On Saturday, December 3 fans of the late musical legend Jeff Joseph converged on his hometown of St. Joseph as he was laid to rest. Below are photos highlighting aspects of the event.
Photos by DNO correspondent.
PHOTOS: Jeff Joseph laid to rest
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rip jeff
sad but your songs are great
First of all i want to extend my condolences to the family of the late Jeff. there is nothing great about losing a love one. Secondly, i was born and bred in D/A and i have never heard of Jeff until he died. When i saw the message on facebook i was wondering who that person was. i have heard of all the great singers from D/A but never heard of him. If he was such an important person in society, they needed to mention more about him, like how he contributed to D/a etc. also if new albums come out, they should say something, but all of a sudden all the news coming one time. Thirdly, when someone die, we do not need to look for for any argument. i cant believe that someone die and is Skerrit and politics allu bring in this. Leave Skerrit alone for a change. Everytime something happen allu looking for a way to bring Skettit in it. Skerrit is not God and cannot be everywhere at the same time. He is not OMNIPRESENT. Lastly. i think that everyone should be treated equally whether you are popular or not. We are all important and we all have contributed in one way or the other to our Country, whether we pick up garbage in lagon, sweep the gutter, sell in the market, fishermen, teachers , bus drivers etc. . we all have worked to make Dominca a better place. so everyone please give yourselves a hand. good job. i am now giving my roses. take it, smell it, enjoy it. we were all created in the image and likeness of God. Doh worry if you dont get a state or official funeral, the only thing you need to worry about is where will you spend eternity?? Smoking or non-smoking. God Bless you all.
Respect was paid to an important figure in Dominic history and this is what matters. All this comparism will take us no where. Jeff made Dominica famous. He was one of the first pioneers in cadence music, then the french copied the style with zouk followed by the haitians with compa. Give jack his jacket and respect the man who made DA proud.
What do religion has to do with paying tribute. Whether he is rasta or not, he is an important person in Dominica’s history. The person who made that negative comment about rasta should be a shame of so doing. This is not a time for making comparisms. This is the time for paying respect and tribute to a Dominican hero. The newpaper should refrain from printing such negative comments.
Much love, we will meet ON the otherside ..Ja .live[ROBERT NESTA MARLEY.]
I must be honest. I cannot be hypocritical. It is not in my nature nor part of it. I have to stand up for the truth; nothing but the truth, the Truth of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to His teachings as contained in the Holy Bible and as The Church believes and teaches.
The Ethiopian flag was raised? Someone raised it in tribute to him, one who was born in St. Joseph, Dominica? I find this a strange gesture.
This makes me conclude that he was a practicing Rastafarian and paid homage to Haile Selassie and not our God. Haile Selassie placed himself on an earthly pedestal, assuming that he was greater than God. I often wonder where that soul is in eternity.
Some West Indians and Dominicans for that matter, once baptized and practicing Catholics became Rastafarians. They rejected Christianity when they became Rastafarians to pay homage to a man whom God created, namely Haile Selassie who is not even alive. This means that they rejected Our Almighty Father, His Blessed Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.
All Christians are fully aware that Our Lord said, “You cannot serve two masters. You will either love one and hate the other;” and “Those who are ashamed of Me and My Word, I will be ashamed of him…” Also, “Those who do not recognize Me before all men (people) I will not recognize him/her before My Father who is in Heaven.”
Fortunate for him he got a Catholic Funeral which was concelebrated and by the Catholic Bishop. The majority of faithful, practicing Catholics will never receive this honor.
Please be advised that people do not just go to Heaven without paying homage to God, recognizing that “He sent His Only Son that whoever believes in Him might be saved.”
Our Lord also said, “No one goes to the Father except through Him” and “Unless the Father sends him.”
Heaven is preserved for and obtained by faithful Christians who persevered to the end. Those who, during their lifetime who recognized God, never failed to do so; attended Church, paying homage to God; prayed for themselves and for others, performed acts of love and mercy “in Jesus Name – all for the love of Jesus”; who made sacrifices, performed penance and restitution to God, evangelized, bringing souls home to God. These are conditions for resting in heavenly peace forever.
We would like to know how Dominica and the general mainstream benefited from him and his works.
@Justice and Truth
Take some time to educate yourself before you run your ignorant mouth. Haile silassie never placed himself on any pedestal, he was a practicing catholic till the end and found his worship to be quite amusing but firmly discouraged any one from worshipping him as a God. You’ll also note that he pointed to Jesus Christ as the only way to the father and read his bible daily. Maybe what you refer to is the rastafarians placing him on a pedestal, that is an entirely different story. In any case, it doesn’t excuse your ignorance and your preachy position which is all to common in the caribbean.
@ vapor
This is just what you are “a vapor”. I expected adverse comments. You may know something ab out the life of Haile Selassie but you do not know everything about him. I have read about this man whom his followers in Ethiopia paid homage to him, in that they think that he is a God. I know some Ethiopians. According to the views of educated prominent people in the Western World, Haile Selassie placed himself on a pedestal, as a God. He lived in a palace. He is not a model to emulate. Today, many of his people migrated as refugees to other progressive countries. He took much from them and left them with nothing but wars. So much for him.
As for him believing in Jesus Christ it is a downright lie. Reading the Holy Bible? How did he benefit from that in view of his lifestyle? God knows!
Do you know any Ethiopians? Every one of them look alike, brothers, sisters and cousins. This is the only nation where their nationals look alike. Can you figure out why? He allowed them to have relationships with one another.
Rastafarians appear to originate from this man’s teachings and adopted them. Those who became one are lost forever to their family. Their family might as well mourn their loss even while they are still alive.
Why then do they not practice the Christian faith, some of whom were baptized Catholics? Why are they taking ganja or whatever it is called and living primitive lives and in this day and age, wanting their own country in another country and ruling system? Why do they hate the white man and those who live western lives?
Haile Selassie did not live a Christian life even though he was a Catholic. He deceived people as you. This man thought that he was God’s gift to mankind and womankind. In fact, he was of the opinion that he was God, Jesus Christ. He was one mortally and spiritually sick man and a bad influence on those who knew him, supported him and followed him. This is why I always state as I do for Hitler and all those as him, dictators and oppressors, I wonder where his soul is in eternity and those who adopted his teachings and practices who are also dead. I do not speak without convictions. I rest my views and case.
@justice and truth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie_I
Read up you little foolish person. Bear in mind that the text may be too difficult for your narrow mind.
Make sure you read about his contributions to society like democratization, taxation, collective security, land grants, charity And his Christian agenda which includes giving Christ the glory for the defeat of the Italians. Learn to use the Internet as a tool to decrease your ignorance so that your children can be proud of you!
Greetings one and all, as the Big man, as we called him when he performed with us The Roots Steel Band here on a show back in 2006 in Antigua and Barbuda laid to sleep, we just want to said the world caribbean and the world lost a great man, but as we take a look around we still have many great people, are we going wait until they keep passing to say how good they were? and not big them up now?
Well my people from here forward, when you see the people you know doing well for your country, please not they know how must you love and enjoy what going on for them.
Blessed Love.
Sleep in peace Big Man.
You can see photo of Jeff Jo performing with a steel band at http://www.rootssteelband.com/panrisingphotos2006.html
RIP Big up man in heaven !
But i don’t understand this!!! When i was 9 yrs old i knew who Michael Jackson was and his music!
When i was 20 i got to know Jeff Joseph… i was merely introduced to him! I heard nothing of him, i knew nothing about his music!
He dies and that when i know that he is a goodwill ambassador, that’s when i know he sang at the super bowl!
I say this to say…. Give people their flowers before they die. Teach the young ones about our legends… Don’t wait until they die to talk about all what they accomplished and what they have done for the country!
RIP uncle jeff jeff <3
as he die he’s your uncle.
R.I.P Jeff… Ur legacy will live on.
What was in the bag they out in on the coffin.
my cuz now went too his final resting place.peace,love and till we meet again.
RIP
Yes it was an official funeral not state but the PM should take time to honor a great Dominican but why am i not suprised.
lovely send off, Jeff may your sole rest in peace.
It was not a state funeral.
did anyone ask u if it was…….why can’t domincans stop their ignorance nuh?
u also ignorant even if the pm should show y the president was there why he coldnt chow 2
At LEAST PICTURES OF THE VIEWING SHOULD BE UPLOADED 2. THANK YOU
It didn’t seem like a STATE FUNERAL to me!! Where was the Prime Minister and several other ministers?
Ya’ll need to come better than that wi pal!
there is a difference in a state funeral n an official funeral..if im not mistaken he had an official funeral n not state.
767, who said it was a state funeral? For your information – Jeff Joseph received an OFFICIAL funeral. The only individuals who receive state funeral are: Prime Ministers and Presidents in and out of office and Ministers of Gov’t (who die while IN Office). Former Gov’t ministers receive an official funeral.
A state funeral means that the state has the final say (calls the shots) on the deceased, although they do consult with the family.
An official funeral means the state (gov’t) contributes towards the funeral expenses, and has partial say as opposed to a state funeral where they have total control
well said
President, Ag Pm , Speaker and Ministers were there. Senators as well as Leader of the opp, Ambassadors were there too. They all laid wreaths. How droll that you would as(**ss who attended from the few pics presented here!!
it was an Offical and not State funeral…
It was an official funeral, not a state funeral. The prime minister had a represenrative in attendance. There wee many other ministers present. Jeff Joe has done us very proud. Please let him rest in peace. Do not use his death to start any roro.May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Amen sista. Not even that we can view without seeing politics in it. You would think tragedy brings ppl together eh.
Especially as his name was in the announcementas a friend of Jeff
May the Good Lord Rest His Soul…..sigh
Wonderful funeral and a great way to send off to a person who contributed so much. But, someone should check their facts, they said that the Etiopian Flag was being waved but in reality it is the Rastafarian Flag not the Flag of Etiopia.
Well thanks for that katyt, but although you are technically correct that it is not the Ethiopian flag of today, it is actually the OLD Ethiopian national flag. Rastafarians did not make it up. They adopted the flag of Ethiopia, which was used from the 19th century up until 1974.
In that year, the oppressive Derg regime overthrew Haile Selassie I. The Derg removed the Lion of Judah from the flag because it represented the Ethiopian Empire’s Solomonic dynasty. After that, the centrepiece of the flag was changed three times. The present national flag of Ethiopia is the flag that was adopted on February 6, 1996.
The old flag with the Lion of Judah remains popular with the Rastafari movement and people loyal to Haile Selassie. So maybe the caption to the photo should just have been “…the OLD Ethiopian flag…” but it was once the Ethiopian national flag ‘ka mem’. Just noting.
good move, remove the lion of judah from the flag. Jesus is the only conquering lion of the tribe of Judah. if selasai is a lion, he is on with no teeth. May the family of this musical legend find comfort.seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near, let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and he will abundantly pardon.bat cour zor rasta for a while. Jesus is Lord.ther is no other name given under heaven whereby men can be saved.
jeff u will surely be miss while yr song reigns
The question here is wat was Jeff Joseph legacy? What have he done for St Joseph and for Dominica? Did have a charity ? Charity began at home and I believe though his music and his presence on the international he could have done much more than music .
agreed to that
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE JAH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF HUMANITY. AT LEASE JEFF JOE, HAVE DONE RECOGNIZABLE THINGS WHICH PROMPT THOSE THAT HAVE TOUCH BY HIM TO HONOR HIM.
THE THING WITH US AFRICAN PEOPLE , DO NOT MATTER HOW MUCH OUR PEOPLE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO HUMANITY, WE HAVE BE PUT DOWN BY MANY OTHERS PEOPLE ESPECIALLY OUR OWN.
@ Anonymous
Being a musician is not enough. Name a few of the good things that he did for them and for Dominica which warranted him such a send-off and a Catholic one at that. This is the issue here.
i hope Chubby of the midnight groovers get an OFFFICIAL funeral too; recognize the effoerts of everyone ,not because he was internationally known.trust me Dominica use Jeff Jo death to get publicity …..
@ juice
You should explain further. You stated that Dominica used his death to get publicity. If this is so, who are the ones who arranged this type of publicity?
@ jah
I suppose you are a Rastafarian with that name. I may be wrong. Nevertheless, you are correct. Expect that his supporters and those who honored him as if he is a god and who performed some great deeds for Dominica will give you thumbs down.
I asked the same question, “how did Dominica and mainstream Dominica benefit from him and his works?” In death, he received a hero’s welcome and send-off. It appeared that they also canonized him as a saintly person who went to Heaven and received the clean, white robe.
Keep on questioning, speaking the truth and wanting to hear the truth. We must be honest no matter what.
Jefferson “JEFF JO” Joseph was an Ambassador and a State Funeral was promised by the Government. I am sure that people were present will say differently. The PM once again disrespected the people of St Joe and didnt attend the funeral. Infact Skerrit, Austrie, Walter, McIntyre, St Jean and Blackmore among others were all absent.
Why a tomb was built for JEFF JO?
I am sure that the family of JEFF JO would have given him a better send off..
Why a tomb WASN’T built for JEFF JO?*****
@ Otrobando
A tomb is not built yet but I am certain it will be built in time, after the dirt, the grave has settled on the coffin and around it. I am certain that this is the reason why it was not built at this time. I would think that he made enough money to pay for the cost of the tomb should it be built.
First a state funeral was not promised. His send off was an official funeral. If I am not mistaken, McIntyre, Austrie and Skerrit I know for sure are off island on Dominica’s business. Secondly, it was his family and the people of St. Joseph who insisted on having this funeral as it went. The government suggested much more, no more to be said. Thank you.
So Philbert Aaron could not represent Skerrit at the CELAC Summit is Venezuela? And stop misleading the people, the same night, McIntyre was at the AID BANK 40th Anniversary function presenting Awards. SMH..
what do you expect from these guys?
all they have is nice words to fool people.
their actions speak differently.
these men do not know how to respect anybody
Thank you DNO for the pics. What etel go and get up there on Apilan? anyways my family have kix, then again we talking uncle Jeff and he was funny as hell.
Why is this rastaman posing next to that Greco-Roman idol? That just turned me off. That’s what Christianty has done to us as black people. We have accepted the White man’s God as ours and he can never save us.
There goes the IGNORANCE….That tells a lot about you you are a racist and foolish and its repulsive that you use christianity to spread such hate…He God is God of the white and black , jews and gentile,, rich and poor , straight and gay . .He is God of all.
@ out of city
Are you white? Some of you are so stupid with this black and white thing. We are human beings and this is how God sees us. Next time take a good look at the Statue and ask God to enlighten you.
You are a heretic and are doomed. You lack mortal and spiritual intelligence.
y dey doe show his children?
It’s the 21st century! Grow up Dominica!!! :-x:roll:
i like dat pic with the rasta. it looks real. rip jeff
boy that hotpeper there like rowrow and it look like he cnt understand a than put troble in dominica. everything the man saying is confussing shame on u hot pepper. jeff buried now so what do u have to say nw das.live the government alone.toner politics, politics in everything. God help us in dominica!!!!!!!!!!!!
ifff hotpeper like rowrow com si di is uncle jeff alone to die.
god bless him
IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT WE GAVE JEFF JO AN HONOURABLE SEND OFF. HOWEVER, I WAS WAITNG TO HEAR ONE OR TWO OF HIS SONGS. AS THE RECESSIONAL SONG, THEY COULD HAVE SUNG OR PLAYED ‘MOI KAS ALLAY’. THE FUNERAL WAS NOT A REFLECTOION OF WHAT JEFF JO, THE LEGENDARY CANDENCE ARTIST, PROMOTED.
@ Satisfaction
It may very well not be a reflection of what he was. It was a Catholic Christian burial which he was fortunate to get and be honored at that.
It is a Christian Church. Therefore, his song(s) could not be sung in Church nor at the recessional. Utilize your common sense.
IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT WE GAVE JEFF JO AN HONOURABLE SEND OFF, BUT I WAS WAITING TO HEAR ONE OF HIS SONGS AT THE FUNERAL. AS THE RCESSIONAL SONG, THEY COULD HAVE SUNG OR PLAYED’MOI KAS ALLAY’.THE FUNERAL DID NOT REFLECT THE CULTURE THAT JEFF JO, THE LEGENDARY CADENCE ARTIST, PROMOTED.
Anonymous, pertaining to your comments, this also refers to you.
I am an avid fan, (abroad), of Dominica News Online and would like to recommend you for keeping us informed of proceedings.
A Big Thank You
@ van
Commend.
very nice funeral.may his soul rest in peace
Honestly, I find the funeral was very drab. And no need to point out that it was a funeral. The funeral was lacking.
But I guess it may not be cool to point that out.
@ Ya
Lacking in what? Jesus Christ is the Foundation of this Church. He is one still voice. Did you want some type of songs/ music that you will have to wear ear plugs?
Let me further inform you. I read that a man went to a Rock concert. Soon after listening to that loud music he felt ringing in his ears. He said that he forgot his ear plugs at home. He was given medication but this did not help. The doctor could do nothing else for him. Due to his condition he could not stand the ringing in his ears. He committed suicide.
My conclusion, if he had gone to Church and listened to Sacred music and songs, he would have no need for ear plugs and would have no ringing in his ears. He was punished. Let this be a lesson for you.
Therefore, when you stated that something was lacking, I thought your criticism meant the music/songs since some of you have renounced your Catholic faith and turned critic and enemy as if you are Catholic experts. If you are one of those, you are no expert on how a Catholic Service or Funeral Service should be conducted. Therefore, keep your mouth shut once and for all and put a lid on your criticism.
they put the Rasta man in the belly of the beast
@hotpepper: Fear not for Jeff! What they buried were his physical remains;his soul shall move on to wherever domain that his earthly actions prepared it for. I am confident that his indestructible soul is in good hands, regardless of where his bones lie.
Cheers!
L’Esprit poule
You are not God and you are not certain. Pray to God for this enlightenment. Who knows? He might reveal it to you. May you not be shocked.
Go get a life you idiot, judge not what did he do to go in the belly of the beast?
May his soul rest in peace, Jeff is gone resting in the Arms of The Almighty, you need to focus on your self jack a
@ Joseph
What do you know? Presumptuous? You may be surprised.
Now Dcns can shut up
shut up about what?
buh u doe easy lol lol lol lol i agree wit u lol lol
Thank you DNO, Thanks for keeping everyone informed.
RIP MY BROTHER I COULD NOT MAKE YOUR FEARWELL , BRO , BUT WE ALL IN ST LUCIA , WOULD LOVE TO SAY REST IN ZION YOU DID IT YOUR WAY , LONG LIVE JEFF JO BLACKHEART CREW , ST LUCIA , ONE LOVE C U WHEN WE GET THERE >>>>>>>
@ david shakes
While we are not to judge, those who knew him should have a fair knowledge of who he was and the type of life he lived.
A laughter and smile is not enough to warrant a soul entering Heaven. Worship to the One True God and obeying His Ten Commandments and all godly deeds that were taught and performed through Our Lord Jesus Christ and with Him in mind are necessary to obtain eternal salvation in Our Almighty Father’s Kingdom.
A saintly man now departed said as he referred to the song that Frank Sinatra and others sung, “I did it my way.” We are obligated to do it The Lord’s Way. We will go to Heaven on Jesus’ terms; not ours.
He also said, who wants to go before God and say to Him “I did it my way”, we know where that soul will end up. Figure it out. Some of you lack mortal and spiritual enlightenment and are in dire need of same. You have a distorted view of who God is; what He has taught; what He expects of us; what it takes to please Him and to enter Heaven, His holy and pure throne to be given a clean, white robe. We must be honest about that.