A controversial questionnaire was given to students of secondary schools on the island last week. The questionnaire was coordinated by an organization “Generation of Opportunities” (GO).
According to the coordinator of the organization Rhoda St. John, the questionnaire was in response to the issues they encountered when ex-porn star Daniel Williams was on the island.
The questionnaire raised eyebrows because parents were upset about the graphic content of the questions. St. John tried to clear the air on the Hot Seat last Thursday morning in response to the growing concerns as to the intent of the survey, the validity of the questions, as well as the motive.
What is puzzling is that while St. John claims that she was given permission to distribute the questionnaire by the Ministry of Education but top officials from that ministry said that she was not given permission to do so.
Information from the Ministry of Education stated that St. John was given permission to have the ex-porn star go to the schools, a decision I personally find to be irresponsible. However they said permission was not given to administer the questionnaire and only found out about it when parents kept calling to express their concerns.
My question therefore is, who from the Ministry of Education gave St. John permission to administer the questionnaire since she claimed on national radio she was working with that ministry? Is it the Chief Education Officer or the Assistant Chief Education Officer or the Senior Education Officer for Secondary Schools?
Is this another case of the right hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? Who is in charge of the effective management of the Ministry of Education?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm quite interesting comments. Hello Mr.Minsiter is that your vision for the ministry of education. Where are we going? has the Ministry finally collapsed? I wonder what will the next title for the CEO’s play?
give miss St. John a break. We need to be christlike and show compassion. The way she went about this was wrong but applaud her for her effort. she is trying. We need to save the youth as a body. not an eye or an ear or a finger, but as a body. I agree with churhgoers. We need to clean up the mess on the streets and come out from “Our Garden of Eden” where all is set before us and go out and work
how nice of you ellen, you finally warmed up to rhoda. you two can do wonders together continue to put the differences aside.
wow. nice to see you warmed up to rhoda.
Ellen its great to see that you support Rhoda and you are not one of the bad mind people who say nasty things about her.Its good that you change your attitude to her and have stopped trying to tarnish Rhoda character.Good.God is working after all.every one all on the same team now.
Now lets all move on and help the young people in Dominica
My attention was drawn to this comment, and in awe i continued to read. First of all let me say that I’m not the author of this document. I have never tarnished Ms. St. John’s name. She has done a fine job doing that for herself. I was out of state for a month. One day after i returned i heard Ms. St. John say on national radio that “she was going to a church in the South and there was a young lady that was jealous of her ministry. The young lady who has more money than her told the pastor to get her (Rhoda) out of the church or else she will take her money and her family and leave the church and so the pastor put her out”. I was dumbfounded. My fleshly self was to call the program and speak the truth which would have really caused some embarrassment to Ms. St. John. After making and receiving some calls on the comment i decided to leave Rhoda in God’s hand. I can never forget what one person said to me: “Leave Rhoda, she will self destruct” And that is what has happened. She self destruct through the same medium she used to lie on me and the pastor of my church. Rhoda you know you were not speaking the truth and that is not the reason why YOU left the church. It’s ok to lie on me, not on the man of God. The fruits of your hand will be blessed when you are truthful. I have always said that you know how to get things done, and i respect you for that, but you need to obey and respect authority and humble yourself. If you are able to do that then you will reach places. @ have fun in the sun: We know a radio program is not enough, that’s why the bible says: some plant, others water and God is doing the reaping. We are not trying to do the work of the pastors, Government, youth leaders, and all social institutions for them. We are not on display, we do things as God not man would have us do. We depend on God’s divine direction, in that way we can’t go wrong and won’t embarrass our father. We have realised that 10 of us can’t do it that’s why the radio program is being used to prepare our youth to help us do that. No one should take the credit, it’s all about God
woye wats up with you two ladies? lol. Seems your conscience bothering you about something ellen since Ms. St. John didnt call names on the radio about pastor and young lady in church and u wanted to call and tell the truth. hmmm! did it prick a soft spot. lol! “Men of God” dont get on that way darling. When those decision are made it makes u wonder are they truly “men of God” or they in for their own personal benefits that they reap from members. Miss St. John you go my lady. Reach higher hights and keep rising. The opposition will come from even those within the church who claim they know better. Apparently you seem to be doing something and going places that they havent yet. God bless and keep you ALWAYS.
Sis paul.
be careful darlin there are people who know the truth about you asking pastor from the south to put another sister out and the that pastor from the south has admitted to it. he has been taped so be careful. let it go sister there is much work to be done. lots. get over it and move on in Jesus. he is ever willing to fogive and heal the wounds. i think you can do better than this. Free up your heart and move on.
your dear sister in Christ.
@ anonymous and everlying: That tone sounds very familiar. Heard that somewhere before. Just a word of caution. Be very careful what you all say about the Man of God. The truth needs no one or nothing to defend it. Continue to embrace God’s calling on your life with due diligence.
Is all this glorifying God?.This need not be so with all the tit and tat.God is definitely not the author of all this which is happening.God strictly warns about calling His name in vain and using Him to promote self desires.You all need to stop making a mockery of God.It is pathetic.Stop it.If you claim you are christians start living it.foolishness.
What a life. I’m just sitting in my easy chair having a good hard laugh at the destruction that some people can bring on themselves. Lies have a way of turning on us. Talk about self destruction. Do you think God was sleeping when you told all those lies expecially on the men of God? It’s hard to understand how pastor rod’s name hits the airwave yet he is still loved by many. You need to humbly yourself. He is our pastor and well loved too. To church people: I love that phrase “Pray while you bray”. To the author i will say. It pays to pray and not wish evil on innocent people. You know better than that, for you receive the double.
its not about your beloved pastor. its not about rhoda or any pastor. its about the youth and the church who is God’s voice in the land. sadly, a radio program is not enough, practical christianity is lacking these days.
PLEASE LEAVE THE GIRL ALONE.RHODA I SUGGEST YOU APOLOGISE TO EVERYONE AFFECTED BY THIS AND MOVE ON.
ALL YOU DOMINICANS NEED TO JUST EASE UP, AND STOP BAD TALKING THE GIRL LIKE THAT.SHE MADE A MISTAKE GET OVER IT MAN.LEAVE HER ALONE.
MISS STJOHN I HOPE YOU LEARN FROM THIS LESSON IN ALL AREAS,I HOPE YOU READ ALL THE POSITIVE COMMENTS AND THE POSITIVE FEED BACK ON HOW TO DO THINGS BETTER NEXT TIME.DONT STOP THE WORK YOU ARE DOING.GOD WILL SURE BLESS YOU FOR IT.
Why doesnt all this nonsense stop and people forget about the lady’s past.Leave the girl alone people.Things happen so leave it alone.Let Rhoda move on with her life,she made a mistake so like we ourselves make mistakes ok.
Rhoda you see all what has come out of this,the same way you have bad talk and gossip on others this is what is happening to you so i hope you learn from this.Things do come back and hurt us.
A piece of advice for you,whether you think you were right in all this it would be better to just apologise to all the pissed off parents and disgruntled dominicans and students,just apologise and be done with it.
This is going to far right now and its time for it to stop.I say stop it Rhoda,it is in your hands to stop.stop it.
And a note to all Dominicans leave the girl alone and go about your lives.Every one make mistakes.
Allu to bad mind.She is a dominican just like the rest of us.Stop bringing down people with the nasty things and their past mistakes.Leave that alone.
Rhoda is trying to do what? Destroy our youth the same way she destroyed her marriage
get over ppls past man stop dwelling on it she is rising to new dimensions. and her marriage is over with and she is on her way to bigger and better things with JESUS. where are you???
lmao at people talking about emotional trauma and such from some questionaire. lol in dominica where children start experimenting at ages 7 and 8 with things some adults have not experienced yet this is nothing unless it was describing in detail some kind of weird fetish sex. then again i have not seen or read the questionaire but i’m just assuming it can’t be that bad. dominicans too hypocrite
While I don`t dispute Ms. Rhoda`s intentions in helping our young person`s in society, I think she went about it in a wrong way. The form of language used in the questionnaire was totally inappropriate. Secondly, anytime such research is being conducted where human beings are the subjects, approval needs to be obtained from some ethics committee. Also, statistics division, should be the ones handling the data. In addition professional psychologist should be informed and consulted. Parents and teachers alike should be met with and explained the survey and also parental approval should be obtained. The parents should have been the ones to sign off on the conducting of survey with their kids, especially if they are under the ages of 18. These kinds of studies are very sensitive in nature and one has to consider all angles before moving forward to involve the kids. Lastly, the control of the data should be jointly in the hands of generation opportunities and the government of dominica, i.e Ms Rhoda should not be permitted to publish this data without consulting and approval from the relevant government agency.
Dont be too hard on Rhoda,she is indeed trying.Although her methods are not right in that she went about handing out an ill contructed questionnaire.As with any nation there will be those who like and those who dont like.But the truth of the matter is,children are being molested,watching porn and having sex at very tender ages.Its an eye opener for those parents who are too busy doing other things rather than taking an interest in what our chidren are doing.Parents its time for you to parent and stop allowing your kids to do whatever they want.You brought them into the world so do your job and teach your children about life and dont leave it to them to find out on their own.
As for those who are saying nasty things about Rhoda,dont point fingers,if she is all that you say she is then you are the same,as the saying goes it takes one to know one,stop trying to sabbotage people character.
A word to Rhoda,before you do anything please seek proper counsel,talk to the professionals who actually know how to conduct research before you do it ,it will save you the trouble,if you dont know how,it helps to ask the professionals.And by the way doesnt GO have any professionals on the team who know about psychological research and counselling?Please get one, if you have one,it will save you.
Lets all help Rhoda she is trying.
I would really like to know how many members are part of this GO team as it seems to be one person claim to take all the credit. If you can take all the credit I don’t see know reason for you not to claim/take all the DEBITS AS WELL…
ONE LOVE TO ALL DOMINICANS AND EVERYONE WHO TRUST AND BELIEVE IN THE LORD.
we are 14 strong in DA, exectuve and membership and we operate similarly in 13 c/bean islands.
I find it wrong that everybody is bashing Ms St John when she is not the only person in the organisation.you said that you are 14 strong in DA.Then all of you should be held responsible for everything that has happened.When Ms Williams were in DOMINICA,Every member were happy to be in the spot light and now that something has happened everyone go quiet and hiding.Ms Stjohn alone should not be held accountable,the entire group should be held accountable after all if you say you have an executive body then all you guys made the decision to send the questionnaire out.Life is unfair and it should not be so.
Dont blame Ms Stjohn alone,when there are 13 other members supporting it.She cannot and should not take the flak for all this.This is wrong and very wrong.She is not the entire organisation.
So true so true. So to all you other members what are your take on what has happened to Ms St,John. In times like these we know who are our friends and who are not. Who is willing to go to jail or share the sentence with you Ms St.John?
What’s a fair punishment to what has happened. Was God a part of what has gone down? Understood GO is spiritual organisation but yet still there to no part-taking with the churches. There’s no favoritism with God. Please if we going to do it, do it right, with God at the head and ask for help when and where needed. You have come across true friendship or have you not? Are there person(s) missing?
I have not seen the questionnaire. I also have a child so I understand how some of you may feel. But what this Rhoda lady is trying to do is someting that we are not doing. If the questionnaire was in poor light why don’t we volunteer to help her structure the questions better.
Those of us who think that our innocent children are not exposed to this are the ones with the biggest shocks later in life. Our children do not live in a bubble no matter what we think. No matter how well we have trained them curiosity or friends may cause them to develop habits or find themselves in situations that they are afraid to discuss. Also it is almost more difficult for children with proper upbringings to speak about attrocious acts committed against them. They feel the guilt more than others. They normally also have more high profile members committing these crimes against them. It is hard being a kid. The Rhoda lady is trying.
Use the questionnaire as an oppotunity to talk to your kids. You can turn this “ill constructed questionniare or negative” into something positive.
So what your child does not watch porn.. does her friend watch it? Who does her friend watch it with? What does her friend say? Have they discussed it? Does it make her curious? Does she know what porn is? Why is it wrong? If you can send an 8 year old to highschool then she is ready to discuss these issues, because if not with you then it will be with a classmate and you want to be the first one to discuss it.
Use this as a learning time. Don’t bring down generation of opportuities. They are trying. What are we doing?
u talking nonsense. If Rhoda wants to do something good, then she needs to go about doing it well. Period. It is not our responsibility to ensure that she does whatever she is trying to do well. It is our responsibility to protect our children.
Tell Rhoda to stop unleashing her cr*& on our children.
Rhoda is doing something extraordinary and for the ppl who cannot get over things she has done wrong in her past thats you guys. get over it. she sure has and she is moving on to bigger dimensions. this is so not about rhoda but those of you who don’t have the guts to tell her to her face what ever it is, you can use DA news online to do so. in the mean time the youth are going down the drain. parents who think they have a hold on their kids better watch out. you just never know and with narrow minded thinking like your L, your kids will not tell u if they are being abused or molested or anything for that matter. the things we wish for ppl have a bad habit of falling back on us. so lets be careful here.
So true you last statement. This only goes to say that her decision wasn’t a group one, but done out of self.
Does anyone know if it was distributed in the catholic or other private schools?
yes they were distributed in catholic schools and private schools. i go to convent high school and i did the questionnaire. i also know for a fact that s.m.a did it as well.
I think the powers that be in the Ministry of Education need to conduct an enquiry into who gave permission for the go ahead of such a survey and action taken. Secondly I want to ask whether s there was any immediate plan put in place for the emotional trauma that could be caused to our children in disclosing sexual asbuse. Did the organiser of the survey take time in considering the damage such disclosure might cause.?
thanks to that questionnaire at school because after 5 years my 15 year old cousin admitted to being sexually molested and threatened by her aunt’s boyfriend and threatened as well. So you Dominicans are too hypocrite most of yo already know what your kids are doing. We were very upset but it was a relief for the child herself since she was still being pursued by this guy to continue
i don’t understand. are u saying it took the questionaire for your cousin to speak up? the questionaire was a private form or so i’m told. how did it happen? is it that she was emotionally distressed by the questions that she had to vent out? this is one of my concern. The lasting psychological and emtional damage these questions may have had on these young minds that they would be forced to vomit hidden secrets to the next available stranger.
the point is she spoke out. now is time to get her hel to help her heal. if she did not speak out we would not knpw she need help.
i suspect its really a case of the head not knowing what the foot is doing. I say to investigate. Talk about corruption
That questionaire was out of order and would only survive in our Dominica. this RHoda woman n de ministry of education should be held accountable. Questionaires should be done per age group as all questions does nt relate 2 everyone. Not all kids r exposed to the same sort of thing and as such this is why a meeting should be held with parents prior 2 exposing the children to such a questionaire. Any parent has a righ to be upset. Who is Danielle Williams???????????? just another exporn so what n so why be so foolish 2 base yr questionaire on de life of this woman. What happen to family life education in schools????? Rhoda should work with these teachers. Bloody foolish question about ” how u feel after watching porn” would Rhoda like her 8-11 year old to be asked these questions? Danielle Williams want 2 make it big out there so she’s using conversion but she’s nt de only porn star out there.
What are you talking about,Danielle wants to make it big,please dont comment on things you dont have a clue about.I think you should just keep quiet.All Glory should be given to God.Danielle is a woman of God and the work she is doing awesome,Let God be praised.
well if u have a story as touching and life changing as Danielle’s, share my dear, don’t hate cause so many are being changed by her ministry.
If the Generation of Opportunities wants to help the young people, they are going about it the wrong way. I listened in disbelief Matt read the questionnaire. It was also irresponsible on the part of the Ministry of Education to assist in subjecting our young children to this trauma. The question structure assumed that all the respondents were either abused or sexually active. What qualifies these people to impose their sick, corrupted imaginations on our young children?
Thankfully my child was sick on the day that questionnaire was distributed. If she was present however, I would seek legal advice on how to deal with these self-proclaimed righteous group. So many abused children are getting help but that is not being highlighted. Apparently, these days to prove you are ‘doing something positive’ you need to publicize your work on a talk show. The host of the programme kept reiterating that nothing is being done. Please as a journalist take time to read and be informed so you can educate people.
Child abuse cannot be handled overnight…and that’s what you all don’t seem to understand. So your five phase project cannot be handled like the typical business project. Abused children needs time and sometimes you cannot put a deadline on that. Unlike Danielle, who had an ‘overnight ephiphany’, in the real world, time heals.
If you really care about our young people, stop sensationalizing abuse, promiscuity and pornography.
And that is exactly what she is doing. Sensationalising!
Do you know Danielle for you to say that she had an overnight ephiphany?God has changed her life and she is doing His work.God is working through her and using her life to encourage not just the young but the old to live their lives right.Get God involved in our lives and we will see the difference.In the real world God heals.Time has nothing to do with it.
haha im will to bet your child has seen or heard more than what was in that questionaire
Ms. St. John is not subject to authority and always seems to justify her actions. Parents be very careful. Find out as much as you can about this person. There are alot of secret hearts society going around all in the name of helping the youth who are vulnerable. Please please please. Find out about this young lady. Go to the churches, speak to past members of her group. This is very very serious. Be warned! THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER. wolves in sheeps clothing
I hope you are not a wolf in sheep clothing.You need to stop judging the young lady.So she made a mistake,why do you have to come and say all this about her?Why do people have to go and ask the churches?of what relevance is that?Why dont you stop and take a look at yourself and when you become perfect then you can talk about others?Oops then again not of us can ever be perfect in this world.The only Person who walked this earth is perfect is Jesus.So please just keep your critical nonsense to yourself.Lets help each other instead of kicking each other when they are down.I wonder how you would feel not if but when you do something wrong that other people come finish kick you down.Stop the nonsense.
Help the young lady to be better rather than kick her down.You too naughty.
Sold out you need to stop judging the young lady.Who are you to come judge her?So she made a mistake,like we all do,Why so much negativity?Why do people have to go ask the churches?of what relevance is that?I hope you are not a wolf in sheep clothing.You need to put your critical nonsense away and speak more positive than that.What warning you want to give people?Maybe we should be aware of you?You are not perfect so stop saying nasty things about the young lady.
Stop trying to kick people when they are down.Its not nice.
This is not about Rhoda its about what we as Dominicans can do to help our children.I find you taking this way too personal.Take is easy on the girl ok.
@ praises and informant. Ms. St. John made it clear on National radio that she don’t work with the churches. As a christian, don’t you find it strange? There must be some issues with her and the churches for her to make such a statement. Sold out is right. I dont see what was said as judgemental and nasty. So are you alluding to the fact that the young lady’s character is questionable?. hmmmmmm
i wouldn’t want to work with the churches either as they are just full of hypocrites and opportunists
So typical. i can read thru the comments under this article and i can decipher those from the ppl with the surname christian and the unsaved. i wonder how many of us would want our past constantly being slapped in our faces? hmmmmmm. right! none of us would. and besides first case of appeal, God doesnt look at our past, instead he uses it to make us reach others who may be in same predicament. Miss sold out who u sold out for? u doing a very good job for the devil, i’ll tell u that much. besides lets not be on to a heap-of-pocrites and talk about the church which is becoming one of the hubs of abuse. Oh yes. the men on the worship team who flirt with the poor young girls, the pastor rod-types who cannot put a sock in their nasty selves and who continue to take advantage of ladies under the cloak of righteousness. the cleansing of this land needs to begin the the church.
WE SHALL PRAY WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO BRAY. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHO GENERATION OF OPPORTUNITIES (GO TO THE WORLD) HAS WORKING WITH THEM. AND YES I’M TALKING ABOUT THE PASTORS. YOU NEVER KNOW, YOURS MAYBE TOO. SO GET IN LINE WITH GOD AND STOP PREYING ON THE MISFORTUNE OF OTHERS, I CAN BET YOU THE RHODA (THE ONE AND ONLY) IS WELL ON HER WAY.
BLESSINGS.
work with churches? Did you hear Jesus work with churches? His work was to reach those out there. Not those sitting in churches getting fat and their lives has nothing to show for it. The churches more need deliverance than those out there. Maybe its time alot of those church people get their fat selves out of their comfort zone and go out there like Miss St. John and try reach those that hurting and going through issues. Instead they just sit in the church and say God is good all the time. Christianity is not sitting or going church day in and day out. Its building relationships with those out there hurting and who needs assistance and catering to their needs before u can bring them into the church. Stop being religous and be christ like.
The Ministry of Education has lost everything….non effective………………….
A fish starts rotting from the head….the rest is history…..
Maybe you were the head, that’s why you left before the rest of the fish rot altogether!!!