After almost two months since she drowned in an alleged human trafficking incident, Haitian national, Marie-Claude Fleurient, will finally be laid to rest.
The incident occurred in Portsmouth on January 19, 2013, when the vessel in which she was traveling, capsized.
Fleurient’s body has laid unclaimed since the incident and is being buried by the Lyndhurst Funeral Home on Thursday.
Catholic Priest, Father Franklyn Cuffy, will be conducting the ceremony carded for 2:30 pm and is calling on authorizes to examine the way Haitians are treated in Dominica.
“I think it is very unfortunate at this time when we are talking about OECS unity. When a death occurs on our shore, it is a wake-up call for all of us to ask the question whether we are a welcoming people,” he said.
Fr. Cuffy said the church service is also an opportunity to say to Haitians, “that we understand what they are going through and we sympathize with them”
The service will be held at the Lyndhurst Funeral Home at 2:30 pm followed by interment at St. Paul Holy Family Cemetery in Mahaut.
Roosevelt Lawrence and Andy Daniel of Cottage were arrested and charged for human trafficking and unlawful killing of Fleurient, following the incident.
Four Haitians along with Lawrence and Daniel were eventually rescued.
Father Cuffy more than anyone else should know that Haiti is NOT part of the OECS. I hope that was a slip of the tongue and not a deliberate attempt to miseducate the masses with social propaganda.
These people are never happy anywhere unless its the united states of america. You could give them everything in the world if its not theUSA it not enough.
It is sad that she died trying to escape from Haiti. Now that her remains have found a resting place, her soul, no doubt will rest in peace.
You never know. She may not have had intentions of leaving Haiti but for the influence of those who wish to make money on human trafficking. I bet that such people will seek out others and convince them to leave their country because they can make a mint of money from transporting them to other lands.
Did the DA government authorities try to contact her family in Haiti through the Haitian government?
Some of her family may have died in the earthquake. Some families were displaced and probably have not yet found their families.
If there is a Haitian Association in Dominica, they should have taken charge be it with the help, funding from the DA government to bury her. Generally Associations assist their own. If these people are receiving funding from the DA government, the government should ascertain what type of assistance do they provide for their nationals in DA.
There is too much laxity in Dominica, commencing with the government and certain relevant departments. They take too much for granted. They should not allow non-nationals into the country and to take over the country and providing funding for them. A Law should be established to ensure that they do not take advantage of the generosity of the government and nationals.
Typical DA style critising – this poor woman is dead pointing fingers and saying who should do what is immaterial .
so “anonymous” – why did u not assist in burial?
Oh brilliant one where do you think money came from -tax payers. We all contributed in someway.
Hey Here is something i want to mention, when you saying them Haitians you make no sense . Why? that lady that lost her life so terrible at sea, Hundred Haitians cnt bring her there nah its must be one person dat brought her there so there you the hater that keep saying them Haitians you need to correct yourself. And No its not the Govt that claimed the Body is the Association here that put together and the Consula of Guadeloupe (pointe a pite) that claimed the body so they chose to have a funeral mass at the Mogue ok and Fr Cufy desided to be part ok. Before you say something wrong you need to get your facts straight and lways listen to your nantion station as well Specially Culure FM which is the Guadeloupe Radio Station.
Re the analogy drawn above re Haitians in Dominica and Mexicans in the US. The diference in the US is that when they find them they are deported and when they are living in the US they are taken care of whether it is health care, food stamps etc. Once you find yourself here you will be assisted if you need help until you are removed. So the deceased Haitian lady found herself in DA, died whilst trying to leave illegally [committing a crime] – noone claimed her body so the State is the one responsible to at least bury her.
The problem is the majority of Haitians in Dominica are illegal (why the gov’t is not cracking on that, is another question), hence they were afraid to come forward for the body of the lady because they have to go through the proper channels and they might get caught.
Every day you see a new torrent of Haitians in Roseau. Where they coming from, only the almighty knows….to me it appears as if Dominica’s borders are wide open and anyone can just walk in.
I am all for the movement of people (I lived and studied for many years overseas before I returned to my country to gwayay) but when you have old men who can hardly walk “migrating” to Dominica, what good is it going to do for our country? It is going to be more of a burden on the system, I think.
@ Dorival Jhon, you said the amount of Hitians are illegal in Dominica. and you said you lived overseas for many years. As a student use your brain before talking ok. How you think Haitian can come illegal in Dominica?. You are not smart ok
Don’t you read and study your map. Don’t you see from where Haiti be and and where Dominica be. Do you think Haitian can migrate from all the way HHaiti to come Here by boat?
Use your common sense ok
Idiot, many of these Haitians come to Dominica by air, given a X amount of time, they overstay their times and are illegal. A lot of them are like that. There is an agency on Independence Street that work with Haitians, ask them as they will tell you how many are illegals…because they overstayed their time and don’t want to leave.
Others come here with fake papers….that makes them illegal.
So being illegal doesn’t mean you have to come by boat.
Use your damn common sense.
this is what they call sad of all the haitian in dominica you mean no one could not contact he family in haiti to say she died ah mag way sa and was she living alone ? i no she was not because haitian come to other country when another one tell them there is live so somebody should have get her family notify about her death
hatians r not concerned about their own…
I doh understand that, where is the Haitian Friendly Association of Mr Istache, Mr Garment industry and the rest? they claim to be rich haitian dominicans, they even asking for government to give them house to keep meeting(lol) and they cannot bury their own? that is so sad. on the other hand, the fellas in cottage or possie or whereever else dosnt put a gun to those haitians head and tell dem hop my boat, is haitians themselves that hiring them to take them out of the country so dont blame those fellas, is a way of living too for them. the struggle continues…..
the thing about haitian is that they love to save so they will never want to spend the money to burry her,they know somebody will eventually do it.you will see how many of them thats going to show up for the funeral.
This may sound harsh but it’s the truth. Haitians in the setting of Dominica are like Mexicans in the setting of America. I’m not saying we need to ill-treat them because regardless of who they are or where they come from they are still human beings and we must learn to love and respect everyone because they were created by the same God who created us. However, the problem we have with them isn’t because of who they are; it’s the way they come into the country and that’s the same problem the US has with Mexicans. Let’s keep it real and call things what they are. They’re illegal immigrants and I don’t understand why Fr. Cuffy making it seem like this is Dominica’s fault, because at they end of the day we’re the same ones that came to their aid. As other’s have said, there are many Haitians in Dominica. This was their opportunity to come together as one and take care of their own. They know better than anyone what it’s like and what they had to go through to get where they are today. So may her soul rest in peace but may they learn from this.
U are so right. There are are a few thousand haitians in dominca. Most are doing some king of work, why didn’t Fr Cuffy appeal to them to take care of thier own? Instead he chose to insult dominicans who are already forced to host these thousands of haitiens all of who are coming here illegally.
Has anyone found out the number of Dominicans living illegally in several nations around the world? Why are we so insensitive to the needs of others? Put yourself in their shoes and think for a moment what you would have done if you were in their position? The Haitians are not the only people who migrate to other lands illegally. DOMINICANS ARE EQUALLY GUILTY.
That is sad.
May her soul RIP. She died fighting, searching for a better life, and to make a living for her family. Let’s hope she wasn’t one of the bad Haitians like Estanis and his family. There are still good Haitains around. One bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch.
My heart bleeds for the family in Haiti who has lost a loved one and will not even get the chance to lay her to rest. This is a sad state of affairs for everyone!
i hope the hatians or some haitians will see it fit to attend the funeral..i know if it was a dominican in the states they sure would at least attend even if they r not able to take responsibility for the dead because i know to take care of a funeral is really expensive. but at least they can show up at the funeral knowing it could b one of them.
Cuffy: ““I think it is very unfortunate at this time when we are talking about OECS unity. When a death occurs on our shore, it is a wake-up call for all of us to ask the question whether we are a welcoming people.”
So, someone chooses to leave Dominica illegal, risking her life, and Dominicans are now held accountable for that free choice that the woman made? This is ridiculous! I do not see how the priest has arrived at that conclusion.
Dominica is one of the islands with the healthiest records for welcoming and accepting Haitians. The facts on the ground testify to this. Racism toward them still exists here, but racism cannot be eradicated. Similarly, no matter how good we are to visitors many will not stay and some will even leave illegally because Dominica, to them, may just be a transit point.
Why didn’t the Catholic church simply take on the responsibility of burying the body and avoid this long wait? Why doesn’t the Catholic church work with the Haitian Association to welcome the Haitians when they arrive, helping them to resettle in Dominica? Such a service would be consistent with the Church’s function to help humans, especially the less fortunate. (Unless i am mistaken that the Catholic church does not believe that this is part of its responsibilities.)
There is no connection between the lady’s choice to illegally leave Dominica and how Haitians are welcomed by the majority of Dominicans. The priest’s anger is misdirected.
I fully agree with you. Who is Franklin Cuffy anyway, to talk about us like we are not listening? If we were not a WELCOMING PEOPLE do you think there would be so many HAITIANS on the Island?
It is tragic that the lady lost her life. The nature surrounding her death is yet to be established. Of course, it is very unfortunate when we are talking about OECS unity a death occured on our shore that Franklin Cuffy, as a leader in the Church, could not rally the HAITIAN PEOPLE on the Island to come together to ASSIST in burying ITS OWN. I am almost certain that lady did not leave her home not knowing where she was going, or who she was going to meet.
I think that Franklin Cuffy, as a leader in the Church, got the wake-up call and asked whether he is a welcoming parishoner.
According to Franklin Cuffy, the church service is an opportunity to say to Haitians, “that we understand what they are going through and we sympathize with them”. Keep you eyes open to see how many HAITIANS will attend the funeral service.
Honestly, the Haitians on the Island should bury their deceased, and if they needed assistance I am certain they would have gotten it from the citizens and the Government.
Although it is a sad situation that burden IS NOT entirely that of our people.
put your black eye not the white man
The Haitians should take care of each other. Why should the PM extend that to them and not to Dominican nationals who cannot afford to bury their own? If he does it for them Haitians then he got to do it for we too…I’m just saying….
Dind’t it say that Lynhurst was doing it? How did the PM get invloved base don the above story?
Better you say nothing!!!!
If no one claim the goverment should take responsible to bury the body. Why did not the Hatian association seek assistance if they could not manage financially at least….. They have a Association in Dominica, which are there for thire interest. We need to know why they they did take responsible????
shame on the haitian community for that one. irregardless, they should have claimed it.
why them? ,why not the Government?
but why is Dominica government some of you want to bury a Haitian who take her free will to go elsewhere? Is Dominica public service employees vehicle that hit her noh? One day all you on Skerrit for wasting tax payers money on things willy nilly, the next you all want him to bury Haitians, and who will pay for the Paupers of Dominica when they die? Haitians in Dominica are very resourceful, they know how to scam people and each other for fake charitable organizations, they have an association why not them? If a Dominican died elsewhere would it be the responsible of the natives to bury them, or ship their body back home? She had to be staying with someone before she left, where are they in all of this. She was a vendor, where are the others she was hanging with? Father Cuffy self just too dramatic for my part, he is that way on everything. The Church is anything should bury her, is not that they there for? Stupes tan, Dominicans even want to bring each other down on behalf of a woman who took her free will, and tried to leave to go elsewhere. People migrate and take risk and I have nothing but praise for them, but tell me if she landed in Guada or the USVI and made it, would she be sending any money to Dominica for helping her cross. Most Haitians in Dominica, are there as a stepping stone,truth is they really want to be elsewhere.
Yes Ofcourse the Govt could have done it, what about the big four Hundred of US $ the Haitian people left at the airport . So where they put all that moneY?
So therefore the Govt has the right to help any one of them that in need even in death. Except in Dominica wi I m hearing Haitian people have to leave all that amount of money at the Old Airport we have in Dominica and we are still saying we are good people and we are still mistreating them.
I love them i leave with them i can see who good and bad so you my fellow Dominicans stop the criticising ok cause it won’t bring our Country nowhere. We doing them too much .
there are so many haitians in Dominica who are legal> they want to fight for all kinds of rights why didnt they come together and bury her
thats a big shame on them what happen to their association, what is the purpose of having one? you mean they so ashame of their own people? If you all are treating your own people like that, do not tell me that she did not have a family member here or a friend that could go to other hatian and get help to give her a proper funeral.
when is something else you hearing them on the radio like they are 100% Dominican standing for their rights, but is to spend they do not know her.
shame on the dominicans who did not take the necessary precautions eg having life jackets on baord the boat -if he had this would of not happened
R.I.P marie-Claude
This is so sad after. After reading this piece I had to give thanks for the very little blessings – those that I take for granted.
She died trying – chasing a better life. If we only take time t appreciate the litte that we have, we will become much more respectful, kind and sharing.
On a different token coud it be that she was tryingt get to Guadeloupe because she did not feel welcomed in Dominica? Just thinking of the keyboard. I notice that our people look down on the Haitians and that makes me both sad and angry.
I have been to Haiti and for sure Haiti has gone or had been places where Dominica may never tread. Had it not been for corrupt politicians and despots Haiti coud have been leading the Caribbean – jst like they the did in the fight against imperialism and oppression.
i agree that they are humans and should be treated fairly. on the other hand these people do not trust anyone one. deal with them you will know for yourself,they are nice to get what they want, but they are not genuine
Haiti was once an extremely rich country were it not for Papa Doc and his ancestors who bilked them of funds and reduced that country to a poor one.
I am so sorry your life ended in this way -may you rest in peace Marie claude
my prayers and thoughts are with the famaily back in haiti.
Who is the Prime Minister whois responsible for movement of people around the caribbean ( can’t remember the exact name he has)and his govt can’t take responsible for the burial ? when election come up he will go after them for votes . We watching.
who suppose to claim the body? somebody should show up and say “hey, i wilL take the body”. so u mean to tell me that no haitian national/nationals in the country could come together to take responsible for one of their people. what about the association they form in Dominica? They have all kinds of activities, even church service to celebrate their independence but when is tragedy they backing out. Dont blame dominicans for the treatment of haitians. blame haitians for their behaviour.
agreed!
agreed
Hey am I mistaken were the human traffickers Dominican -she drowned while they were transporting her I am sure she paid them a lot of money -maybe they could co tribute.
I spoke to Roosevelt Lawrence a while ago and he told me his is innocent.. i hope he’s speaking the truth.. i know better so i leave him in God’s hands..
oh please dominica criminals will get whats coming,the poor lady lost her life.
yeah right, u expect him to say he guilty..majee u magee?
He should be given a lie detector test. This should prove if he is innocent or not. It is too bad the lady died. She cannot be a witness to the truth.
i understand where u are coming from Fr. Cuffy but alot of these Haitians do not value their lives. They know the dangers involved in traveling through these means yet so many of them chose this route, sometimes even traveling with children. the human traffickers are wrong, but they do not place a gun to the Haitians head telling them to get in the boat!
Its called desperation -count your blessings and be grateful you have not had to resort to such measures.
my sentiments exactly. Well said.
Allu DOminicans eh…..one day!
You guys talk/write like you are living in a bubble and do not know the realities of the world.
When you have nothing and your family has nothing and your children have nothing – you’ll do anything to try to give them something… at least she didnt come voleh anything in DCA or killed somebody. The least illegal thing she did, though wrong, is understandable – she was trying to make a better life.
look at all the bloody illegal Dominicans all over. Do you think they may not be at risk where they are? Healthcare, welfare…etc?
have some compassion…zors Dominichen
very sad
What does he mean the way haitians are treated? Is a haitian to claim the body, not us.
DOMINICANS ON A WHOLE TREAT HATIANS BAD
Also what Father Cuffy need to know, Haitians treated us worst in Guadeloupe than they are treated here
Haitians do not care about there own and give a rat behind about us even though on the island, each and everyone of them cares only about his/herself
The Haitians Association and it’s members should be ashamed on themselves, Dominicans should not be responsible for claiming the body of a Haitian, if the situation was a Dominican in Haiti, they would have done the say to a Dominican or any other nationality
REST IN PEACE MY DEAR
Deeply sorry on her tragic passing. Hope that her family is aware of this. May her soul rest in peace. Wish that in this world we would treat each other with love regardless of who we are or where we come from. So sad
FR Cuffy i understand what you are saying, but at the sametime there are other haitian leaving in Dominica, my question couldn’t they come forward and assist. Everything is not up to one set of people. Anyway may her soul R.I.P, to lyndhurst thumb up and also to u FR Cuffy.
Them Haitians too smart. They already figured if they came to claim the body, then they may be questioned. Hers was the only body found but not the only person who died.
alas