CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: Opposition leader

Leader of the Opposition, Lennox Linton

My Fellow Dominicans at home and abroad,

Season’s Greetings!

This year, we retell the 2,016-year-old Christmas story of “peace on earth; goodwill to men”, against a worsening backdrop of human misery and governance atrocities in our beloved Dominica. It has been another 12-month catalogue of increasing poverty, joblessness, spiraling cost of living, senseless murders, epidemics, lies from the powerful to fool the powerless and unrelenting abuse of state resources for the benefit of a privileged few.

Yet in response to “come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant”, and as the leadership of the Christian Church pretends to see and hear no evil, we retreat from the harsh and deeply troubling realities of our time to sing the carols that seem to comfort a suffering nation with inspirational claims like “Joy to the World; the Lord has come”. From the corrupt manipulation of the sale of Dominican passports; to the obsession with stealing elections and stifling democracy; to the continuing destruction of the economy – all for private gain – there were no shortage of reminders this year that for many among us while the sorrows grow the blessings just don’t seem to flow.

And so, another year ends and a new one welcomes those on the frontlines of injustice, poverty, suffering and desperation in Dominica with the hope of change in circumstances for which the solution has long remained “but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained”. This clearly should not be since “God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have eternal life”.

But how well do we in daily life heed the Christmas message? How much do we live the Christmas spirit of giving even from our scanty material possessions? Most importantly how conscientiously and effectively do we use God’s gift of talents to stand firmly for the truth, righteousness and justice of God’s design for mankind? As much as we are justifiably unhappy with the nation we have allowed ourselves to become, the change we yearn for, requires us to stand and be counted; for God “helps those who help themselves” especially in securing justice for all.

In his campaign against slavery, American change agent Theodore Parker addressed the inevitability of justice regardless of how uncertain it seems in times of hopelessness and despair:

“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.”

In the truthfulness of the Christmas story there is a guarantee for Christian people of good conscience in this Isle of Beauty that God will implement his plan for change, not by force from the outside but from His spirit that dwells within us all and through which we know that we are God. The more we do His goodwill, the more he abides with us and the more mysteriously He will move to perform His wonders driven by the pace of our interest and commitment.
Let us therefore, take a hint from famed civil rights leader Martin Luther King and ensure that this Christmas season is the one in which we align our inner selves with outside forces dedicated to speeding up the course of justice:

“… there is a creative force in this universe working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows.”

This Christmas, as we the Christians of Dominica celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we stand on the blessed assurance that we can and will reform the broken electoral system that threatens to deform our freedom and democracy; we can and will stamp out the abuse of public office for private gain; we can and will end poverty; and we can and will secure the greatest good for the greatest number.

Be not afraid, for the promise of Christmas 2016 is that our God, who through endless years remains the same, stands ready to honour our request to command the leaders of this broken land to govern with truth, righteousness and justice. This is the good news of great joy, for all the sons and daughters of our “gem beyond compare”.

Happy Holidays in the love and blessings of His marvelous light.

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57 Comments

  1. free
    December 28, 2016

    Well said Hon. Linton

  2. STUPES !!
    December 28, 2016

    MAMA…dat is a Christmas message? …..GEEX and stupes !!!.

  3. Bobol
    December 27, 2016

    Lennox, you are a politician. Like all of your kind, you MUST toe the line, or be wiped out. So we know what to expect. Once you are in power, you will be just like Skerritt, or even worse.

    If you really want to help Dominica, then get out of it as you are just one wasted space.

  4. ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
    December 27, 2016

    Dominicans get high blood pressure over everything. If a parrot gives a says something they begjn to vent. When will you all come together as one. It’s Christmas!!! Stop it now. Why behave as spoil children. Most of the comments I read are just so negative. A Christmas message should be simple and to the point. It is not about us. It is about Christ. We are so caught up in ourselves that we forget. I pray that the coming year God will have a closer relationship with God. He cares and love us so much. Dominicans get bk to your first love. You all are so caught up in material things that your eyes are blinded. You do not even look out for the HOMELESS and POOR. You look down on them. Unless you do not take care of them the country will remain the same. STOP THINKING OF YOU ALL SELVES AND BOASTING OF THE MATERIAL THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE AND TAKE CARE OF THE POOR. THEN THE LAND WILL BE BLESSED.?

    • Tjebe fort
      December 27, 2016

      What you smoking bro.? You want God to have a closer relationship with God? How can that be?

  5. KID ON THE BLOCK
    December 26, 2016

    I just want to ask Mr. whether if ever he was in power(which of course will never ever happen)whether Dominica would have no poverty; no crime; people would be picking and choose jobs; no bobol; milk and honey would be flowing in everyone’s tap; he would do no wrong; his leadership would be for free to make sure everyone have money in their pocket….. he would eliminate the word corruption from the dictionary; and sees himself as the PUREST BEING.. A man that would, can and does NO WRONG.. Mr. ALFA and the OMEGA when it comes to PERFECTION. The only TRUTHFUL being to ever hold office in government and make Dominica a Paradise where only saints can live anything else shall perish.

    • repo
      December 27, 2016

      you must be god to tell what will and will not happen, idiot.

    • %
      December 27, 2016

      One thing for sure…,,,he would create the environment for you to get out of the begging state that you are in…You sound like an idiot,but at least,you would be an independent idiot…He would eliminate disrespect for our constitution,he would have functional institutions,he wod give account of our passport sales,he would try to get agriculture out of the DLP coffin,he would give a boost to tourism,he would punish corrupt activities,last but not least,he would make it his duty that there are night sessions at schools islandwide for people like you!!!!

      • Man bites Dog
        December 28, 2016

        % Don’t forget all the mess Workers Party put us in when they were in government or maybe you were to stupid to notice Edison, could not run a rum shop, This is why we will not let any more from the Workers party running Dominica again.

    • viewsexpressed
      December 27, 2016

      You are Kid with a very narrow minded sense of emptiness to development and the quality of development, good governance and accountability. Getting rid of poverty is the job of the people, the governments role is to facilitate and not rob the people of its states money and resources.
      Accountability is key and that is what we ask for. Under Freedom Party`s Dame Eugenia Charles, it worked, where were you. Under Skerrit he has turned our people to poverty, beggars through a Bobol Rd Clinic. Skerrit and his corrupt gang must go, my wish for 2017

  6. S M
    December 26, 2016

    Lennox , your message was on point. While most people look at the messenger we should look at the material before us and think wisely for the future of our country.
    Dominica is being ruled by the most selfish and corrupt people we have seen so it is time for change .

  7. YungMusician
    December 26, 2016

    Mr. Linton is proving that he is out of touch with reality with each passing day. That’s got to be the worst Christmas message ever written by an opposition leader in the modern era. Feels like a paper written by a high school student minutes before the deadline. “through which we know that we are God” … “driven by the pace of our interest and commitment”, What ideas are you trying to convey here? All these senseless and haphazard quotes from songs and speeches simple results in an incoherent and uninspiring message. Please keep it simple mate, you can’t do “sophisticated”…

    • viewsexpressed
      December 27, 2016

      Well done Hon Lennox Linton. Some people do read but fail to comprehend the quality of the message.

    • jackass jones
      December 27, 2016

      Go work on ur comprehension. U r either dunce or chupit

    • Young Musician your stupid words are music only to your ear, it will take the entire economy to spiral down to zero, and collapse before idiots like pay some attention to the truth which Lennox speaks.

      The mentality of people like you is this: Well my old mother, and my old father is (was) labor, so I am labor too, come hell or high waters I prefer to see Skerrit and his corrupted mission destroy Dominica as long as I can get a piece of red cloth to cover my behind.

      I do not need any work, so hell with the creation of any industry in the country, all of those things such as an International Airport, Street stop lights, better infrastructure , because Antigua, Barbados and all the rest of the Caribbean have them already.

      Your stupid mentality is simply this: We have we passport industry, as long as Skerrit and his agents sell them in bundles, ( I doh care), the barrel industry good enough for me!

      Poor fool! The ship is sinking the captain is incapacitated, the weight of…

      • Tony nice to read you. I am not really stress over those ignorant people, because he/she who feels it knows it. You and I are not in Dominica, and I supposed have a different experience to what Dominicans enjoy.

        Most of those are brainwashed into believing that their life is perfect, better living than the rest of the world, they are delusional, hence they do not feel the pain of hunger, and poverty, as the get the handout from Skerrit, along with dance music and rum.

        But you in the final analysis the put obstacles in the way of other who would like to see the country and themselves make progress, what can anybody say to people like our people to affords them to think cognitively and discover the bondage in which the live under Skerrit.

        I may be in New York this Summer, I planed on going to Miami to visit a relative, If I do I might take in NY and NJ, getting old now those thousands of miles are getting harder to drive. Near the end of the this Summer, I had to go to…

      • Continue:

        Near the end of the this Summer, I had to go to Louisiana twice; I almost got killed, as someone ran me off the Freeway in Dallas. Tony boy only God knows why my woman, and I are still alive. Some parts of I-20 between Dallas, and Shreveport Louisiana runs for almost a hundred miles or more with two lanes only, this person in a big black truck came from the right lane towards me in the left lane.

        It is a good thing I was only maintaining the speed limit going between 70 and 65, when I saw, that front wheal of that truck was inches away from my Corvette, my only alternative was to accelerate off the Freeway about sixth feet down a slope in a ravine.

        Boy, when that car stop bouncing around from side to side and almost flip I knew we were going to die. When it settled on four wheals, I was getting read to use profanities, I heard a voice said to me: “but you are alive.” I quickly realize we had experience a Miracle from God!

      • Man bites Dog
        December 28, 2016

        Francisco, when are you going to stop barking like a stupid old dog hoof hoof hoof, anyway learn to spell Labour not Labor ha ha ha ha ha

      • Man bites dog, go and bite the one who gave birth to an idiot like you! That is why you have become the carnivore you are, and has eaten part of the one who birth you!

    • Continue:

      Poor fool! The ship is sinking the captain is incapacitated, the weight of corruption around his neck is so heavy he is unable to steer the ship; yet idiots like you prefer to go down with him, rather than abandoned his ship. When will your kind learn the problem is not Lennox Linton, but rather Skerrit’s corrupted; devious, and cynical behavior which has become an obstacle in progress, and the development of the country.

      Let me drop this at your feet Skerrit said eighteen (18) families are rendered homeless, and they will each receive 1,000.00 dollars, do you think that clown is talking about money. That is only eighteen thousand dollars what can be accomplish from that?

      This is only one example to show you how poor has Dominica become under the rule of Skerrit.

      • Tony
        December 28, 2016

        Hello and good afternoon my people. Well Mr Telemaque you gave me a good laugh today. Merry Christmas and happy New Year. Some of our citizens never travel so they don’t know how thing really work ,therefore don’t stress yourself because they won’t open there eyes. Anyway when are you coming to New York City.

      • Mosquito 1
        December 28, 2016

        Francisco- A workers friend of mine told me that you are a transvestite is it true? i was just asking.

  8. islandal
    December 26, 2016

    u cant shut up??? it Christmas what kind of message is that,, god pray for our country if this guy become prime minister

    • jackass jones
      December 27, 2016

      Don’t be blinded by hate. No one knew what labar could do until they won. We now know. GET THIS: GOD DOSENT PRAY:

  9. KID ON THE BLOCK
    December 26, 2016

    But when will this GUY ever learn? Boss a Christmas message is different from a Political Message! Playing smart but far from being clever….

    • Viewsexpressed
      December 26, 2016

      You idiot..during Jesus’ walk he challenged and address the corruption and dirty practices of the then government. Skeerit deserves the same tewatment from our Opposition leader. As we suffer inder this corrupt leader we have no time for niceties.
      Well said Hon Linton.

      • KID ON THE BLOCK
        December 27, 2016

        Idiot! Viewsexpressed, did you take your time to read the bs you wrote? If not take some time and read over and tell me who is the idiot! Which spelling school did you go to?

  10. Lol
    December 25, 2016

    Boss man if you do not have anything to say why don’t you shot up

    • viewsexpressed
      December 27, 2016

      Go get your teacher to read for you ……go on, she is waiting.

  11. December 25, 2016

    Stop talking over the people. Please get down to their level.

    • %
      December 26, 2016

      Go buy an exercise book and go to school..Your hater,you would have said something negative anyway..Go wallow in your hatred.

      • KID ON THE BLOCK
        December 27, 2016

        %, You of all people talking about hatred? You can’t be serious but just a mere hypocrite.

    • viewsexpressed
      December 27, 2016

      Hon Linton is trying to raise the level of our people. If this appears to beyond your comprehension, get you sister, brother, a UWP friend to help you with the bigger picture. Do not go to Skerrit, he himself is unable to comprehend. Wake up and run away from him.

  12. ms alen
    December 25, 2016

    The foolish is afraid of wisdom sotherefore. my ppl take heed of what the interletual on Tea
    the m on the team Dominicq

  13. De ayes have it
    December 25, 2016

    Lennox ou pas las parle caca??..

  14. Dr Clayton Shillingford
    December 25, 2016

    A serious message for all our citizens to reflect deeply upon as we prepare to move into a New Year. Let us hope that by our efforts to do what is good we will see the emergence of a Better Dominica..Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year for ALL.

    • viewsexpressed
      December 27, 2016

      Well said Clayton…thanks.

  15. December 25, 2016

    HAAA. ventage, Dreamer, Bob Marley Admirarer, Reverse Leader, I doh want to wait in vain for power. So help me God, that in the coming year2017, the more things change the more it remains the same. I in that too so help me God!

  16. dee
    December 25, 2016

    well well well not even with a simple thing like a Christmas message to the Nation could both the Countries leaders resist the temptation of playing political games .
    Can’t they just listen to the messages of other WORLD LEADERS and realize what they are doing is uncalled for ? There’s a time for everything.
    Sarckway Tonnierre .

  17. The truth
    December 25, 2016

    You have given us a lot of hope

  18. “The carols that seem to comfort a suffering nation with inspirational claims like “Joy to the World; the Lord has come”. From the corrupt manipulation of the sale of Dominican passports; to the obsession with stealing elections and stifling democracy.”(Lennox Linton).

    Lennox boy, your Christmas message is a master piece! I wish I could recognize the mumbling’s of: Me Almost Nearly cousin that balled-head Mountain Chicken Carpaud (crapo) Mentality Sly Eye Sir Knight Indian doctor of nothing Roosevelt Skerrit as I recognize your message as truth.

    Your message is filled the with truth of the day regarding Dominica; a place where some people do not know or feel hardship; they cannot see the failing economy, they do not know what it is to be without a job, and penniless. Their corrupted financial source of income, in additional to the sale of Dominica passports has immunized them from the misery they “Skerrit ” has brought on the people and country!

  19. December 25, 2016

    “Be not afraid, for the promise of Christmas 2016 is that our God, who through endless years remains the same, stands ready to honour our request to command the leaders of this broken land to govern with truth, righteousness and justice”

    Linton Sir, I think it is hypocritical of you to speak about God, when all you are doing is rejecting His work in Dominica, as you turn around and say He will fulfill; God cannot fulfill the desire of a dark hearted fellow like you.

    You have been saying those things which you said here all the year through, why do you need to retell it –how is it a Christmas message to our people of Dominica?

    What you fail to realize that this is your personal opinion and others with you–it is not a message that the majority can share; how do you call it a Christmas message?

    As you, yourself said: “It is the celebration of Jesus’ Birth” (not that I agree with that) but should your message be based of the said topic?

    • %
      December 26, 2016

      This is the biggest piece of garbage written in 2016…Who is that God you are referring to ?Is it S………..?This cesspit of …….,you have blogged,if I had my way, I would empty it where you only could see it!Why can’t you find something productive to do!!

    • Elizabeth, you are a witch, an evil person, who have a personal vendetta against Lennox, but in as much as you are running off your cursed mouth on him. I will inform you that Lennox is not a thief!

      He is not walking looking behind him to see if the Dominica police, or the FBI, or New Scotland Yard detectives trailing to arrest him. You cannot mention anything Lennox thief from you, but I can tell you about many things a certain fellow thief eh!

      No name no warrant, no law suite can be effective. Lennox knows what it is work and make an honest living. If he was not an honest man, he would have long gone from rags to riches in a matter of days! By the way there is somebody who need your love and attention; not a politician: Yesterday was Christmas in Canada also, did you cook and take a plate of food to him your “zaffa” your son.

      Mind him, and your business, stop leaching on my cousin, I told you anytime you open your mouth on Lennox you and a certain man will feel my…

      • December 27, 2016

        No name no warrant, no law suite can be effective.–Telemaque

        That is so because DNO will reject your comment should you mention the name. I am sure that you have been warned not to do so.

        So where is your big mouth, when you have to chose your words carefully so that they will be accepted by the High Authority? Hehehehehehehehe!

        We both wrote about Lennox, but look at the ratings between yours and mine–even if you spoke in favor of him!.

        “This Christmas, as we the Christians of Dominica celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ”, This is part of Lennox’s Message. Here is what you wrote in response to it: “Lennox boy, your Christmas message is a master piece!–Telemaque

        Compared it with this one against PM Skerrit Message: “I challenge anybody to pinpoint the exact day and date of Jesus birthday; surely it is not the 25th day of December of any year– Telemaque

        So then between the two, tell me who is the damn hypocrite. And just shut up now!

    • And by the way, we did not ask you to send us any electronic Christmas card with no long yellow woman on it. You are here talking fart about Lennox, don’t you know he is also a recipient of all the mail disseminated in that other forum.

      How can you extend season greetings to someone yesterday, and today we are reading your mess?

      You old, old, old hypocrite! Don’t you see nobody responded to your thing?

      • December 27, 2016

        For a 72 year old man, you are such a stupid child! What does this post above have to do with what we are comment about on this board?

        You simply do not know how to discern where and when to speak. That is the reason DNO is rejecting most of your comments–they are always inappropriate.

        Electronic Card! You don’t even know what you are talking about. What I posted has nothing to do with electronics–it is no difference from writing this message here, for DNO to print out–you foolish, foolish fellow!

  20. December 25, 2016

    Another nonsense Christmas message. Belongs in the garbage.

  21. mildred
    December 25, 2016

    Oh please! Grow up Lennox and know when it’s time and place for political garbage.

    • December 26, 2016

      Mildred stop being a hypocritical self because you haven got any sense, did you ask your PM the same and why is that, so stop looking at Dominica thru your rose red glasses. remember you live in garbage with your present political administration , hardship is not only affecting the Opposition supporter it affect all the people regardless of which side they are on, so love your party and PM but stop to smell the coffee once in a while instead of throwing dirt in the dark .

  22. viewsexpressed
    December 25, 2016

    Well said Hon Linton. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2016 to you and your blessed family. You and your party, the UWP have performed exceptionally well. This is the reality of the situation. When Jesus walked the streets and saw the suffering it is the same tone of words and concerns he acclaimed that brought the King then, his pirates and false acolytes to report Jesus hence his crucifixion. Hon Linton be prepared for the out lash of words and inappropriate concerns of the suffering of the people of Dominica from the corrupt acolytes of Skerrit’s ………………who has failed to account to the people for Dominica`s accounts, but behave like Judas and be denial and betray the people of Dominica. These guys continue to worship and protect a false prophet, are blind to the reality of poverty and suffering and the increase in poverty of the poor people of Dominica.
    Under inept Skerrit, his corrupt Labour Government The people of Dominica…

  23. mine
    December 25, 2016

    Come on its christmas give politics a break. There is poverty all over the world. Do you think with you there will be no poverty in DA? It’s baby jesus birthday try to celebrate it with what ever he bless us with.

    • repo
      December 27, 2016

      this is not politic, this is the gloomy reality of the everyday life in Dominica, open your eyes, this is a perfect Christmas message, it hurts those who blind them self from the truth, the beggars, the handouts people and so forth.

      • Me
        December 27, 2016

        Amen, our Grinch is no patch on Scrooge.

      • mine
        December 27, 2016

        well they can get the hand out but when you people with your flase hopes they not get anything.

  24. John Jay
    December 25, 2016

    Happy holidays to you family, up and all Dominicans.
    Well said.

  25. Tony
    December 25, 2016

    Hello and good morning my people from a cold New York City. Merry Christmas or Happy holidays to all my fellow Dominicans where ever you are. Thanks Mr Linton and Merry Christmas to you and your family but I don’t read long articles . Merry Christmas sweet Dominica.

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