Minister of Justice and National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore, has expressed deep condemnation over the recent upsurge in the mistreatment and abuse of vagrants in Dominica.
The issue seemed to reach its boiling point on Wednesday, when a homeless man, identified as Andy Carbon, known as ‘Push Up’ from Boetica, was reportedly attacked earlier this week outside of a restaurant in Roseau when an employee threw hot water on him.
Carbon, who is now suffering from burns on his back, has since been hospitalized.
Blackmoore emphasized the importance of human life, regardless of societal class.
“Human life is human life, and I think that we have to respect everybody, notwithstanding what space that person occupies in society,” he elaborated on Friday afternoon. “And, of course, we have to care for each other and I am confident that the Police will investigate those cases, with a view to finding the culprits and to take them before the court.”
The alleged attack sparked condemnation across the island with many Dominicans taking to social media and the airwaves to express their disgust.
On Friday morning, Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Central constituency, Joseph Isaac, insisted that the Police “aggressively investigate and prosecute whoever committed the act.”
Police PRO, Acting Inspector Pellam Jno Baptiste, revealed that there is a suspect in the matter, and said that investigations are ongoing.
Carbon has been attacked in Roseau before.
In February 2015, a homeless man was set ablaze while he slept in a derelict building near the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Pottersville.
He subsquently died.
To this day 3 years ago, no investigation on Grell Sarephine’s death. He was brutally murder in Roseau.
At a regional conference I remembered some of the delegates asking me for the Dominicas male model and I was what? then they told me your minister, he loves to dress up, we had a vote for the mister minister model and in our judgement he won with flying colours. I could not help but just laugh.
Everything that happens Blackmoore appears into picture–just talk and headline grabbing. That is a police issue . If you have some solution as to housing etc as the minister then stat eat. Stop competing with the police- spokesman. Stop talking, Palay, palay.
Blackmore deos not give as a……. about this guy and folks like him.
Keep quiet Rayburn
A place and building to house the vagrants were being discussed. Do some of you realize if and when they are housed, it will be impossible to keep them behind closed doors as if they are prisoners? If forcefully kept to prevent them from the roads/streets, there will be some who will lambaste the government in no uncertain terms about it.
If you have some feasible suggestions why not address it respectfully to the government?
Money does not grow on trees. You do know the projects which are deemed important and are taking effect at this time.
Nationals should also help the government in some way There are constructive criticisms and there are non-constructive ones. It is time you critics cease this. Have respect for the government and practice the Golden Rule. Do you consider yourselves better than the employee who threw hot water on the man?
You get on this Website and make unbecoming comments about the government. Is this fair? Examine your conscience.
Face, again, you are living in cud cuckoo land and you have no notion, thoughts , ideas as to what has been happening in Dominica, Roseau specifically about these vagrant’s badly treated and ignored by this corrupt party and labour government of yours.
The professionals have advised, many meetings held, some vagrants live in unsanitary home in High Street, and be advised a house, a home a building is Not a service. There has to be preparedness just like a woman prepares for birth from conception to caring to birth etc. Dominica`s services is very poor and Skerrit and his government has abused our limited finances.
Again, you are advised if you know nothing of the story, ask questions before you make a fool of yourself
what is you point really? what do you mean by asking if people feel they are better than the employee? What is this “Golden Rule” you speak off? I think the government should be kept on its toes daily. The government administration needs to acknowledge that it works for the people. Ministers need to take understand that the people appoint them. they represent allll the people. yes private and public sector have to work together but higher up in authority need to start actually working and stop just talking.
Did you hear/read that millionaire or billionaire Donald Trump asked the US people for financial aid for his political campaign? He asked for $10.00 from each person. He got more than he had hoped for, approximately $1M if not more and probably still counting.
If every working and able D/can gave a few dollars, be it one dollar to a government project, consider how much could be done and to assist the homeless and construct a building for them. Some of you could help, free of charge to construct it and in other ways.
Criticisms which lambaste the government without offering/providing assistance will not help. It will not help the cause. Which one of you has ever considered assisting in this respect?
You would like to see the homeless/vagrants helped. Then try to do something versus criticisms. Help your government or keep quiet for what you state is much ado about nothing. You are wasting your energy and time since you have no inclination to assist.
Refer to my statement above, and take time to read and comprehend it. It is healthy and worth it for your knowledge
Wow..he’s concerned? What an amusing thing…you all should be the one doing something about it. Actions speaks louder than words
You all are murders. Two faces. Dominican. U all do not like the homeless. Think u all can come and boil water and pour it on any homeless person in America. U all would be sucking ROCK SALT. Sick pathetics. I want u the colprit to come to Ameirica and try this. You would see what time it would be. I think the presure is on that is why u all are speaking against it. ONLY I N DOMINICA
WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESS MAN THAT WAS BURNT TO DEATH. WAS SOMEONE HELD ACCOUNTABLE?
It is very strange that the same people who can wickedly and maliciously send the police to Honourable Lintons home to search,BECAUSE THEY HATE HIM,cannot order the same police to go to the restaurant in question to do the necessary investigation…That is what we get when our institutions are weak and dysfunctional..
You can’t call your country a christian nation and ill treat the less fortunate ones among you..Have you all not read or told that assisting the less fortunate among you pleases JEHOVAH.
What-so-ever you do to the lest of my brother that you do unto ME…
I know that some of them can be a pain but we got to ask GOD for the patience to deal and put up with them since HE GOD is patient and putting up with everyone of us each day…
There are some wicked people in Dominica. We should know there are good people and bad ones in Dominica. Only wicked ones would do something as that, to attack vagrants who did nothing wrong to them. Their evil acts are obviously shocking.
It is beyond my comprehension that an employee of a restaurant would as much as consider doing something as that, knowing, if caught, will be arrested and charged.
The employee has given the restaurant a bad reputation and should also be dismissed for committing a crime by throwing hot water on a person and one who is a vagrant. This should never have occurred.
The man’s back was turned and this was done to him? This employee should be examined by a psychiatrist. I am baffled that someone in his/her right mind would do that to a fellowman.
Those who mistreat homeless people and “vagrants” are cruel self centered individuals, and totally lacking in compassion.
So called “vagrants” may be disadvantaged and marginalized but they are not necessarily lazy. They may not deserve the other adjectives that are so often assigned to them. A “holier-than-thou judgmental attitude causes people to jump to conclusions. If it is found that a vagrant has next of kin living nearby they ask “Why doesn’t he live with them?” yet they don’t have a clue what the poor man’s situation actually is and they don’t want to know.
There are many reasons for homelessness.
(1) A person had a learning problem in school and dropped out. Consequently he (she) didn’t get an education.
(2) Alcohol abuse.
(3) Drug abuse.
(4) A physical disability.
(5) Developmentally challenged.
(6) Mental illness.
(7) Abused and mistreated by others and fear has overtaken the individual’s life. He (she) has become a loner.
Usually the cause for homelessness or “vagrancy” is a combination of any number of these things. The longer they are in that state the worse their appearance and social habits are, and the less people want them around.
A few years ago a man froze to death one night a Toronto street under the influence of alcohol. I know the family. He was one of Canada’s top artists, an aboriginal man of some renown.
A woman (known in Canada as a “bag lady) was found dead in a street bus shelter with all her earthly
possessions in a few bags. She was identified as a former Registered Nurse, an R.N. Far from being poor, she had thousands of dollars in a bank account, and a large sum on her person. They said she had lost
touch with reality due to a mental illness.
There should be a center for the temporary care and treatment of such people. But until then let us in a practical way show them God’s love.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Pastoral Counselor Certificate)
Politicians need.to consider issues and consequences beford jumping to condemn actions of citizens. The police must be left to consider warranted action if any. The problem.as I see it is in the inaction of authorities to address vagrancy and supporting and protecting the law abiding civilian from often threatening and dangerous behaviour of these people.
The taxpaying and hard working citizens are entitled to the intervention of the State to remove these persons from the streets of Roseau and treat them before they hurt or kill someone. I can also say that the sight of vagrants defaecating in public places does not only create health hazards, is itself summary offence, but will cause cruise ships to avoid Roseau as a port of call.
The authorities know that for over 6 years now. Since then the vagrant problem has grown by 500 percent while we seat I did nothing. For heaven’s sake we 28 Ministers and 36 advisors yet still we can’t solve basic problems in Dominica.
There is a saying, there are more mad/crazy people walking the streets than there are incarcerated.
We in Canada have the same problem or similar ones. Except, if someone does that to a homeless person and he/she is caught, the person will be arrested, charged and bear the consequences. The Law will not spare that person.
How terrible! If the Justice department is so concerned for decent the treatment of the indigent, are they being provided with food, shelter, clothing, etc. in order to minimize there harassment of other citizens? While I don’t condone the bad treatment they get, they can sometimes provoke attacks by their behavior and language.
just be honest,you really don’t give a s..t about them that’s why there so..theses people have mental and emotional issues,what all you doing for them..its us that give them a dollar now and then,what you giving them..hypocrite
All talk and no action
We don’t need expressions of concern. We don’t need discussions of grand plans for the rehab of mentally challenged individuals. What we need and want is actions on resolution of these issues, immediately.
The primary reason that nothing happened for two days on this is because NO ONE informed the police. The victim did not report the incident and apparently neither did any of the witnesses until someone posted the pic and an account of what happened on FB. Not because of who owned the restaurant but because we as citizens did not do the responsible thing and report it first. The police do not have 24 hr surveilance on every citizen so it is up to us to make the reports. We chose to post it on FB first. What does that say about us as a people?
I am amazed that something like that would come up. i remeber a year ago i listen to the psychiatric doctor talk about what he seemingly achieved in monsterrat , while still being paid full salary as the consultant in dominica , (from tax payers money ehh) and asked to get more help at the psychiatric unit(while at the same time bullying the counselor and social worker who were t transferred to the PMH). I know that some of these vagrants have mental issues , but the “ALMIGHTY DR GB” like the great Britain(BG) has over the years bullied so many counselors and social workers under his supervision has not being doing jack s##t for our mental health patients , but rather running to Montserrat and chasing the $$$$$$. its time government see this nonsense and the pattern, that’s why mental illness rate is rampant and vagrants are growing. this psychiatric unit which seem to belong to the almight Dr , must be revisited by the minister of health , so that dominicans can be served s
And here goes Blackmore again spewing vocal garbage!
Sir for so long the vagrant issue is in your government’ lap and nothing, nada, zicl, en-yen, nyet has been done to curb the situation. These people are sick and need help sir, they are not normal like it or not regardless of how they got there or who is responsible for their condition. Now they are being targeted by WELL OFF UNTOUCHABLE people in society who believe that under your regime MASA day is back, alive and kicking. Why has the person not been arrested sir? We know who is the perpetrator.
All that nice and face talk is just karakar as far as I am concerned. Andy’s family need a lawyer like Gildon or Tiyana and we will see. God is watching because if you all don’t recall that ambassador that is affiliated with the “suspect” there will be hell to pay because GOD is not sleeping.
Always Assetive!
You know what pisses me off with those scammers is their day light hyprocrisy. A week ago he was very forceful about inciting and issuing warnings and threats today a day light crime committed and he like a lame duck well, and welling with no bloody conviction. Direct the police like you did last week speak with authority like you did last week.
I dont even think this vagrant look people trouble. Common man thats not cool
The onslaught against the restaurant is more politically motivated than anything else. Most of the commenters do not care at all about Andy. They will never offer him anything to eat or drink if they see him in Roseau and would not want him to bother/approach them if he sees them on the street.
There is no doubt that he should not have been treated that way by the restaurant staff and the individual should be punished appropriately. However, no one knows what else is done to these vagrants daily, leaving no external marks. It is over time for Government to do something about these vagrants. They should not be left to wander the streets with their private parts hanging out for especially children and visitors to watch.
Some of the people calling for the destruction of the restaurant are the same people who treat the vagrants badly when no one is looking. They have neither love nor compassion for them outside the politics that has arisen in this case.
Fair, let us be fair. YOu don’t seem to see or understand the bigger picture. The onslaught on the restaurant is critical because of its nature, history and a licenced business place which under the law to provide a service to all Dominicans and customers. This human being and a Dominican who has become a “Vagrant”, not deliberately but by default, has a right as a citizen to be walking the streets of Roseau. If his conditions cause him to be a nuisance then the law and services are there to be referred to. No human should be treated that way by anyone due to their social class, poverty or otherwise. The question is, has the police been called, involved to visit the site of this brutal incident? Has the owner been picked up, questioned along with witnesses including staff members, customers etc?
The bigger picture is this, the government has failed miserable to deal with Vagrancy, a plague in our society. It cannot be fixed remedied with fast food and red clinic & political…
Can you point to the bloggers where someone called for the DESTRUCTION of the restaurant?
Over how much time is government to do something? They have been speaking to the issue just like the Marigot Hospital since 2010; six flipping years ago. They could find 2 million dollars in a month to run a three week bye election but they can’t find the resources in six years to take care of a chronic problem like vigrancy and a medical centre for the Northeast. You have the audacity to come on this forum to water down this issue. Not surprised you see it as political because the government in power runs the country on political lines. How do you explain the arrest of a woman in the cemetery for minor battery while the burying her mom while a person who deliberately and intentionally burns a human being with a dash of boiling liquid is yet to be arrested. A Minister now president called for the boycott of Brizee Mart because of a letter that was written. The Irony is the said minister was in charge of National security, and Labour and Industrial Relations. This was criminal.
Blackmore. Address the issue. Find a place for the vagrants. Citizens And visitors have a right not to constantly bothered by the vagrants and beggars.
Mr. Blackmoore you should make sure that the restaurant owner and the person who is directly responsible is sued by this young man’s family due to his mental health for such evilness ,,,Dominicans should have better principles that that ,in no shape or form should a human being go through such a thing…he needs justice and if justice is not done for him well it is people like you who encourages crime in the country..
If it was not for socoal media the justice minister would not care a dam about this guy. The woman would get away with her crime I am sure they all goes to her restaurant and eat. People should stop going there because by continuing you are supporting her cruel act.
She has family and never know when they will turn just the this guy.
Thanks for speaking out on this Hon. Minister.
Everytime something happen you seeing them foolish fellas there coming and talking playing like they so care bout vagrants. So long up to now
Blackmore and skerite cannot build an institution to house these people. U seeing mr them give a damn bout poor people. Them man rich… And i cant believe that dominicans can sit there and allow these men to get rich and they getting poor.
Blackmore, you are concerned my foot. Are you aware of the numerous meetings and consultations called to address this matter and your government has consistently mistreated their concerns and ignored all calls to implement recommendations. Its only when the garbage is dumped at your door steps in government that you come with a silly devious smiling face leeching about all you concern. Go clean your backyard before you come publicly taking crap. You all are not proactive, just reactionaries offering sweeteners to please the ppublic and shut up advocates.
Blackmore where are you when citizens of Roseau and visitors are constantly harassed and why not get a place for them?
Blackmore the vagrants that are constantly harassing the citizens of Roseau and visitors, where is your concern to get the vagrants a safe place?
Wait! I don’t know of anybody mistreating the ministers?
It is a real shame and disgrace. Dominicans should boycott that particular restaurant as a sign of protest and civil society and its leaders should stage a protest outside that particular restaurant for at least one morning to cry out the injustice meted out to the individual and to bring urgency to the vagrancy crisis that government – one man – will do something. I for one would be willing to be there. The facts are already beginning to be contorted. The proprietor…. now an employer. Who ever Mr. CID, at least let us see that justice seems to be done.
Blackmore get off you all lazy behind and do something constructive. I have said already these people must be housed and looked after properly.they can still add value to society if properly supervised. Being involved in Arts and Crafts . Getting involved in Agriculture, furniture production etc. do something about this situation of these people who are mentally challenged and roaming the streets. Government are wasting money doing crap and you all are not doing the obvious.incompetent bunch of losers this DLP regime.
The Government is responsible for the-mentally challenged person living on the street. These are helpless people and are depending on us to help them. They should be provided with housing, and should have access to continued treatment and services such as mental health treatment, physical health care, help with activities of daily living. They should not be subjected to physical or mental abuse by anyone. The government should have an abuse registry to report abuse . Too often in Dominica mentally ill person becomes easy target to physical and mental abuse. This is particularly evident on the streets of Roseau. The Government need to educate the people about mental illness. Dominicans are insensitive to people who are mentally ill. They poke fun at them, they belittle them, they look down on them. SHAME ON YOU DOMINICA! The mentally ill needs a voice to speak for them. They need an OMBUDMAN or GUARDIAN to represent them. Please do not continue to kill and hurt them.
Tampa, FL
Mr. Blackmore, please ensure that politics does not hinder the judicial process. This is one of the more heinous crimes I have seen.
Wrong wrong wrong what they did Mr. Blackmore, but hypefectlcly speaking that is exactly what you and your government do to the is fellow Domimican’s because of our political status. See? Hard working people who clearly meet the criteria for jobs who are jobless simply because of their political affiliation . That too is malicious .
I do not like the name or word Vagrant, just call them Homeless. This is inhumane to burn a person like this, we are waiting to hear.
this too will go away like it never happened.
Blackmore you full of crap. If it was not for social media and the callers on q95 the police would not done a dam thing because of who the owners of the restaurant is. And i still belive in about a week that whole thing will go cold. And not a dam thing will happen to who did this. I pray to God they charge that person with attempted first degree murder. .
This sounds like an uncivilized society.
That’s all I’ll say
Well said!! You are so right 007!!
007:
Please don’t slander Minister Blackmore. He wants to correct a difficult problem. As you know it is a challenge. And you are right. People are prone to forget. That is so part of the problem.
It may help Mr. Blackmore to receive more encouragement from DNO commentators.
I think an organized effort is needed in the streets to reach out to these folks. I’m not sure exactly what
form that should take. A home or center to provide temporary care and treatment followed by a plan for training and job placement (when possible) has been suggested. Would I be out of order to say the churches should be doing more? (I’m saying it anyway).
Blessings
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
You lack respect. What do you believe? Can you see and foretell the future? Do not also be a pessimist. Give the Law credit. Wait and see what will be done.
Rayburn Blackmoore, must be speaking about himself the GOVERNMENT THAT MISTREATING them the most
Just an expression of concern. Expect nothing to happen as far as bringing the perpetrator to justice . That is not the first heinous criminal act committed.
The GON Emmanuel and his wife firebombed. *Investigation close. Case close. The culprits are at large. Dominicans know about that abominable crime and who stalling.
The Police Officer, who investigates Money-laundering, his home too was firebombed. Although he is a police officer, up to now the Police Force, of which he is a member, has not concluded investigation?
Airport Communications equipment set on fire, Skerritt hinted he knew whom. No case. Investigations close?
Sexual Abuse?
Skerritt’s declaration of his assets, to the IPO, was leaked by someone. It is a serious offence against the Law to leak any info in the possession of the IPO. Police visited Lennox Linton, hoping to arrest him, because some mischievous Cabalist said it was Lennox who leaked info, just to know it was Tony ASTAPHAN. Case…
considering I sat at the port of sail restaurant at noon with the then mayor of roseau, c. joseph and one go the vagrants attacked my daughter outside the restaurant, and nothing was done, other than “the homeless have rights” from the dom gov, ministers, etc. GOOD LUCK dominica as the cruise ships will stop visiting the island. Times for the pm to go begging for more foreign aid as dom gov is unable to help the country…only their own pockets