Dominica’s Education Minister, Octavia Alfred, is condemning the recent acts of violence on the island that have claimed the lives of two young men.
Donaldson Wallace of Marigot lost his life on Saturday, December 27, 2025, after being chopped in the neck, while on Christmas Eve, Jervie Mason was reportedly gunned down during a drive-by shooting in the vicinity of the Back Road in Bathe Estate.
According to reports, over 20 homicides were recorded for the year 2025.
“This is a time when we should be enjoying ourselves with our families, sharing joy, being merry, eating and drinking. And so I took this opportunity to strongly condemn the recent acts of violence and shooting in our country,” she said. “Such acts of violence have no place in our society and they only bring us pain, and they only bring us fear.”
She continued, “They only disturb our communities and our country.”
Alfred urged everyone to join in building a culture of peace and tolerance.
Furthermore, she stated that the Government of Dominica is committed to ensuring that every Dominican is safe.
“And we will continue to take steps to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to curb violent crimes,” she noted. “So as we wrap up 2025 and we move into 2026, let us stand up by our national anthem and a people strong and healthy, ‘Full of Godly reverent fear.’”
Alfred added, “Let’s show reverence to God, let’s show respect for life, let’s show love for each other. Let’s embrace each other and let’s appreciate and maintain this peaceful nation.”
She also called on the nation to have a spirit of tolerance and to resolve conflict amicably.
“There is always a better way to do it,” she emphasized.
Alfred sent sympathy and strength to the families who are going through this grieving period at such a time, “and I call on every Dominican to condemn these acts and you play your part in ensuring that we maintain a peaceful nation.”
my dear lady…take a break and remove the wooden speakacles from your eyes….can’t u see crime and gun related crime are on the rise due to the carbal incompetency? can’t u see…Dominica was never like that….there is this incompetent bunch of politicians….when past minister are importing gun parts and having their case not for the public…what does this say…is he above the law?when the son of the highness is sent overseas after an accident….what does this say???the highness and family is about the law?? remthe wooden speakacles…and go back to God…not church
“when the son of the highness is sent overseas after an accident….what does this say???the highness and family is about the law??”
Was the “accident” a crime?
Was the “son of the highness” suspected or charged by the Police of a crime?
The time for talk is long over. What is needed NOW is ACTION!
The country needs intelligent, honest, highly motivated .mrnand women to do this arduous job of keeping the peace. State of the art strategies, policies and a master plan should be in place to greatly shrink this unacceptable ballooning crime wave.
Poverty, joblessness, illicit drugs, the proliferation of illegal guns and ammunition, childhood experiences, peer pressure all contribute to crime. Many of these listed can be readily found in Dominica. We need transformative change. Rid the country of the current last-rate administration.
Well said every word mentioned is exactly what we needed in Dominica but she is a member of parliament where the law dealing with smoking grass was changed Elegal drugs smoking and or sniffling is the cause of this
Empty and useless words. The minister knows that they all had an opportunity to speak out when Skerrit was building that culture but said nothing, but clap.Now gruesome murder and crime is all over our country she there condemning? Tell her to go condemn Skerrit for where our country is now and condemn him for preventing us to get a US visa to go to the US
Very crass comment. When crises like this arise, leaders in all civilized societies are expected to speak out. So transforming it into a “skerrit” thing reveals a lot about you as a person. Shame