Parish Priest of Portsmouth Herman Sharplis has called for urgent action to deal with stray cows in the Picard to One Mile zone.
Sharplis said the matter has been a “very serious” problem and is also a major issue for students of the Ross University.
“Many of the students have to be running away from the cow. Something has to be done and it has to be done now,” he stressed.
He is concerned too, that the owners of the cows are difficult to identify. The matter is being heavily debated, after David Joseph, 23, died after colliding with a cow on the public road in Portsmouth Monday night.
Sharplis said if there’s no solution to the problem “we are going to have other persons probably losing their lives in the process and nobody will be held responsible.”
“Can a society operate in that way?” he questioned.
you cannot find the owner?hold on lemme check on how to find a stray cow owner. brb
ok, i doe know how to find the owner but i know how to make the owner find u.
Just take your cutlas, an start to charp cow like you stupid. apprantly the cow has no natural preditor the balance is being messed up so…time to fix that
We in Dominica have a too show too flam attitude and it is not helping us at all. In the last 20 yrs we have had many accidents on the Picard road and no one takes responsibility. In fact police not even busy to find out who is the owner of the cow. What they will tell you is take the dead cow. I know because I have been a victim. The place is so sorrounded with cows that Ross University Students named a street “MOO Cow Ave” and it has become the official name of the street but yet those in authourity failed to take care of that.
The problem with Picard is since the Portsmouth Town Council does not get taxes from the investment in Picard, you will not get them to do anything to improve that area. The Parl Rep on the other hand talks tourism but does nothing to encourage visitors. So they all have a la-sa-fe attitude. So the Picard area which houses Ross University, is yet to be determined whether it is a residential/commercial area or an animal farm.
I guess as soon as this young man will be buried the talk about cows will die as well.Shame on us!
Well we have rabbit fest, pork fest, titiwi fest…..we wil have to plan a cow fest and eat dem…lol
AS A CATHOLIC I SAY FR SHARPLIS IS LOOKING TO BE RELEVANT.
AREN’T THERE OTHER ISSUE THAT THAT WARANTS YOUR INPUT TOO FR. SHARPLIS?
I AM UTTERLY DISGUSTED BY THIS MAN.
DISGUSTING
are u aware that someone died as a result of the stray cows , so how is father sharplis ( a reglious figure in the community) looking to be relevant wen people in his community are being affected
shut ur trap! wat wrong with him addressing this issue? like any other issue? stuuups
You profess to be a Catholic and you are disgusted because Fr. Sharplis is addressing a dangerous situation which caused the death of someone from his Parish? Are you for real?
@ c.bruce
I can see that you are not a Catholic in good standing and faithful to the Church. Satan is pleased with you. You know, with this type of comment where you may end up on that inevitable day, you tepid in the faith and traitor.
You can do the Catholic Church a favor by leaving it. Where the Catholic Church is concerned it is no love lost. The Catholic Church does not need any more enemies who do nothing good to defend it, support it and pass on the faith.
SHUT YOUR BOX AND PACK IT OFF
To all the judges, the condemners, those who have no planks in their eyes…cool runnings! The shallowness of you people, the ignorance and stupidity you display here is beyond achaic. Shame on some of you people.
Because it is not all you family who died, because some of you are not from Portsmouth, or maybe because some of you are just narrow minded and discuss nonsense all day all night?
You take a serious life matter and use it to cast stones at churches, priests, pastors and the rest.
Every day is a time to talk. Why ask “now all you talking?” That is so ignorant.
Get back to the topic of the life of the young man that was lost. It could have been you, a friend of yours or a family of someone you know and love.
And to you who ask the priest about the “stray cows” of the church as you said it.
Hope you are holy, sactified and going to heaven too-doo-boot!. Everyone of us is responsible for our soul salvation and every church has its work to do. You think your church can save you?
Grow some respect!
Shame on some of us here and what we reflect Dominica to be. Are we that of a heartless, cold, and judgemental nation?
this has given me a new respect for possie people….the way they all stand together and raise David up is admirable….this is the Dominica I know….a people who look out and are their brothers keepers….ohh if we could take a page from the book of the portsmouth people it would do all of us good….so many IMPORTANT ISSUES to be addressed for the COMMON GOOD. I hope this attitude spreads around Dominica like a VIRUS…infect every nook and cranny in Dominica….and infect all people in positions of power and influence.
PWC
DSC
PSU
DPF
DHC
DNO
just spread like wildfire
@ 1979
He did not deserve to die as he did. I reside far away from DA and it saddens and bothers me that one so young should have died in such a manner. It was not a natural cause.
Those who sincerely have loving and compassionate hearts are saddened for him and for his family.
this is so true fr, something must be done.
Yes Father, I believe you are absolutely right, full full full action must be taken. This is non sense now, a stray cow has caused someone to loose their life. Dam non sense. Find the owner and charge him.
Maybe the Agricultural Division should look into tagging these animals. In this way if such an accident or any other type of accident involving a stray cow was to occur, there would be a definite way of identifying the owner. Once tagged, the owner would be more encouraged to keep their animals safely tethered.
Now this is solution-oriented response. Wonder who’s reading this. Any policy makers on here?
@ Homeland Security
Great idea!
I DID MY HOMEWORK. THE COW BELONGS TO A GUY NAME SPOAT, WHO LIVES IN PICARD, SOME PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE HIS COWS BUT THEY FRAID TO TALK BECAUSE THEY SAYING HE CANNOT AFFORD. SPOAT PLEASE GO AND APPOLOGISE TO LAYNE, ALAS THE MAN CHILE DIE AND HE IS YUR FREN, SPOAT PLEASE, SOMEBODY IF SPOAT DOH HAVE INTERNET GO AND TALK TO HIM PLEASE, AT LEAST HE WILL CLEAR HIS CONSCIENCE, I TALKED TO HIM LAST NIGHT AND HE FRAID TO GO
SPOAT can afford cow? tell who ever SPOAT watching the cows for to claim their cow.
all spoat have to do is say whose cow it is we, and besides even if is someone else cow, and spoat was RESPONSIBLE for tying the cow the spoat also has to be held to a certain level of ACCOUNTABILITY. i know we have trouuble understanding words like Responsibility and Accountability. but we need to get it right people
Very good comment if what you have said is true. Are you on Island or off Island. If you are on the island it would be best if you be an encouragement to him by going to the home of the deceased with him, you said you spoke to him, so I am guessing that you did not do that in person.
i hear is the backo man cow i hope u did your home work good
@ investigator made
You know the owner of the cow? I can understand he is afraid and for fear of reprisal. He must be going through a trauma of what occurred and probably losing sleep over it including losing his cow. He should still go to the police. The longer he resists the worst it will be for him.
If he cannot afford he obviously will not be able to pay. He should seek lawyer representation. As you stated I agree he should apologize.
I thought that the person may fear being imprisoned and that he should not be imprisoned. It is so sad. How could he make restitution for a life lost?
Leave it up to the DA Law to extend leniency.
Fellow Domincans, after all is said and done you also must pray for the owner of the cow and what he may be going through that someone lost his life due to his cow. May God assist him.
Dominica is the only country in the world, cows breed like dogs no owners, simple shot them and sell the meat.They are not tagg. the cow that cause the accident have no owner, would you show up? blame your government, death come every one talk. If a man have some personal cannibes, or what ever, I read the hipocrite judge sentence,just like the person kill ten human being, as long the country is growing, you all hate improvement.As long cannibes are not for sale. It for personal use. there are more important topics to deal with. I don’t smoke or drinks, I see life different. I am from here, reading the news from abroad. May god give the young man families strenght during this painful time.
Shows that you have not travelled. I live in a place where they roam the streets like people.
oh yes, I’ve seen pigs cows horses overseas, but in the caribbean
Allu will leave father sharplis alone. He is sharing his point of veiw and what he is saying makes a lot of sense, so I do not see why you people have to make these kinds of comments!
We all know the cow situation in possi. Maybe u r not from possie so u will say that. Is not attention he want, he get enough from family friends and churxh members I mean common guys.
This is a very serious situation! Grow up! If you were in the boy’s family place u wud feel d same way! Co$mon ppl!
@ time for truth. leave politics out of that damn issue. allu jus runnin allu motuh for no reason. anything that is of concern to possie should be addressed. allu too damn political. allu shoud be preayin for the families of David
good one sharplis, but you must learn to make these constructive comments on all other aspects of dominica lives.. selective moomooism
what the man say is true allu not in the boy family plce thats why allu talking like that . even want to say is attention priest want its the truth people face it( i wonder what allu will do if a cow running behind allu)
@Chavez jr, why u want to shoot them, is not them cows that putting their self there u know, u have to deal with the owners not the cow
Shouldn’t the cow be put to death? One life was already lost. Are we waiting for two?
Cow hunting season open!!!
SO LONG THAT PROBLEM EXISTED,NOW EVERYONE FRANTIC TO SOLVE IT—WE SOMETIMES TAKE TOO LONG TO SORT OUT ISSUES…..CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY BUT PLENTY PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR NOT ACTING PROMPTLY EARLIER
The ultimate option now is to call the Police to shoot them, period.
that is an ignorant thought brother,what about containing or impounding them,that way the owners will have to huge pay a fine,to have them returned.
before lagoon had plenty pigs and they where running all over the police shoot them down so we will have to do the same with the cows before they kill me to
and you figure that was productive,livestock is the base of animal farming, you would go out and just shoot them and destroy a lively hood,how intelligent is that,the dam government need give these farmers incentives or some kind of support in order to build stockades contain these animals,this not the first time the motoring public has had incidents with animals in that general area,and know one has looked into it,for years it has been so,is lack of public security,lack of policing,lack of government intervention,the goddam point is, you have people that are not doing what they paid to do,protect serve and uphold public safety.
i am really pissed that a young brother had to lose his life that way,but if you all are pointing fingers,point them in the right direction,not at the animals,because we all know that this is not the first time these accident have happened in that particular area,some official should have made it their priority to investigate,put in place laws in regard to contain these incidents years ago.
Time for Truth there is nothing that can compair with a person’s life. you want to compair POLITIC with a human life lost. Are you crazy?
the word is compare and not compair
You know what alot of people may dislike my statement but I do nto care……I think we need to start shooting some of these animals and donate the meat to the homeless homes and hospitals etc….and you will see how fast thier owners will show up and tie them…….
Agreed.
If it was a case where someone had stolen the cow you would have heard the owner raising hell in Possie. But now that same person is refusing to take responsibility. God knows who you are and I pray that your conscience never find rest until you step up.
I lived in Dominica for a while. WORST country ever!
Doesn’t say much for you since you lived there a while and it is the worst country ever. Shame on you for torturing yourself like that.
well move the hell out if u do not like it damn rude
you just a pig idiot
Idiot!!!
Dominica is very badly off
@ joseph i would like to believe that u are not talking about my love nature Isle Dominica.
Don’t return please. There’s many places in the world where you could have settled down, but you chose to remain here for a while. Are you dominica?
PAH VIWAY!!!!!
We don’t want u back here then….go iraq and stay nuh
@ Joseph
You should go and live in the Middle East. I hope if you return to Dominica you will not be allowed to enter. STAY OUT!
While i’m in full agreement of the stray cows and i think the owners should be held accountable, i also believe that Catholic Priests themselves pose a greater threat, not just to Portsmouth but the soceity on a hold with issues dealing with little boys.
I see that you are getting a few thumbs down (I’m sure I’ll get a few myself) for making a statement that has been proven over and over again to be true. I agree with you.
Medical students are being chased by cows? Really? With all the socio-economic issues facing DA, and the child molestation cases facing the catholic church, you are telling me that this is the banner that a priest has chosen to raise? Talk about twisted priorities. Next thing you know, there will be a movement to control mosquitoes buzzing in people’s ears. Zot pas serieux.
Hehe.. and i think i’m the only one who gave you a thumbs up. But the thing is i do not post for the benifit of “thumbs up” I like to write logically and press the things that truely affect us as Dominicans. Half the time DNO deletes my posts but i’m still thankful for DNO wholeheartdly.
Damn rude. This issue does not only exist in the catholic Church> today more than ever, you hear so many stories about the things that the evangelical pastors do in the quiet of the night. bulling happens to be one of them. Has anyone ever accused the god priest of bulling them. Has he ever been persecuted by church members of prosecuted in the courts of law? Quiet a jack donkey you are. Nothing in his message suggests hypocrisy.
and…and…and…they all come wrapped in the servant leadership banner and proclaim exaltation on behalf of God; and I am sure there is a case to be made for the misdeeds of evangelical pastors in straying from their duties as servants(messengers???)of God. However, the relevance here is to the catholic priest who has commented on cows scaring medical students and causing a public safety issue.
Oh, and by the way, a message does not have to explicitly suggest hypocrisy for it to be relevant if the messenger is housed under the dome of hypocrisy.
Keep being and ostrich…keep your head hidden in the sand. the problems will not go away until they are fully addressed by the Pope. Common, man. There are facts and evidence strewn from here to the Vatican.
Yes if the evangelical pastors do it they should be punnished. But does that make it ok for the priest to molest little children?
@ Jespen
Agreed! They are also out-of-place and disrespectful.
They are wolf in sheep’s clothing which Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke of.
He also said, “Many will come in My Name so as to deceive the elect.” They interpret Holy Scriptures to suit their mentality and to get followers. Those who have predeceased us know the truth, some to their eternal dilemma for their false teachings and luring tepid/cradle Catholics to join their religion. Those who are still alive will find out their error of their ways sooner or later.
If we read Holy Scriptures and are able to comprehend it, practice our Faith to the fullest and also ask The Holy Spirit to enlighten us, we will remain in our Catholic Church. We will know which Church that Our Lord Jesus Christ established on earth. As an adult, the Holy Spirit revealed it to me a long time ago. I have become a great defender of the Catholic Church, thanks be to God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Ask and you shall receive … and it shall be opened unto you…”
God bless you!
@ Big Bannan
Please tell us what type of life you lived in the past and in the present and probably worst to come. Look to yourself and in your conscience. God knows!
You are such a foolish person who have no intelligence whatsoever. You deviate from the topic. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Do you think you are holy and perfect, you big time hypocrite?
With that s happening in Dominica, it is that issue the priest chooses to weigh in on!! I hope this is a small step REV. And you will deal with the moral decay and injustice a little latter.. Lets use this one as a door opener for you.
The hunting season is coming to a close shortly. Let us add stay cows in Portsmouth to the list and declare open season on them for the next two or three months.
Father, I endorse what you have stated. The ruling government, a member of the Party, the opposition and the political representative of that area has yet to comment. Where are they? Why are they silent? It is a serious matter that a man lost his God-given precious life due to a stray cow which should have been tethered. My heart goes out to also his family.
Indeed! Something must be done about that and immediately. A Law must be passed accordingly and owners who do not adhere to it should be charged.
Where is the owner of that cow? Is he/she hiding somewhere? Why is it taking so long to identify the owner? I hope that the owner will come forth and submit him/herself to the police authorities.
You cannot hide forever. You must face the result of your negligence. You have lost a cow due to your negligence. This should never have occurred. The man should never have died but due to your stray cow.
we may charge him or her with causation and negligence, but where is the evidence, when according to what i was told is that the meat was slaughtered and eaten. Let us hope that the police tok photos of the scene.
I agree with the priest and submit that it is about time that something be done about this nonsense. The owners should bury their heads in the sand. Wicked to not turn up!
I agree with the Priest and demand that something be done about the owner (s) of the cow that caused the death of the young man.
All of us could be a DAVID!!!
TOTALLY AGREE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
I am in agreement with this statement. We cannot afford to loose lives before something is done, something needs to be done NOW!
I suggest(i)that cows be branded with a number which will be registered, so that they and their owners could be easily identified. (ii)Stray cows should be impounded and the owners fined (iii) Stray cows should be shot if the owner fails to cooperate. We CANNOT put a cow’s life over human life and safety!!
Yes! what we really need is laws. When a society does not have laws anything goes. Dominica needs to inact laws for those with animals just like any other property. If there was such laws people would be more responsible. Without laws there is no accountability.
What we need in addition to the laws is ENFORCEMENT of the Laws since we have a number of laws but they are only on paper!
EXACTLY!!!
father well if they do nothing after David we should have hunting the cow now in possie
It had to take an accident for you all to come out ans speak out?
fool what the hell do u know who tell ur stupid self that is now they are talking about that? sacrea sort shut ur dam mouth if you do not know what to say dam it.
Yes! Where is Portsmouth Pal. Rep. doen’t he see that as a problem plauging his constituence? And does he have any concern for the welfare of those whom he represents? At least the people of Portsmouth should demand more. I guess they expect nothing, so they get nothing!!
who’s that tous jous su, mister doh even know that happen yet.
But for real. Did the Parl Rep at least make a statement? Ok, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. He must have visited the parents. Rest in peace David.
Finally those from the religious circle are speaking out. But see what he finds to blabla on. I am not trying to say that the cow issue is not important but it is nothing in compared to those major political issues we have had in Dominica over the past 7years and all of them became moumou. I hope he and others will finally break their silence and speak against injustice, curruption, crime and all the other problems we have killing us in Dominica.
Idiot not everything is about politics. Free your mind child. You want to make a political statement then do it at the friggin polls. This is an issue that we all need to raise awareness of cause talk about it has been going on for months. Now is time for action
politician come and go dont tell that to eddo but some one lost thier life TFT rather politics over a coutry man life this is what dominica has become.
so what, I will not take time to call you “Idiot” because you response idetified you as who you are.
Take time to read and understand what I said. Because you all don’t take time to read with the view of understanding, let me explain what I said.
1. I did not attack the priest. I said those (plural) in the religious circle are finally speaking out.
2. I did not say that the cow issue was not important because it is.
3.I did not say he should go and preach politics although they are.
4. All I said is they (religious circle) need to speak out agaist social issue such as curruption, crime since so many of our young people are involved in it, and injustice.
Infact you and those that hate what I said that spoke about politics because you don’t mind what is going on as long as your political party is protected.
By the way, I know Father Shaplis better than you think and I know how he feels; so don’t use your ignorance to insult me on something you don’t understand.
stupes runb away nah sorttttt
OH yes! Well, everything in Dominica is not politics. There are other problems also. It’s time that people talke about other societal problems. And why is a priest that have to make such comment? Where is the pal. rep. of Portsmouth? Isn’t that an issue to be discussed? since it has gotten to the point that someone’s life is gone because of a cow? Are you saing that if it was your family member no one should mention it? Ever since I was born Dominicans are complaining that problems are killing them. Why don’t you look all over the world and see how many countires that are better or worse than Dominica. Therefore, for your information every problem in Dominica is not political.
@ TFT name calling will not do any thing to me all we saying is this was not the time and place for what u suggesting stop for a sec re-read what u wrote then u might just get what we saying but am an idiot so mabe i just dont get it
so i guess cow owners ‘legally’ get away with a crime now huh… the cow not mine!!!… isn’t it funny no one pin points the owner but back in the days everyone knew who mal cohshon it is that roaming in the mud lol… a pig could be a mile away… once someone saw it…”ma solah.. mweh vweh koshoy borde lameh yah”…. and those pigs never had branding and all pigs look alike plus many people had pigs… i’m saying this to say… the ‘owner’ can’t say it’s not his… since people would know who’s cow it is… the police should ask for signatures of at least 10 people to verify who’s cow it was… and then if there is a common name… then he/she should be brought in for questioning…
@ mouth of the south
Someone or some people is protecting the owner of the cow. Let us keep the story and comments going in the limelight until the owner, comes forth and owns up.
franklin coffie 2
attention dey like….allu of allu…..
all allu priest just like to be on tv…..including d parish priest of st.joseph…he more than ny body else…..it hav so much other tings for allu to talk about but someone die so allu want 2 b on tv……just now franklin coffie goin and talk bout it 2 and he right in st.joe…..wife allu need
I suppose that you like to see your comments on this Website. They make no sense and are stupid ones. Do you not have something intelligent to state on this article?
Leave the Priests alone.
What do you need? A husband/wife? If you have nothing intelligent to state, state nothing. You are taking up space and wasting the time of every one concerned with this Website including the readers.
you are such an empty bag. Yes!! a big head with nothing in it. Your comment is so stupid and empty i’m not sure how to respond. If you see nothing wrong with cows all over the place posing a danger to society then you are not fit to be in a free society. It’s is easy to see that you are a fool because you language is not quite english. What is allu? Is that a word? And are you saying that a since a person die this is nothing? Or since someone is talking about a societal problem is wife they want. You are so stupid is makes me sick!!!
pai choow lah eh tebeh.
Such a stupid statement. DNO don’t you edit?!?!!??!?
well said father!
is true father but first we need to deal with all the stray cows in d catholic church…….instead allu help bring dem to god…allu lossening dem more into the things of the world……d catholic church need a reform….take out the log in your eyes before telling others about their twig….i there
@ Bido catholic
You are no Bido, you hypocrite. Those who are genuine Bido Catholics stand up for the faith and for the good Priests. They do not criticize it and lambaste it and criticize the Priests.
Your comments inform me that you appear to be an enemy of the Catholic Church while practicing the faith.
I suppose you are one of them and not a supporter and defender of the Church and sadly so. You lack godly enlightenment and knowledge of the faith. Make it your mortal and spiritual business to read and know about your faith and to practice it to the fullest. As God knows, this is the grave error of those who left the Catholic Church s they followed their own ungodly ways.
People are responsible for themselves. When the Priest says after Holy Mass, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” what do they do and yourself after all of you leave the Church after Mass? Blame yourselves and not the Catholic Church.
Do you think God is blind, deaf and sleeping and He does not know what they, as yourself are?
God will hold them and yourself responsible for not living the truth of the Catholic faith, the one which He founded 2000 years ago.
Owners difficult to identify? My foot, just incarcerate one of those beasts and a belligerent owner will show up in no time!Actually, why not do this and let the “owner” prove that the anuimal is his!
o yes thats right all the way sue them self
:wink:all we have to do is eat dem dame cow when people meet them on the road
@ thickers
You make me laugh.
However, why not? You know the saying, finders keepers. 
This should teach them a lesson to keep their cows away from the public domain.
Surprise, surprise!! Coming from you Justice and Truth! “…why not (eat them)?…finders keepers”. You have pontificated about morals
and now this? Do we apply these same standards to loose pigs in Soufriere, goats in Pointe Michel and Bath Estate and chicken all over the island? These do not pose the same risk to vehicular traffic but are they all subjected to “finders keepers”? Farmers beware!!
Yes, go ahead and eat the people’s cow. Next you yourself will be turning into a cow. Dominicans you talk kemem. They will not take responsibility for their cows but they will not hesitate to make one mooo inside you!!!