The recent drive-by shooting in Bath Estate which has resulted in a fatality, brings to the fore the need for urgent discourse among clergy and civic leaders from the perspective of spiritual and social consciousness. The matter at hand is greater than enhanced community policing, gun control or even the heightened crime activity on the island. It speaks to the mindset of our young men. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7).
Women are leading in almost every sector of Dominican society – the medical field, legal fraternity, business enterprise etc., which speaks to the fact that in some way and for whatever the reasons, men have relegated their roles in the home and in the general community by extension. Hence, the question becomes, “Why”?
I am of the opinion that we – the leaders of the land – need to engage our males, especially our young men, providing them a safe place where they can vent their frustrations, be counseled and mentored and helped on the path to becoming productive citizens. There has to be an on-going conversation, reiterating that given the right structure and support, our young males have the potential to be all that our heavenly Father destined them to be.
Cooperation and partnerships among government, church ministries and spiritual authorities, civil society organizations, the family, the business sector, and private citizens are required given the wide-ranging nature of the causes of crime and the skills/responsibilities required to address them. This is not only an issue for the government.
It involves all of us!
Young men, please hear me: there is a better path! You do not have to resort to illegal activity in order to make a name for yourself or even to survive.
I fully agree. Every level of assistance is for women. Our young men have become disenfranchised as they look up to following a life of crime in an attempt to not look soft and gain street cred. Most of them are raised in single parent homes and lack the discipline, integrity and moral of a father figure. Society begins with the family. Lessons are first learned in the homes. When you have a society of badly brought up children making more children, what do you expect will happen. These days everybody wants to be a gangster, or celebrity or make a name for themself in their pursuit of money. We have lost our humanity and integrity in many instances.
Very powerful and words of wisdom
But was rather shock
That she has the title of Apostle
It is definitely not scripture
Not looking down on women
Because without women the church would be dominant
But not woman should be called apostle
Neither Bishop
Let us stick to scripture
Too many of our at-risk young men at home and across the globe lack a bonafide plan and meaningful purpose. Sadly, they wind up on a certain path of self destruction with no return.
It is always tempting to lay blame at home, on society or even the government; however, these endangered youths must bare the brunt of the responsibility for their increasing demise. Many of them are literate enough to be social media savvy but lack the desire or patience to parlay that knowledge into a lucrative business venture.
Their penchant for immediate gratification often leads to being caught up in a dog eat dog behavior where respect for law and others becomes an abstract and foreign concept. The situation is indeed very dire!!!
The following Bob Marley lyrics echo the predictictable plight of those who fail to heed the writer’s closing plea: “Many more will have to suffer. Many more will have to die. Don’t ask me why”.
Here you have a so called apostle breaking the laws of God and lambasting Men.
Lady go and read the Bible as God told us how to in Isaiah 28:10, the you will be able to understand the precepts, of why you should remain silent!!
“You do not have to resort to illegal activity in order to make a name for yourself —” Well, how are they going to impress the girls, own the fancy car, etc, if they have little or no education/marketable skills?
I endorse what Apostle Fontaine-Philbert has written above But we need to go further As I mentioned before criminal conduct trickles down from the top.. No amount of attention to men and the youth will be enough by itself without addressing the root causes of the problem corruption at the top, fractures and disorder in society, incompetence and bias by the law enforcement apparatus.. illicit drugs, unemployment etc
There is a plethora of issues giving rise to lawlessness and serious crimes in Dominica. For a country to fulfil its maximum potential, inclusion is crucial.
These institutions – government, church, business sector, trade unions, homes, public sector, civil society must put their collective intelligence and influence together and devise a short, medium and long term strategic plans.
The present ‘go-it-alone’ policy of the incumbent regime only gives rise to frustration, confusion, stagnation, hopelessness, conflict, lack of patriotism and low productivity.
The country needs a paradigm shift in the way it is governed.
Sorry Apsotle Fontaine-Philbert the present day crop of young men of Dominica are an “endangered specie” unproductive most of them and unambitious; sad but true.