Dominica woke up to the sad news this morning that lawyer, Noreen John has passed away.
A family member confirmed to a DNO source this morning that John died in Antigua on her way to London where she was going to seek medical attention.
It was recently announced that John would be the United Workers Party’s (UWP) candidate for Grand Bay in the next general election.
She was absent when the UWP presented its full slate of candidates at a public meeting on the Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard on Sunday May 19, 2019.
UWP leader Lennox Linton said at the event that John was not well and had left Dominica to seek medical attention overseas.
Oh My God. This is still very shocking. May she rest in eternal peace.
I am deeply saddened by her death and this country has lost a great servant. But one thing though, why did she throw her name in the political ring if she was that sick. Politics tend to suck out alot from you and its really a burden. Anyways my prays goes out to the family.
Noreen was a mountain of a person.
She would have made a tremendous contribution to her constituency,Dominica, the Caribbean and the world at large.
What a fantastic woman she was loving, caring, articulate and kind.
May her soul rest in peace.
Felix and Kim
My family and I are very sad to know the news of Noreen Johns sudden death. Noreen was an excellent friend and colleague to me. I worked with her at GIDD of Commonwealth Secretariat from 2001 to 2006. She was a talented, very cooperative and charming lady to work with and hence, I achieved lots of knowledge and skills from her style of performance and equally from her innocent smile and behaviour. However, people are mortal and hence, her departure is universal truth. We wish, may the Almighty grant peace on her soul and place her in the paradise. Our condolences to Noreen’s family so they can bear the great loss.
I was in total shock when I read about the passing of our great African sister. She was a great person and would have served Grand Bay well as a UWP candidate. We in Grand Bay are saddened by her passing but she’ll always be remembered. May her spirit continue to live in our hearts! To the family I say, be strong and of good courage.
PEACE!!!!
The announcement of Noreen John’s passing is very sad news to accept and share. It is particularly hurtful as only a day before her husband Olu Obonyo, who was Chair of Dominica Development Association (DDA) in the UK, wrote to me about the DUKANS Community Development Association and Dukesville projects in Dominica. He also mentioned his trip with Noreen to the UK, which was curtailed due to her ill health and hospitalisation in Antigua and his plans to take her back to Dominica.
Noreen was an Attorney at Law, and the Parliamentary candidate for UWP for the Grandbay constituency. During her residence in the UK she was an ardent supporter of the DDA, DUKA and other Associations who held numerous joint events at various fundraising events. This intelligent, positive professional and loving daughter of the Nature Island will be sadly missed. Sincere condolences, prayers and support to Olu, Noreen’s family, friends and colleagues. Rest in Perpetual Peace Noreen. May God bless and…
I heard the news this morning and remain simply shocked. Her kind and thoughtful demeanor is something we need more of in this world. We will miss her dearly. Our condolences to her family, friends and others.
Dominica is the only country on earth where people are not supposed to die. No matter what the circumstances, someone who is born and raised in Dominica should not die.
Hey, when the journey is done, we have to go eh. No matter where we are or what we are doing, when God says ‘come’ we have to go. May her soul RIP. She is with her maker. God has a better plan for her
In the time of death some of you are still wallowing in your political diatribes. It’s pathetic and shameful. Condolences to the lady family and friends
May her soul rest in eternal peace. My condolences to the family.
A lovely lady, profesional, caring. A gentle soul. May we meet again.
I really wish scientist develop something to turn back time.
Rest in Peace Noreen. I am so fortunate to have worked with you and got to know you as a very balanced and peaceful person. A very gentle yet formidable woman. A tremendously knowledgeable individual. Dominica will miss you. Condolences to your family and friends.
So very sad that the good die young . RIP , Peace.
My condolences to the family and friends of Ms. John. May the Lord comfort you in your hour of grief.
Words cannot convey the tremendous loss that those of us who love and respect this great and wonderful woman are experiencing. We thank everyone for the kind words. We know that Noreen will always be in our hearts, and we pray for the comfort and solace of God’s wisdom upon us all. Travel well Noreen, you will be missed.
We all have that ultimate appointment with death, may she rest in peace.
May her soul R.I.P.
I am in shock at the passing of a champion of progress our Sister Noreen John. Noreen and her husband Olu were in the front row at the launch of George James Christian biography at UWI in Auiust 2017. Little did I know that I was seeing her for the last time.
I knew Noreen as child as I followed my older brothers in African Liberation Day marches in the 1970s. Noreen was there.
Noreen was a champion for peace, love, unity and progress on Dominica and across the African Diaspora. She was a humanitarian who saw wrong and tried to right it.
She was one of our very own Angela Davis’ and a progressive Soul Sister …I can see her now with her afro….she wanted Grandbay to become that beacon of hope once more for a better Dominica…as we continue that work may her soul rise in power.
We shall remember her and we shall overcome!
She is now in spirit watching kindly and protectively over us.
Hold strong brother Olu.
Our heartfelt condolences to Sister Noreen’s friends…
Thank you Gabriel, Noreen a champion, Noreen volunteered in 1974, when the Community of Parents and I boldly established The Dominica Community High School ( DCHS) as her elder, I admired her strong sense of Community Love as Candia Alleyne introduced her to teach I think the Maths class. When Noreen came back home to Dominica, my spirit lifted and she was eager to help record the DCHS event. She introduced me to Olu and what a joy to have experienced their friendship. Hope that “love” keeps you strong Olu and I pray God’s blessing on your family and friends. With loving memories of Noreen. Jeane James Finucane
Come on Gabu. I expect better from you. How was she a champion of progress? Yet we say Dominica is the most backward country in the world. Stop all these crazy eulogies after someone passes away. You never enumerated those things when she was alive. Why now? Is that a posthumous eulogy or what? Some say she was well known all over the world. I will ask Kim Jon UN if he knows Noreen and also ask Philbert Blair or Jacinda of New Zeland or Malcolm Tumble of Australia or Theresa May of 10 Downing Street. I get literally sick when I read those eulogies after some one passes away.
How can a nation of people be so political??? Even in death.
R.I.P Noreen?
My condolences to the family and friends of Noreen John. I will forever remember her as she was my teacher growing up. M,y prayers go out to her family
SIP No-Jo. We do not understand why you are no longer with us but we know that the Great I Am is in control. Condolences to all your family and friends
Very sad. Sigh. A woman whom I looked up to. RIP
We have to make an all out effort to improve the healthcare system in Dominica. Everyone with a serious ailment or injury has to be flown overseas. Good health is wealth. Time is of the essence. No more pussyfooting around this must needed service. Again, profound sympathy to the relatives, friends and acquaintances of Noreen. Rest peacefully my dear sister.
On the real,but here are the cold facts, Dominica grows bananas not money trees, the virgin islands and Puerto Rico are of high standards, but yet people are flown to Florida and even Cuba for certain medical conditions,it’s sad that the sister passed may she rest in eternal gods peace, this is a white man’s world, certain nations ain’t gonna attain these types of wealth, take a look around you,is not all about Dominica, it’s the world, even the Chinese who are trying to help, are being fought against
@Forreal
We are not a wealthy nation and I fully appreciate that. I get your point. That said, we can do much better than we are doing at present. The service is far below the minimum standard. Why Barbados, Martinique and Guadeloupe should be so advance in comparison to the heath care service we provide? Better can be done and should be done.
Thanks for going off topic to tell us from your perch well tucked away elsewhere outside of Dominica.
She fell sick at the Airport in Antigua and was taken to the HOSPITAL IN ANTIGUA it was not in the hospital in DOMINICA, thank God. Ibo MALAPROP France. May she rest in PEACE!?
Kid on the Block, you are chikdish in your thinking and lack analysis, just in Bef. If our hospital was brought up to standard and npt allow yur comincal Odd Mininster to raise its standatr after twenty year, Norren would be home gettig the best care at OMH. Buit you are so blind and ficus on that so called Skerrit that you just cannot and will not not see the bigger picture. It is all about Skerrit and not Dominica. Go talk to your failed Skerrit and go mind your funky dirty labour business. ..and leave us alone. Skerrit must Go, no crocodile tears. Skerrit is a failure. Now Hon Lwennox Lintomn, in ciomning Prime Minister is on the go with hios professional UWP Team , all now wagging all your tails all over nervous of the fall all you gonna get. Labourt must Go, Get out, Skerrit mustGo, get lost.
We welcome Hon Linton and his Professional team.
God bless and guode Dominica.
@KID
What is this blatant hostility about? Have you lost your sanity? Politics has you so on the edge that even an innocuous and well intentioned comment makes you go ballistic. Check yourself voluntarily into a psychiatric ward. Don’t you wish to see Dominica’s healthcare system the envy of the Caribbean? We could even market health tourism as part of our new economic strategy. Your inane statement clearly shows what damage politics can do to the ignorant. You can only think peripherally.
So sad to hear…lovely lady
Rest In Peace Noreen
RIP Noreen
I pray that in your peaceful sleep at the feet of our Blessed Mother and Merciful Lord, you will beg and plead with them to rescue Dominica from the hands of the demons.
Yes, you really cared about Dominica and Dominicans and you were willing to fight for the betterment of all; I pray that those of us who love our people and country will continue to fight for liberation from the present demonic chains.
May your beautiful soul rest in peace.
Blessed Mother? NO NE SHALL GO THROUGH THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME! Those were the words of jesus, not through a Pope, Some still dead mary, or a priest or bishop but through christ only.
How sad that the young woman died on her way to London in search of medical care. This is a damn shame that the island does not have a hospital or competent doctors to treat sick people.
May her departed soul rest in eternal peace and may her untimely death bring outrage and attention to our derelict health care system in Dominica. May God help us all.
Nacinimod, “died on her way to London in search of medical care.” okay i will let that pass although i know you have no idea what medical care she may have been seeking, but let that pass.,
” This is a damn shame that the island does not have a hospital or competent doctors to treat sick people.” Now that’s the most RIDICULOUS and INSULTING statement ever and you should apologize to our hard working Doctors and Nurses on this wonderful island!!!!!!
@Joe Linton. I understand what you mean but even if you have good doctors and nurses, With no good equipments to work with it’s of no use. It’s like putting me in your garden to work with no tools. It’s sickening to read every time someone has to fly out for medical treatment. My biggest fear is coming to Dominica and end up needing any medical treatment 😭 To the family may God continue to give u strength to carry on. RIP lady 🙏
Are you aware that people die in hospitals in the US, Canada, the UK and around the world? When will you people just comment on what is and leave out the stupid political comments. May her soul R.I.P.
Yes they die in the US,Canada the Uk and around the world but after Doctors have tried everything in those places they would die after. When we all going to wake up from sleep. Because our health system is not good. it’s so sad to say that and it is getting worst. We have very good doctors but they don’t have equipment to work with.
To her family, esp Hilda John, my DGS 82-87 classmate. I am so sorry. I can imagine the pain you’re going through. May God grant you all the serenity to accept the things you cannot change. Praying for you… XOXO
LIFE! Only the ALMIGHTY knows the hour.
May her soul rest in peace!
So true, KID. One thing we all must face is death. Yet, we know not the hour. Live peaceably with all despite our differences.
My prayers and thoughts are with her family and friends and also the community of grandbay and the uwp members and supporters may her soul RIP
Rest in Peace!
R .I .P
May your soul rest in peace, and your dream of seeing change in Dominica must become reality. You was a wonderful and loving lady and thanks for helping me when i was down, you did not ask me for any money and nobody ever knew. Thanks.
So very sad. My deepest sympathies to all the family and friends
This is truly sad. Heart-felt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues. Life is so unpredictable. I may be your opponent but not your enemy. May her soul rest in everlasting peace.
Well well well! This is serious… Dominicans we know ourselves and we know exactly what we are thinking! Yes, it’s is serious and getting more serious by the seconds.. Condolences to the family of Noreen John..In a most tumoltous time filled with grief and many questions may the conquering Lion Of Judah, through the Holy and Only God give you a His peace…we mourn with you, we are hurting with you, we are broken too.. Thank you Noreen John for your bravery and courage in stepping forward to help Dominica…Your selfless act will be rewarded..Thank you and rest in peace…our cause for Dominica continues… Rest in Peace…alas alas alas
Oh how sad… RIP Norren