Bernard Wiltshire has sought to defend the Waitukubuli Ecological Foundation’s (WEF) decision to work alongside the Citizen’s Forum For Good Governance on number of Emancipation Day activities.
As President WEF he acknowledges that there is danger of the foundation’s Emancipation Hike being seen as a polarizing issue, and thereby deter would-be participants, he is not overly concerned.
Wiltshire spoke about this at a press conference earlier this week, where he announced the event and the partnership. The hike is slated for Emancipation Day, popularly known as August Monday.
“There is a danger, there has always been a danger of that but the Citizen’s Forum has raised some fundamental questions that touch upon the survivability and the freedom of our people. Democracy and the demand for electoral reform remain great demands, along with integrity in public office, and so while the danger exists in our polarized society, but it is wise to note that all these things are in fact elaborations of freedom,” Wiltshire said.
He was keen to point out though, that this does not mean that WEF is a political organization and this is just one in many similar collaborations that has been done in the past.
He affirmed, “WEF is not a political organization. WEF has collaborated with the Government, we’ve coorporated with Opposition groups and now the Citizen’s Forum and we will collaborate with anyone who enhances the idea of the environment of Dominica and its ecology.”
The hike will begin in Belles and conclude at Jacko’s Flat, and will be followed by a torch relay to Hillsborough and culminate with the Citizen’s Freedom Forum, in that area.
Stop being so dumb and try to enjoy life a little bit dummies
On the contrary, it is WEF that is aligning itself and leaching off the Citizen’s Forum in the hope of reaching an audience and attract attention that it, on it’s own, has failed to realize in recent times. When in the recent pass have we heard from WEF. The present leadership of WEF tired and spent. WEF suffers from the age old problem of founding leadership not knowing when to say when. The present leadership has put on the map yet it is unable to keep WEF on the road. It is sad, and an indication how ineffective WEF was become in the recent past that it needed to state that it is not a political organization. It seems apparent that WEF has lost its way
1979.. You know your facts and I am giving you credit on the subject matter.. However, i need to answer your question: ‘cant we be together as a people, no matter what organisation or institution, are we not working toward the same development of our people and country???? divide and rule is now the order of the day. and for such a small nation as we are. 1979, you all brought it on us, this is happening in DA right now because the same leaders that we looked up to back in 1979 which we beleive could ‘avert’ such behaviour in some of us (i say some because not everyone was on the same path back in 1979) failed us. These leaders came back from Cuba with what it took better our youths and the ones they left behind.. but what did they all do, they left again and migrated to the US, London, Canda for bigger degrees and greener pastures. They left us to the wolves. That is why we are what we are right now. You all failed us!!!!
Bernard,Your move is too apparent.Fool yourself,not me.As a matter of fact you can fool some people but not all the people.I listened to you and Lennox on his talk show,how could your motive be more political?
OH GIVE ME A BREAK!
THE MAN MAY BE POLITICAL- AS MOST OF US ARE-, BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE THE ORGANIZATION POLITICAL
Some of us Dominicans are only allowed to have polticial opinions but for those who a trying to educate the people their actions are all about politic get over yourself you foolish Dominican and try an learn something very important that you never even knew before that would be my advice to all of u everything cant be about politic it’s not a banner to wear around you necks and by the way Lennox dont need Bernard to expose the issues on the Islandso go get yourself some very needed education that you have been lacking for a long time and you will be able to see colours a lot better,
Now is education time try to apply yourself dont be afraid.
Martin Luther, the great Protestant reformer, was even more direct. He said, “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved. And to be steady on all the battle fields besides is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”
For at least the past half-century Christian pastors and churches have been all but neutered. On the whole, they have ignored Christ’s admonition to be the “salt of the earth,” and as a result, have failed to do much of anything to preserve freedom’s Biblical Natural Law principles in this great land. In fact, the average church is so sugary sweet that it is downright sickening!
dominican, please, enlighten yourselves…..
only gods judgment is absolute. not mans. we all are open to err. open your eyes and see what is going on in our little corner of the world.
I would really like someone to define what’s politics to me.I thought it was the idea of policies to govern?So if this is the case,what is wrong with WEF being political?I think we are miguided with what it is to be political and being partisan,politics does not belong to any political party.One could have a poltical view without being involved in any political party.I like many people think Dominica is an island where people are really naiive,lack intelligence and though many academically school and qualified are not properly educated.
just imagine this…..we live in a time when the church does not DARE challenge the state and government, not even where morals are concerned. even the church has to be politically correct before it can be biblically correct. if u dare to consider this then everything else will be clear.
AMEN TO THAT
I AM A FERVENT CATHOLIC AND I COULDN’T AGREEE WITH YOU MORE.
THESE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE LIKE THE SEEDS THAT FALL ON THE PATH: WHEN HARD TIMES COME THEY SCATTER
Red Antz… Man,you biting real hard! I am in total agreement with your assessment of the situation. I too have participated in several WEF-sponsored Emancipation Hikes. Should WEF contiue to link and associate with a heavily political organisation then they can count me out!!!
And after the relay, then what…B*!!ar???
i myself have spoken ill against this man at times due to his alleged orientation, However at this time, he is instrumental in his knowledge of Dominicas history, he was one of those at the frontline in 1979. when most of us were too young to even understand what was going on. it is his voice that i am now hearing advocating for dominicans to learn their history and to protect their fundamental rights as free individuals…i may be somewhat homophobic, but i also have a strong phobia of the direction in which i see my country heading. say what you may, but judgement is upon all of us.
WE IN DOMINICA TOO LIKE TO INVOLVE POLITICS IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. THIS SITUATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS . IT IS A WAY FORWARD FOR US IN Da AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT IT.
IT IS TIME TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE.
Roseau, exactly my point….so why have it in conjuction with Arthie Martin and Lennox Linton. Would it be poitical if he did it with Roosevelt Skerrit and Blackmore?
If WEF wants credibility, let them stand alone.
Roseau, lets see how this pans out…you know Arthie and Lennox and Jerry is all about the Hatred Of Roosevelt Skerrit…so this alliance is all about Politics.
u have no objectivity, you are indeed a weener..
Mr. Wiltshire, I have great respect and admiration for the work of the WEF. I too am a nature lover and an advocate in my own right for the protection of the environment. In this age of global warming and other environmental catastrophes, any organization seeking to raise awareness and protect and preserve what is left of our environmental assets and natural resources is indeed honorable.
Mr. Wiltshire, not even when u stood as a candidate for the opposition UWP in the last elections did we try to create a link between the WEF and partisan politics. We clearly understand that a politician can simultaneously wear many hats and not necessarily taint all of his other undertakings with his political colors, we thus regard the WEF as a credible organization with positive goals and also politically neutral.
However Mr. Wiltshire, let’s not be naive, let’s be honest and frank and call a spade a spade, the “Citizen’s Forum” is an organization with political ambitions and opposition affiliation. The Citizen’s Forum is a special campaign branch of the UWP on a quest to misinform and miseducate dominicans and by aligning itself and leaching off the reputation of an organization such as the WEF, the Citizen’s Forum hopes to reach a wider audience and attract major attention, achievements that it on it’s own has failed to realize. I have very little concern for the Citizen’s Forum, quite frankly, I believe that it has very little effect on a people that are already decided on the best leadership for their country, my concern however is the undermining of the credibility and the image of the WEF and other positive attributes of said organization which would surely be compromised if u were to cement a union between the WEF and the Citizen’s Forum.
While u may claim and for WEF sake we hope that this joint emancipation day undertaking does not imply a bond between WEF and Citizen’s Forum, a close attachment between these two organizations may be interpreted as a political compromise for the WEF and may in future affect it’s reputation and may also lead to a general misinterpretation of it’s intentions.
CAUTION.
A red ant is obviously an insect,and insects can’t understand humans at all levels, since we are superior in terms of understanding..So red ants go get understanding somewhere.
Well Said!
every word we speak, adds to a controversy which will never end!
Fool yr/self, not me
this is the result of the secular society that we live in. as we continue to seperate church and anything with a moral compass from state. and this is the result. Dr. Aaron preached this new doctrine to us. and it seems that many uphold this same doctrine. cant we be together as a people, no matter what organisation or institution, are we not working toward the same development of our people and country???? divide and rule is now the order of the day. and for such a small nation as we are. it is very discouraging
lybians have divided themselves into pro and anti gaddafi, and forgotten that they are first and formost lybians and should be coming together to do what is best for lybia!!! and this is the strength that gaddafi has over the narrow minded populace