The Passing of Charles S. Gregoire

Charles Gregoire
Charles Gregoire

A man in a Box: It was twilight time at Dominica’s Botanic Gardens sometime in 1968, and the Baobab, Black Rosewood and Balata trees which embroidered the cricket pitch were quickly receding from easy view.

Over to the west, the Caribbean Sea was sparkling beneath a lavish sunset of yellow and magenta streaks radiating outward. As the natural light dimmed with the encroaching night, my mother – amidst a crowd of town and country folk – hoisted me high to catch a glimpse of a man and woman talking in a box atop a forest green Land Rover jeep.

I was just seven years old, and imagine that! A man talking in box! How amazing was that! But what was “that?”   In reverential tones, people repeated one word which spread around the crowd: television.  In a time when there was no television on island, that box with people seeming to move about and talk within its frame, was wizardry at its technological best and most astonishing to a crowd which excitedly broke into a hubbub of voices.

The jeep’s door was emblazoned with the words: Audio – Visual Division – Government of Dominica. Next to the box, working some knobs, to the astonishment of the pressing crowd of hundreds atop the cricket pitch, was a serious looking bespectacled man. I had seen him before. Whenever there was a fair, a school rally or some major public event, there was that ubiquitous Land Rover Jeep and its attendants, to include Avan Royer. The same gentleman, often with a camera or microphone in his hand, would be directing his small crew.

His name was Charles Gregoire. An educator and trained documentary film maker, he was one of the founders of the Government Information Service. He was focused on the audio visual outreach, while announcers such as Jeff Charles, Francis Andre and Barnett Defoe spoke to the nation on matters of art, culture and current affairs via the Windward Islands Broadcasting Service (WIBS) – which preceded Radio Dominica. His efforts in making movie shows and education documentaries available across the length and breadth of Dominica is little recorded and only remembered by those who were alive in an era when night fell quickly on Dominica with a seemingly impenetrable darkness. It was a time where electricity existed only in Roseau and some major settlements, and the Carib Cinema was the only movie house on the island. With Gregoire’s passing this week, a tribute is due to one who brought movies, and adult education, to the masses in an innovative way.

Education: Charles S. Gregoire was born in Grand Bay on November  4, 1932 to Francis Gregoire of Dominica and Julian Gregoire, a French West Indian evacuee from St. Pierre, Martinique. She was one of two survivors from her family; the rest having  perished in the cataclysmic explosion of the Mount Pele volcano on May 8, 1902 which destroyed that city, taking 30,000 souls in an instant. When Charles Gregoire died on February 12, 2014 at Grandbay, Dominica, his passing brought to an end his pioneering spirit which was instrumental in the formation of the Government Information Service (GIS), and the Audio Visual Division of the Government of Dominica.

Education & Family Life: Gregoire, along with fellow schoolmates like former President of Dominica Dr.  Nicholas Liverpool was educated at the Grand Bay Boys School, then under the tutelage of Bennett John Rose. He later attended the Dominica Grammar School (DGS) in the 1940s under the studentship program which was designed to upgrade the skills of assistant teachers, as Gregoire was then. Later, he obtained a diploma in education from Erdiston Teachers College in Barbados and was made head teacher at the Dublanc Government School.  Gregoire soon married and had five children with his wife Madeleine Geraldine Gregoire: Crispin, Renwick also known as “Roy,” Carlton, Sharon, Myrtle and Ian.

Legacy: Charles Gregoire’s first child,  Crispin Gregoire,  was educated at Howard and Columbia Universities in the United States,  and later became a major force for community development projects on Dominica; in particular in the Carib Territory. Crispin was formerly Dominica’s Ambassador to the United Nations and now serves as Director of the United Nations Development Program for the Caribbean. In his words:

As a teacher, our father had to travel by boat to Dublanc as there were no roads connecting Roseau to Portsmouth in those days. He later became the head teacher at Veille Casse and befriended Edward LeBlanc who was then an agriculture officer for the northern district. When LeBlanc became Chief Minister of Dominica in 1961, our Dad was sent to London University to study education.  However, our dad had a box camera from the 1940s and was always taking photographs. In the 1960s, he had a Rolleiflex camera and he taught me to work it and develop film.  My father had his own dark room and I would work alongside him from the earliest days. Later, he attended the London School of Film Technique.  

There he met many Ghanaian, Nigerian and Tanzanian students who were brimming with national liberation sentiment and full of ideas on how to raise the education level of people in the emerging nations.  Some of those students from Tanzania explained to him how that country’s President, Julius Nyerere, was using film to promote education; particularly among adults in far flung villages. My father returned to Dominica with those ideas on innovation in education and how one could use film to spur the imagination, engender inquiry and reduce illiteracy.  In pursuit of that education mission, he persuaded Premier LeBlanc to start the Audio Visual Unit in the Ministry of Education.

When the Government of Dominica brought in the Land Rover jeep from England, it was well equipped and so capable of showing films, and doing remote broadcasts from the field. We would traverse the island, going from north to south and from east to west, showing films like the Canadian documentary, Ti-Jean (www.nfb.ca/film/ti_jean_goes_west ), locally made documentaries featuring work undertaken by the island’s government,   alongside US, and UK newsreels. This was before television, and people would crowd into the village schools to see the programs. When that green jeep would roll into a town or village it was the biggest thing to happen; the viewing room at the schools we used would be so full, people would be looking through the windows.   

The Government then sent him to the University of Manchester to study adult education and communications in 1976.  Upon his return from Manchester he was instrumental in the founding of the Adult Education Department in the Ministry of Education under the leadership of the then Minster of Education Henckell L. Christian.  Apart from building roads, education through film was one way the government of the day connected with the people, and the eyes of the Dominican masses were opened to the world and its endless possibilities. He did a film on Dominica’s independence in 1978 in color. Sadly those films, and many of his documentaries, were lost due to neglect. Much of the film archive became mildewed as our climate, which is very humid, can be unkind to items which need a cool and dry temperature for proper storage.

 Some of the film may have been discarded as our people are yet to learn how important it is to embrace and preserve our heritage in its myriad forms. The fact that so much of our heritage has been lost, or is being lost, means we must do a better job to preserve what we have.  Our Dad’s last message to our nation is that we must work in a more collaborative way with all our people – regardless of political affiliation or ideological differences we can all make a difference where we can work together. Dominica and our heritage suffer much from such divisions. 

The message of our father’s lifetime of service to the nation, is that we must work harder to come together to build Dominica into that beloved community based on Koudmen – the spirit of people helping people. He believed in Koudmen.  In his later days, apart from working on his farm, he continued with his community development work. In the 1980s he co-founded the Dominica Association of Local Government Authorities (DALA) to help local governments work better. Gregoire served on the Board of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF); in 2003 he went to Pakistan to observe that country’s election as a member of the CLGF mission to the province of Quetta. We will miss him, but Dominica is better that he lived.   

While Charles Gregoire has passed on his grandson Mandela Gregoire is continuing that legacy.   Mandela was brought to Dominica at two months and spent his formative years there. He studied film making at Rochester Institute of Technology and New York University. He was an understudy of African American film maker John Singleton who did the famous movie Boyz in the Hood. A photographer for pop star Rihanna, Mandela’s work can be viewed at www.mandelagregoire.com. Indeed, the quest for a better world still lives on in the work of Mandela Gregoire and many others. In that vein, Charles Gregoire’s best hopes for innovation in education shall never die where we follow his worthy example.

Mandela Gregoire, grandson of Charles Gregoire with the late Nelson Mandela
Film Maker Mandela Gregoire, grandson of Charles Gregoire with the late Nelson Mandela

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33 Comments

  1. gregoire
    May 11, 2014

    MAY ur soul reste in peace grandpa je vais jamais t’oublier

  2. February 25, 2014

    Mr Gregoire was a great man

  3. CT
    February 24, 2014

    My deepest condolences to the Gregory family. May the family find strength and comfort in these difficult times.

    Did we forget the community work and service he rendered to the Grand Bay community, The village Council and the church.

  4. Hendrith V. A. Smith
    February 24, 2014

    My sincere condolences to the Gregoire family and citizens of Dominica for your loss. Thank you to the author for shedding light on Mr. Gregoire’s lifetime of service. May God bless his memory, and his family and give you comfort during this difficult time.

  5. jeanne joseph
    February 24, 2014

    I wish to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to my friend Chrispin Gregoire and his entire family. And extend my gratitude to Mr Gregoire for his many contributions in the field of education and sharing his talent in the audio video field with us, we always looked forward to Mr Gregoire coming to my village to show us a video since this was new to us growing up in the village

  6. Finn
    February 24, 2014

    Mr.Gregoire’s contribution to the education and development of rural kids back in the late 60s and 70s should be underlined in bold italics. I remember in the late 60s at La Plaine School, the first film that I saw was showed by the former Minister of Education, the late Mr. Henkel Christian and Mr. Gregoire. Later I remember Mr. Gregoire working with my headmistress, Ms. Roberts; filming my Standard 4 class at the old large one room school as we practiced for National Day (3rd November) drills back in 1971.
    Crispin your dad was a gentleman, scholar and patriotic statesman. Sadly that generation has now come of age and is now ‘crossing the river’. Despite their political leanings and affiliations; they always put our country first. They made valiant contributions to the development our nation and people and as a result, we are better for it.

    Crispin we will talk some more when I see you in DC next week.

    Thanks

    Emanuel

  7. JOAN BELLLOT
    February 24, 2014

    I would like to express my sincere condolences to Aunty Dedin and family in this time of grief. May the comfort of God comfort you all during this difficult time. May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you all in the days ahead. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. In Deepest Sympathy.

  8. February 24, 2014

    A motivating discussion is worth comment. I believe that you should write more on this
    topic, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people do
    not talk about such issues. To the next! All the best!!

  9. Dr. Sam
    February 24, 2014

    Crispin, may you and your family be comforted in the knowledge that your dear Dad’s indomitable spirit provided our people the finest legacy in the audio-visual arts.

    What a testimony!

    We mourn Mr. Gregoire’s passing and rejoice that his work continues to live on through the likes of you, Mandela and the Government Information Service.

    Sam Christian, MD

  10. shaka zulu
    February 23, 2014

    May his soul rest in peace. May his memory live on. Great Dominican. We the young people need more of these stories and know these folks before they pass away.

  11. Mr, Sacway Vole
    February 23, 2014

    Why there were no Government officials including ministers of government at Mr.Charles Gregoire.s funeral he was a potoe dlp

  12. ferdy stuart
    February 23, 2014

    I wish Mrs GERALDINE and family strength, peace,and BLESSINGS through this period of mourning.And may GREGS rest in perfect PEACE.KEEP thou ever close to YAHWEH he has never YET fail LOVE YA’LL….FERDY STUART for MA LEGRAND

  13. Breadnut
    February 23, 2014

    My sincere condolences to the Gregoire family in their time of grief. may his soul rest in peace.Thank you for for your great work and contribution. A GREAT MAN…R.I.P…

  14. Diaspora Crave
    February 23, 2014

    My condolences to the Family of Mr. Charles Gregoire
    who was a true Dominican Icon. A pioneer in the education of a nation especially in the rural areas where the people needed it most. Dominica will never see another man like him. His concern for the people was felt all over the country because of his passion for education for the less privileged. The only thing that borders me right now is how sad it is to see that after his passing the Government of Dominica demonstrated little interest as it relates to attending his funeral. The only Government official at the funeral was Parliamentary representative for Grand Bay Miss Justina Charles. I must say Shame on the Government for level of disrespect shown to a great man of the soil. A true Dominican Icon. So long Mr.Charles Gregoire. Thank you for paving the way for me and the thousands of citizens who have benefited from your hard work and commitment to educating a nation……. A concerned Grand Bay citizen….

  15. Sout Man
    February 23, 2014

    My deepest condolences to the Gregory family. May the family find strength and comfort in these difficult times.

  16. Cocoatea
    February 23, 2014

    The audio visual films was well appreciated y me as a child in the 1960s. Thanks Mr. Gregoire. You had a long and blessed life. My sincerest condolences to the family.

  17. PICODEAU
    February 23, 2014

    I remember Mr Gregoire showing the movie “Te Jean Goes West” at my school. That was the first time I had ever seen a movie. The movie brought to life the stories of far away lands that I had read in books. He left an indelible legacy that his children and all Dominicans are beneficiaries of and will continue to be for generations of Dominicans to come.

    Indeed, Dominica is better that he lived!

    My Deepest Sympathy to the Family.

    • Ti Jean
      February 23, 2014

      Ti Jean,

      My exact sentiments….I’ve never forgotten the day the inspirational movie “Ti Jean” was premiered at the Roseau Boys School back in in the 1960s. What about a Charles Gregoire Scholarship for deserving students from Grandbay?

  18. THE WATCHMAN
    February 23, 2014

    I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family in this time of grief. May the comfort of God comfort you during this difficult time. May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you all in the days ahead. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. In Sympathy.

  19. charlie
    February 23, 2014

    the contribution of this Gentleman,cannot be matched,he was the true educator in the birth of Dominica.I always will remember him setting up his his system to play movies,that face so focus on the screen.Among the many films he played iwill forever remember;careless charlie at the winsor park.
    This is a man, that must be remembered for all his dedicated work in real education of a people.Just a pity,most of his work was allowed to go to waste.
    May he Rest in Peace.
    THANK YOU Mr.CHARLES S.GREGOIRE for all your hard work>

  20. Labor
    February 23, 2014

    That’s the kind of news and information that should be on this site. too much politics and irrelevant nonsense. Congrats to this person who wrote this. May Mr. Gregoire’s soul rest in peace.

  21. tin
    February 23, 2014

    I remembered when he was in Vieille Case. He was a great teacher. RIP Teacher Gregoire. My heartfelt sympathy to the family.

  22. Herbert Sabaroche
    February 23, 2014

    Condolences from all of us to all us who will continue to live and Cherish the results of the positive impact that our Icon Charles (Gregs) Gregoire had on our lives.
    My first acquaintance with Gregs was when he served as the disciplined and influential Principal of the Dublanc Primary School.
    I recalled vividly the day when he directed another boy to find me and my gang who abandoned school to collect and enjoy the delicious mangoes. His exact words to me when he delivered the medical dosage to be taken on behalf of the others were:’From today you must lead others in the right direction! Now count them.’
    Mambrine the great woman who fathered me doubled the dosage.
    I ended up being one of the first students together with my cousin Raglan from the little village of Bioche to attend a secondary school(DGS like Gregs) and in the process obtained a Whitchchurch Scholarship.
    Gregs our life long cherished mentor’s guidance, counseling and advice continued with me following his footprints in terms of self discipline, dedication, commitment, sacrifice for community and country, integrity and above all faith in the Almighty.
    We ended up serving as Senior Education Officers and deeply involved in community services.
    He addressed me personally in his retirement speech: ‘I have moulded you to my own image and likeness you must continue to do the same in any capacity you serve specially the youths in our communities.
    Gregs, you will certainly never be forgotten by those of us whom you have influenced directly or indirectly and moulded over these years and years to come. While your legacy continues to flourish and we await our own destiny we fmmm have the faith that the Almighty will welcome you home.
    Sincere condolences from all of us especially in the Dublanc and Bioche communities to Mrs. Gregoire, Crispin and the other family members,friends and well wishers.

  23. Herbert Sabaroche
    February 23, 2014

    Condolences from all of us to all us who will continue to live and Cherish the results of the positive impact that our Icon Charles (Gregs) Gregoire had on our lives.
    My first acquaintance with Gregs was when he served as the disciplined and influential Principal of the Dublanc Primary School.
    I recalled vividly the day when he directed another boy to find me and my gang who abandoned school to collect and enjoy the delicious mangoes. His exact words to me when he delivered the medical dosage to be taken on behalf of the others were:’From today you must lead others in the right direction! Now count them.’
    Mambrine the great woman who fathered me doubled the dosage.
    I ended up being the first students together with my cousin Raglan from the little village of Bioche to attend a secondary school(DGS like Gregs) and in the process obtained a Whitchchurch Scholarship.
    Gregs our life long cherished mentor’s guidance, counseling and advice continued with me following his footprints in terms of self discipline, dedication, commitment, sacrifice for community and country, integrity and above all faith in the Almighty.
    We ended up serving as a Senior Education Officers and deeply involved in community services.
    He addressed me personally in his retirement speech: ‘I have moulded you t to my own image and Lloyd likeness you must continue to do the same in any capacity you serve specially the youths in our communities.
    Gregs, you will certainly never be forgotten by those of us whom you have and influenced us directly or indirectly to mould over these years and years to come. While your legacy continues to flourish and we await our own destiny we fmmm have the faith that the Almighty will welcome you home.
    Sincere condolences from all of us especially in the Dublanc and Bioche communities to Mrs. Gregoire, Crispin and the other family members,friends and well wishers friend

  24. believer
    February 23, 2014

    Very beautiful tribute to a man who served his country and humanity well.
    Many of us who knew him simply called him by his surname ” Gregoire” never Charles and he did not mind. He was a quit person, very kind and loved to teach others.
    We miss you Gregoire and thanks very much Mr. Christian for that lovely tribute.

  25. Chris Parillon
    February 23, 2014

    Condolences to the Gregoire family.

  26. Anonymous
    February 23, 2014

    Rip cuz u will be miss

  27. soutcityboyi
    February 23, 2014

    Gregs will be missed by all of us from south. May the Lord shine a light on the rest of the family. Geraldine hold strong. Gregs made a tremendous contribution to Education, Local government and the
    overall development of the South and Dominica. May his soul rest in peace.

  28. jjk
    February 23, 2014

    //?

  29. CaraW
    February 23, 2014

    Stirring tribute and very informative. I was in standard 1 when the films came to our village. I did not realize until now who was behind that movement. May his family be comforted that he has done a good work.

  30. Lovely
    February 23, 2014

    I remember him coming to Coulbistrie, and showing the film shows outside next to the Coulibistrie Police Station. It was also free, and everyone in the village was always looking forward to enjoy his movies. I know his son personally Crispin. When I was working in Roseau. His son Crispin is very quiet and friendly. Crispin has a way of walking with his head high. I could see where he got that from, his dad.

    May his soul rest in peace. I wish Dominica had more people like Charles. He was very humble and not selfish. I am a native from Coulibistrie but reside in the USA. God Bless his family for sharing him with Dominica. Thank You!!!

  31. Rass
    February 23, 2014

    DNO, play your game.

  32. Jaime Lewis
    February 23, 2014

    I do remember the days of the Land Rover and those films. For someone who grew up in a village, it was the first real experience of “cinema”. In addition, those discussions following the films were also very interesting and educational.
    Thank you Mr. Gregoire for your contribution to the development of our minds.
    Deepest condolences to the family.

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