“My mother once told me that stealing and lying are cousins. We have known of the former all along. Now we are being introduced to the latter”.
This was a blogger’s take in Dominica Online News on the prime minister’s assertion that neither he nor his administration was seeking to influence the police in the exercise of their duty in the investigation of the arson that almost took the life of former magistrate GON Emmanuel. Other bloggers expressed similar sentiments.
The prime minister’s supporters, predictably, wrote in his defense but the fact that we are having this conversation about the honesty and trustworthiness of the prime minister is itself troubling especially if we contrast his reputation with that of former Prime Minister Eugenia Charles, or Patrick John for that matter.
By any measure this is a damning indictment of a prime minister who is struggling to maintain the confidence of the public amid allegations that he is not an honest dealer. To be sure, the prime minister’s reputation for ethical behavior is cause for alarm, not just to his critics but also to a significant segment of his supporters who must be now questioning whether their political party is winning the battle t the polls but is losing the war for the hearts and minds of the younger generation.
The young are raised to be honest and God fearing, instructed in civic lessons about the virtues of working diligently and selflessly to uphold the standards of good citizenship. And then they are confronted with the specter of a prime minister about whom there is severe doubt his ethical conduct and his guardianship of the nation’s resources. This dichotomy between what is expected of them and what they perceive to be the modus operandi of the highest elected officer of our democracy is debilitating and is bound to have a corrosive effect on the psyche of the youth as they contemplate their role in the nation’s future.
To be fair, the problem of lack of trust in leadership is not confined solely to Dominica. There seems to be a trust deficit in some of the most venerable institutions of our day. A lot has been written about the appalling behavior of renegade priests who sexually abuse minors entrusted to their care and the inadequate response of the upper echelons of the Catholic Church to both police its priests and to compensate victims of their abuse.
Nor can we forget the record of financial scandals on Wall Street where financial professionals have abused their power to defraud home buyers and investors. The few who have gone to jail, the former leaders of the defunct World Com and Enron are the exception when you consider the long list of victims and anecdotes of happy scammers laughing all the way to the bank while leaving their prey to nurse their wounds without any hope of recovery or redress.
The list is endless. The suffering in their wake is unquantifiable.
But back to Dominica. We must never rest until there is a severe price to be paid when public officials abuse their trust for personal gain. We cannot change human nature but we can at least ensure that there is a painful price to be paid by the transgressors for lying, public deception and misappropriation of the nation’s resources.
Lastly but significantly, we need to weigh the comments of the victim of the arson which is calling the reputation of the police into question. Mr. GON Emmanuel, in an interview broadcast over the nation’s air waves, called the police commissioner, Mr. Carette, a LIAR. This was in response to the commissioner asserting that Mr. Emmanuel was not cooperating with the investigation.
This is clearly the first time that a police commissioner, to my knowledge, had his reputation and credibility so publicly challenged. He may see it as an insult to him personally, but the greater insult is to the reputation of his institution, The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force.
And to the reputation of the prime minister whose assurances the public has not bought despite the rumblings of his supporters.
This crisis of confidence in the leadership of the country will have unpleasant consequences in the future. I say this because I believe William Shakespeare was right when he wrote : “the evils that men do live after them”.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the management and staff of Dominica News Online and its parent companies.
Asked a parrot and he will tell you , the evil that man do is assisted by D- and non of us is free of that D-,that’s why we are confused by religion.
YOU know what makes us vulnerable in dominica, we place no value on our rights as humans, there are basic functions that ANY government is OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE if not then what is their function??? we do not value each other and realise how our individual opinions of what is right and wrong affect each other, a small country like this and we prentend not to be able to relate to each others situation, poor people have to understand that BETTERMENT will only come to those who are prepared to help themselves, and take pride in their ability to do for themselves, and rich people have to understand that the things that they may take for granted are sometimes critical to the smaller people without whom their riches would mean nothing, the small folk are the biggest part of their consumer base. they should also be equipt with the power to spend and payed respectably so that they can provide for their families. dominica is to small to become a millionaire overnight and for the public not to notice and question. come on man.
well i see you hitting on the priest guess you are not catholic but be reminded of pastor bernard joseph expliotation of a vulnerable and helpless young girl and so many other stories of horrors done by pastors. …. It goes to show all have sinned and fallen short but just so you know we all allege that labour and skerrit has done so many wrongs but even lennox will admit there is no evidence to prove this. Just merely fictious and politically biased analysis that is grounded in lies, deception and innuendo by a fallen and greedy few that have no interest in the holistic development of dominica and its citizenry. In fact they are continuous in their displays because their redemption lies in hoping Dominicans allows their dishonest selves back into government so that they can plunder, pillage and rape our treasury, men , women and children. Until not even their souls will have dignity and self worth. NEVER WILL HONEST PRAYING DOMINICANS LET THIS HAPPEN WE WILL FORGIVE 77 x 7 and then more…..
oohhhhhhhh pllllleeeaaaseeeeee
The evil that men do… If we were all such good human beings, we would all have been in Heaven.
Are you perfect? Do you think that a future government will do much better and also for Dominica? I visualize that it will not. Keep in mind, a new broom sweeps clean for a while. Just wait and see.
Those who continue to lambaste the PM should look to themselves. What is the situation in your life like? What is the situation in your house like? Does it require some cleaning up and in godliness? How do you treat others especially women, your wife or girlfriend, if you have one?
Look to yourself.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Let he who is without sin caste the first stone.”
The Dominica Prime Minister has done much for Dominica in the form of progress and enhancing the beauty of Dominica, new roads, building and places of residence, etc.
It upsets me to hear you people, critics, continue to harass him, instigate problems and cause others to do likewise.
I have previously stated, “LEAVE THE PM ALONE!” Cease your criticism. Accord him his due rights and dignity and allow him to perform his elected duty.
YOU ARE ENVIOUS OF HIS POSITION. This is what occurs when people consistently criticize and try to demean others
Dominica does not belong to you alone. Strive for peace. Help your nation and its nationals where necessary. You will profit better by performing these good works.
maybe when he had just come in office, but i am not envious of the position in which he has placed himself. I doubt many would envy
@ Author: You are talking about evil, how many innocent lives you all took in the satanic army you serve?
GOOD PIECE .!
let me see who now will come here and say that this was political. cause it seems every time some one says something some people don’t like they cry politics.It seems this country has lost the belief of right and wrong and everything was been brought down to a party level.
Open all u mouth now.
Stop being a bloody hypocrite. Everything is political my friend. Just as your comment and that of the writer of this article. All are OPINIONS not fact. All are leaning to a point of view of the writer who try to point people into the direction he/she wants to.
There is always two sides to a story. however EVERYTHING these days in DA seem to have a political slant and EVERYONE semms to have an AGENDA!!
whhhhhhhaaatttteeeeevvverrrrrr , u know where my political slant is????? toward the future of my children…… i hope that is where yours is too.
Caught in the act. ‘,When you have a serial liar on the team and booting them off the project is not an option, what can you do? It seems ridiculous to spend time counteracting someone else’s games and untruthfulness, but if the problem isn’t addressed, the lies will continue and you can lose control. Exactly what is happening in Dominica today.
Just fess up. As politicians sometimes learn to their chagrin, it’s not the original mistake that causes problems … it’s the cover up. Bill Clinton, Arnold, Weinner, Bush, Blaire does that ring a bell. Owning up to a mistake or misconduct will win more respect than squirming out of responsibility by telling lies. Senior Counsels must pay attention; People know when someone is lying, so stop making things worse. Is it obvious that we aren’t moving or things are not happening as planned, this is only because so much time is wasted in covering up lies and misconduct that the big picture fades into oblivion. Bad surprises don’t make us any friends. The truth always comes out. No further comment needed on this one. Not telling the truth doesn’t buy time, in fact the practice of lies and cover ups is costly – Certain legal counselor must be smiling because the cost of cover up is not their to bear but that of the very same victims who are constantly bombarded with deceit and conspiring lies.. In fact the lies work to the great benefit of the legal counselor.
The lies shall bring thee to thy knees, the truth shall rise above chaos and destruction
i agree ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!!!!! 100%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% let them belch their gas, i will not accept less than i deserve, because eventually i will receive less than i accept.
Any comments???????
anyone disagrees with the point which is being made here?
Great.Don’t you know its ok to lie in China depending on the circumstances.If the ethics that we hold as a nation is not based on Godly principles then lying will only become an entertaining perspective in peoples lives.It takes 25 years for a repressive idea to become acceptable and if the evil is not cut and destroyed in its early stages sooner or later it will become part and parcel of our culture.The holocaust didnot happen over night.It started when jews were not allowed to bathe on the beach and none said anything until tell they wer evntually slaughter.THE PM HAS TO BE STOPPED BY ANY MEANS IF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM IS CORRECT.
I love this point!
Proof is what is needed not allegations. Ican get up this morning and say something bad ( a lie though) about someone I do not like and it will spread like wild fire (with add ons being put on along the way) because our wicked minds likes to hear bad things about others we do not like or envy (for no reason especially if this other person (children/Family etc who seem to be prospering better than us ( we do not know what is being done by the other person).
This same person may have done something real good in his/her community and I tell another of this person act and sad but true this good deed will not spread like wild fire. Also we are in a world where persons will do all in their power (lie, make up stories, frame up ) just to destroy you.
I am one who never believes what persons say about another without proof. I am always skeptical. I have been a victim myself of untruths and untruth gossip as well. I have seen women say I will make this man take jail and mark you they do not stop and will fabricate stories and will do all unimaginable things to see the downfall of this person they want down (dead in some instances). I have seen women say that certain men raped them or their child just to see if they get some money from the person who would try to cover their embarassment.
I say all this to say that whilst we hide and lie on this world and gossip etc – hurting persons in the process, there is one who sees, hears and knows everythig done in secret and we cannot hide from him.
I say nothing about anyone that I cannot prove. Can we all say the same thing. We always bash negative vibes.
Who is guilty of any unfilthiness and untruths etc will be judged the great Judge of all time – Our Father who art in Heaven.
What goes around comes around Ialways say they will come for me {or us}during the night But! they will come for them during the Day. Need I say MORE??????Put that in your pipe and smoke it!.
Well if we have to live all judging to Our Father wo artin Heaven,The Jail should be empty ok.
i have a damn problem with anyone child that benefiting illegitimately from my VAT I PAYING. WHEN I STRUGGLE 2 BUY A LITTLE CAR FOR MY FAMILY AND PAY ALL THAT TAX ON THE PORT, THE TAX HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK FOR MY COUNTRY TO PUT GOOD ROAD FOR ME TO DRIVE THAT SAME CAR ON, NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE MAN, WHO IS USUALLY MORE ABLE TO AFFORD THAN ME, YET YOU HERE ON DNO RALLYING FOR THE CONTINUED MISAPPROPRIATION OF MY TAX DOLLAR!!!
PLAY THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM, STAND THERE AND ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE ROBBED BLIND, AND AT THE END OF IT DO NOT CRY, WHEN THE TIME TO ACT WOULD HAVE DONE PASSED.
@ ??
Well said! Some people have a problem. They are not fair and just. They forget their sins and look at others and criticize them.
God knows them and the sins they committed. He will judge them accordingly and two-fold.
@ vip
Have you heard as was in the Canadian news that the government of Canada is reluctant to join forces with China (if you know what I mean) due to China’s bad human rights record?