Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire has called for politicians to return to “the good old days” when politics was a friendly affair in Dominica.
In delivering his homily at the official funeral of the Late Nicholson Alexander Nathaniel (N.A.N) Ducreay on Wednesday July 19, 2017 at Our Lady of Fair Haven Cathedral Chapel, Bishop Malzaire reminded those present of the “old time days” of politics.
“There was a time when politicians could deal with difficult issues with a certain level of likeness in spirit. It was a time when opposing parties dealt with differences in the parliamentary chambers but would hug each other in the communal and social setting,” Bishop Malzaire said.
He added, “It is not too long ago that many party faithful would follow political rallies for the lime and good time and sometimes they return home not even knowing what was said on the platform. But today instead, we see a state of animosity between politicians and faithful followers. Why should family and colleagues stay divided for years after general elections?”
At the passing of N.A.N Ducreay, the Bishop said, it is time that politicians go back to the days when he (Ducreay) was in politics.
He quoted a song penned by Trinidadian calypsion, Richard “Nappy” Mayers, entitled “bring back the old time days….bring back the old time ways” calling for unity and back to the “old time days in politics.”
Politics Bishop Malzaire said in Dominica the Caribbean and the world by extension, politics has gotten “way too tense.”
“I remember the days in St. Lucia when we looked forward for the parliamentary debate just for the laughter. I recall one day when one of the Bosquet Brothers was in contempt of parliament and was asked to apologize and his reply was, ‘Madame Speaker I apologize but I say it already.’ With this utterance the entire parliament erupted with uncontrollable laughter. I am of the view, that we have gone much too serious in our politics and that is killing us,” he stated.
He added to thunderous laughter and applause, “I have often heard about the likes of Mike Douglas (deceased) and his gift of oratory and his friendly parliamentary combats with his good friend the late Mamo (Dame Eugenia Charles). Those were rather interesting days I am sure which we can look back to and those were the days of N.A.N Ducreay.”
Ducreay, he continued, was a “staunch and faithful Catholic” who was always present at mass.
“He was a regular communicant and he was also a regular at confession, what a lesson for us all and for politicians,” he said.
Bishop Malzaire also remarked that Ducreay was seen as a “kind and gentle person” and he will so be remembered.
Among the many mourners at the ceremony were President of Dominica, His Excellency Charles Savarin and his wife, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and other Cabinet colleagues and also members of the opposition.
Bishop Malzaire needs to clean his own house first before we can take him seriously.Father …. sees it fit to use the pulpit and the house of God to spew partisan politics,ever when he is invited to give the opening prayer at certain functions,he takes the opportunity to attack those in the opposition.Bishop, wheel and come again,and maybe we will hear you then
I call for the separation of church and state. When the church can influence political and governmental decisions (all denominations not just Catholic) then we do not have a separation of church and state. When we boldly state that we are a christian nation. Then there is no separation of church and state. Stop playing politics religious leaders. Stop being suck ups to those government leaders for your personal gains disguised as gains for your “flock” in turn for votes. Stop preaching politics from your pulpits or allowing your representatives of your institutions to do so. Separate state from church.
And if you cant and insist on being part of the political realm, them i insist that you pay taxes. Why ? because the strings you pull with your religious institutional power affects our social well being. Yet you pay no taxes and collect tithes every week.
* … … … you collect tithe every week.* Whaaat
(1) The pastor doers not collect tithe. Not even the bishop collects tithes. The tithe belongs to the church and is in the care of the Board of deacons, managers, or stewards (or whatever the particular denomination calls the elected people who look after the business of the church. It is used to pay the bills for the authorized expenditures.
Churches are not in business to make money for themselves. They charge no membership fees,
or admission at the door. Tithing is encouraged as part of our stewardship but it is voluntary.
Churches are exempt from taxes because they accept certain responsibilities that would otherwise fall upon the government such as assisting in emergencies, and helping needy individuals and families. It is the nature of churches to do this when they are able. We believe we are doing what we are suppose to do and wish it could be more.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
we love you
Bishop Malzeire, I respect & welcome your call. Please be advised the dirty and repugnant nature of politics as we see now started soon after the death of Hon Pierre Charles, a decent and clean politician and that cannot be said for the sitting Prime Minister. His innuendoes and insults are disgusting and is unpatriotic and reduced the level of politics to Dominica and its parliament to a low and we have priests whom fall under your watch use the pulpit to lavish hate on the UWP members and its Hon leader, Lennox simply because Hon Linton has exposed this corruption and devious Labour government and its disgusting leadership of the many frauds and corruption, The latest case the secrecy of the CBI passport and prior the Bin and Fertilizer bobol. Please take time and counsel Skerrit and his corrupt political scouts. Do not lecture us, we are the ones suffering and at the receiving ends of insults and dirty politics. If you do not show support for inept Skerrit, you are called names.
Obviously! you people are breathing but not living. This website is free so you are making the most of it.God forbid if workers ever come into power, there is a lot of money to be made on this, for level of ignorance. The HOLY BIBLE WAS created long before a dictionary. Which is the hardest key to turn?
Politics like everything else should be treated like what it is……..a job. Therefore, if Politicians are doing a job, egos should be separated from this job. At work, opinions should be given in a clean and clear way. An opponent could be handled so strategically and be defeated without the need to become hurtful and vengeful. The little boys who take up this positions are not in tuned with themselves. They have not grown to that level of consciousness to separate what they do from who they are. One needs to fully know, love and understand oneself to succeed at that level of Politics that the Bishop spoke about. Until the Ministers can rise above their egos, politics will remain the way it is today……. a dog it dog world.
should read…… A god eat dog world
A dog ‘eat’ dog world.
Bishop Malzaire I think you made NAN Ducreay smile.
Why should family and colleagues stay divided for years after general elections?”
Make no mistake, the above will not get them to Heaven.
“There was a time when politicians could deal with difficult issues with a certain level of likeness in spirit. It was a time when opposing parties dealt with differences in the parliamentary chambers but would hug each other in the communal and social setting,” Bishop Malzaire said.
This sounds like Canadian politicians of all. When they are out in public, it is a different matter. Way to go.
D/cans politicians as the UWP do not know how to hide their feelings and not hate.
‘Madame Speaker I apologize but I say it already.’ With this utterance the entire
parliament erupted with uncontrollable laughter.
I like that! The spoken word which comes not back. He cannot retract them which he had already stated.
In every respect, I would like to see the overall good old days.
1 Timothy 3, 2. Sorry you are not a bishop. Are you referring to the good old days when the labour party shot Phillip Timothy? or when a car was burnt in Roseau, or when Charles Sarvrin said to go in every nook and cranny and bring them out, or when he said the teachers will not work, policemen and nurses will not work, or when they Stoned Karam for six hours? flossie and Casimie were looted? you are probably too young to remember or you was not in Dominica. Oh how i love the good old days, politics was sooo friendly.
Sometimes crazy things are done by politicians, even stupid and bad things, that are not in and of themselves political.
This does not mean the politicians are not on a friendly basis one towards another, or that they are not working together for the betterment of the nation. There was a time when a better attitude existed among politicians one towards another. This is what the Bishop is referring to. We need a return to this in Canada and many Dominicans feel the same for their own country. One way to achieve it is to realize we all want what I best for our nation even if we sometimes disagree on what that is.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
So very right Bishop Malzairre. There was a time when after a general election and votes were counted and there was a clear winner all campaigning was over and people went about their business. We truly need those days back.
Honourable N.A.N. Ducreary may your soul rest in peace. Deepest Sympathy to his family, friends and members of the Dominica Labour Party. He will be remembered.
That time was when everything was free and fear…
Don’t forget, NAN was also a member of the UWP.
When you Right, You Right! thou sometimes you swallow your Tongue, consistence is always great.Win ,Loose, or Draw. We like it so.
When you Right! You Right!!!
But he should also caution some of his priests ….. Such a devise priest that spew so much political garbage because he is a supporter of the ruling party.
While I agree with the bishop’s assessment of the good old days in politics. However, I wish that in a separate venue admonish current leadership to lead by examples.
You expect that in Dominica, the raw words. However, they have to be careful what they state. Their duty is to preach/speak the word of God which is contained in the Ten Commandments. No different in Canada, the US and in Europe.
The Bishop is a contributor of the country’s political animosity since he appears to be condoning all the ills of the government. His priest preaches politics as his sermon and he says nothing. Silence as consent
Bishop Malzeire, please disassociate yourself from the this corrupt regime and its leadership. Yo have nothing to gain. We are your flock, talk on our behalf and work in our behalf. We have a rotten inept Prie Minister and a corrupt Labour government, like yo did not know.!!!
In the good ole days, did any parliamentarian walk into parliament with any gun?
Back to the good ole days, when the present President through the ‘koolwosh brigade’, removed by force a democratically elected Gov’t?
Diplomatic passports are being sold to crooks and criminals found involved in fraud, money-laundering, embezzlement. Facts, evidence a plenty. those crooks and criminals have been either arrested, jailed, yet Bishop Malzaire has said nothing.
Many parishioners attending St. Alphonsus church, have expressed concerns about that Monsignor, who openly preaches partisan politics, yet Bishop Malzaire has taken no action against him.
Back to the good ole days, when a certain Union boss, went into Parliament, grabbed the mace and went with it?
Which Bishop would accept $500,000.00 from PM knowing well that it was not before parliament for…
I do not know the political history of Dominica. I agree with what Bishop Malzaire has said because it would apply in Canada as well. As the shepherd of many Malzaire is speaking for the good of his people.
There is a problem when a P.M. cannot resist taking a jab at the former P.M. and verbally trashing his contribution.
As a pastor I was taught this. Some members of the church appreciate the former pastor and others not so much. But it is wise to speak respectfully of him, and as much as possible express appreciation for his work.
I cannot understand why this cannot be done in politics. This should be followed in the exchanges between
the P.M., and the Opposition, and members of opposing parties, and even among members of the same party. It is the professional way to do politics.
Again I say this applies in Canada as well as Dominica. Every nation has its issues.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Rev Hill, the issue is not the principle or behaviour in Parliament and or in politics, it is to do with many questionable deeds going on under this corrupt labour regime we consider highly devious and corrupt. We aske for accountability and they ridicule the opposition leader and his team and the professionals in public who speak out for those civil servants who wish to speak, but scared , they do not wish to lose their jobs.
Why are your priests openly and hypocritically supporting Skerrit and all the Leader of the Opposition Hon Linton asks with his team to account for the states resources and its many questionable expenses.
You should never have taken funds from Skerrit for the church, because it became a Skerrit thing and not a State th9ing. this is morally wrong and against all decent practices in politics, religion. Skerrit is a big disappointment. Please stay away from him. We need our spiritual leaders to be non aligned, please hear us and represent us. Please be advised
Things really got out of hand when these words were uttered: “no body can stop me … not even the constitution”
And these words: “who do you want Barabas or Jesus”
So my dear Bishoop [their boy] what can you really do? the horse has bolted …..
You keep harping on the same thing over and over again as a broken record. What good does it do?
Does Jesus keep harping on it? If he were to punish you for your sins, over and over again and for your comments, what would happen to you and where would you be?
Some of you need to learn the way of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He has told us to forgive otherwise we will not be forgiven.
You take words and never forget them. You also make comments out of anger and malice which you should not state. You need to ask God for forgiveness and to study the Holy Bible in-depth.
So do not think you are perfect and more perfect than others. You still have a long way to go for perfection in also your words.
Obviously some things were said in the past that should not have been said.
We will never know the thinking behind some statements that were made and many feel what was said would be impossible to justify. No doubt votes needed for the next election were lost and its outcome was decided in those few minutes.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Tell bishop take his own darn advice. It would help the country tremendously if he would stand up for morality in politics, honesty and integrity rather than speaking under his breath…….HYPOCRITE MAN! I left the catholic church for him and the famous priest from up north who was the instigator for “Real MASS IN THE CEMETERY”.
Assertive like the rod of Moses!
In your mortal and spiritual ignorance you do not realize that you have condemned yourself. You did not do yourself a spiritual favor. How sad for you.
Please Truth, don’t sulk and covet, don’t be jealous of Moses’ rod.
There was a time when politicians practiced People’s Politics. They cared about the welfare and wellbeing of the people. They were genuinely interested in raising the standard of living of the least among us. Today, the politicians practice Party Politics. They would do anything for their party to retain power even at the expense of the good of the country. Politicians berate and demonize their opponents expressly for the purpose of making them unelectable in the minds of the electors. Today’s politicians are all about self and none about ‘we’.
When was that time? People of today are different from those of yesteryear.
This animosity and division all started when the Freedom Party organised branches at the village level and had members monitoring who supported their party or not.
Your Excellency, your wish is mine also and fervently so. Without any particular political affiliation my overriding concern is the wellbeing of Dominica. Regretfully I do observe that with a leadership that does not respect its opposition and who’s modus operandi is divide-and-rule, our wish will but remain a pipe dream for the immediate future. I am forever hopeful, however, and look forward to changes that will encourage our people to work together in harmony despite individual differences per amor patriae, Deo volente.!
Tell him charity begins at home
RIP Sir.
I agree with Bishop Malzaire, gone are the days when politicians were each others friends, families were not divided by politics. Gone are the days of unity, everything is divided now. Truly a sad time we are in.
Shut your window sir you dont mean what you say … you’ve been bought . Lay the man to rest and protect your money.