ability to craft a tale with such impeccable grace is the result of his multilingual and multicultural mixtures. Dormeus may have been trained in French, but Creole served his communication frequently. Add Spanish and English, and you have real genius in his tale. Though not about language, he weaves a tale dominated by the Eden-like tranquility which imbues the thinking of English-speaking Christian folks. He is worthy of our time and thinking.

Ambassador Lionel Hurst

Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

Author of Democracy by Diplomacy

I see in Land of Dormant Dreams a powerful tool to awaken the dreams of generations of Haitians, and encourage them to divorce with archaic practices related to ignorance and underdevelopment.

Land of Dormant Dreams is a stimulant for actions and initiatives, a dream transformer into reality. The author of this novel uses his characters intelligently to denounce corruption, indifference, hate, blows in Haiti. It is an invitation to young people in that country to dissociate from corruption, evil, mediocrity, and strive for excellence. It is a stimulant to patriotism and mutual help.

Land of Dormant Dreams identifies harmful causes, barriers to development. This novel is not only for Haitians, but also for the whole world—especially the developing countries, and the dictators, the dreams killers. The author sends a vibrant message, an invitation to positive reflections, a plea for optimism and positivism. This novel tells the dreamers: Wake up and act. Land of Dormant Dreams, a novel to read.

Jean-Pierre Leroy

Journalist at Voice of America

Author of Shipwrecks in the Caribbean

In a very fluid and direct style, the Author of Land of Dormant Dreams, Ambassador Jean Ricot Dorméus, takes the reader to the entangled road between visionary leadership and successful implementation of development strategies. A committed leader, Arsene, envisions quite clearly and practically the path to the desirable condition of his country, Zenitha, with a rich cultural heritage and a heroic past. The characteristics of Arsene and Zenitha are universal, as they may apply to any visionary leader from any country facing development challenges… This book is an inspiring read. Let us explore it together for our individual and collective benefits.

Louicius Michel, PhD

Chair of the School of Business

Burman University, Alberta, Canada

Land of Dormant Dreams has deeply touched me although I no longer believe in anything, and made me think a lot. It confirmed to me the idea that we have a sacred duty to those who have not had the same privileges as us, regardless of the nature of these privileges … Despite all appearances, Zenitha can still bounce back. It is not only hope that makes it possible, but reflection and action too. And you just set an example for us. So let’s continue our walk towards the Zenitha of our dreams!

Renos Dossous

Professor at the University of Ottawa, Canada

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1     An unusual day

Chapter 2     Lament over Zenitha

Chapter 3     The dream of Arsene

Chapter 4     Angelus

Chapter 5     Invincibility of a Passion

Chapter 6     In the eye of the storm

Chapter 7     Challenges to the imagination

Chapter 8     The fruit of adversity

Chapter 9     Emotional turbulence

Chapter 10   The Power of Determination

Chapter 11   Creating wealth

Chapter 12   Zenitha Strong

Chapter 13   At the stadium of inspiration

Chapter 14   Believing is seeing

Chapter 15   Managing thinking habits

Chapter 16   Social unrest triggers change

Chapter 17   Pact for Rebuilding Zenitha

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many relatives and friends extended their support and offered encouragement throughout the process of writing this book. Even though they live in different countries -- Haiti, United States, Canada, Antigua and Barbuda, France and Guyana -- their kind words and confidence have sustained my resolve to complete the journey. I express my gratitude to them and, in particular, to Serge Bellegarde who shared tips with me, as well as to Frank Campbell who took on the task to edit the manuscript.

INTRODUCTION

We often seek inspiration to deal with the chronic existential challenges and risks inherent in our time and space. In this regard, Land of Dormant Dreams explores some ways forward. The time you invest in reading it will prove profitable. Vision, optimism and even adversity will shine a new light. And finding solutions to your personal and collective challenges will take on a new dimension.

This book advocates ideas that help to transform the condition of countries in difficulty. These ideas apply not only to the community but also, and above all, to the individual. After all, the community reflects the sum of the individual aptitudes, attitudes and ambitions, plus the effect of synergy.

Fascinating stories address issues of universal scope, such as the management of hostility, cultural pathologies, and gaps in education and justice. These evils result from our attitude and our perception of ourselves and our neighbors. Therefore, we must avoid discouragement or a negative mindset and learn from our experience to improve our lives.

Our success flows from renewed optimism, greater love and higher unity. Our dreams, our passion for learning and our courage are effective instruments. They all fuel the motivation and the mindset needed to create a bright future. The process of internalizing these values occurs through the adoption of constructive habits and the deliberate transformation of our culture.

Imagine that you can revive your dormant dreams. That you clearly visualize their realization and the path that leads to the touchdown zone. That you have developed the needed motivation, skills and strategies. Wouldn’t such a vision give new meaning to life? Can we afford to neglect the purpose of our existence on earth?

Zenitha is an imaginary country. But, like most vulnerable countries, it is prey to an apparently irresistible entropy. The experience of the persons in Zenitha is anchored in reality. Their challenges, anxieties and efforts to conquer the future call out to us all.

I have witnessed the power of the values and strategies advocated in this book. Not only do they deliver from fear and doubt, but they also create wealth and well-being. I have evidence for this, such as in the experience of Frerot, one of my childhood friends. In the space of a few years, he has moved from precariousness to financial independence.

Frerot worked for a small company as a driver. He worked hard and earned little. But he was convinced that his life had to become much better than that of his lineage and entourage. Motivated by this ambition, he became a friend of his employer’s suppliers. He was able to get a first line of credit with which he established his own company. His credibility, discipline and resilience helped him to become the most influential businessman in his city.

Many countries in the world, especially the Asian Tigers, have moved from poverty to wealth through the application of ideas advocated in Land of Dormant Dreams. And, let us make no mistake; this growth doesn’t stem from ownership of natural resources or international aid. The Asian Tigers have simply realized that true wealth makes its abode in the mind, in values and in cultural transformation, all driven by visionary and effective leadership. All communities may benefit from this mould.

Shall we continue to live the same way with the same beliefs and habits and still expect different results? Albert Einstein calls this attempt insanity. What about learning from others and questioning ourselves to develop a new perception? Such a strategy foretells a better life.

I hope you will draw from this book some ideas that you can apply to make a difference in your life or to improve the condition of your community.

Enjoy a pleasant read as you prepare to activate your dormant dreams and challenge your mind to do more and better.

Jean Ricot Dormeus

CHAPTER 1

AN UNUSUAL DAY

Arsene throws his briefcase on the small living-room table and slips onto a sofa while exhaling deeply. He worked at the office all day on a program for the transformation of Zenitha. At the head of a team of three members, he must, following extensive consultations, produce a plan for the prosperity and well-being of the island. After more than eight hours of labor, Arsene no longer vibrates with his customary energy. His vague gaze signals his concerns.

Minerva understands. Her husband has been exerting himself since five o’clock, as usual. He observes a morning ritual: prayer, reading, meditation, inspirational music, and physical exercises. All this precedes a nourishing breakfast consisting mainly of fruits and cereals. Time matters to Arsene. He leaves the house early to reach the office before eight o’clock. He always says: Small habits prepare the character for great challenges and victories. And also, The change in Zenitha begins with myself.

Goodbye sweetheart, Arsene whispered as he kissed Minerva affectionately that morning. As a reed under the effect of the breeze, he stooped to reach his wife’s lips, while she enjoyed her tall and slender stature. At 45, he had accumulated enough experience to get a warm smile from her from time to time.

Arsene radiates an enduring optimism. Generally, he sparkles with energy and joy, but that morning clouded his mood. He looked apprehensive. Zenitha has given him so much; how can he, in turn, contribute to its transformation? His national development program tickled his mind. He saw the program as a unique opportunity to make an impact.

As he made his way to his car, his phone rang. A frightened voice at the end of the line sobbed Arsene, they have kidnapped my husband. He immediately recognized the voice of Palerma, his cousin who had married a wealthy businessman. The kidnappers gave the family three days to deliver a ransom of two million US dollars. Otherwise, they threatened, they would execute Angelus, a resourceful man overflowing with energy.

Arsene stammered as he sought words of comfort that could alleviate Palerma’s anger and pain. He concluded the conversation as quickly as possible, remembering his obligations of the day.

He shared the news with Minerva and left. That morning he listened to the news, which he usually avoided at that hour of the day. He often said that too many journalists indulge in negative aspects, and alarm their listeners. For him, the prevailing culture of cynicism erodes serenity.

As Arsene turned on his radio, the journalist was reading the breaking news titles, some more horrible than others. Arsene felt as if he was suffering from an avalanche of hail falling on his head and splashing on the screen of his thoughts.

Usually, he took time