Former Prime Minister, Patrick John the man who brought Dominica into political independence in 1978, has been hospitalized at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).
According to reports, John, 78, complained of feeling unwell while at church on Sunday, November, 29th 2015.
He subsequently left for home and was then taken to the hospital by his wife and admitted.
John served as Premier of Dominica after E.O. LeBlanc and then piloted the country into independence in 1978. His stint as Prime Minister was short-lived and his DLP government was forced out of office following a public uprising in 1979. John’s administration was replaced by Dame Mary Eugenia’s Dominica Freedom Party in the 1980 general election.
He was then involved in an attempt to overthrow the government of Eugenia Charles and was jailed for 12 years.
The cause of his illness is unknown. He remains in a stable condition at the PMH.
Time did not afford me the opportunity to read all that was written by the various writers, however what I read tells me the state of what some people have on their minds, and how little most of you know about the history of Dominica. Let me go back as far as 1920 when J.B. Charles who was Eugenia Charles father became the leader of Dominica a position he held for 36 years during that time he became Dominica’s first Chief Minister until 1956 when he handed over to his Deputy Mr. Franklyn Barron. The question is what happen during that time? Why so long a time in office? The answer is simple the country people were not allow to vote election was for the people of Roseau and its environs. There were no roads for vehicular traffic form the north, from the east from the west and from the south to Roseau . I know for a fact that the people from the South-Eastern District when they wanted to go to Roseau they had to walk the journey would take three days, and three more days to go back…
Col: Patrick Roland John may the healing power of our Creator touch your body at this time and you shall be heal. May your belief in Him continue to be your source of strength and may all who love and care about you join hearts and minds sending the healing energy of the God force to you at this time of physical failing and may you rise from the bed ill health renewed in vigor and strength. God Bless You and Be with you all ways. Healing health and strength be your in Jesus’s name.
PJ is by far the most implausible Dominican ever lived. That’s my opinion and i’m sticking to it.
My god u Dominicans are sick ppl…to u starlight wat my grand father was jailed for is his business in his time of his sickenss he doesnt need to b reminded who are u to judge if u dont have glass windows u can allow to pelt stones….no one is perfect so much sin we have done against christ and he has forgiven us y we as human cant forgive ppl..in the mean time my grandfather will b fine and he will b ok in god’s name..i admire him for his strength and with gods guidance and a speedy recovery daddy..remeber together as a family we can get through this…get well son paps we love u..even u r not Some Dominicans hero u are our hero.
You should not even try to defend your grandfather if he is truly your grandfather; because Patrick was and still is a public figure in my opinion: some of us knows the reason he went to jail, I will not elaborate, but it could be for less than peanut change amounting as little as three ($3.00). Everyone makes mistakes, had John not try a \’counter- detent\’ he would not all in disgrace.
One of his biggest mistakes was when he turned his defense force on the people. John was ahead of his time, he did lots of good for the country, I will give him credit for his vision, as I said John and Edison are the only two one can classify as political visionaries born in Dominica.
The Bank they call National Bank or Dominica development bank that is the vision Of John, I can tell you he did not victimize anybody, if there was a job opening, he gave it to whom comes first. Red, Green or Blue. He employed one of my relatives who did not dress in Red. And trust me it was a good position!…
I am not a linguistics major; however I advised you to try and write the English Language properly; if you wish to be heard! If you wish to write the word: you, what is the point of writing (u) I do not care where you got that people who indulge in such are less educated people, ignorant people matter not who they are!
Patrick John was a secondary school teacher prior to becoming a politician: Remember?
With due respect to you, what was done is history. It was the people’s business then for it affected them. Today, since it is still history, it is still the people’s business. He being a former PM when this occurred, it will never be erased.
You said you are his granddaughter. I knew him and his first wife or girlfriend, Shirley. Granted, we were not friends, so-to-speak. Roseau is a small town and most people knew each other, be it only the person.
Shirley was a nice person. She was fair-skinned with long, straight black hair. To my knowledge and from what I heard, he did not think that Shirley was good enough, educated for him when he commenced being in the limelight and in politics.
Making this short, she was good enough to bear him children but not good enough to socialize with. I heard she passed on. I also knew her sister who attended CHS. If I recall, her name is Medina.
Roseau is small and people must be careful how they live and what they do.
I just remembered. I think Shirley was, Shirley Johnson and her sister, Medina Johnson or they had a different surname. I do know Medina’s full name.
Shirley was much fairer than Medina. Medina is brown-skinned. Correct me if I erred about the last name.
By the way, Medina knows me and my family. She is a nice, friendly person as well. I have not seen her in years. Note, I remembered her name and also Shirley. I hope she is doing OK. I give compliments where they are due.
I am wondering if you are one of Shirley’s children. Shirley was a beautiful person. I recall those days walking in Roseau when our paths would cross. We exchanged Hello’s. I hope her soul is resting in peace. In fact, I expect it, thanks be to God.
only the ones that know PJ. will stand up for him the rest just play politics and have so much hate in them
when we on our feet we talk loud but each of us have a day we will be sick the man has serve his country
but Dominican have so much hate in them they go to their grave with it. Like the old saying the good things you do you never get credit but make one mistake no one will forget it PJ. was not part of the planed over throw the people who organize it wanted to install as the leader of the country there was a note one of the guys had with a list of people and PJ. name was on it that what made them say he was involve we must give the story right not just throw a story out there because we hate some one also the heading of this story is very bias.
where they planned to restore former Prime Minister Patrick John to power. The chief figures included American Klansman Mike Perdue, German-Canadian neo-Nazi Wolfgang Droege, and Barbadian weapons smuggler Sydney Burnett-Alleyne.[1] After the plot was thwarted by US federal agents in New Orleans, Louisiana, the news media dubbed it “Bayou of Pigs”, after the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion.[1]
Thanks for reminding us. Oh yes, I recall they were on a boat and told someone they were headed for Dominica to take-over, or so and it was reported to the FBI (?). Then they were caught. This is how the News spread internationally.
lie
Who are you? You know me? It is rude, lowly, disagreeable and ignorant to call a person a liar about what you do not know about. Hope you were born or that you were interested in News and international ones. With internet/computer, many who were not then interested are now interested.
I have always been interested in news and international ones and keep abreast of what is occurring. How else can one know and learn about what is occurring also in the outside world? It is educating.
How it was found out, as I stated, was relayed on overseas TV and Radio and printed in the newspapers.. Every islander who heard of it and read it was shocked. I also received phone calls from my non-Dominican friends who heard/read of it. Many could attest to it
Although a small country as Dominica was involved, I reiterate it made big headlines..
Why not check out the US archives for this information? It should be there.
Colonel Patrick Roland John (born Roseau, 7 January 1938) was the Prime Minister of Dominica as well as the Premier of Dominica. During his premiership Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom and he became the first Prime Minister of Dominica. He was leader of the Waterfront and Allied Workers’ Union and mayor of Roseau before being elected to the legislature in 1970. He took on prime ministerial duties in 1974 following the resignation of Edward Oliver LeBlanc. After mass protest forced him to resign, John unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Eugenia Charles with the backing of white supremacist groups (in what became dubbed “Operation Red Dog”). As a result, he was jailed for twelve years.
Operation Red Dog was the code name of a plan by Canadian and American mercenaries, largely affiliated with white supremacist and Ku Klux Klan groups, to overthrow the government of Dominica, where they planned to restore former Prime Minister…
A great man who made some serious mistakes. Remember he brought in Ross University to Dominica and at the time many people opposed it even Doctors, but now everyone loves Ross University
I hope he gets over whatever is ailing him and that he receives adequate medical care while at the PMH.
So sorry to hear. My prayers and thoughts are with you all. Get well soon PJ.
BEST WISHES TO THE MAN THAT TAKE US OUT FROM UNDER ENGLAND GET WELL JOHN.
Why don’t we remember Timothy and have a memorial for him every year? He was the young man shot in Roseau during the Roseau Riot. I was on the Old bridge driving into town – Had to turn back. Guns were blazing in little Roseau. Now, Timothy has been forgotten.
He is at the PMH? He’s got a lot of faith. If he was the sitting PM he would never have been at the PMH. But after you have reigned as a PM you then come back as one of us. A local citizen. No hard feelings because I’m not into politics – I don’t vote. Just wondering why skeritt didn’t fly him out.
The fact is, he tarnished his image. He could never receive the recognition which he would have got if he had not done what he did, was not involved in D/ca’s overthrow and then was tried for treason and imprisoned. He must have initiated the overthrow of Dominica. This is bad enough.
He never apologized to the Dominican people.
Heartless people the man paid his dues for Christ sake he was our first PM give that to him even in illness u continue to persecute him. Why did the Govt not fly him overseas for treatment paid by tax payers for goodness sake so called Christian society.
We wish him well. This is good enough.
God speed on your recovery.
Getb well uncle. all is forgiven. God speed and blessings to you and your family.
To be precise, who forgave him? Did he ask for forgiveness?
Get well soon my friend
It the doctors and the Patient’s decision to go elsewhere for treatment.
If it is the doctor’s decision and he is not a government official, will the doctor pay for overseas treatment? It appears the patient would have to foot the bill which would be an exorbitant sum..
Damit man!!! tell the people why he was jailed. The young generation should learn more about their government and past government role in the well fare of DA. Patrick also sold part of DA to some warlords and was caught doing so.
That was part of the reason he was put in jail. Do not make him out to be a hero OK.,
Many of us know that. Dominica was in chaos at that time. While vying for Statehood, there were riots and bloodshed. I think one person died; some were injured.
The Registry was burned down. It was a good thing I had a copy of my birth certificate which I have to this day.
I think DNO did not want to state much; not for now anyway, considering Patrick is ill and in the hospital.
What occurred is history and recorded in the history books. Nevertheless, at the opportune moment, this information should be released, the full facts. We must not water down the facts. Let it be known, especially for the youths. It may serve as a good purpose for them.
The saddest thing that ever happened to my country was the burning down of the Registry. And up to this day, no one has been caught and held accountable. Every time I pass by this place I get a chill. My duplicate birth certificate reminds me of this wicked act. Now, in this more “enlightened” stage, we have leaders dissing the country and saying, “TO HELL WITH THE CONSTITUTION.” Yet, these blasphemers of our State continues on a loose path of disrespect for all the citizens of Dominica; And no one dare turn the tide. “When the wicked rule, the people suffer.
you ask for the fact he was realize to attend wawu anniversary which was held on the port.go to your new chronicle October 30 1987 page 5 and his reply to MRTLE SOLOMON iwould not rule out becoming a member of the freedom party want more facts .
I agree that the younger generation should know their history but I also believe that they shoul be educated on current affairs and the wrongs being perpertrated by the current administration should not be swept under the carpet. They should be educated on the persecution Mr John endured for building a house which was within his means and coulmen by his friends and supporters but skerrit can build a million dollar house but no questions are asked. So, when you are educating the young we must be sure that the get all the information.
true say you want them to only want to show the bad side you are just as bias DNO lets talk of his history and every one will know who he truly was, from being a soccer player to founder member of the wawu union also an employee at whitchurch to mayor of Roseau and much more he create employment for lots of young people that guy on DNO know very well so when we talking about people lets tell the world who they really are Dominican on a hole if you go to jail the first thing they quick to say is that man went to jail lets put the hole story out we that old enough know lets educate our nation the man deserve some kind of credit he also was relise from jail to attend the anniversary at that time miss Charles was prime minister she also begged him to join the freedom party he refuse to turn his back on his party like many others did and refuse to run over seas like others they could never say he was corrupted he stood for his country and his people in thick and thin GOD BLESS YOU PJ.
You said he was released from prison to attend the anniversary?
Who said she begged him to join the Freedom Party? Is this true? Prove it!
If she did, she was a forgiving woman. She (her memory) needs to be commended.
She tried him for treason. He was imprisoned and she begged him to join her Party? Was this possible? Was it true? Was this a make-up story on his part? Should we believe that? She cannot tell us whether true or not.
So true Starlight and let us not forget his involvement with the KKK, to overthrow the government. Some bloggers are perhaps not aware of the rule of Patrick John or they believe that time have erased the memory of his despotic rule. His many attempts to stifle the press and restrict union activities is evident by the number of state of emergencies he declared during his term in office. He had his Defense Force to fire on unarmed demonstrators wounding many and killing one in the process.
i know thats right. some of the people here should know their history before they comment. mr john was convicted of treason. the highest crime in any country.in another country he would not live to see the light of day.he was convicted and jailed and subsequently pardoned. he is no hero. the state owes him nothing!!!
starlight…good for you. the young generation has no clue of their history. i wish him good health but dno if you’re going to give part of the history…please include all of it. There is ALOT more to it.
And young people today do not have the honesty to confront corruption in their very faces today.. PJ was in the process of selling land in the north planned on toppling the DFP all that bad stuff ver correct,
Now , our passports are in the hands of Chinese ,Russian, Arabs, crabs,Manicou, Isis etc our best lands houses etc are being sold to denizens. Chief minister buy lands without paying taxes until matt in the morn ,kids sexually exploited, unemployment higher than ever before. Was PJ the most terrible we\’ve had ,have , will have? remember Al Marsari\’s and the medicine man\’s plan for mining?
Also, there are people who will spill the beans as it occurred then and as they read and heard. Therefore, DNO may not have to post anything. Some of us may do better than DNO and tell it like it is without hiding anything or leaving it out. That is telling the people.
May God be merciful to you Mr.John for a speedy recovery!
May the good Lord give you a speedy recovery and watch over you.
As our first Prime Minister, we respectfully offer prayers Sir, for your speedy recovery.
Despite our ups & downs, we beseech God’s mercy on us all. May his almighty Spirit uphold you and guide our caregivers in this time of need.
Get well soon Mr PM
“Patrick John is the first Prime Minister of Dominica” How’s that possible? What was Edward Oliver LeBlanc?
Wish him speedy recovery.
EDWARD O Le BLANCE WAS THE PREMIER
Hon. E O Leblanc was the Premier of Dominica at the time, then to represent the Queen , we had a Governor. After Hon. P R John took Dominica to Independence , he became the first Prime Minister, the post of Governor was abolished, so then we had a President.
Edward Oliver Leblanc was the PREMIER. He reigned before independence in 1978.
Leblanc was a Primier. The title change from Premier to Prime Minister after independence on November 3rd 1978. Also, we changed from Governor to President. Consider yourself apprised accordingly. . If you had gone to SMA (Smartest Men Alive) you would have known that so your sins are forgiven .
Assertive, Never ever Aggressive!
and you comment on this forum but don’t even know basic information like this? Well no wonder you come here talking such utter-rubbish.
Leblanc was a PREMIER jeez people read a book
Get well Sir, Aldo sends his regards. Patrick R John, the first Prime Minister of Dominica who negotiated and obtained independence for Dominica.
who also tried to sell Dominica…don’t forget that part!!!
Hi ADMIN
Our young people read this news items and as such you need to do correct research on such stories. I therefore request that you correct that the Patrick John government was replaced by Eugenia Charles government. It may also surprise you if you go to the courts and find out exactly what he was jailed for and the period of time he was jailed for. I think it would also be beneficial if you wanted to give information to state his educational achievements while he was in jail .
It was for treason, trying to sell Dominica to foreigners. This News made international headlines.
The people he collaborated with were either from Barbados or were residing in Barbados. One was residing in Dominica.
The late PM Eugenia Charles pardoned him. He was released from prison. Otherwise he would have still been in prison until he died.
A little gossip. I was informed that his mother worked as a maid for J.B. Charles, Eugenia’s father and that he helped Patrick to go to high school.. If I recall, the St. Mary’s Academy.
A friend told me it was J.B. Charles coconuts that sent him to high school. Then he politically turned against Eugenia Charles. He was her arch enemy. Talk about ungratefulness.
if you don\’t have fact don\’t just start writing ma.musson work hard to give P.J a good life so please get your fact right what you talking about coconut with all what went on miss Charles is the one that was scared of P.J that\’s why she get him out of the way if you recall he did win st.joseph after that .
The parl rep for Cottage is fine thank you. Get well soon PJ
Wishing Mr John a speedy recovery.
Very sorry to hear that he was taken to PMH, Might as well make funeral arrangements.
What a very SICK comment to make!!! Very insensitive ! I wish our former Premier God’s blessings and may the power of God heal him from the crown of his head to the soul of his feet in Jesus name!!!
Very insensitive indeed
There is a time and a place for everything.
Cyrique as much as I agree with you with regards to the ‘insensitivity’ inherent in this statement, I also believe that ATKINSON was primarily attempting to draw attention to the bleak state of affairs which presently exist at the PMH. It was crudely put forward, but I do not believe that he/she meant any harm to Mr. John or his family.
you could die before PJ .
yes that true, if i was taken to PMH for medical
I am pretty sure hat ATKINSON did not mean bad for PJ , they were just stating about the poor state of the hospital, knowing that many people who go to the PMH don’t make it back,.
Your comment is funny, at a time as this. Made me laugh. I could not help but laugh.
Still, you should not be so heartless. Who knows, whose turn will be next?
with the current status of the worst governance in the history of dominica sickness and stress levels are at a alarming rate….Dominica surely needs fresh blood to get rid of this evil spell than has engulfed the island..
Get well Mr.John you are well loved and respected as u carried yourself in a humble manner…pleasing to God!
You think fresh blood will make a vast difference? Could be a topsy-turvy one. Wait and see. We do know, new broom sweeps clean, one way or the other.
Never wish for what you do not have. It may be a hanger for your jacket and a rude awakening of distress.
i wish you were there when this wicked man was in power. i am not wishing him bad however under his administration he was no saint.
he was no saint but could you make your self clear he was a man of the people mingle with every body where were you, you come with a false name so no one know ho you are maby you
are one of those that get all you have from PJ. days and now you so ashame like the rest hiding behind SMH. how smart.
I hope you read this. Under his administration, the Sisters/Mothers of St. Augustine who operated the Convent High School were forced to relinquish their rights for that school. Patrick John took it over. I think it also affected the Christian Brothers of Ireland who operated the St. Mary’s Academy.
PJ could not touch the Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau.
I think, left to PJ he would have disregarded every Christian Catholic in Dominica.
The thought is crossing my mind. In view of this, am I to say that man ruled as a maniac and non-Catholic? He placed a curse on himself.
Some prominent D/cans resigned from working under him. They sought employment in B/dos and worked and lived there for many years. Dominica had a brain-drain under PJ as Prime Minister.
As prime minister, his friends from the waterfront, the bay boys would visit the Government House where he resided. Many thought it created a scandal.
Others as you could state much more.
Get well soon PJ. You were not perfect but nonetheless will go down in history as the one who freed us from the chains of colonialism… among other things. Nonetheless, it is my belief that you should be given the respect due and therefore flown out like all the others for proper treatment. Gods speed and may jah lay his healing hands on you.
Assertive, Never Aggressive!
What have you stated? People are not stupid as you think and are not more than you.
Dominica is free of colonialism? There are some things which cannot be erased.
Great Britain has an Ambassador to Dominica. If the person is still a she, she resides in Barbados.
Dominica is Independent only in the history books. I have stated this before, with no prejudice, Dominica would have been better off as a Colony.
Those leaders of yesteryear as Patrick John could have worked with the Great Britain Leader to assist Dominica to be a progressive island. They wanted Independence. Note what occurred during that time from Statehood to Independence.
I have considered that, that government received some funds from Great Britain for seceding from GB. First for Statehood and when it became Independent. Anyone knows how much and what happened to that money?
Dominica is still reliant on outside help. It is still in the Commonwealth. Regard it as a Commonwealth island/nation.
Dominica would have been better off, progressive, if it were a French colony. Note Guadeloupe and Martinique.
At that time, rather than vie for Statehood and Independence, that leader and his Party should have opted to be a French island under France.
France still owns those countries. They are doing well (much better than Dominica), as French colonies.
come to think about it. That’s why I did not see him on his porch this morning. Get well soon PJ. State funeral is not all. he needs State Health Care too.
Get well,sir.
You are a humble man and were a humble leader.
May God bring healing to your body,soul and spirit.
what damn state funeral. for one the man is still alive stop planning his funeral. wish him speedy recovery and pray for him.
I always have that filling that Patrick John was the man to move Dominica forward like Papa Bird them but the people that surrounded him brought him to his knees and that Dominica never recover from then. I love u John and will always be loved.
Patrick John, and Edison James are the only two political visionaries to come along in Dominica thus far!
Patrick vision is the cause of the Dominica development bank, called by any other name: had he not counter the cope detent of Charles Savarin, he might have well make a comeback to replace Skerrit, if Patrick John served half the time of Skerrit in power, Dominica would be a much better place, the economy would be as good as most of the other Caribbean islands.
In Patrick John and Edison James day people did not live on handouts, we were not a beggar State, every body had money, at least enough to survive on, the country was moving forward; until the coalition of Rosie Douglas, Charles Savarin, Athie Martin and the rest who crowned Roosevelt Skerrit king. The gave it to Skerrit on a silver platter in order to bankrupt the country!
Dominica in Skerrit\’s hand is sailing down on a river of no return!
This country has a lot of SICK people! the comments can tell that you. Get well Mr John.
I would like to know what has the Patrick John story to do with him being hospitalized. What we are interested in is the man’s reasons for being hospitalized. I fear for you visiting the so called roach motel. Once you get in, only God knows whether you will get out. May God help and protect you. I love you, PJ.
If so, the solution to that is to bring some spray with you and wear a mask over your face.
Why is it anybody’s concern. If he is flown out or is at PMH…but based on the comment.”why he not flown out like the rest”…just goes to show how a lot of Dominicans have things all mixed up!..Anybody can fly out ..hand in pocket!
The govt. Should pay to fly him out
Will you help to pay his fare and hospitalization? Do you not think if he wanted to go overseas for treatment, he would have done so by specifying it? It is not too late for him to do so, if he so wishes.
If he was a minister of government, he would have been on a plane and flown out to Martinique.
Or if its the” supremo” family, they go to the best hospital in new york city on a private charter plane
It is not yet determined how sick he is. Are you aware of his condition? If the man wants to go overseas for treatment he will find a way to do so or his family will.
At least somebody is using PMH
Why do you DNO give that discription of him?. We know that already.Just say he is not well and keep the rest for when you are asked for further information. Hope u will do the same for others..
For real…………..to much history………to much old talk…………….just get to the point.
wishing him speedy recovery, hoping all is well…
get well soon Dominicans need you too.
Dominica needs him to do what?
the world is like an umbrella, we all need one another.
Zandoli PJ have more use than you .
Yes! For what? His time has past.
How comes he still at PMH, why he is not flown out like the others…
Go to him and ask him if he wants to go overseas for treatment. This is one way of finding out and his wishes.
some facts are nasty and smelly.
Ok thanks for the informtion. Now what about the pal reps for cottage and colihaut any updates
The parl rep for Cottage is fine thank u. Get well soon PJ
Life…..
Get well Mr. John. God speed!