Rosie Douglas was the son of the late Robert Bernard Douglas, a wealthy businessman, coconut farmer, and conservative politician who named his boys after world statesmen (he had brothers named Eisenhower, Atlee, and Adenauer).
He was schooled in Dominica’s capital, Roseau, before being accepted to study agriculture at the Ontario Agricultural College in Kingston, Ontario Canada. It was the ambition of his father RBD, for Rosie to run his agricultural estate at Hampstead upon the completion of his studies.
However, after growing frustrated with the bureaucratic delays in obtaining his visa to enter Canada, he took the bold decision to make a phone call to then Canadian Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker, seeking his assistance.
About a month later, while working on a coconut tree in Hampstead, a call came from the Prime Minister. Mr. Diefenbaker was impressed with the initiative taken by Douglas only 18 at the time, fast tracked his visa, and sent local MP Bruce Robinson to collect him at the airport. According to Douglas addressing the Canadian media in 2000: “I told him what my problem was and within week I got my visa and went to Canada…”
Once in Canada, Douglas spent several months milking cows on an Ontario farm before enrolling in Agriculture at the University of Guelph. Douglas naturally gravitated towards the Tories, and became involved in politics as a member of the young Conservative Party of Canada, under the guidance of the Right Honourable John Diefenbaker. However, against his father’s wishes, upon completing his studies in Agriculture, he moved to Montreal where he enrolled in political science at Sir George Williams University. It was a move that became known in the family as his “defection”.
While attending Sir George, Douglas, who worked as a teachers assistant in the Political Science Department, became President of the Conservative Student Union becoming friends with Canadian student leaders including Pierre Trudeau and Rene Levesque. Douglas used his platform within the Tory Party to advocate on behalf of Caribbean women who came to Canada under the domestic scheme, better housing conditions for blacks living in substandard conditions particularly in areas like North Preston, Nova Scotia, equal employment opportunities for blacks in Canada, and seeking to get the issue of racism in Canada on the Tory’s national platform.
However, Douglas left the conservatives when national student leader Joe Clark, refused to address the issue of racism on a national level. His political views also changed radically when he went to live on Indian reserves in Quebec and visited Nova Scotia’s black communities in the 1960’s. The impoverished conditions of black people there affected him so much he says he decided “there and then” that he would devote his life to improving the lot of black people around the world. By the late 1960’s Douglas, after hearing Martin Luther King speak at the Massey Lectures at the University of Toronto, had become an active supporter of the civil rights movement taking place in the United States, befriending the likes of King, and Stokley Carmichael.
He, along with community leaders like Vincention cricketer and political activist “Alfie Roberts”, Nova Scotian human rights activist Rocky Jones and Antiguan political activist Tim Hector, organized The Montreal Congress of Black Writers which featured renowned black economist, scholars and activists from around the world including Guyanese Pan-Africanist Walter Rodney, Trinidadian Marxist CLR James, American civil rights leader Angela Davis and Black Panther Party leader Bobby Seale.
When black students began to protest racism at Sir George Williams University, Douglas, who by then, had moved on to his masters at McGill University, had developed strong leadership credentials in the Tory party. He’d been President of the Association of British West Indian Students, and was serving as Vice President of the Verdun Cricket Club emerged as the media savvy leader of what has come to be known as the Sir George Williams Computer Riot of 1969 (aka Concordia Computer Riot). He along with Canadian Senator Anne Cools and others led an antiracism sit-in at Sir George Williams University, Montreal, which resulted in the peaceful occupation of the computer centre as negotiations took place between the administration and the student leadership.
However, once an agreement was reached, the riot police infiltrated the occupation escalating the matter into a violent conflict, the building caught fire, resulting in mayhem and destruction of the computer centre. Douglas who was not present at the time of the conflict, maintains that the fire was set by agent provocateurs. He was identified as the “ring leader” and charged with mischief and served 18 months in prison before being deported in hand cuffs and leg irons when he vowed that he would only return as “Prime Minister of my own country”.
Whilst in prison, Douglas wrote an extensive report on prison reform in Canada, set up literacy classes for prisoners who couldn’t read or write and wrote the book Chains or Change. According to Douglas: “I learned a lot about injustices in Canadian society when I went to jail…The truth is that I didn’t become committed to the fight for equality is Dominica. I became committed to the movement in Canada.”
Upon his release from prison Douglas, who had embarked on a cross Canada black unity tour, building solidarity with native Canadians, was placed under RCMP surveillance as revealed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Activities of the RCMP and in 1976 the Solicitor General, Warren Allmand, signed an order declaring Douglas a dangerous risk to Canada’s national security, forcing his deportation. After his deportation, Douglas pursued a broad range of political activity on the world stage getting involved with the Socialist International, building relations with Cuba, The People’s Republic of China, and the Soviet Union securing hundreds of scholarship for Dominican students.
Douglas, through his Dominica/China Friendship Association, led Dominica’s first diplomatic mission to China in 1984 along with then Portsmouth mayor Renwick Jean Pierre securing a commitment from the Chinese Government of US$1Million for projects for the town of Portsmouth. Unfortunately, these funds remain uncollected as it was contrary to the policy of the conservative government of Eugenia Charles who was in government at the time.
In a press statement in 1984 Douglas wrote: “Attempts to build relations exclusively with Taiwan as is the case with the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, is short sighted, reactionary and not in keeping with current political and economic relations on the world”. He also became the Executive Chairman of the Libyan based World Mathaba, a group that armed, trained and advised guerrilla movements around the world where he persuaded Colonel Gaddafi to begin negotiations with the British for the trial of suspects in the Lockerbie bombing and supported national liberation movements across Africa including the African National Congress (ANC), which provided critical support to the toppling of apartheid and the freeing of Nelson Mandela.
In Douglas’s view, there was nothing extremist about his activities, centred as they were on defeating retrograde despots and freeing Nelson Mandela, who was steadfastly supported by the Gaddafi regime. “All Dominicans supported the freedom of Mandela,” he says. “And the freedom of Mandela wasn’t a cakewalk on a Sunday morning – it was a revolutionary struggle in which people fought, died, and killed.” Douglas in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the World Mathaba was part of a negotiating team seeking Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait to avert the Gulf War.
Speaking at the anti-sanctions forum in New York on January 20, 1996 Douglas stated: “I visited Iraq in 1990. In fact, left Baghdad two days before the war really began, on probably the last flight out. They had first imposed sanctions in August 1990. So even at that time, children were already dying because of a lack of medicines. I visited hospitals and saw it. And that was six months into the sanctions and before the war actually began. So you can imagine how after five years, with a tightening of those sanctions, the children of Iraq are suffering. All children have a right to a decent life, all children have the right to benefit from the fruits and resources of their country. What is good for the children of America is also good for the children of Iraq,Iran, Cuba, Vietnam, China all over the world.”
Back at home, in his native Dominica, Douglas launched the Popular Independence Committee which agitated for full political independence from Great Britain, helping to pave the way for Dominica to become an independence nation in 1978. After serving as a senator in the post independence government, Douglas won his seat the Paix Bouche constituency becoming an MP in 1985. He served as the International Secretary of the Dominica Labour Party eventually becoming leader in 1992, after the death of his brother, Michael Douglas.
Rosie Douglas appealed during his political career to the cause of the socialist radical reformers. At the parliamentary elections on 31 January 2000 he led the DLP to victory against the governing United Workers’ Party of Prime Minister Edison James. Douglas formed a coalition with the moderate Dominica Freedom Party and began office on 3 February 2000. In May 2000 Douglas, true to his promise returned to Canada on an official state visit as the Prime Minister of Dominica, holding bilateral talks with his Canadian counter parts. He was quoted in the Canadian press at the time as stating: “Yes, I feel the sacrifice was worth it.” He said referring to his time in jail and deportation from Canada. “I feel exonerated.”
As Prime Minister Douglas set out on an ambitious agenda of transforming Dominica into a high income zone, he signed a US$300 million MOU with the Chinese for the building of an international airport, sought to establish a special relationship with the European Union with Dominica being sandwiched between two Departments of France, stronger ties with the British Labour Party of Tony Blair, the French Socialist Party of Lionel Jospin, the German Social Democratic Party of Gerhard Schroder and other Social democratic parties in Government in Scandinavia, Italy and Portugal. He sought increased development spending from Canada, assistance from Sweden in transforming Dominica into an information technology centre, and Foreign Direct Investment in the Eco tourism and Medical tourism, increased economic cooperation with Africa, and appealed directly to African Americans to invest in Dominica, and for the congressional black caucus to lobby for the Caribbean in Washington in same way American Jews did for Israel.
After only eight months in office, Douglas was found on 1 October 2000 dead in his house in Portsmouth. He had returned only one day before from state visits to Australia, Taiwan, Canada and Libya for the reconvening for the World Mathaba. Among the leaders addressing the conference in Tripoli, in addition to Douglas, was President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe, Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, Namibia President Sam Nujoma, Chad President Idriss Deby, Mali President Alpha Oumar Konare, Gambia President Yahya Jammeh, Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade, Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Sandinistian Liberation Front Daniel Ortega, and the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The purpose of the meeting was to redefine the evolving role of the Mathaba in light of the successes of the liberation movements in Africa, and to devise strategies to meet the challenges of globalization for emerging states.
Douglas, the only Caribbean Mathaba leader, sought to connect African States with the aspirations of Caribbean and African American people’s to unite to confront global political and economic challenges. Pierre Charles was named as his successor, and he took oath soon after. But, he followed his predecessor’s footsteps to die in office in January 2004, paving the way for Roosevelt Skerrit to assume the position as Prime Minister of Dominica.
There should Be a biography on this Man. Our kids should be reading about him in school.
The truth is always a problem to many who read without an open mind. This is a very interesting piece for Rosie Douglas as with many other leaders at the time, lifted the Caribbean’s awareness of geo-political issues.
However there are a few issues still troubling me.
1. Can anyone point to a closure as to the death/murder of Hon Rosie Douglas? Has anyone been broughjt to justice and why was an autopsy not performed on his body?
2. Hon Rosie Douglas had a sister who taught in Saint Lucia in the late 1970s. Her name is Maria Douglas. Can anyone tell us if she is still alive and how she can be contacted. Her former students really want to hear of her.
21 Gun Salute. Honorable Warrior Prime Minister Roosevelt Douglass
This shall be my final comment on this bit of fantasy, filled with fallacies and hard core lies! The purpose of this one is to expose another lie in the following!
” As Prime Minister Douglas set out on an ambitious agenda of transforming Dominica into a high income zone, he signed a US$300 million MOU with the Chinese for the building of an international airport, sought to establish a special relationship with the European Union with Dominica being” (Cabral Douglas).
Yes he talk crap about Dominica becoming a department of France, and fool his supporters talking nonsense about Dominica becoming a member of the European Union, which could never happen under any circumstance!
Someone need to remind Cabral, that the UWP under the leadership of Edison James within the four years they served, secured money from the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan and other governments to build an International Airport which was in progress when Rosie Athie, Roosie and their coalition told…
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Rosie Athie, and their coalition told Dominicans that Dominica does not need an International Airport, and shut down the construction.
They said it was too expensive to build: Ian Douglas said; “we can build an International Airport for a fraction of what the UWP was spending to build the new international airport.” Mind you the government of Trinidad & Tobago lend Dominica 80% the cost of building the airport. Contractors, and building engineers from Trinidad was in Dominica working on the first phase of the airport, when Athie Martin, Rosie Douglas Pirie Charles, Roosevelt Skerrit, Reverie, Saverin and others chased them out of the island and shout the project down.
Now here is the lie! The International Airport the UWP was building cost a little over three hundred million dollars, already fiance! Why would Rosie shut it down and then go to China to sign contract with Chines to build airport! This author is either a notorious liar, or is simply out of…
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This author is either a notorious liar, or is simply out of reality!
If anything I will give Roosevelt Skerrit the credit for establishing the China Dominica relationship, Cabral is a liar! We remember when Roosevelt Skerrit as a junior minister went over prime minister Charles head and went to Barbados to the Chines Embassy and try to get assistance in Developing Dominica.
I (doh repeating it eh,) but we remember what he was told by the Chines; by then Rosie was long dead! Cabral boy you are a very good fabricator!
You need to get your facts straight. The only thing the UWP lead by Edison James was able to secure for Dominica was debt and making us the laughing stock of the world. Open your eyes
You are an ignorant jackass, the secondary School at Wesley was part of the project the Airport project also. The reason why it is built where it is right now, is because it was in the flight path of the arriving, and departing aircrafts.
I have my facts right; I think I know who you are: your are a bloody dunce who for years like to talk about get facts right, well since you idiot believe I do not have my facts right; you are free to contradict me with any facts you have on the matter. You will forever be the stupid tool you are to Skerrit to the day of your demise!
And that is a fact!
Be careful oh! dem people (spying peoples) have keys to your house, your car, your office, and have full access to your computer (s) and every business you have. Can get into your refrigerator and leave you a RIP sweet drink. Or leave you a cocktail. That’s the main reason why some people just keep dem mout shut. Me!?? I rather be wrong and alive, than to be right and be dead. Eh heh…
If you allow fear to keep you from speaking out, you have already surrendered your life into the hands of the people you fear. God said in his words “Fear Me.” He did not say to fear any man who’s belly is full of feces!
One American president told Americans during the depression of the 1930’s “Americans has nothing to fear, except fear itself.”
Always remember the same as how you believe they have access to the life of everyone, even their computer; how do you know that there are not people who this very day knows where they go to sleep, and when, and know exactly what the had for breakfast this morning, and what time they ate!
Never put anything past anybody, we all have the same potential to be dangerous if we desire to be dangerous
A real man of the soil, a fighter..Always respected him..
Must admit that I’ve never been a follower of Roosevelt Douglas’ brand of politics or admired his administrative prowess. However, his interest in improving the lot of the poor and dispossessed were undeniable and genuine.
Such irony then to see his legacy betrayed by a namesake, taken into the nest like a cuckoo’s fledgling. Particularly his executive chairmanship of Mathaba, a movement dedicated to the rights and self-determination of African people, undone by his beneficiary, who signed an agreement with the ruler of Morocco that disenfranchises the rights of the people of the Western Sahara. And for what? An invite to the ruler’s birthday, a place at his dinner table and the semblance of a hotel slowly sinking into the subsoil at the Carbrits. A genuine Dr. Jekyll to the proverbial Mr. Hyde. Rosie Douglas was good company and a real human being, transparent and open, whom one could agree to disagree with, without rancour. I appreciated his sincerity .May his soul rest in…
Douglas, the only Caribbean Mathaba leader, sought to connect African States with the aspirations of Caribbean and African American people’s to unite to confront global political and economic challenges. Pierre Charles was named as his successor, and he took oath soon after. But, he followed his predecessor’s footsteps to die in office in January 2004, paving the way for Roosevelt Skerrit to assume the position as Prime Minister of Dominica. Ask those from the North who know.
Such irony then to see his legacy betrayed by a namesake/son, taken into the nest like a cuckoo’s fledgling. Particularly his executive chairmanship of Mathaba, a movement dedicated to the rights
Well moderated deleting a word lol good job. it did not take long to be moderated in seconds moderation didn’t have to await the process it was instant lol fool selves.
makes Donald Trumps double standards lol look like child’s play
LMAO
donde esta son
First of all RBD also named his daughters after well known women.
How time flies. Imagine every year, on October 1st, Rosie’s family relive the sad moment of his sudden passing It was a shock to them and all others who knew him..
He was an advocate, a fighter, for the rights of especially the downtrodden, the oppressed.
Today, the situation is a little better than in those days.
Those who studied political science all had a similar attitude.
The last time I saw him was when he was a politician. He was not yet the PM. On a visit to D/ca I attended a sitting of the House during a session.
Rosie, you came into the world for a reason. You did your utmost to fulfill that goal which was thrust before you. You are gone but will never be forgotten.
Rosie, I expect God who does not overlook good deeds done, rewarded you for your effort of hard work in trying to make the world a better and happier place for everyone.
May your soul continue to rest in peace. Amen!
Nice piece of history
We also knew that Nelson Mandela was released from prison, one of the conditions that he shouldn’t take part in politics and he definitely became South Africa’s president.
On a whole, Rosie had good plans for the people of DA and Dominica by at large, but his life was cut off short by those CIA’s agents. Up till this date no one knows by what means Rosie came to his death
I’m truly fascinated by this article. I never knew about Rosie’s legacy because in Dominica; we rarely get the chance to learn about those who look like us. Our education system is so British, and we leave school with minimal information about our Carib-Indian and African ancestries! Instead, we are taught about to remain in servitude mindsets so that visitors can vacation comfortably.
The British deprived West-Indians of their history because they wanted us to think like them, be like them, and learn like them. As I’ve aged,I’ve realized the great disservice they’ve unleashed on us.
Rosie was a typical Dominica: we wear our souls on our sleeves and we are disciplined in ways that reminds us to speak our minds and help others along the way. He was a misfit in Canada, and I say this because his heart was too big to just sit back and accept injustices, which are always drafted by Europeans. This article was
needed!
Very good job Cabral Douglas! We really needed this biography of the late Rosie Douglas. Now that we know he came from being a prisoner to prime Minister really helps all of us to appreciate the struggles Rosie endured for many years, before his dream of being PM was realized, though for less than a year. On the other hand, I think of another Rosie who I will refer to as Rosie #2 not because he is a junior but because he has same name as Rosie #1 who brought Rosie #2 to the DLP fold. Rosie #2 did not have to endure anything and yet he has been PM for 12 years.
Another observation is that of the men Rosie #1 is seen in photo with. We see him with Walter Rodney and Nelson Mandela, who like Rosie suffered for standing injustice. We also saw Rosie #2 in photo recently with some of his friends. Ashe, Teresa Liu, Ng Lap Seng & Lorenzo, all of whom were later arrested by the FBI for corruption
Him father did want eem in de agriculture business to keep him family business alive – Instead, him run pan poly-tics (Many ticks) and come pan him early end, dead! him still a young and strong man. As the good book say : Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right – Ephesians 6:1. My modah did always say, “If you won’t hear, then you’ll feel.” In this case, a dead man can’t feel. Eh heh….
This little Dominica have to many coroners. Every body knows who killed Douglas, go to the CIA they have ways of digging up corpses.
Nothing will change your narrow minds,
It was a big leap downhill when we went from Rosie to Skerrit
God knows and sees all things. His timeing, is not our timeing, his judgement is not our judgement is not our judgement. The evil that man does lives with them!! May the soul of our Departed Rest in Peace!!!! Thats why God is not from Dominica. Analize that!
Long live the dreams and visions of patriot extraordinaire, Rosie Douglas! I think that no other Dominican has been so maligned like Rosie. Growing up in Portmouth, II frequently came across elders speaking/conjecturing about Rosie in hushed tones and that sort of clandestine behaviour did get me curious. What was it about the man that was so disgraceful/evil that even little children were spared hearing about his maneouvrings? As I became an avid reader in my teens, everything started falling into place bit by bit: Rosie was blacklisted/maligned/demonised by his own government and people by extension. It became clear to me that at that time,any Black man who assserted his rights and sought justice against oppression had faced a similar kind of ostracism (Nelson, Stokey, Martin, Walter, etc). But, in my puerile mind, I wondered why were his own folks against him when all he was doing was for the upliftment of Black folks!? It is a bittersweet story but Rosie’s legacy will live on.
Rosie was the best and will always be the best. RIP!!!!!!!!
In the arms pf the angels may you continue to find comfort there.
You were a leader for all the people , not just a few. Champion of the poor and down trodden.
You never turned your back on anyone who was in need.
Fellow Dominicans give me my flowers while i’m living don’t wait for after i’m gone to heap all these praises on me.
Building our country does not solely rest on our politicians. We to must play our part.
When we migrate to other countries we contribute to their economy by paying our fair share of taxes but whenever we are asked to pay our fair share in Dominica we blame it on the government.
We want to live in a lap of luxury, yet we don’t want to contribute to the economy.
Who know’s if Rosie was still alive things would have been better? Maybe or maybe not.
He probably would be under the same pressures that he had before his death. Just like Pierre Charles and now Skerrit.
As the majority of us mourn his death someone no doubt benefited. Rosie took no short cuts in life. He came in the game clean and played it clean until death. He worked hard to earn his degree, unlike those who lied about degree. Rosie did not go to India a weekend as ‘Rosie Douglas’ and came back 3 days later as ‘DR. Rosie Douglas’ as some deceiver did. Rosie was not about deception because he knew that deceivers could do anything including getting rid of anything in their way to get to their goal. Rosie played by the rule. He was very patient and knew how to wait for his turn. He waited long before he became PM. He saw the likes of PJ, OJ, Euginia, and Edison elevated as PM ahead of him, but kept his hands clean and would do nothing to cut them short. He just simply kept sharing his dream. The question that now lingers in my mind is, was he murdered or did he die a natural death? Only an investigation would clear my mind and sadly Skerrit & his dlp don’t see it necessary. Why?
He made one fatal mistake by …….. Skerrit and bring him into his cabinet.
A fellow student, a friend, a brother. May his love for country, those that were travailed and heavy laden, his fellow men always shine. With our Creature you will shine on us.
There are so many lies in this fairy tail story; it is not funny. In 1962/1963 Rosie Douglas was 22 years old! he was still a student at St. Mary’s Academy, that’s where I first met him! In the following we see On June 12th Mandela was sent to prison for life! He remained there for 27 years!
Draw your own conclusion people!
On June 12, 1964, a judge sentenced Nelson Mandela to life in prison. Exactly 49 years later, Mandela’s grandson thanked people for their support Wednesday in the family’s first statement since the former South African president was hospitalized on Saturday.
Back in 1964, Mandela was one of eight men accused of conspiracy and sabotage in the so-called Rivonia Trial, named after a suburb of Johannesburg where African National Congress leaders had hidden out in a farmhouse.
In an electrifying speech from the dock at the beginning of the defense case, Mandela addressed the court [click for audio]:
Let me ask this question; is it not strange that technicolor camera were in existence on the release of Mandela from prison, yet the picture of Rosie Douglas between him and Winnie is in black &white? That is a cut and past picture, more than 80% of what is written here is lie. Rosie Douglas was released from Jail in Canada bound in shackles and deported to Dominica escorted by Canadian police! He did not have time to run up and down in Canada talking crap as the author said! A lie is a lie is a lie! IF Rosie lived he would have been 75 years old as of yesterday, he would have to be a god to do, and go all the places it is said and went, and do all he claimed he did! Nelson Mandela, leader of the movement to end South African apartheid, is released from prison after 27 years on February 11, 1990.In 1944, Mandela, a lawyer, joined the African National Congress (ANC), the oldest black political organization in South Africa, where he became a leader of Johannesburg’s youth wing of the…
After he became prime minister he also became a tourist.All he did was traveled all over the world,and within that 10 months he also landed in Libya and Muammar Gaddafi gave him a red carpet welcome and promised him us$1.000.000.The government of Dominica did received the million dollars after his death.
While we are wondering who killed Rosie, we known it was Obama and Hilary Clinton as secretary of state who joined others and Gaddafi is no more.
Where is that money J.J. Charles? Did it pass through Cyprus perhaps?
“When black students began to protest racism at Sir George Williams University, Douglas, who by then, had moved on to his masters at McGill University, had developed strong leadership credentials in the Tory party. ”
We can try to down play it in order to make a culprit look innocent and supper; I believe the truth would have served a better purpose. I do not know where all of this clean information came from, but the author should realize that many of us knows the history. I challenge anyone to post a degree in political science belonging to Roosevelt Rosie Douglas, which he obtained from Sir George Williams University, prior to moving on to McGill University.
Please shut me up by complying if anyone is capable of doing that, I will ban myself from DNO!
Rosie Douglas was exclusively at Sir George Williams University, to the very day they set the computer science laboratories on fire; which caused the arrest, trial, and incarceration of Rosie Douglas, as simple as that! And…
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And the reason behind it all had very little to do with discrimination, or racism.
The fact is many of the Black students, were failures, who spent many semester, in class and could not pass there discipline. The black students such as Rosie, believed that the name Douglas rang a bell in Canada, and that based on his name he would be handed a degree on a silver platter, the same applied to the rest of the black students who were involved, and led by our illustrious Rosie Douglas.
The Black West Indian and perhaps African students involved were not all college material, the subjects were beyond them as such they failed, and could not graduate! That was the major cause of the fiasco! Let us not whitewash it! Let us not try to present a situation by using fallacies , and innuendoes to clean what some of us knows to be dirty, we were around live and well, and indeed associated with the late Rosie Douglas, Tim Hector, and other member of the ‘World Mathaba…
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we were around alive and well, and indeed associated with the late Rosie Douglas, Tim Hector, and other member of the ‘World Mathaba Gang:'(FE-DT)). I met the bad man Mogabe; I was Married to the Late Tim Hectors cousin Violet Ophelia Matthew, former executive of the government treasury of Antigua, she is the mother of all my children; whenever Rosie visited Antigua, he ate at the house of Tim’s mother who is the biological aunt of my former wife.
Rosie Douglas was Cadafa eye, and mouth piece in the Caribbean, when he betrayed the Libyan leader, who refused to speak with or see him, Gadafa replaced him with the late Tim Hector. We know what happened in Canada, so don’t lie about it!
Some of the friends mentioned above says it all. Dominicans never knew what Rosie was up to. This story just makes me believe even more that Rosie was wasted. Someone or some group extinguished those lights. Sandanista and Gaddafi, Mugabe…. SMDH. Hmmmm. Let me point out; during ANC struggles in South Africa, desperation time lead to them using extreme means of resistance. The militant wing of the ANC took whatever help the could get an that’s where Gaddafi and yassa Arafat’s PLO came in. They utilized terrorists style bombing and as a result Mandela was labeled a terrorist. People should ask who was our PM representing as a chairman of the world mathaba? What was this organization all about? and why was he in league with some of those questionable characters? A head of state involved in crap that the country have no clue. Seems like lil Rossie doing SOS.
That is absolutely laughable! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say, and to most Dominicans a bit of land to some people means wealth; In my opinion, the man I knew as “RBD” Robert Bernard Douglas was not a wealthy man as assumed!
Indeed he left behind quite a few acres of land in Hempstead, that to me is not wealth because in those days land valued next to nothing in Dominica. So; he had a small sea going vessel they called a “Lunch;” which transported passengers from Portsmouth, to Roseau,the first time they sale it to Barbados, it did not return because the engine failed and this wealthy rich man could not afford to have it repaired!
Hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahha!
His other estates comprised of an old Bedford Truck, and a Rum shop, where he also sold raw fabrics and groceries too. If that spells wealth (I doh know eh). Wealth means a man must have enough to leave to his children, and his children’s children. I heard one of his sons had difficulties…
I was with Rosie at Morne Bruce as Gaibu presented to the Cadets band equipment he purchased in the U.S. Right there and then the PM left on an emergency trip to Gwada to resolve a crisis involving Dominicans – a crisis just like recently.
Thanks for reminding us how this man was so deeply committed to the poor and oppressed around the world. He could have lived a very comfortable life, but the principles he stood for will forever make us proud in Dominica. May you and I do what we can to fulfill his vision in our time.
Sam, although I believe most of us knew Rosie in a different ways; some of us do know intricate details about the man that many do not know. I believe you are exaggerating; as I do not see where Rosie committed himself to the poor and oppressed around the world.
In the first place the hype about Rosie Douglas existed only in Dominica; Roosevelt Douglas name was never a house hold name anywhere on this planet except Dominica! Here is something which may shock you. Rosie Douglas after he was released from jail in Canada, escorted back to Dominica in chains accompanied by Canadian Police. He went up and down the Caribbean trying to state his case, looking for support!
When he visited Barbados, he was in a Taxi where he spoke to the Taxi driver about Sir George Williams University and the fire. He mentioned his name to the Barbados taxi driver, who had not herd his name prior to that day; it was not until he got to his destination; stepped out of the taxi and paid the guy, and…
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It was not until he got to his destination; stepped out of the taxi and paid the guy, and told the guy to keep the change “my name is Rosie Douglas:” the taxi driver said “Oh yea you are a damn nice feller.” (That was as told by Rosie Douglas at the front gate of the West Indies Oil Company in Antigua while he was on that same tour of the Caribbean). Less than twenty people listened to him on that day, I among them, and a few other Dominicans who were employed at the WIOC.
You hear them talk about Rosie involvement with Chin-fane (and I do not know if I spelt that correctly) in Ireland and all that nonsense, such are lies. As I said in 1962/1963 Rosie Douglas was still a student at SMA. The man himself said the closest he came to holding a Job, is when the ran five terrorist camp in Lydia, that to me was after he served his jail term in Canada. I say all of this to give you the opportunity to analyze it, perhaps you will find that Rosie did most of all some…
It is Sinn Fein…….Irish Group…..Leader was Gerry Adams…
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I say all of this to give you the opportunity to analyze it, perhaps you will find that Rosie did most of all some people claim he did even before he was born!
Born 1941, perhaps entered kindergarten at age five assuming graduated elementary at age twelve that means that means he would have spent nine years in elementary, making him approximately 14 years old, another eight years at SMA renders him as I said 22 years old. Assuming he was at Sir George University for four years, since it was a four year institution, that would have made him 26 years old. Lets give him five years in Libya, he would be 31 years old. I do not want to be too long, but commonsense dictates to accomplish all you guys believe he accomplished would mean Rosie would probably be in his late sixties when he accomplished all of what Mr. Cabral said he did!
Rosie Douglas was not concerned with the poor, his aspiration the same as Mogabe, Tim Hector, and all the others who were involve was to…
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Rosie Douglas was not concerned with the poor, his aspiration the same as Mogabe, Tim Hector, and all the others who were involve was to ensure themselves power, hoping they would take over the world; and believe you me I know because my former wife and I were part of it, until we discover the evil intentions of those communists in disguised!
so true when rosie gone we realize what we had and if skero gone the same thing gonna b said so we must appreciate what we have do not wait when skero die (God forbid) to say he was a good man …… cha..the good words its of no use to rosie now neither pero. may God comfort family and friends of the deceased. no matter how long memories leave on.
As the saying, “Send me no flowers when I die. Give them to me while I am alive.”
We must really appreciate people who have done some good works during their life. Too often, by some, they are not appreciated.
Gratitude to people is gratitude to God.
you mixing apples and grapes, rosie would give you his dinner but skerrit taking dinner and lunch from Dominican people….
We never understand what we have not only until it’s gone. Rosie was a true leader fighting for the rights and development of his people. We have to stop playing politics as Dominicans and support our leaders.
Skerrit making Rosie turn in his grave just ask Binta.
U so right. Because ARossie is so impressed with PM leadership he turn in the grave to sleep comfortable now he knows Dominica is in good hands for the next 50 years. You think he didn’t know wat he was saying when he said before he died that skerrit wad b a prime minister. And don’t talk good about Rosie Cus u all were the one saying so much bad things about him.
if Skerrit was really Rossies true vision for Dominica, then I say may his soul burn in hell
What happened? He just died? Didn’t inherit anything from papy. Had to work hard for every dime I have. When you only “inherit,” you don’t know the joys and benefits of reaping. Only brings pain and heartache to the one who really had to work hard. That story has a lot of loopholes in it; But that’s not me business.
A few similarities with respect to Rosie Douglas and Jason Fontaine of LaPlaine. Rosie was a member of the Dominica Labor Party, so too, was Fontaine. Rosie spent some time in Prison, also Fontaine. Rosie fought for the rights of his people, even though Jason Fontaine is fighting for the rights of the people of Laplaine, he is criticized by Tony, Delvin C and the supporters of the DLP, because he spent some time in prison. What a shame.
“From prisoner to Prime MInister” sounds good but something else is missing…after priminister I expected to see to his mysterious death. I think it was in the early 70’s the Mighty Sparrow wrote a song that goes like this: Who killed the sparrow nobody knows Sparror dead. people like Skerrit would not have know that song so here it is https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=who+killed+the+sparrow+song&view=detail&mid=F04D33D864EFB20493FAF04D33D864EFB20493FA&FORM=VIRE
The first verse of “Sparrow dead” went like this: I heard he had cancer, I hear he had yellow fever, something in he bladder and a double dose of leukemia…then he asked the question, who killed the Sparrow nobody knows.
In the case of Rosie, we know he did not die in prison, he didn’t die of cancer, had nothing in his bladder and did not need a double dose of anything. All we know is that he died a day after he arrived from China. Yet no one wants to investigate the cause of his death;………
Like Ashe died in his gym less than a week before the case in New York against the Chinese connection Emmmh.
This was another death that should have been investigated. Surely an autopsy was done. What did it reveal? To today there are speculations and always will be. God knows.
Hmm, lots of information here,wow,God bless his ideas,i wonder what would it be like if God had speared his life today ,oh boy things are sooooooo, different now.
so few of us really know his impressive work around the world much more must be written of this man
I am very lucky to have known Rosie, and to be a very strong supporter of his. Rosie was not just a politician that wanted to be in power but one who was deeply concerned about the plights of the poor and wanted to be in power just for them even if he had to do it for free. It was because of that dream Rosie went to prison, unlike some today that should have been in prison for corruption, theft, and other criminal allegations that they have somehow been able to work around.
The sad moment in the legacy of Rosie was when he got the likes of Skerrit and Vince to run on DLP ticket, not knowing they were enemies of his vision for the poor. As I look at DA today and my strong devotion to the DLP, I cannot help but bite myself for voting the DLP in 2000 when we won, and 2005 after Pierro died, which was the day the DLP also died. Unfortunately enough, a day after Rosie came from a long trip abroad he died a mysterious death and his DLP never investigated his death. I wonder why????
Then Pierro followed; since then is labowey ah placla.
…and then his vision became….
His vision got passed on to Pierro and just so Pierro died and then came labowher. Absolutely no vision just pure real muddy and dirty laboo.