Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wisdom To Know (WTK), Bonti Liverpool, is raising concerns over what appears to be the heightened occurrence of abuse of the less fortunate in Dominica.
The death of a man, described as a ‘paro,’ who died at hospital after he was set ablaze has recently grabbed headlines.
“Wisdom To Know certainly has very serious concern about that,” Liverpool told DNO. “What we have seen is happening in that there is in fact an escalation, if you want to call it that, of vagrants being attacked and addicts who cannot protect themselves and are killed in some cases. And here we are in this last case of the gentleman having succumbed to yet another attack.”
According to Liverpool a society is judged on the way it treats the less fortunate and those at risk.
He, however, pointed out that there is a challenge in assisting such people because they “don’t really want to come into any home or any sort of any constraining circumstance.”
“But there is a cry and a need for some sort of halfway house, some sort of rehab center, some sort of physical structure and also personnel that can really address the plight of those people,” Liverpool noted.
Wisdom to Know is located at the old Scouts Headquarters in Roseau and is home to some eight men who are affected by drugs or the like.
Liverpool said attempts are being made to lease a piece of land from the Government in the vicinity of Grand Bay for the construction of a permanent home.
He informed that when the lease arrangement is concrete, then financial help from the public will be solicited.
“Government has helped us and we are confident that they will help us again,” he said.
What is the physical address of the building?
what is your contact information????
WHATSOEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF THESE, THAT YOU DO UNTO ME…..THE WORDS OF JESUS
We’ve become a land with no Morals and no longer a God Fearing people.
We can’t Serve two Masters; either we Love one and Hate the other!
Evil has gripped our Nation and The Devil is running Amok.
If God is not at the Control, we are Doomed as a People.
The people should turn away from their wicked ways and Get down on our knees and asked God
to be merciful to us.
Then God will shew mercy and forgive His People. As the Healing process begins and we Unite as a Nation, we can reclaim our Country .
God be Merciful on Dominica.
The plight of the less fortunate is truly a disgrace . As Mr. Liverpool stated, “there should be half-way houses, rehab centers, physical structures and personnel that can really address the plight of those people.” What some of us have failed to realise is that the less fortunate are people too and their lives were not always like that. While it remains true that they have made certain decisions to endanger their lives they are humans just like us. Avoiding, despising, ignoring and turning away from them is not solving their problems. I believe that the government should really look into facilitating them as Mr. Liverpool mentioned above. Indeed, “a society is judged on the way it treats the less fortunate and those at risk.”
I trust that there will be an awakening on island to reach out and touch them. We ought to make a difference in their lives by assisting them.
ONE LOVE
It is shocking and sad what happened to those men. Thank God all D/cans are not the same. The few who harmed them are the ones who give D/ca a bad name. God knows who they are.
Something went wrong somewhere that those who ill-treat the downtrodden were probably not taught about love for one another and respect for others. If they were, they lost this nurturing.
The younger generation must be taught these important principles of life, to treat others as they expect to be treated. This is the Word of the Lord – The Golden Rule. As they become older, hopefully they will apply this godly virtue and whatever else they are taught, to everyone with no exception. This type of training and education commence from youth.
What bothers me is that all these organizations are ALREADY aware of the problem yet they choose to do nothing to better the situation until it’s too late. What are they doing proactively to address the plight of these unfortunate persons?? NOTHING!!! It’s a damn shame to read these stories…sad indeed, but that’s the way things are in Dominica…no action until it’s too late…then it’s all just TALK.
Mr. Liverpool I commend you for what you do. This is usually not an easy job. Firstly people need to be educated on homelessness and its impact on not only the individual but their families and the community. people need to understand that ever ‘paro’ out their is a human being. They deserve the dignity of every child of God. Each one is somebody’s brother, sister, son, daughter, father, mother ,cousin, uncle aunt or whatever relative. They should not be seen just as vagrants. Many of them did not choose to be homeless.
Our people need to know that homelessness doesn’t choose. Any and everyone can become homeless.
Moreover families need to be educated on mental illness and drug addictions. This may help them to better understand their family members who are affected by drug addiction or mental illness.
With the support of the family it is sometimes easier to deal with the problem.
Thank you for what you do. People walk by the homeless.
They don’t look at them.