Gov’t regards Roseau Cathedral as major tourist attraction
Dominica News Online - Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 3:00 PM
The Roseau Cathedral
The Dominica government has confirmed that it regards the Roman Catholic Cathedral in the capital, Roseau, as a major tourist attraction.
That church’s status as a site that pulls in cruise passengers and other tourists in the Roseau area, was emphasized in parliament recently by Roseau Central parliamentarian Norris Prevost.
The opposition MP at the time made an appeal for government to provide financial help to the Cathedral’s restoration efforts being undertaken by the Diocese of Roseau.
Prevost told parliament that while the project would cost some EC$8 million, there was a shortfall of $3 million that the government could provide.
His appeal was supported in parliament by Tourism Minister Ian Douglas, who has again been emphasizing the significance of the cathedral to Dominican tourism.
“It is a major tourist attraction for us, especially for the short tours, tours that stay within Roseau,” the minister told a news conference.
“The cathedral has always been a major aspect of our tourism offerings in the capital, and it is our hope that it continues to be. It’s part of our heritage, we are proud of it and we are happy to be able to offer it to our visitors,” Douglas explained.
He said it was on that basis that his ministry endorses the “government’s assistance of whatever grant or fund that they will make available to the roof rebuilding effort of the cathedral”.
Church officials have said that while the initial project was intended to have focused on the building’s roof, they have since discovered that the required work is a lot more extensive.
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47 Comments
How about an international airport to bring the tourists here to see it in the first place, eh??
Let us all build our Catholic Church. Put aside the ignorance. non-catholics, i invite u to mass on Sunday. come and get the real blessing.
stay away from the pastor’s wine for the day.
Catholics – Disciples on a mission.
Everyone is looking at this the wrong way. Seems like on either side of this argument there is religious bias. Non-catholics are against it because the see it as church-state corruption, catholics support it because they see it as a good move to save their religious institution and some see it as state interfering in church. Blah blah blah
The point is as the ministers said this is a good tourist attraction and the petition for the funds is based solely on this. This is nothing about supporting the church or whatever it’s about helping the economy. I’m none religious so I’m able to see this without bias. And to me it make sense.
@ hold om
Are you ever bias and ot smart at all …And where do you think non religious people will end up for all eternity? Do you have a clue?
I am elated to read that the DA government recognizes the Roseau Catholic Cathedral as a tourist designated area. It has been so for years. This has made my heart soar to heavenly heights. Thank God!
God heard the concerns, statements and prayers of all those who are on Its side primarily Minister Prevost, other Ministers and all those who support this renovation project and of government assistance. God bless all of you.
I have considered that Minister Prevost should inform the DA Catholic authorities that when renovating and completing it, “a wheel-chair accessible” area should be constructed one one side of the Church from its entrance to inside for those who use wheel chairs (be they few) and who would like to attend Holy Mass and also visit the Cathedral.
Every progressive country of the world constructs wheel chair accessible churches, government buildings and other buildings. This is one of my wishes that this would be constructed in DA especially (also) at the Roseau Cathedral. May this be done. My prayers are with you.
God’s love and peace!
Pertaining to wheel chair accessibility, I would also like to state that those who use canes and others who are ill and are not able to climb the steps.
It is sad that our politics has taken this turn. Both UWP and the DLP agree to help the catholic church? This is just proof of how deep inside the church politics have gotton. When the government helps the church with their roof in the name of tourism, how dear the bishop or priest criticize Skerrit, and stand for what is right!
With that being the case, then both parties owe it to all religions in Dominica to ensure that they get their fair share. So next week, I expect the Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostal, Adventist, Baptist, CUM, Church of Christ, The latter day Saints, Apostolic, Gospel Mission, Jehovah Witness, Muslem and all others to go and look for their fair share.
Now we start to understand why the church has shut its mouth and says nothing at a time when all hell seems to have broken lose in Dominica. the bad thing about it is, Prevost and the UWP have supported this move. Can you imagine this! I was thinking of voting them next election but I change my mind buddy!
@ let them talk still
We will still talk, hen God has deemed that we will cease and until the end of time.
There are some things that the Church will talk about and there are some things that It should not talk about. The Holy Spirit dictates what they should talk about. It will not be revealed to you because you are not so spiritually inclined.
For instance, if the Church spoke about all those Catholics of all who cohabited and have illegitimate children and with different partners many of you will say that the Church should not interfere into the business and bedrooms of people. This includes some of you who renounced Catholicism. Therefore, keep your mouth shut and your fingers on the keyboard out of it.
What the Church is doing is praying for all those sinners in DA. Those who left the Catholic Church have sinned against Our Lord Jesus Christ who founded His Church. God knows who they are.
Furthermore, if you knew what is contained in Holy Scriptures, you would not make such statements. Read and study it and conform your will to the Most Holy Will of God that you may obtain eternal salvation.
Why does Dominica need all those religions who cause lack of love, division, disunity and lack of peace? Many of you who renounced your Catholic faith lack godly enlightenment and graces. If I were the Dominican PM from years ago, I would not have welcomed them. Dominica was not in need of them and could very well do without them as it were in those days.
The few dollars which you and others who joined their churches have would be better off used to financially support you and your family.
Those religions have done more harm to Dominica than good and you ask why there are so many crimes and murders in DA. Therein lies the answer. You have turned away from the Church that Our Lord Jesus Christ established and are being punished. God knows this too well.
When The DA Catholic Church feels it should talk, as inpired by the Holy Spirit of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it will talk.
ignorant talk. dont mix church with politics. pure ignorance. where God comes in?
I am all for the help, so now our tax payers money is being used, let us call it the Roseau Dominica Free interdenominational Church, so anybody can use it.
Unity. I like that. Keep it up guys! One Dominica despite party
No offence, spend that money increasing teachers’ salaries and putting adequate security in school.
The church need to be renovated for 1). We need s secure place to bring the youth to enable them to get closer to GOD…in so doing the incidents at DGS maybe will not be. 2). The tourist money will then be used to give the teachers the long deserved increase. So you see? A win/win situation
@ concerned
Do not worry. Those areas you mentioned will be taken care of in time and probably when you least expect it. Do your part.
If the local church accepts money from the Govt. how will it be able to speak out against unacceptable practices perpetrated by such a Govt? It would be difficult not to remain silent under such circumstances.
@ Malate
Do not be silly. You have a mind, mouth, a voice and opinion, right? Has anyone tried to shut you up yet?
Yes, religious zealots!
dominicans in recent years have cultivated a sad culture of begging. Everyone keep on looking outside for help. The pm goes out proudly to beg for money and dominicans take pride in begging the govt for money.
It is high time that dominican pull up the brakes and look within for assistance. Any church which can’t raise its own funds from within needs to ask itself a question.
The same peoplel who beg in a big way look down on the begger by the roadside. The more the government gives to people who shouild help themselves the less it will have to do what it was mandated to do and more taxes on the innocent.
There is a lot of idiocy in most of the comments. A tourist atraction is a tourist attraction whether it is Pentecostal, Methodist, Yahweh, etc. As someone rightly pointed out, each local Church is mainly responsible for itself but I am sure that some funds came from the Vatican. Let us not be narrowminded. Catholic Charities(the organisation) gives millions to the indigent throuhout the world. But of course,idiots would not care!
I think church memembers should come together and contribute. Make cake sale coconut cheese tablet,paté coco, guava etc ,castor oil, coconut oil on saturdays take away meals on sale. I mean we are Dominicans and we are a strong so lets put out our talents to help our country. Make a mise put together six hands 2 cartoons of whole legs then another six lbs of rice and so on and so forth. Then goverment will put I will put then another until we reach our goal. goal. MAY GOD BLESS US ALL LOVE ALWAYS.
I hope the PM use the money toward the church with all the tourist attraction they using as support to the funds. carmem.
Boy I sure wish the Government would regard the hospital as a tourism attraction also…
Could you imagine the possibilities?
The vatican is one of the richest institutions in the world.
Yes, put some money in the vendors’ stalls and public conveniences.
government and opposition agree ? did i really just read that ? lol………..
yep they agree on this one because 99% of government officials are Catholics..but that don’t make it right….i say if you assist one religious institution you should assist all of them
Government and opposition agree by default. Reasons: Before a collective cabinet agreement was made Ian Douglas declared his support for Mr Prevost’s recommendation (2) The government had no choice as they have admitted to squandering our tax dollars on evangelical churches around the island. If pastor X gets 150 thousan and church Z gets 200 thousand why not church RC C which is really a tourist attraction. Truth will continue to surface by default- it was by default that they told us about Corello, Leroy Parris et al. It was by default again that while they are trying to spin the dismal state of the economy that Ian Douglas said in parliament “ . We will soon find out whether the government is on wheel chair, crutches or flat on the belly.
all the broken building in Rome are tourist attraction……ok how about you the government repair my church roof also…there are many youth attending the church that i attend….keeps youth out of trouble ….do you know how beneficial that it to the Dominican public….I’m sure people can come up with very good reasons as to why their property should receive assistance for the government….what about the horrible stalls that vendor sell to tourist fromm….what about building a public convenience in certain tourist sights….give me a break….you all wanted to fix that church long time……friends helping friends
Very good tiny! U stand up “big” here!
I agree tiny, Bishop let me make myself clear, i was baptized in that church, and have worshiped there all my life, but my faith is not for sale….the church found the money to build the new bishop residence and all other amenities why now government and tax money have to build new roof???….allu so smart allu foolish…but not me!!
Vatican has lots and lots and lots of money that could just cover the cost of the entire building. I heard it coming from a member’s mouth. Let them take up their responsibility or at least start out. come on Pope.
Stop being selfish, give something back. How many of the other religions have given as much as the Catholic. Look at all the schools the Catholic Church has built on the island. So now is the time for the Government to give something back to them.
does the church send money to the Vatican? then if we do that should stop immediately lets use our money to repair our church. not support the basicilla in Rome.Has any one read up lately on the amount of corruption at the vatican bank in Rome?
They are talking about Church renovations…. not Church corruption!
He that without sin cast the first stone
@ jeff oliver
Do you have corruption and sin in your family including you? Look to yourself and let your conscience be your guide.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Let he who is without sin caste the first stone.”
@Jeff Oliver
I know that it is not just you; it just a bad habit that we cannot get out of us.
So you, and the rest of us here, let us not forget that Church is us, the people–not the building.
Cortuption, in whatever form would come from the minds of people–organizers of the Church–here in question.
On another note, it is good to hear that the Church House in Dominica attracts tourists. And I hope that renovations will keep that attraction–good that governments are in harmony with that idea–God’s Will be done.
But it would be awesome to know that it was the worship and fellowship services that was the vital attraction there. For that attraction would be evidence that God is really among us, and working through us. Let us keep the hope alive.
@ Lizavier
Worship is one of the attractions. Otherwise some of them would not visit the Church. At the same time others who are not Catholics because it is “a major” tourist attraction will visit the Church. Who knows? It may convert them. The Catholic Church serves a good and spiritual purpose.
When I was in DA, one Friday I went to the Roseau Cathedral to pray where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed. Keep in mind that Our Lord Jesus Christ died on a Friday. This is where I saw some tourists.
One Sunday I attended Holy Mass at the Pottersville Church. At the end of Holy Mass as we were leaving the Church, I noticed a “white” man coming into the Church. There was a tourist boat which was moored at Pottersville. I thought, “Oh he missed this Mass.” It was the first Mass. I thought he would have to remain for the other Mass if he so wished.
Some of the tourists are Catholics. Catholic members throughout the world are one billion. Every year at Easter time, at the Easter Vigil Mass, some adults are baptized in the Catholic Church in Canada and the U.S. and obviously elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world. This does not include the many babies who are baptized throughout the year. Accept this from a traditional and faithful Catholic who has never doubted the faith and who has remained a faithful Catholic and with the help of God until death.
@Jeff Oliver
simply “get a life”
Just curious, have the officials of the church asked the Vatican for assistance? If they have, why hasn’t the vatican jumpstarted this little project
Steups! Why do you think Vatican needs to help the reconstruction of the Roseau Cathedral. (You may think of the head of the Church is in Rome, but the Vatican has its own problems.
The Bishop who is the head of the Church is responsible for each and every church in the diocese. The catholic community of the Diocese of Roseau is responsible to the development of his or her Church/Cathedral.
If other non-Catholics, NGO’S, businesses or the government want to assist then that is fine. An international group can also make a contribution.
But, charity begins at home and the people and nationals are responsible for the re-building/renovation efforts. It belongs to us and we should take pride in its reconstruction.
I just think some of us are just a little too negative and do not take time to think before we can make a valued contribution.
We like to fight over religion: every religion has some good and bad, but we can collaborate and dialogue if we want to make in-roads.
I think you have it absolutely wrong when you say “people and nationals are responsible for the re-building/renovation efforts.” The correct way is CATHOLICS are responsible. They are the ones opposing everything that will bring development to our Dominica such as Casino Gambling etc. Let them get their money from Rome. Remember that the Vatican is a State and should be responsible for its subjects.
@ Concerned Citizen
Well stated!
I do not believe the state should finance the renovation of the cathedral. This is just putting more strain on the country’s little resources.
The catholic church is a very powerful entity in D/ca, and I am certain if the bishop implement a plan to raise money for the renovation of the cathedral, Dominicans from all corners will play their part. There are poto catholic people who will gladly sell some of there possession to support the church.
They can hold a radiothon, car-washes,bingoes….you name it….It will be successful.However to spend 3 million on renovating the cathedral is just ridiculous. A family member recently when through a traumatizing experience of watching their newly born baby girl die at the neo-natal ward of the hospital due to lack of oxygen. The nurses and ward administrator could not open the oxygen tank because the wrench to open that tanks was not available. As a result a life was uselessly lost.
We need to put our priorities in order, otherwise we will be the laughing stock of the Caribbean.
The vatican has no obligation to assist the Church in Dominica. The church belongs to the people – the Dominican people – they must see to its upkeep. They can use their role/position in society to raise funds for the upkeep. They can even apply to funds that MAY be available from the vatican – but the Vatican is not solely responsible for your cathedral
@ Evolved
I wholeheartedly endorse your comments. The Vatican is a City. It has to maintain “the Vatican”, its employees and also the Holy Father the Pope, the Cardinals, etc. who reside there.
I reside in Toronto. Every year especially on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, a collection is taken up for the Mission of the Church, money which is sent to Third World Countries.
Many people make statements but they know absolutely nothing about what is occurring at the Vatican. If they are not Christian Catholics and practicing ones at that, especially those who have renounced Catholicism, they knew nothing and still now will know nothing and never will as enemies of the Church.
There is more to the Vatican than meets the eye. The Vatican or I shall say The Pope expects that every country will support its own Church, namely, Catholic members. If it were to support every country, province, city, town and village, it would have no money whatsoever and would go bankrupt.
May those who are negative and narrow-minded and who obviously lack enlightenment in this respect pray to God for this enlightenment including His blessing and graces and also to become knowledgeable.
@Evolved
You said “the Church belongs to the people”. This idea is what tells me that most of us, as Christians, are not considering that the Church is us, the people–One Body and Jesus Christ, is the Head of that Body.
So while we consider the building to be the Church, we are not focussing on the fact that it is our hearts which must flourished by God’s Love–bonding us as One in the Spirit, One in the Lord, that whoever sees us, through our attitude and conducts, they will know that we are Christians by our Love.
It is good to flourish our Church house, or to keep in good condition. But let not forget that it is our hearts, first and foremost, that needs to be flourished; that we might attract outsiders to join in the Body of Jesus Christ–the Church of God Almighty, who choses us to be His people.
@ T. Winston
It is none of your business. Mind your own business. The money will not come from you or from your tax dollars.
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