The late Patrick Roland John is being remembered for his contribution to the sport of football in Dominica, having been instrumental in helping Dominica receive both Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) status, and playing a major role in the erection of the Dominica Football House, which was eventually named after him.
The former Dominica Football Association (DFA) president and first prime minister of Dominica passed away on July 6 while a patient at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH), following years of ailment.
Since his passing, words of condolences have been pouring in from many whose lives John had impacted over the years.
Vice President of the DFA Ken George expressed sympathy to John’s family and friends on behalf of the association and football fraternity in Dominica.
“We are indeed happy for the level of leadership and administrative work that he did with us, with football, and we will forever remember him,” he said to Dominica News Online (DNO) adding, “We are indeed very sorry and express deepest sympathy to his family.”
The vice president also pledged that, “whatever way that we can continue to assist them, we will.”
“We’ve lost a great man,” he stated.
Meanwhile the Opposition United Workers Party’s (UWP) Leader Lennox Linton has also offered words of sympathy in light of John’s death.
“We mourn the passing of Patrick Roland John, Dominica’s first prime minister who led us from colonial rule into independence 43 years ago. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, his children, other family members and those whose lives were touched by his service to country and who feel his passing in a special way,” Linton said.
“We give thanks and praise for his life and time as a teacher, a trade unionist, sportsman, national footballer, referee, sports administrator, cultural enthusiast, song writer, politician and national leader. He used the blessing of talents well for the causes that needed assistance and whatever good he could do for the wellbeing and progress of Dominica,” he stated.
He further said, “The call of Almighty God that has summoned Patrick John to eternal rest allows us to spread flowers over the goodness of his faithful service but it also requires an apology on behalf of those who proudly instigated and led the stoning of his Labour Party government out of office. Those who threatened in his time to look for labourites in every nook and cranny and destroy them. The very ones who now sit in high places condoning wrong doing and corruption in government that make the public office conduct for which Patrick John was crucified pale into insignificance. So let the death of this patriot remind us that truth matters, righteous counts and justice must rule.”
John served as honorary commander of Dominica’s 80-strong defense force, leader of the Waterfront and Allied Workers’ Union, Dominica’s youngest mayor, before being elected to the legislature in 1970, among many other titles. In addition to being the first prime minister, John was Dominica’s last Premier. He led Dominica to independence from the United Kingdom in 1978.
Simeon Joseph, spokesman for the John family said they are in the process of organizing his burial. His wife Desiree is currently nursing a broken ankle at the DCFH.
Commenting on John’s life, Joseph described the late former prime minister as one who was short in stature but a “towering” figure of society who contributed tremendously to the Dominica’s development.
Joseph said that John’s family has been receiving a great amount of words of condolence from various quarters of society since his passing.
“If Patrick John had received the accolades in life that I have heard him receive between yesterday and today, and if he were alive to hear it from some of the quarters, he would be utterly amazed, dumfounded and surprised,” Joseph said on Q95 Radio this week.
”This man was a very forgiving man. This man was not one who judged people. This man was not who held grudges…. If you knew Patrick John, you knew that the people who harmed Patrick John, who sought to destroy him and how he was open to them and [open to] speak with them,” he said.
He said that John had a positive outlook on life.
“He was a man with a large heart and while he may be mindful and cognizant of the fact that people may have not been too genuine and honest in speaking to him, he…welcomed any form of kind words… In the name of Patrick John we will accept all the good things that are to be said of him now,” he added.
“One of the things about Patrick John, one of his mottos in life was that any bad thing that happened to him he saw it as a work of God… People may have thought that they were victimizing him, that they were punishing him, and that they were casting him aside. He never saw it like that. He always saw it as a refiners fire process to help him to become a better person,” Joseph stated.
It is a sad time when anybody die.
But people are quick to forget that this man PJ wanted to sellout Dominica to white supremacy for power. The proof is there for all to see , just look it up on the internet. Any other country he would be dead already because he would have been hanged. I cannot forget when he told his defence force to shoot at the people protesting in front of ministry and they killed my good friend Phillip Timothy.
People so easy to forget the dread act were innocent people were killed just for growing their hair.
I hope God can forgive him because i could never.
My condolences to his family but if his positive public achievements are to be mentioned as they are in the above statements, let’s not forget that in addition to all that, Patrick John led a coup against the rightfully elected government of Dominica and went to prison ……. If this was an obituary written and published by his family, it would be perfectly all right to only mention his achievements and ignore his failings. But this is not what this is. Whitewashing history never ends well. Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.
ADMNIN: He want to prison for “conspiring to overthrow the government”. He was not convicted for treason which is a misconception that is often repeated.
Leader of the Opposition and of the UNITED WORKERS PARTY HON.Lennox Linton and Teacher Semione Joseph
Great commentaries from you all on behalf of All the People of Dominica.
We Applaud You two distinguished Hon. Gentlemen who has so far done ✅ so much for we the People of Dominica.
Keep up the Good Work. Thanks Much👍.
You two Distinguished Gentlemen we are happy and honoured to have followed your works and commitments to our Nature Isle and on behalf of our strong, dedicated PEOPLE of DOMINICA.
BLESSINGS! God’s Richly Blessings 🙏 to our distinguished Experienced Commited TRUSTED Professionals of all fields.
RIP to our Prime Minister, our Distinguished Hon. LENNOX LINTON and Educator Semione Joseph. Gods Blessings 🙏😅.
Our Prayers 🙏 are with his Wife , Mrs.John, and the John’s Entire Family. Be Safe.
Wish you’ll the best through your Journey of mourning. GOD is Good. Blessed 🙏 Day 😇.
Lennox, should everything be politics? Let the past rest and let Mr. John soul RIP.
I was reading until Mr. Linton lost me when he added this thing a negative political spin on it.
I would like to hear on a radio program with the artist featuring songs he wrote and talk to them.
So I checking eh always when someone die you hearing nice things about them it’s of no use to the person. I just remember pappy. I am not hearing about him at all but if he die now, God forbid, I will hear lots about him. I guess that’s how it is. Sad
Sad thing for Dominica is all our good people are dying while those evil and wicked supporters of Jim Jones keep living.My condolences to his entire family
Thanks much Hon. Lennox Linton for your contribution and message towards the Late
HON. Patrick Roland John. A dedicated man with honest contributions towards the independence and Development of our People and our Nature Isle Dominica.
Hon. John has moved on and has passed the Baton to us to continue on that journey of Sound Independence and Respect for our Dominica, our Government our Political Leaders in Dominica and those of interests in other sound performances of the Development of our People and the Upliftment of our Government for and in the interest of All of our People. We need well designed Development planning and courtesy that our young people are to be seen Engaging in the socio-economic interest and benefits of our people, families and Farmers Teachers nurses etc. We have had enough of this Failed incompetent immnature Skerrit and Failed GOVERNANCE and Government. My people, we all need to take back our Nature Isle Dominica and our committed PEOPLE. Wake Up People.
Viewexpressed, get a life. You and your cabal are just frustrated and useless lives in Dominica. You remind me of a lady from Kings Hill back then, Elvita. Just kept running her mouth everyday until she passed away. That is you.