Over the weekend, I received the very disturbing news of an incident in Soufriere involving Dr. Sam Christian, a new resident to the Soufriere constituency.
As Parliamentary Representative for that constituency, I immediately inquired into the circumstances surrounding the incident as is customary when receiving any negative news involving constituents. I have received conflicting information.
Let me first be clear, I strongly condemn any form of violence against any person or interest group any where in Dominica.
We are still in a post-Maria rebuilding period, so I encourage us to ensure that construction sites are safe.
It also provides us with an opportunity to reflect on what we are trying to accomplish as a people.
The Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit-led Dominica Labour government and I work tirelessly to develop and promote the vision of the Soufriere constituency as a key tourism destination in Dominica.
We have partnered with several developers and stakeholders to promote the warm and welcoming people that we are known to be in the constituency.
Dr. Christian himself, I am sure, can attest to the warmth and welcoming nature of the people of the constituency. We cannot afford to give the world the impression that we are not peaceful, loving people.
It was therefore unimaginable that individuals who profess to be for the development of Dominica in general and this constituency, would try to portray constituents as violent or quickly declare war on our independence without first thoroughly investigating the incident.
The disappointing reality is that instead of them making a meaningful contribution to the development of Dominica as many of us did after Maria, some persons (including a few who no longer live in Dominica) persist in inciting violence with their tinpot revolutionary rhetoric.
This shameful, unpatriotic behaviour needs to be strongly condemned by every Dominican. We have all worked too hard to have our reputation sullied by a few opportunists.
I am proud of the achievements in this constituency and our country by extension. May the peace and love of our Father and Saviour reign in Dominica, in Jesus Name.
God bless us all!
“It also provides us with an opportunity to reflect on what we are trying to accomplish as a people.
The Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit-led Dominica Labor government and I work tirelessly to develop and promote the vision of the Soufriere constituency as a key tourism destination in Dominica.”(Denise)
If you only said you condemned, and regret the violence; and assure your constituents the police will investigate the matter, or the police are looking into the incident, and suggest anyone with information; who saw who threw the rocks should report the culprit to the police, that would have been good enough!
There is no reason for going off on that stupid tangent as your nonsense in the quote. You are talking politics that nobody cares about. Take the bloody wig off head, perhaps by so doing some sense from out of space will accidentally fall in you head!
Sam can attest to what welcome; if that was true would someone try to kill him?
For the last decade the Soufriere constituency has been without a decent, intelligent representative. Dr Sam Christian is a decent intelligent brilliant Son of the soil, He will fill that void.
Well … that “tinpot revolutionary rhetoric” can only be Gabriel Christian. Besides talking constantly without allowing anyone else a word in edgewise – the tinpot ting is his MO.
Just another empty statement but it serves to show how divisive Dominican politicians have become. I swear Dominicans hate each other because of Politics and what’s worse is that the Politicians keep riding on top that wave of hatred and keeping all the loot as the country sinks lower beneath this ocean of political divisiveness.
What a Shame Denise. Skerrit must have pushed you to make such a dumb statement. We waiting for the statements from the others including the Mob King Pin himself…
Dominicans it’s time we recognize that we’re the only ones to save ourselves. Stop killing each other!!! Who ever burst the man head shame on you.!!
Denise, how’s things at PetroCaribe nowadays?? I hope you have an existing strategy in case Skerrit looses the next election…
Madam minister, what on God’s earth were you trying to say?
A long empty speech just like Donald Trump UN speech. You are saying, folks are to becareful around building sites post Maria, are you saying some stone fell on Docs head just so?
Big empty PR, save face old talk. You all must stop using God’s name in vain… The same God knows the truth of the story and he shall expose you all in a timin
I know right.what was she saying?
Zammm you speak like you was on site; you know all what happenned! You must stop making subjective statements. At least the lady said , she investigated & got conflicting reports! What you want her to say – like you – she was not there and she has to rely on hearing from various persons who were on site. High time you people stop being biased & you blueites want to put words in people mouth so you must hear what you want them to say. Also you guys are very disrespectful people. On edge, ready to insult say nasty to anyone who does not say what you want to hear. Why of all things you even want to compare the lady with Donald Trump. Do you know what the golden rule is – Do unto others as you would like them do to you.
She did condemn violence. So you want her to be your spokesperson.
Respect the young woman . Of course 2 talk about safety on site is also good.
Her speech great, unlike your type who always place everything on the back of the PM. Everything is him even…
“tinpot revolutionary rhetoric”????? LOL. Alas, Denise you put me flat down with that one. I didn’t know you moonlighted as a comedian. Please let me know when you’ll be holding your next show, so I can come and support local comedy talent.
lol. Minister of weave will kill me. a joke that man. girl move you there with your nonsense political speech. shame on You!!!
Respect the lady Truthman. Must you always disrespect someone. You that politicise everything. Give a sample of what you think she should say and I am sure you would tell her to say what she doesnot know as she was not there.
You guys loads of propoganda and enjoying smearing people and libel and slander.
How can one say something when they were not present?
MP Charles, you have added nothing substantive to the situation by your disparaging comments. You are both hypocritical and disingenuous. Have to ever listened to SC Astaphan over the electronic and social media? What about your colleagues in parliament, on the political rostrum and on the radio? Have you condemned your demigod, Skerrit, when he instructed your party vociferous supporters to harass members of the opposition at funerals, in their vehicles, at church, everywhere? That was incitement and Mr. Skerrit should have been charged for just that. Spineless parliamentarians like you should hang your head in eternal shame for keeping Dominica in this hellish state. Your commentary on the stone throwing incident is without any sincerity, it rings so hollow.
Why she sounding like Donald Trump?
My dear if you have nothing to say say nothing at all, all politics aside, you are aware of the situation and the circumstances surrounding it yet, you choose to play a political card and sound so dumb its unbelievable.
No remorse
Praise for Skerrit
Blame Maria?
Did i miss something?
Ah magway say, and we want and promote a better Dominica.. Foolishness like this crap goes around the world.
No remose ? Did she commit some kind of crime or disrespected some one, or misbehave in any way . I don’t see you or your friends displaying sympathy for Dr Sam. O.M G. is that what we are coming to. you forget the victim, you forget the perpetrators and you harass the commentator who has condemn the violence. Did she loot or throw stones or insulted someone or make false accusation? Magwaysa !
You may not agree with what she said or how she said it, say so without the hacking . PLEASE.
Joseph John, her statement was disingenuous. Any blind person could see that (if they wanted to).
Negative, negative negative persons. You see she condemned but alas negatives always putting a spin on everything even if it is positive, Negatives negatives cannot say a pleasant word with insulting! Negative persons are obsessed with the PM and any member of the labour party. Negatives do not even like themselves for they cannot distinguish between right and left; right or wrong. Only negatives they hearing and seeing – Once the PM or any other person whom they perceive or think support the Labour party, they go into fighting / disrespecting/ waring/ Demonstration negative mode!
Pray for them for they only hurting self – Ah Magres Sa – negatives get out of my people. Lord have mercy on us. Change the heart of those negatives. Flood their heart with love for you and their self so they won’t self destruct.
Denise your statement was timely – We are not a negative people – Say it again my dear!
I don’t think she wrote the statement for herself. I wonder if Donald Trump helped her with it? Just wondering!!
What are you really say?
If this was an essay miss Charles it would be 0 percent the topic does not reflect what I read maybe my 5 years at DGS went in vain
Aye, who wrote that political propaganda hit piece dere boy? Denise or somebody from the propaganda machinery of the Labour party?
And just what is the author of that statement trying to imply in the following phrase:
“……involving Dr. Sam Christian, a NEW resident to the Soufriere constituency.”
I think it would have been better if the lady had refrained from commenting and engage in what appears damage control and political posturing. Leave it to the police to investigate and take action if required.
I guess its considered fair to criticize public statements…fine. So therefore, let me take a part the majority of your comments on here.
The casual disregard and disrespect shown… from addressing her as “gyal” sayings things like “pathetic” , “Cameron University would be ashamed” “discombobulated crap”.
Is this how you address your mother, sister, brother or neighbour? She’s a Dominican like you! she might be “on the other side” but she’s a person. Says alot of about us that this seems to be the norm.
For the record I’m no Labour supporter and I agree the statement needs to be taken apart and examined for what it is…., but the way yall going about this is just too negative…even if I do have issues with the statement.
How do any of these comments help anything other than to gratify your desires to put somebody down? Maybe that’s why these politicians continually speak to their base ignoring all others…to mirror y’all comments your negativity has really said nothing good at all!
LOL. Your comment is so funny. Are you saying that our politicians/leaders are the way they are because of the way we comment on thier public comments. That is hilarious. Guess we should not call them leaders then. Mrs charles should have stopped at, “I strongly condemn any form of violence against any person or interest group any where in Dominica.” And she could add to be sympathetic; I wish Dr. Sam a speedy recovery” and take photos visiting him. That my friend would have a bigger impact on the sincerity and do more to ease the animal behaviour of some. What she said above was just a bunch of rambling and yes crap. It has nothing to do with brining her down. Her statement was empty and i know she could do better. Sugar coat it how you want. It reminds me of the comment by trump after a white supremacists kill young lady, saying there were good people on both sides. She is a minister of Gov and an educated woman so she should come better than that. Period.
Beautiful, not an insult to be seen in responding to my post. Wonderful critique too. No excessively negative and insulting language needed. Criticize… and do it well! If we can point out where THEY can do better then its fine to point out how WE can do better as well…cuz in the end we’re ALL Dominicans. Yes,…we SHOULD expect a higher standard from our leaders but we ought to demand it from ourselves first.
Thanks very well written shaka
Biased observer, thanks for your observations and comments. I have read and agree with your observations.
Now
Can you please take apart and examine the statement for what it is, as you said you agree it should be?
Thank you. This isn’t a mere cop-out but I can’t really add much to what has been said already. Shaka said most of what I’d say.
Charles did the typical politician approach not speaking to anything, and pandering to everybody. I’d like to believe that somewhere within there’s positive intent and sincerity but its lost in the attempt at being “diplomatic” which made the message seem almost incoherent and more of a campaign speech.
She should have come out more directly against the act of violence and express consideration for Dr. Christian. She need not abandon party lines to do so just show humanity by refraining from attempting to gain political points with subtle jabs or inferences aimed at the opposition. Sadly, this approach would likely be shunned by her base(and political masters) and met with skepticism by those “across the aisle”.
I still maintain we reinforce the attitudes of our politicians by being overly negative and easily manipulated, but that’s another topic…
also she should be commended (at least) for saying something condemning the violence (which I believe was her aim) when the labour party has been silent and /or downright abusive. Can’t shake the feeling she did this out of self-interest (she’s still a politician) but it says alot that she is the only one on the government side that has had the courage to do so…
Yes, Mr. Observer, I have refused to mentioned ‘biased’ for the word is mostly related to negative connotations. Before you condemn the crude comments of the contributors on this forum, castigate the parliamentarians, the supreme leader and ministers of government and their chief Senior Counsel. The country takes on the tone of the government. If the government is crude, coarse, corrupt and insensitive, the country becomes just like that. Have you ever condemned the many obnoxious, disparaging and incendiary rhetoric of the leader, members and supporters of the DLP? Don’t be biased and criticize one side, be impartial.
You later state: “…she should be commended (at least) for saying something condemning the violence….”
From my comprehension, she condemned violence in general and insinuated that this was not an act of violence but a result of damage to buildings by hurricane Maria. She said “I have received conflicting information.” and “We are still in a post-Maria rebuilding period, so I encourage us to ensure that construction sites are safe.”
Hon. MP. Charles also went on to claim that some people …..”portray constituents as violent or quickly declare war on our independence without first thoroughly investigating the incident.”
My synopsis of her statement: Dr. Christian was injured by falling debris and some people are politicizing the incident.
It would be sagacious of her to provide evidence to her conclusion.
paragraph 1 she says: . I have received conflicting information.
which brings her to saying this: ”We are still in a post-Maria rebuilding period, so I encourage us to ensure that construction sites are safe.”
but do you really believe that this was from a construction site? smh
be realistic
She already done accept the stories by including that Fontaine got hit from a fallen object from the construction site. Wicked people. Somebody hit the man. That statement is of no use
Smh, What kind of site was it ?
can Dr Sam give us more information ?
What a disgrace this woman is to the Soufriere constituency. I kept reading, looking for some empathy and the more I read the more upset I became. And then she had the audacity to talk about patriotism?
I have little respect for these people who, as soon as they become a parl rep, suddenly lose all sense of decency. Truly disgraceful.
This is NOT a moment to capitalize on political rhetoric and so-called accomplishments by your incompetent administration. You could have simply condemned the violence and end it there, but instead you seized the moment and went on garrulously to give your political speech while shifting from the main incident.
I am actuallyal agree with myself for raising my hopes in you. This statement is truly vacuous, and it would been better accepted if you had kept your silence. This is a total disrespect since you thought that we would be pacified by this.
It seems the incident involving the injury of Dr Sam was only an aside in the Parl Rep’s statements. I read more about Skerrit, and persons who allegedly said negative things about the constituency. There was no word of empathy or sympathy for Dr Sam. No word promising increased security in the constituency. Instead, the Doctor is described as a “new resident to the constituency.” What a shame, Denise! What a shame! I pray you never feel ill and have to be treated by the good doctor.
I dont find she said anything substantial. Its best she had not comented.
“We are still in a post-Maria rebuilding period, so I encourage us to ensure that construction sites are safe”
In other words, this was an accident.
Mwen was not there so I cannot say anything more that what I read from this empty statement
ummm I’m going to Shillingford, anybody need something………………….yawnsssss
Gimme a dam break Miss Charles. You have not addressed the issue and I wonder why
What in the name of discombobulated crap is this???
This is an embarrassing mouthful…. its like you wanted to say something but did not want to say something as the same damn time!!!
Gurl, if you condemning the attack on the man, like NIKE, just do it!!! You cannot start with condemning then move to post Maria construction, then praising Skerro and DLP then footaying diasporans ………….phew chileee gather yo thoughts and come again!
If one reads that statement carefully, it is clear that Denise condemns the violence, and says the information received are conflicting. Ok.. stop there.
But she goes on to deny that the incident happened, implies that it was a stone from the construction site and then blames overseas persons and others for inciting violence.
I have no respect for persons like this who only see party color and cannot be neutral at least in this instance. People really need to consider the persons whom they vote in office, more seriously. She might as well just remained mute .. say nothing at all.
That statement is pathetic.
She condemns violence in general, just not this one! She should have just said nothing.
Dolan, who are these “Overseas Persons”?
I find it alot that “people”, use and or misuse the word persons alot, as if they are locked between choice of “a person and the word people”
when and in what context should they be used. ? Person is singular, people is a grouping and if need to be specific unsure of which to use, then refer to profession and status of those referred to in your discussion.
For example on says “Persons must understand that its their right and choice to vote” That should read:
“Persons must understand that its their right and choice to vote. That should read: Be specific who you refer to.
“People must understand that its their right and choice to vote” or rather address who it is and say:
Dominicans must understand that its their right and choice to vote
Also, it is right to say: “”This person has a right to vote and also.
Therefore other than person use the name, profession etc who you relate to, therefore do not start a sentence with…
A bit pedantic this person would say. One person can never be people. An axiom and Elementary My Dear Watson.
What did you really say? I am completely lost
I think she blaming the man for getting the cool wosh and here I was happy that she was condemning the violence
Lord!
Very true nothing at all
I really wanted more information on this incident. The Who, What, Why. No pointing fingers or blame just the cold hard facts. Some police type investigation would be applicable.
I admire this beautiful and intelligent lady. And is quite impress with her statement. I agree that this bad behavior cannot continue,…….but she should have expressed the need for full investigation that would result in the trial and arrest of people involved . Justice have to be served without delay.
She should have stated very clearly that violence will not be tolerated no matter who is involved.
I hope we will now hear from the Minister for Justice. This calls for immediate action.
All political parties should condemn this action and all violence, and promise to caution their supporters to refrain from such bad behavior.
Gyol what kind of Statement is that? Cameron University would be ashamed.you would have done better if your statement was just a blank box. SMFH. Its amazing how educated people get themselves messed up by nefarious people and deeds.
The lady said nothing to be ashamed of. In fact she should be congratulated for acting so quickly. She is not the head of an investigation. But you do not know what respect is.
Hear de joke, I doh even read her comments, I went straight to dno comment section, I’m not missin out much
All those words and you said nothing at all. SMH
Why do we think that we have to degrade everything. She denounce the action. I agree she should could say more, But we do not have the benefit of a full investigation just yet. I think we should encourage the police to give us the benefit of a prompt investigation.
I think she did very well in showing awareness of happenings in her constituency and condemning this incident.
Joseph John please reread the statement by the young lady and be more careful this time. She denounced any action of violence against any person or interest group. These are her exact words”
“Let me first be clear, I strongly condemn any form of violence against any person or interest group any where in Dominica.”
She also said she received conflicting information, but only speaks on the one related to accidents in construction, she mentions nothing, and I mean nothing else about the incident, not does she indicate she believes there was “an attack” She speaks as though she believes the other report of accidental damage and injury.
I agree with that.
Many bloggers are not condemning the stone thrower, or condemning the incident and showing no sympathy for Dr Sam, but are using this news outlet to slam the young lady. What did she do in this instant to deserve all this disrespect. It seems reasonableness, respect and fairness are elements of the past.
@ Grace, What the hell did you expect her to say other than what she said .IF you want more information asked the police, by the way that so-called stone have not been found and i believe it was all propaganda stunts invented by you know who!!!!!
So no stone. That is so strange. But that is the main piece of evidence.