Drug addicts and alcoholics in Dominica – at least some of them – have been finding a friend in Wisdom to Know.
The fledging organization has been trying to rehabilitate, with very limited resources, some of those who have fallen by the wayside after succumbing to drugs or alcohol.
Director Bonti “Ace” Liverool says his organization actively seeks out those popularly referred to these days as “Parro”, sheltering and nurturing them at the Scouts Headquarters building on High Street in the capital city Roseau.
Liverpool told Dominica News Online that individuals trying to kick the habit who sign on to the programme his organization is offering are fed, clothed and sheltered.
But more importantly, they are put through a ten-month programme “with a view to rehabilitating them and re-integrating them into the wider society as contributing citizens”.
He estimates that 60 people have already accessed the services being offered, with 11 of them successfully rehabilitated.
The director told DNO that while he wished the figure was much higher, there is a certain level of satisfaction that some progress is being made.
His success stories include “Jah Roy”.
“He has been out of this facility for about three months now, and he probably spent about six months in there,” Liverpool, fondly referred to as “Ace” by Wisdom To Know clients, said.
Jah Roy, who is thought to be drug free, has informed him that he is now actively employed at Bagatelle.
“So when I hear something like that I am very pleased,” Liverpool said, explaining that Jah Roy had been on crack cocaine for 15-20 years.
Peggy is another success story that the Wisdom to Know director can point to.
Wesley resident Peggy after doing the rehab programme, is involved in agriculture at the moment, and Ace has been informed by his sister that “he goes to his garden every day”.
“These things make me very satisfied,” Liverpool (Ace) told DNO.
His dedication to rehabilitating those who have fallen was motivated by his own lessons learnt from the school of hard knocks.
Bonti “Ace” Liverpool was a crack-smoking ‘parro’ for at least 20 years – he got the nickname “Ace” while on the streets.
So he knows how the ‘parro’ feels, and wants to get them out of the rut that he was able to crawl out of “by the grace of God”.
But the thrust to rehabilitate is a huge struggle, with resources in very short supply.
At the moment there are 12 clients in the programme, and Liverpool says catering for them is a real challenge.
“Like the roof (of the building) is leaking. The Guys want us out of the place. Taggy (one of the clients) tell me this morning to bring back and neck (chicken) so I tell him that I don’t have. I don’t think that we had supper last night,” Liverpool admitted.
But there are those who help – Dexia gives 20 pounds of brown sugar every month, St Luke’s School principal Sister Annita has adopted the programme and provides groceries every month, and Anthony Commodore – a former chief magistrate – is reported to be giving substantial support to the programme.
And others including Jacinta Bannis who is involved in the anti-drugs fight are also involved.
Liverpool admits that he is not fully qualified to be carrying out the rehabilitation work that he is carrying out almost single handedly.
But he already has one piece of paper behind his name, and is applying to the University of the West Indies for the appropriate studies to bring him up to standard.
He told DNO that there is no government support for his programme, and that such assistance would be very welcome and would make a huge difference.
Liverpool has his eye on the construction of a new building in the Grandbay area, to enhance the Wisdom to Know experience for many more drug addicts and alcoholics.
He says at the moment many of them who approach him have to be turned away because of the very limited resources at his disposal.
Bonti Liverpool and all who help at Wisdom to Know:
I congratulate you for your dedication and work.
In Canada and the USA I have seen other organizations called by various names who are successfully reaching out to alcoholics and drug addicts. It gives me great joy to learn Wisdom to Know in Dominica. Your efforts are changing lives and setting the captives free.
Such organizations all seem to have certain things in common.
They begin small.
Thy start with only few “believers” and very little money.
Progress is slow and challenges many.
They let the victims of alcohol and addiction know that others have beat the problem and they can to. Nothing is more convincing than to show what they have has worked for former victims and will work for them.
They make room for God and the life changing power of the gospel. Nothing is more effective and longer lasting than an encounter with the risen Christ!
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Time to act and stop the talk. Those who have turn their backs on their sons and daughters on the street That is what I say to you people. No matter how difficult it looks do not give up on your children/Brothers/ Sis/ Uncle/ etc. Away with the old adage of Sa you fait say sa yo kay wey. The Father commands us to pray for each other and also our enemies, so how comes we not suppose to pray for our children. May the Heavenly Father continue to richly bless Bonty so he can lift up others in the same situation he has been. People now let us not give up on our young men and women who are so in desperate need of our love and kindness. Parents of those who are on the street, go look for them and bring them home, reiterate your love for them and you know what, give Mr Liverpool the contribution and support so he can take in some of them into the programme. Kudos to Bonty!
Big Up Bonti.I like what you are doing.You are doing a positve thing rehabililitating the drugs addicts and alcoholics in Dominica.That’s what we human needs food, clothing and sheltering.Makeing us Grandbayrians and Dominicans @ home and abroad so proud of You.What i dont understand why isnt the Dominica Government giveing your Organization a helping hand?I think it’s a shame.Imagine one night the guys had no supper, could not get their wish back and neck chicken on the menue.I will be linking you up with some usefull information on face book also i will be linking you for an overseas radio interview so you can say your plight to the globe.I am encourageing Dominica’s world wide organization to give you a helping hand.You need to set up a web site.Big up all the 12 clients in the programme in this VIP organization.
Big up Bonti Ace Liverpool that’s a positive thing you are doing to Rehabilite these drug addicts .You are making us Grandbayrians and Dominicans @ home and abroad proud.What i dont understand why the Dominica Government is not helping the oganization.That’s a shame.So the man never got his wish on the menue back and neck chicken. Just keep taking your plight to the media.I wll face book u some contact information and i am in the proceess of linking you up with a overseas radio interview.Big up bro.fwe.
This is just fantastic, amazing, remarkable. Nobody in Grand Bay ever thought Bonti would come out of crack and rum, and I mean nobody. Everybody in Grand Bay used to laugh at the way he was a big man in everything and how he had lost his job, his family, his house, his vehicle, everything. That man was scorned, denigrated, laughed at. In fact it was even put out by some people who were glad that he had reached that low position, that he was dead. It takes a special kind of strength to come back to that same community and do what Bonti is doing. Bonti is a role model. He leads the Cadets at the Pierre Charles Secondary School and the Grand Bay Scouts. He delivers motivational speeches to all the Primary Schools in the area: Tete Morne, Belle Vue, Pichelin, Petite Savanne and Bagatelle. He is the coach and manager of the THUNDERERS basketball team in Grand Bay and is President of the Grand Bay Tourism and Environmental Commitee. Bonti visits all the Primary Schools in Roseau. SMP, Goodwill, Roseau Primary at Bath Estate, Newtown and St. Luke’s at Pte. Michel. He has spoken at most of the Secondary schools in Dominica. He visits the prison and he has spoken at churches. His work among the parros in Roseau is just superhuman. He brings them into his place at the Scout Headquarters feeds, shelters and clothes them and sends them back to society as proper people. Drug addicts and alcoholics from all over Dominica come to that man. He does not have space to put them. Any blind person can see that the job Mr. Bonti is doing is job for the Government to do. Government work. It is a total mystery to me that somebody can do all that work and that kind of work for no pay whatsoever. All parents come to Mr. bonti with their problems about their children and the kind of advice he gives is better than those professional people. There is always something about God and prayer and meditation in it. Ask the parents. Ask the children at those primary and secondary schools. Ask those scouts. Ask those cadets. Ask those parros and those vagrants. They might not even know his name. That man is a mystery, but a good mystery for Dominica. God bless Bonti Liverpool.God bless Bonti Liverpool. God bless Bonti Liverpool. Dominica needs him.
Belinda – I just could not have said it better myself. Truly a phoenix rising from the ashes! Thank you DNO for bringing this story and this wonderful human being’s selfless activities to light. God bless Bonti Liverpool indeed!!
Great job you are doing, I am a drug concelor for 10 years been clean for 25, would love to give or send you the Big Books , Like Dr BOB, Would love to get your Email Hopefully i could I will Check tomorrow if you read,Great JOB AND WE STILL PRAY FOR THE STILL SUFFERING ADDICTS OUT THERE, I got conextions just ASK !!!!
They need a clinic to detox these addicts.
Time to put up or shut up. Those who have the resources to set up a support system such as a bank account, please do so. I will gladly support his effort with whatever financial resources I am able to.
Why hasn’t dominica began curing addicts with Ibogaine (an african remedy google it)? St Kitts has been curing addicts for 15 years with this new method. It would be amazing to try this in Dominica, already we have people who care like Mr Bonti.
this is a very good program, thanks very much..this is the type of thing goverment should invest in and sure a little more hrlp will go a long way..keep up the good work..
Bonti can a long way, i get goose bumps when i think of how that man was and how he is now. drugs made that man loose everything, his house, job and all and to see how he made a complete 360. it is truly amazing, I do hope the govenment and local businesses see it fit to assist him and what he is doing. I think the “parros” around Dominica and throughout the Caribean can learn from him.
correction……. “Bonti came” and not can as stated above
Kudos to you Bonti. I never doubted your strength and dedication…small start, but a very big step forward.You are a blessed and natural talent. Guidance forever.
Iceberg Slim
That guy has my full admiration. I know him to be a Scoutmaster and he always giving things, money to vagrants and the street people. He has to be a most extremely strong person to do that kind of work he alone, and staying in that house with all those kinds of men has to take a special kind of courage. I suppose Grand Bay need him true but he should have come to Roseau long ago. The amount of work I hear that Mr. Bonti doing as a visitor to schools, as a scout, as a cadet, as a counseler, as a volunteer, as a leader in sports, I wonder where he getting the time to do all that, plus I am reliably informed that he gets no salary, no stipend, no payment from any where or from any body. Dominica is lucky to have that kind of man. Blessings that is upon that man cannot be counted. All what he does is for free. God is good my friend your day must come.
It is evident that Mr. Liverpool was hand picked by God for the work he is doing.
People have a tendency to see such a need and they think the government or the churches should do something. And of course they should
They should get behind Mr. Liverpool and support Wisdom to Know 
The greatest and the beneficial organizations in the world have been started by individuals with very little fan fare and often no encouragement in the beginning. God dropped an idea
into the mind of some worthy person and they caught the ball and ran with it.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Mr Liverpool this venture that you undertake is as a result of the prayers and good deeds of your dear bereaved mother. During your ordeal she never gave up on you, as she did not only care for you, but for others in the same situation. You have been a very intelegent and clever guy.Keep up the good work and always remember the sky is the limit. Go for it my boy the Good Lord is with you always. Blessings will surely continue to follow you and your siblins
for your good deeds to the less fortunate
That is what I say to people. No matter how difficult it looks do not give up on your children. Away with the old adage of Sa you fait say sa yo kay wey. The Father commands us to pray for each other and also our enemies, so how comes we not suppose to pray for our children. May the Heavenly Father continue to richly bless Bonty so he can lift up others in the same situation he has been. People now let us not give up on our young men and women who are so in desperate ned of our love and kindness. Parents of those who are on the street, go look for them and bring them home, reiterate your love for them and you know what, give Mr Liverpool the contribution and support so he can take in some of them into the programme. Kudos to bonty!
kudos bonti.its never too late.you are playing your part. we applaud you!!!
well done mr. liverpool.
Let uis set up a support system to help this worthy effort by ACE. Help ACE help us too cause i long for the days when i ca n put my clothes out on the wire to dry. I also want to enjoy the jelly coconuts in my back yard. Three years i am unable to sell my zaboca to hucksters.
The courage of this man! The strength of this man! If I was not believing in God, this man would make me believe in God. Who is he? By the picture of him, he seems to be humble too.Where is he from? DNO, please post his telephone number. When we talk of patriots, this man is a patriot. The Government must take note of this man. He is doing the work that it should be doing. May God always look out for you, Mr. Bonti Liverpool.
Ley is set up a support system to jelp this worthy effort by ACE.
God bless this man, and his efforts to better serve the drug and alcohol community. Sometimes, I can be harsh towards them, because I see how they take from their families to feed their addictions, and that pisses me off! I’m getting better at sympathizing with some of them, because I understand the pressure to feed an addiction; obviously, when someone turns to drugs or alcohol, it is a cry for help,,,something is not right, and to suppress the pain, they search for external desires! I hope some of them will take advantage of this help, because when I visit home, I don’t want ANY OF THEM, asking me to buy them a shot!!
What an outstanding activity!! Keep working guys and gals. The business sector, along with other civic organisations should lend their support. This is really good news!!
Hmmmm $21M for State House/ $8M for Liat/ 20 pounds of sugar to help rehabilitate the growing numbers of Alcohol and drug abusers in Dominica??!
I believe Marpin did a feature on this program a year ago and it is disgusting to see that Mr.Liverpool has not received support to improve the facilities.
Sadly, within a few hours most who have seen this article will forget all about it. Even fewer will contribute and even if they do, it probably won’t make a large enough impact to increase the services this program offers.
Thanks to DNO for writing on this. I hope it remains on the agenda. Perhaps a poll to see if the gov’t and private sector should “invest” in this social program? Its great to see the country investing in Liat to maintain our tourism product, but what about reducing the numbers of Parros on our street and allowing them productive lives?? Does Mr. Liverpool have to beg for assistance for such an obvious need, on top of everything else he is doing?
anyone can fall, but sometimes it takes a little caring for a man to pick up himself and try again…. everyone has everything to say when others fall, but how many of us are weighed down by our load of responsibilities?? how many as suffering in silence with DEPRESSION?? the hardest and toughest bean can get soft under the right amount of time under the right amount of pressure…. never say never people…
think of that next time you cooking some peas for lunch.
GREAT JOB SIR, I APPLAUD YOU!
Keep up the good works. I learn a lot from your compassion to give off yourself. We all need to do our part and I will contact you to provide assistance I have your number.
Bonti you are so true when you say your greatest glory consists not in ever falling but in rising every time you fall. You have unveiled a monumental concerned and i know you will not loose your confident in addressing the challenge. To institutionalize the parros and alcoholics one would expect this initiative to be put in place by government because of the extraordinary cost to establish and sustain the project to rehabilitate these addicts. You are making Grand Bay and Dominica proud. Old Hourse will continue to give support.
May God continue to bless you sir. Your efforts will not go in vain, and you will be reward ten fold. Your story and efforts are an inspiration to others. Good luck and best wishes. We need more people like you in this world.
Wow it is amazing that someone is taking the initiative to help these people. Now that his story is out I hope he will be given the support he needs and I plan on going to Dominica soon so I will make a small contribution. I pray that more people would open up their hearts to this. Thanks Mr Liverool. This is highly appreciated.
I think that’s a good gesture and i would suggest that you go to matt and speak to him in other to carry a telefone to really get you going on that building. Also it would be more productive it you would get a piece of land in town where access would be easier.
May God bless you my son.
Ace God will give you the strength to carry on because he knows you are a doing a good job. be strong
oh my god that place look depressing…………….
first of all who are the people at risk for drug use in Dominica?…how many high school kids are on hard drugs such as crack? how many people start to do hard drugs in college?
do working people have a problem with drug use?…..i know alcohol affects people across many different socioeconomic status
this needs to be addressed….cause it seems like in Dominica …it is only he people with no hope….with lousy jobs ..that get hooked on drugs like crack cocaine…
most of these people turn to drugs to drown out their sorrow…their hopelessness…..most of the parros i can think of did not have a good start in life to begin with….in Dominica there is a cast system like India……just 10 years ago only a few had to opportunity to go to high school…thank God the scholarship programmes to cuba and the likes is starting to change that…
good endevour by this man…..
You can,t be more wrong.Most of the guys in Roseau are high school grads. Some including mr. Liverpool had good govt jobs. Drugs affect all of society You are doing a good job Bonti.Your reward is in heaven.
i said MOST!!!!!!! and you are supposed to be so equipped with a high school diploma?
YOU and Your crap again STOIC? Jeeezzzzz man!!! Why don’t you stay off from the keyboard.
Seriously? What do all these questions have to do with the efforts of Mr. Bonti? All these questions have been asked and answered by many different studies but the issue at hand I believe is that Mr. Bonti needs help with this huge endeavor. Stoic, Stoic, Stoic…I believe you’re one who likes to hear yourself talk or in this case sit behind your desk and see yourself type. Shut up already and stop imparting your words of wisdom to us? (Sacarsm if you must know)
God bless you sir.