The south eastern rural agricultural community of La Plaine which nestles between the foothills Morne Gorverneur and the rugged Windward Atlantic coast (Au Vent) is filled with shock and sadness. A fatal vehicular accident on the Pond Casse road in the middle of the rain forest killed two of its best and brightest.
The vehicle in which cousins Kurt Hector and Norran Jno. Hope were traveling in a west bound direction in the early morning plunged into an overnight ravine which was caused by the heavy torrential rains. A man from Grand Fond Mr. Joslen Prince miraculously survived the deadly accident.
Why did the road buckle causing a deep sink hole? According to geologists, geotechnical engineers and surveyors, since the 1990s there has been an accelerating trend toward more extended dry periods followed by downpours. Whether due to random climate patterns or global warming, the swings between hot and dry weather and severe rain profoundly affects soils. Soils shrink during droughts and swell during floods, causing it to lose its adhesive and cohesive properties and to shift or just collapse beneath structures like buildings and roads. Such sinking which is referred to as subsidence (sink holes) usually happens gradually. But swinging from extremely dry to very wet weather maybe accelerating the effect of subsidence.
The Public Works Ministry may want to consider putting up road signs warning of subsidence in the countryside.
My sister was struggling to deal with the reality of the accident when she called me. She described a familiar scene where the entire village had gathered in the public square trying to deal and make sense of just what had happened to their young neighbours. She described folks screaming helplessly and Kurt’s grief stricken father as being very confused and numb.
What else could he do and what can be said to him? Fathers are suppose to die before their sons except in times of war when young men head to the battle front. This was not the case. It was a joyous and proud occasion for all of La Plaine as two of our own were off to St. Vincent to represent our island as national footballers. It was a moment for LaPlaine to move away from its superficial divisions and rally around its own- but that would not be.
But in times of tragedy and sadness, LaPlaine folks always come together in the village square under the (Jubilee) cross .
They did it again last Thursday. The stature depicting the cruxifixtion of Jesus Christ on the cross of Pontius Pilate has always been a powerful symbol of suffering, hope and deliverance for the village. Twenty years ago I interviewed two village elders ‘who have now gone’ about the cross. My grandfather, Mr. Burton Allan and Mr. Justine Burney told me that it was built by parish priest- Father Moorpity in 1934 after the devastating and deadly hurricane of 1930. The priest wanted villagers to be more forgiving and caring for each other and to remember that Christ is merciful and benevolent and that life is tenuous and fragile. Another story said that the cross was built to commemorate the Jubilee (100 years) anniversary of the abolition of slavery by the British Government in 1834 and as a tribute to abolitionists such as William Wilberforce who worked tiredly in the British Parliament to free slaves in the colonies.
Whatever the reasons for the cross it has always been a very powerful, trustworthy and sensitive symbol for our village. In 1972 when another vehicular tragedy striked again, folks gathered in the square under the cross crying and wailing. Village leader Mr. Hilton Joseph’s failed to negotiate a hair- pin turn properly causing his small pickup truck to plunge in the valley in Baliezier about half a mile from the where the track bends to the Sari Sari falls where the rolling hills meet the mountain. Pa Joe and four village men perished. In 1966, while five La Plaine men were working on a Public Works road project at the Boetica River, a huge landslide covered them up. As a kid I can remember when their decomposed bodies were transported by ‘dumper’ to the make shift morgue at the La Plaine Dispensary (now the site of the Health Center).
It will take some time before La Plaine gets over the untimely and unfortunate deaths of the National Footballers and before life gets back to normal. But the demise of the two promising young men is a powerful reminder that our names can be taken at any time and at any place. So one does not have to be a biblical or religious scholar to say to La Plaine folks and all Dominican that we should be nice to each other in spite of differences; for tomorrow the sun may never rise.
May the souls of Kurt and Norran Rest in Peace. May the families and La Plaine find solace, togetherness and strength in the face of this tragedy.
Wow that headlines almost gave me a heart attack. Thank God after reading the article it was something different. The people of La Plaine are planning a memorial for the victims tonight so they don’t need another tragedy.
Garcon I got an instant headache just reading the topic of the article. My heart sank into my stomach one time. Boy Finn doh do that to people again garcon, I thought is something that happened in La plaine again,the little time I go town to come back for Kurt and Norrans memorial tonight.I there saying Lord nooooooooooooo we can’t handle another one like that until i read the whole thing. SMFH
Great article,you have made my day,Been having a bad morning.Thank you should do a piece every week.Words are very uplifting.
Dr Finn very interesting article a little bit of history and information that we the younger generation really never knew about our village we need more of this kind of info about Dominica May the families and villagers of LaPlaine find comfort in God mercy RIP Kurt and Norran
Words are so limited in a time like this. The form of compassion and sympathy are clear and evident. I can’t imagine how you guys are doing but it’s the understanding of loss personally which allows me to share a poem i wrote offering a different way of looking at this pain I hope my poem allows peace for those greiving.
I want the memory of me to be a happy one I cherish all smiles and warm embrace in times under the Sun I take the love and all the pain we experience within the years. Our good times and bad times and I embrace them without fears I want you all to understand it’s not easy for what I ask but look to love and not to tears why cry for soul set free.thank you could never be enough to express the pain today but look deeply into love and know it doesn’t fade away. Honor me with good deeds remember my love on sunny days you’re all so dear to me I’m gone but I’m but my love will always stay. I love you all deeply more than what you ever know. Just know my love is truly with you miss me but let me go.
K’
May God give peace to those hurting and heal their wounded heart
Thanks for bringing out the Story about my Grand Fathers Demise, Mr Hilton Joseph in 1972 who failed to negotiate a turn in Bailizer area, Laplaine has gone through alot not only that but we have lost prominent people who have made a positive impact in the community, and Nationally.
Well written article..
Together As One!
Though different in Colours
We(Laplainians)are ONE PEOPLE.
Some are Labourites
Some are UWPites
Some are Freedomites
We are together as One.
That’s The Way It Is in Laplaine presently
My only wish is,that spirit of Unity remains in community as is.
Respect each other (Democratic) point of view…
May the souls of the departed Rest In Peace!
All of these talk cannot take away the pain that we are going through; please people just offer some word of comfort to help soothe the pain.
Much appreciated
Personally, I find this piece by Dr. Finn a very fitting tribute to the two unfortunate young gentlemen who very sadly perished last week.
Whether you are grieving or not, this was definitely written by someone who cares and has the community at heard. Sad comment from you.
gohhhhhhhhhh.my heart leap when i read the first part.i had to start over .but good article though
This brings it back to some statement made before about heading not matching stories on DNO. Admin don’t post my comment but one day I hope your team learn to write proper heading. It would be better said “A Community Grieves” A Community in Mourning”.
Jeeeeeezzzzzz!! I wondered what happened again
Nurse, I felt the same way, I thought another accident had happened again.
I felt a moment of panic when I read the headline. The writer could probably make the headline more relevant to the cross.
Really very sad! RIP
I have had a road engineer enlighten me! We now have a lot of very big lorries that are taking heavy stone and tarrish to Belles and other areas! The roads of Dominica were never built to carry these heavy lorries! This maybe a probable cause for the roads deteriorating much faster in this area with the lorries continually going to the tarrish pit! The infra-structure in the country is not built for these very heavy vehicles!! Has no one thought of this??
Together As One!
Though different in Colours
We(LaPlainians)are One People
Some are Labourites
Some are UWPites
Some are Freedomites
We are together as one
That’s The Way IT Is in LaPlaine presently
My only wish is that spirit of UNITY would remain in the community always
RESPECT each other Democratic point of view.(Ou say sa ou yay,Moi say sa moi yay).
May the souls of the Two departed Rest In Peace…
This article really touched my heart being from La Plaine and knowing a lot of the stories in there. I pray that the family and friends of those deceased find comfort in the memories of their loved ones.
Stupes. Reading the article under today’s date I was under the impression that something new had happened today. The writer apparently did not have enough of the tragedy last week; he wanted to re-hash the whole tragic incident again. Our prayers are with the family; let them grieve their loss at this time
nurse you like to much beff go get a book open and read open your mind stop sitting down to listen to gossip.
where does beff and gossip comes into play here.. when i started reading the article,i honestly thought it was something tragic that has happen today in la plaine again.. so amanda fontine you need to get off the computer where u obviously lookin for beff and go study your book
Nurse I hope you are not a Nurse at PMH. Maybe nurses like you that give all the nurses a bad name. This article is about a person expressing sorrow for his village and the family of the two men. Stupes what????? Wow – really….
Don’t be ignorant he is just explain some memorable dates that occur in the villlage
well said nurse, let them grieve and give them support, he is trying to make it his own, and he has not clue what it feels like to lose a child
nice
@ krazy. you didnt understand amanda fontaine post. read over nurse post again
Very nice article!
This was a very good article.
Very nice article and it really made me felt a kinda away know that both the young men were blood related…. Praying for the family and community
This is a fantastic article. Good work.
A well written article. Though my heart is breaking, I am trying to see beyond the tragedy and pray that my village will rise from it a s a kinder, gentler and more united village. I thank God for having known Kirt and Norran. They were examples that every young man in Laplaine should emulate.
The small culverts beneath the road got blocked, the water backed up, created a dam because it had nowhere for the water to drain out. As the volume of water because of the torrential rain increased in the dam it pushed the section of the road immediately in front of it creating a massive ditch where the road once use to be. Note that it was compressed tarish and dirt that the builders of the road used to fill over the culverts to a height of almost 40′(madness)
It was as simple as that, so the writer of this article should stop using fancy words and talk about global warming etc to describe what happened
R.I.P Kurt and Noran
I didn’t want to trash the article for fear of being branded as uncaring or political but you are bang on point. This is yet another apologist for the government trying to score political points not withstanding that no one is blaming the government for this.
I could not have explained the situation better. Please be informed Dr. Finn that your sources in Dominica have greatly mislead you. There was no sink hole. The road simple could not bear the weight of the water that had dammed on the mountain side of the road. It is also noteworthy that the road was pushed laterally along the natural slope of the land and not vertically as seen in sink holes.
No! No! No! Dem “geologists, geotechnical engineers and surveyors” dem man rang. Is Skerrit dat do dat. Ask dem who singing de blues, hya what dey say.
“Fathers are suppose to die before their sons except in times of war when young men head to the battle front”.
What, war makes it less painful? war is just a symbol of man’s greed and quest for one nation dominance over other nations and send young men and women to die for NOTHING if you ask me. I have yet to see a reason why war is being fought and no one wins, because on each side of the fence is someone son or daughter. you seems to be justifying death in war and saying it is less painful when one dies in war, are you talking from experience, how many of your children have died before you?, none
My People, pay attention to the details in the article, why jump on one sentence only to justify your senseless ramblings.
Go get a book, read put sense in your head.
what details what point?, all I see a separation, Laplaine and Dominica, It should have been written about the Dominica young men and not Laplaine young men, death has occurred all over Dominica and not just Laplaine,
“all Dominican that we should be nice to each other in spite of differences” until I, Finn start bashing Skerrit again
“for tomorrow the sun may never rise”, the sun will always rise my friend, you may just not get to see it, you do not have that power to not make it rise
Typical, as the author once said “Laplarian” LOL
… all those “rians” I rather “Dominican”
You really missed the point.
Nice article
continue to rest in eternal peace Kirt and Norran the entire south east mourns your death
The genius of castleBrucianLaplainian is at work….this is a masterful article from the doctor.
really? I almost jumped out of my skin thinking something had happened in Laplaine.
You need to read before you react….