ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The son of a former Dominica prime minister has been convicted and fined EC$40,000 (US$14,981) after he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and three rounds of ammunition.
Magistrate Joan Fung also imposed an alternative two-year prison sentence on each count if the monies are not paid and ordered that Joel Seraphine be remanded to prison until this was done.
Seraphine, 26, was arrested and charged after he was found with the illegal weapon and ammunition on December 14 while the police were executing a search warrant.
His attorney, Ralph Francis, said his client, who was previously deported from Antigua found his way back into the country to collect outstanding monies owed to him.
The magistrate ordered that Seraphine be deported once he pays the fine or completes the prison term.
His father, Oliver Seraphine served as Dominica’s prime minister from 1979 to 1980 following the collapse of the Patrick John regime.
Let’s face it, no one needs to make excuses for the young man and his troubles in antigua, nor do we need to gloat over his troubles. This could and does happen to the well and poorly educated families anywhere in the world.We have free choice and you win or lose by how you choose,notwithstanding emotional and external deficits that might have precipitated the act.
for RANDOLPH AND FAIR AND SQUARE all you are hypocrites just because all you know him doesn’t make his actions right. when they depoted him why didn’t someone talk to him. he went back in those people country to cause more trouble.they should have sent him 10 years. his last name and his dad cannot save him now.what is good for th goose is good for the gander. antigua has a high population of aids in prison,TELL HIM DON’T DROP THE SOAP. i hope they paying all you for all that ass kissing all u doing.peace… kaval
No time for rejoicing at someone’s demise. Dominicans lets pray for our men. They are getting eaten up by Americanization and materialism. PRAY PRAY PRAY for our children!!!
“Joel” may Jah be with you in your time of struggle. Joel and I have been friends for along time and I know that all these negative comments post on this site will not and isn’t going to phase him. All I ask is that everyone posting comments on here to please get the facts straight and don’t get side tracked by the story headline “Son of former Dominica PM convicted on gun-related charges”. Some of us take chances in life , some people more than others and in this situation Joel’s rope ran out. For all the literate people use this link to understand whats going on….. just copy and paste in your url ….. http://www.antiguasunonline.com/news/local/253402-dominican-man-fined-40000-for-gun-possession.html
you all never hear the saying nine days for the voler and one for the police, what all you think nah is all the time innocent people will go jail for making a run to the UK for five gran and how much car rental rolling and others have to sweat and work hard and still cannot see their way let the boy get what comming to him eh all you too unfear because all you know him all of a sudden he is an alter boy, well why all you doh make a collection and pay the fine, well then again he doh need it what he came back to collect should be enough, stop condoning and covering up for them fellars
i am really entertained by this. Life goes on !! The young man is feeling the pressure while these comments are being made . I believe times like this calls for prayers love and collaboration as one people . i know there are some that may have thought he needs to learn the lessons form this mishap but i strongly believe he needs a another try and chance .
I believe he is learning form this . A youung man with so much potential is what you see when u look at him and other youths. They are our future . The Dominica i know is full of love . We at many times dont unite as we should , but we have so much love to give . Rather we should embrace the situation and give the family and the young man comforting words because they are going through a storm right now. I pray to GOD that everything works in the favor of the young man and when he gets out he will be given the opportunity to continue his education and be someone who is respected by society .
Only God knows the worries and heartaches he is feeling. At the end of the day he is in there not us . My love goes out to his family because i know it is not easy . I believe that every mother with a loss son wishes their son was here with them today . There are some mothers like myself prayed and wish my son was alive today and i could see him progress to something in life . To his family have hope . The most important thing SMILE he has LIFE and no one can take that AWAY from him . GOD BLESS U !!
I am just praying for Mr.Seraphin and his family. I hope everything goes well and Joel learns from his mistakes. I know joel from since he is young and he is an educated young man who just went the wrong way. I know him personally and I believe he will be fine. I am sooo ashamed to call myself a Dominicans because Dominicans are worse than I thought.Mr.Seraphine have nothing to yall and bashing the man like this and his family and not giving them the privacy in this time is just terrible. Every individual makes up their mind as to what they want to do in life and it is not Mr. Seraphine’s fault for what his son did. I have to advise my own people to get educated and unite with your people when they fall not bring them down even more. I am soooo ashamed.. Give the people their privacy please.
Well Zotolan, or whatever your rediculous name is. you clearly dont know Joel. Why dont you keep your comments to yourself. Only people that can talk about Joel are his family, friends, girlfriend and his children. Your comment is not needed. O.J seraphine has nothing to do with waht Joel Seraphine did. Everybody makes mistakes. O.J Seraphine opinion about the government is his opinion, everybody has a right to speak as they please, Please tell me if there some law in D/A that says otherwise. Joel has people who love him and Zotalan get a life you will never know joel and he doesnt want to know u. Uneducated fool. get a job. I notice your jealousy comes from deep within. Thankyou thinkinman for your positive words. everyone makes mistakes and everyone should be given a chance to become something positive in life. I know many people who have down that path and are now something in life. They could do it and he can do it as well. I have one thing to say. O.J seraphine is a well educated man, he tried for Dominica, he has his reasons for not supporting the prime minister and is his choice to say what he pleases. You dominicans are backward because it is totally legal to do what he did. Dont judge. All of a sudden he is so important because he made comments about Skerrit,(who is skerrit) his son is soo important. LOW BLOW DOMINICANS. YALL FULL OF IT…..
what we wouln’t want for our family members we don’t wish it for others. let’s not be happy about what happened but be concerned for it is a dominica that has fallen and we are all Dominicans
a popular sayin goes this way: for every action there is a reaction and for every action there is a consequence. the young man can descern right from wrong and he knew having such weapons on him is quite dangerous. if infact he did go back to antigua to collect his money(like the article said) then he should not have such weapons in his possession. The crime was done and now the consequences follow. there is one thing left to do. accept the punishment and learn from the mistake.
OJ SHOUL D BE TAKING CARE OF HIS FAMILY INSTEAD OF WASTING TIME TRYING TO BRING DOWN THE PM. BUT WAIT WHAT GOOD ADVICE CAN OJ GIVE, THEY ALL IN THE SAME BOARD. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND OJ, NEVER TRY TO BRING A GOOD MAN DOWN.
In Life it’s always good to check your surroundings including your immediate family before you go blasting other people.It might be shocking what you find. Some of y’all love sticking ya’ll noses in what doesnt concern you!!! Will never understand why we love minding ppls biz when ours is just as bad and even worst.. Am not saying what he did is right, but hell with all whats been going on i’d love to have an AK 47 myself!! Too many murderers walking free after taking ones life in D/ca….Will be sure to say a prayer for you Joel and hope that all goes well with you…Just remember prayer is the key, put God first and he will be sure to walk you through, he didnt promise to take away our burdens but he did promise to help us carry them…I’ve always wonderd what and where you went wrong, you were such a sweetheart back then when we were teenagers. When i was cold you’d give me the shirt off your back..But who am i to judge you only God can.. I wish you the best.. We all have families and GUESS what??? We all get ourselves mixed up in situations one way or another wether we like it or not.. Becareful what you wish for others it just might come right back and bite you in the butt..If we cant say something constructive about others why cant we just shut our trap???Very few times i would come on here and read comments that is actually worth reading… Props to everyone who makes positive comments!!!
Typical dominican behaviour … Celebrating and defending criminal behaviour just because you know the person. You all should be ashamed of yourself, putting your hand in fire for mr seraphine. NO, he is not perfect, but this is no justification for him to be involved in these illicit activitites… the number of times he has been arrested speaks for itself.
Wow you people are amazing, He is a Dominican like all of us, he is wrong on every count and should pay for his mistakes, but instead of tearing him down we should stand up as a people and pray for all the youths that are getting themselves into terrible actions like this, we need an intervention to what is making these young people so distructive to themselves and Country. Lord help us
@ Ms. Baron……I have no stake in either Mr. Seraphine or “Jhar-Gwabay” so it serves me no purpose to rejoice about Grandbay people’s problems. Like my name suggests, I am fair and square and say it as I see.
Carry on my dear….continue to rejoice whilst at the same time continue to do Grandbay a disservice with your pathetic comments “if it was Grandbay people”. Not allu self nuh dat doz say “Gwabay mwen sorti” …….blow hot & cold still !
well said miss baron positive plp like you we need to comment on D N O keep it up have a happy new year.
OSMA YOU ARE A DOMINICAN AND IS BACKWARDS PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT DOMINICANS.GUESS YOU ARE ONE OF HIS PARTNER IN CRIME,SO THEY MASH ON YOUR CORN.GO TO ANTIGUA AND ASK FOR AN EXCHANGE OF PLACE WITH THE YOUNG MAN.
IF HE WAS SO GOOD AND UNDERSTANDING AS OSMA SAYS, WHY WOULD HE BE WALKING AROUND WITH UNLICENSE FIREARM AND AMMO.HE DESERVES WHAT HE GETS.IS PEOPLE LIKE THEM THAT CAUSE DOMINICANS TO GET BAD NAME.HE COMMITT THE CRIME,DO THE TIME AND OR PAY UP AND KICK HIM AND OTHERS LIKE HIM OUT OF ANTIGUA.I LIVED IN ANTIGUA FOR 22YRS AND WAS A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN,AND GOOD POLICE OFFICER THERE.YOU ALL REMIND ME OF THOSE SILLY PERSONS IN NEW YORK.WHEN THEIR KIDS COMITT CRIMES WOULD SAY HE WAS A GOOD KID.GOOD PEOPLE UPHOLD THE LAW OF ALL COUNTRIES.
i think ticush and blackmore are fools. typical dummynicans
I wish the young man the best. Hopefully he wisens up n walks the str8 n narrow. There is nothing to laugh at or call out to Mr. Seraphine to make a comment or anything of the sort. This is a private matter and should be dealt with as such. Too often do we try to “research” the lives of others in an attempt to dig up dirt. Remember… your evil intentions and bad mind will not get you anywhere in the eyes of the most high. So go ahead foolish dominicans… laugh at the young man’s expense instead of coming together to teach the youth the right way.
When the world says, “Give up,”
Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it
makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of t
hemselves.
Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.
its not a matter of rejoicing but lets be fair. when it happens to grand bay guys all of you who are now saying dont rejoice and all that are the first ones to run an put dirty comments on DNO. grand bay people are dominicans too. the ones from new town are dominicans too. not because they were not of families with ties in high public office. i feel for all of them but they also have choices to enter that kind of life where there are risks to themselves and their families. when one does it, it should be wrong. when another does it, it should also be wrong. i have a brother and a large family. i’d be real disappointed if that ever did happen to them. but after so much talk and advice i give to him if he decide thats the life he wants then he should also be ready to face the consequences of his actions and decisions. everything comes with a price. some prices are just higher than others and in some cases we just so happen to be more lucky than others in the same position. so……everyone have their cross to carry but at the end of it, preference ain’t gonna mean s***!!!!!!!!!!!!!! merry christmas and happy new year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WELL PEOPLE IN DOMINICA ARE REALLY BACKWARD WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AND EDUCATED COMMENT BASED ON ISSUES THAT DO NOT AFFECT THEM . FIRST OF ALL A SLIGHT SITUATION LIKE THIS CALLS FOR NO IGNORANT ACCUSATIONS ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF . HE WILL COME THROUGH WITH THE GRACE OF GOD. FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW JOEL HE IS A LOVING AND UNDERSTANDING INDIVIDUAL . HE GIVES AND HE HELPS . THERE MAY BE INTANCES THAT THERE MAY BE A TRAP OR WALL AROUND HIM BUT ALWAYS OVERCOME IT ALL. GOD IS GOOD WE ALL HAVE OUR WEAK POINTS. IN LIFE ONE CAN RELATE TO AN ISSUE OR INCIDENT THAT WE MAY HAVE OVERCOME BUT MOVED ONWARDS .
FOR THOSE WHO ARE CELEBRATING YOURS WILL COME ONE DAY AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE MOUTH TO TALK AND ADHERE TO ANY COMMENTS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE TO LATE . THINK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN . COULD HAVE BEEN OUR CHILD . LIFE GOES ON . LOOK AT THE OTHER GREAT EVENTS THAT OCCURED RECENTLY OR IN THE PAST . THESE ARE ISSUES TO GIVE A PERSONAL COMMENT TO . AS THEY SAY IF U CANT WISH GOOD DONT WISH OR SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. AFTER ALL GOOD ALWAYS PROSPER . REMEMBER THAT!!! I WILL SAY A PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY OTHER PEOPLE DOWNFALL!! BECAUSE AFTER ALL GOODNESS ALONE LEAVES IN MY HEART. J U ARE TOO BLESSED !!! U ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS . PRAYERS MOVE MOUNTAINS.
Come on OSMA, You must have known another Joel Seraphine, Not the one I know.
You need to rise from your sleep and stop making such silly excuses for KAWANTS!
ZOTOLAN
It always baffles me when persons delight in another’s demise? Remember that you all have family too – brothers, sisters, children, nieces, nephews, etc.
I trust the young man will learn from the error of his ways, and go onto doing something productive with his life. We make children; but, we do not make their mind. I can imagine the pain and shame his parents must be feeling. From that moment one brings a child into the world, that unconditional love remains forever and ever – I know because I have a young child.
Lord help our young people and I pray for parents all over the world. Mr. Seraphin, you made a contribution to your country and I’m sure you did not send your son to break any laws. So Sir, do not allow anybody to make you feel ashamed by their crass comments.
WELL PEOPLE IN DOMINICA ARE REALLY BACKWARD WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AND EDUCATED COMMENT BASED ON ISSUES THAT DO NOT AFFECT THEM . FIRST OF ALL A SLIGHT SITUATION LIKE THIS CALLS FOR NO IGNORANT ACCUSATIONS ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF . HE WILL COME THROUGH WITH THE GRACE OF GOD. FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW JOEL HE IS A LOVING AND UNDERSTANDING INDIVIDUAL . HE GIVES AND HE HELPS . THERE MAY BE INTANCES THAT THERE MAY BE A TRAP OR WALL AROUND HIM BUT ALWAYS OVERCOME IT ALL. GOD IS GOOD WE ALL HAVE OUR WEAK POINTS. IN LIFE ONE CAN RELATE TO AN ISSUE OR INCIDENT THAT WE MAY HAVE OVERCOME BUT MOVED ONWARDS .
FOR THOSE WHO ARE CELEBRATING YOURS WILL COME ONE DAY AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE MOUTH TO TALK AND ADHERE TO ANY COMMENTS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE TO LATE . THINK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN . COULD HAVE BEEN OUR CHILD . LIFE GOES ON . LOOK AT THE OTHER GREAT EVENTS THAT OCCURED RECENTLY OR IN THE PAST . THESE ARE ISSUES TO GIVE A PERSONAL COMMENT TO . AS THEY SAY IF U CANT WISH GOOD DONT WISH OR SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. AFTER ALL GOOD ALWAYS PROSPER . REMEMBER THAT!!! I WILL SAY A PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY OTHER PEOPLE DOWNFALL!! BECAUSE AFTER ALL GOODNESS ALONE LEAVES IN MY HEART. J U ARE TOO BLESSED !!! U ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS . PRAYERS MOVE MOUNTAINS.
I dont know why Dominicans dont go an try to find out why Dominica so backward. All the evil they doing thats why Dominica cant go no where. I dont know why they dont go an try to find out about all the corruption that is taking place in there own country. Every island I been to is improving in one way or the other and Dominica just going backward.sighs. Stop mind people business and mind the country businesss man. Leave O.J alone and mind what is important. Isnt …some rep? Learn to speak english man and go do your work. This nonsense irritates me.
Mitchie I have to advise you to look up the definition of acting prime minister.But I must agree with you on your point about joel. Blackmore you seem to be a blank… hater just like the rest. I know the pressures mr.seraphine sons been through because of jealous Dominicans and pressures can push people to do such things as rebelling. Laughing at someone’s down fall is a real low blow thats why many dominicans will never make it. Dominicans try to bring down each other, bad talk each other and celebrate over each other’s down fall. Let me not forget they always seem to not give credit where it is due. That is coming from a real Dominican.Just had to let that out. Joel I wish you the best of luck and I know you are an Intelligent young man and you will pull through. God gives everyone a chance to pull through. Mr. Seraphine I will always respect you for bringing Dominica through Hurricane David, For being one of the first labor party leaders and for being a role model for me. They will not try to make you look bad, these dominicans, for you are a respectable man and will always be. Thankyou for being my mentor.
I’m not at all surprised. I want to know what the former Pm has to say now. Talk man talk! Let us hear you!
Hmmm…well i hope he get the monies to pay back so that he can return to Dominica and hopefully start doing good for this country… It’s never to late to do Good…
I thought Mr.Seraphine served longer than that as PM…hmmm one year!!! they should have called him acting PM….
KAVAL who can’t hear will feel… after they depot the fool he had the nerve to GO back and collect money. papa met.they should have given him more time. people like that making other dominicans in antigua look bad, they always there to give d.a a bad name. GOOD JOB U MAKING DADDY REALLY PROUD….LOL