EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was first published in the Catholic Herald in Milwaukee, WI as “Small island creates big projects for Dominica native.” It is being republished here with permission.
The Commonwealth of Dominica is a small island in the Caribbean Sea with less than 70,000 people. For Stevenson Bellot, it’s a project he hopes to improve upon little by little.
Bellot was born in Dominica to a poor family and lived the hardships some of his countrymen now face.
“I remember my mom used to carry me on her back, walking a mile to go to church at 7 o’clock in the morning,” Bellot said.
The island is divided into various parishes named after saints, such as the Parish of Saint Mark, where Bellot was raised. About 61 percent of the island’s population is Catholic.
He attended Soufriere School, a public primary school located at the southern tip of the island.
“All the primary schools in Dominica they’re actually called government schools,” he said. “The only schools that are not owned by the government are the Catholic schools.”
After graduating, he passed his entrance exam for acceptance into high school but finances kept him from attending. Instead he attended the Youth Development Division and graduated from the leadership skills training program.
“When I graduated from that, people were like, ‘Wow this guy is going to be a great leader,’” Bellot said.
Despite the financial difficulties in his life, he was elected chairman of the council for the Parish of Saint Mark.
“It’s equivalent to mayor of a city,” Bellot explained. “I was the youngest person ever elected on the council (at 18 years old).”
Bellot quickly became popular and was approached to be chairman of several organizations. One group, the Scotts Head Youth Group, offered him a chance to be a member. At the time, the population of young Catholics was declining in the area, and Bellot used this as an opportunity to reverse that.
He said he would become a member of the group on the condition that its members would participate in church activities at least once a month. They agreed.
“I said that because I realized that all the young people sway away from the church, and to get them back in the youth group, we organized all the exciting activities,” Bellot said.
The groups planned trips to the beach and camping.
“My own goal was to get (the kids) back in the church,” Bellot said.
He remained active in the community, helping to organize a celebration for the feast of St. Peter, a popular celebration.
Eventually he left the life of a politician and took a job with Royal Caribbean International on a cruise ship where he met his wife, Marianne, a Wisconsin resident. Since 2002, the couple has been in Wisconsin raising their three children, Meydine, 7; Jeff, 5; and Jacques, 2, and working for an agricultural company. But issues in his home country kept calling — literally.
“People have been calling me and asking me to come back to Dominica to work because nobody has since I left,” Bellot said. “I realized things are dying out. Somebody needs to step up.”
He and Marianne did just that after they took their then-9-month old daughter to the hospital on the island and discovered the hospital didn’t have any digital thermometers. They returned to Dominica with a donation of several digital thermometers for the hospitals.
“When that happened it made the national news (in Dominica) and people were very supportive,” Bellot said. “We didn’t stop there.”
They provided clocks for churches and hospitals, paid for by donations from members of Mother of Good Counsel Parish, Milwaukee.
“My goal is to really protect young people, to make them realize there’s more to life,” Bellot said.
In January 2012, he had a conversation that would inspire him to address another issue.
“I was talking to a teacher (who) said they didn’t have a library,” Bellot said. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
Bellot’s wife suggested starting a library and, after praying about it, they agreed to pursue it.
Through donations from parishioners at Mother of Good Counsel and families from Wauwatosa Catholic School, they collected more than 600 books.
The books, however, have only gotten as far as the Bellots’ garage because of the Dominica government.
“This is definitely by far the most difficult project we have to work with,” he said. “We have to speak to so many people before we can speak to the correct person.”
The biggest problem is shipping the books. Bellot said they don’t have the funds to mail them and are trying to get the Dominica government to help them.
“What I’m trying to do is make the government realize how important this is,” Bellot said.
Based on a variety of estimates, he said shipping the books can cost between $600 to $1,000. He’s hoping to get the books to Dominica before the end of the year.
Bellot said he gets involved to show people, especially children, how one person can make a difference.
“I believe if parents can get the kids to church and talk to them to get involved with the church and get involved in all the activities, I think we can help put an end to some of these problems we are having now,” Bellot said.
Even though the books haven’t left yet, he’s already planning the next project –– garbage cans –– he hopes to start at the beginning of 2013.
“I contacted the local mayor here in Wauwatosa,” Bellot said, explaining that he and Marianne wondered whether the old garbage carts from Wauwatosa could be sent to Dominica.
“Because people don’t have those garbage cans at their homes, people have to keep the garbage at their home in plastic bags all over the place and then bring them to the side of the street for pick up,” he said, describing garbage pick-up in Dominica.
Bellot admits there are days when he feels exhausted from all of this work.
“I kind of get to the end of the day and say, ‘I have almost nothing left,’” he said. “But then I say to myself, this is exactly what the devil wants, for you to be tired for you to give up … you have to keep going.”
Bellot said he believes in helping whenever he can.
“I strongly believe that nothing is impossible,” he said. “I’m not afraid of taking on any challenge.”
Sir I know you meant well but used garbbage pins that a no no.
And we wonder why Dominica is in the Economic state that it in? We the people can’t seem to ever see the good in anything? We are crabs in a barrel, none ever to get to the top.
We the people are the reason for the countries failure.
Look at our attitudes towards a guy trying to help a few. Its shame.
I am know must of you commenting negative,y don’t even both to assist another or a neighbour.
And news flash to many of you, many Dominicans today live in extreme poverty. SHAME SHAME SHAME
I am utterly appalled by some of these comments -shame on you.
And the battle goes on.
Leaders are born not made and are part of the product of experience molded by circumstance. My dear trusted friend is possessed of the rarest of the rare qualities of sincere leadership. Mr. Bellot came from the ranks of grassroots youth leadership and is highly respected in da and the south in particularly ,I therefore applaud you sir and continue to serve with honor for the advancement of humanity as you spread the seed of da greatness.
good job give back to your country
Keep it up couz..despite the critics we got ur back like you got ours…..god bless u always…to those asking for money go work for it instead of expecting handouts..
thanks do muc hfor your effort in helping some schools back in your home land , however :“All the primary schools in Dominica they’re actually called government schools,” he said. “The only schools that are not owned by the government are the Catholic schools.” -this is incorrect. there are methodis, christian and seventh day schools in dominica which are not government owned….
hope you get the assistance needed to have the books in dominica. god bless
this article has too much false information about dominica. i agree that he wants to help,, good move on his part, but he could do so without belittling dominica like that. i have two garbage bins, everybody in my neighbourhood has. not many people in dominica dont have bins. i am ok with those who own the colgate palmolive bins as well, a bin is a bin. and education trust fund gets so many books ever so often through donations!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thousands…..
stupesssss
mr need to cool out
We can find a few errors in the article and may be it was inserted by the Catholic Herald in Milwaukee.Although it was Bellot’s responsibility to do a fact check before it was printed.
On the other hand, Re his criticism of the government I know it is so frustrating to get through the bureaucracy.I know of a Dominican whose job was to service computers at a college in north America.Seeing so many computers available in good working condition.And knowing he was about to retire and returning home So he approached the college and asked them to make a donation to the ministry of education of DA.The answer was, you can get as many as you want,but we need an official document from the government.This gentleman after several attempts he finally got in touch with Vince Henderson and the right person at the department of education.Henderson was a little worse than a wet blanket,he was a waste of time.After several emails and telephone calls he received this letter from the ministry of education.This returnee had to wait about 6 months for this document.The Schools in St Joseph and Salisbury were the recipients of these computers.
Now Mr Bellot, even if the parents can get the kids to church and talk to them to get involved in all the church activities.That will not put an end to some of the problems we are having now.
It is the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that can change a person.The word of God tells us.
“Therefore if any man,woman,boy or girl becomes a believer IN CHRIST.He is not the same any more.A new life has begun.”2 Corinthians 5:17
Let me repeat.It is Jesus Christ.The name Catholic is mentioned 6 times also church,but not once the name of Christ or God.
We all were baptized made first communion and even confirmed.So now, let us try Jesus,I know He cannot fail and will never disappoint us.
One must always remember is not what you say but how you say it. This article has a negative tone and instead of concentrating on the kind gesture of this gentleman, I cannot help but disagree with how he made Dominica look. I think he generalized a lot and it was more on his perception at the time he was being interviewed by the person who originally wrote the article. Therefore, what he says are partly true and partly false. However, I think the book initiative for the library is good. All he needs now is the right channel and some donation to get the books down.
OMG! what is wrong with my people? they need to grow up and be more compassionate. Why are you my fellow Dominicans so ungrateful
. Please people the guy is doing a great job for his Country, what have you the ignorant, negative, responders to this story done for yourself and your dear country. Keep doing your best Jeff, don’t let these keep you down
Very good laddy, keep it up. lets see if Admin post this one
He is trying help why all this criticism.
Very well done Bellot,I commed you for what you are doing, am sure it will go a long way, and God will surely bless you and your family.
Please pay a dom air to the creticks.
you can talk to (Invest Doinica Authority). am sure they can give some good help.
This guy looking for fame and good name! So much Bohol garbage bin we have and books. Hold your outdated books for yourself. Thanks though for giving us some much needed press.
you are nothing more than a retarded animal to comment this way or you did not get the facts and overstanding.
It’s because of ignorance and incompetence like yours, he is met with so many walls. Not being able to speak with the correct person when it is needed most. And for that simple reason people who do not have any vested interest other than donating will move past the country and on to another who will gladly accept it.
Kuddos Mr. Bellot.
To all those anti Catholics your work to help the Devil to bring the church down has failed and will continue to fail! Amen. Go on Mr. Bellot your faith has taught you well. However, the books thanks. No bins!
Firstly well done.
Secondly these kind of articles let you see the reality rather than the nonsense that Government spouts.
The country is in trouble.
I said i was refraining from commenting on this article. I don’t know if the person who wrote the article quoted what Jeff was saying or they included their part.
Yes we were from a poor community but reading from this article makes me wonder. Jeff is about my age, we went to the same school, i read the article saying the soufriere government school but we actually went to the scotts head government school and after hurricane david briefly went to school at the church hall in soufriere. Jeff wasnt a bright child at school, she his speech had issue and alas his writing was bad, so saying he pass his exams and his mother could afford to send him high school is false. Parent made special effort to send their children to school who passed the exams and those who didnt pass they would find spaces in high school for them. In my day if you sent 30 children to write the exams only one or two would pass and in my time i was the only child in my class to have pass the common entrance. I must say though that Jeff was a very committed community man despite his way of speaking. He was very much involved in many groups, he organised carnival etc.
But in relation to the books who did Jeff contacted because as far as i know, he didnt make contact with the Pal Rep,. so to say the government is preventing the books from cominig to Dominica i dont think this story is true. What i no is that he called a lady in the village and asked told her to ask the Pal Rep to give him a call, please Jeff thats not how things are done. You have to go through the proper channel to make tings happen.
Did you said Jeff was not a bright child at school?
Did you also said you were the only one who passed the exam??????????
Who are you then?
The article may hvae some errors as of how it is coming along. However, knowing Jeff
I’m sure he did not meant to put Dominica down.
Jeff passed much higer than some of us that end up going to High School because of the connections our parents had . Please be honest.
The error I see in the article is he went to Scott’s Head Gogernment School.However he did get a half Pass for High School. Can you remember those days of the High Schools did not have enough space for everyone and they did what was called a half pass????
I went to High School on that half pass because my parents had connections just like some of us in Soufriere Scott’s Head.
Jeff can you please respond to us?
You are criticizing Jeff. I suggest you check your grammar before pointing fingers.
You are that bright and your grammar is that bad,and try to spell your fool.that no is (know)not (no) and I know you are from the parish of St.Mark,way to bring your People down.
You are a mean spirited individual what has this young man ever done to you or Dominica to deserve this kind of treatment -you should be ashamed of yourselves .
If I was Dominican. I would be very embrassed I have never experienced anything like this before so many cruel and malicious comments. All this young man is trying to do is help. There is an old saying beggers cant be choosers.
Jealousy makes you nasty.
Just tell America to throw it’s garbage on Dominica next time Mr. Bellot. Dominicans told you they need garbage cans? Give the people money and let them decide how they are going to spend it. You acting like Dominica so backwards and you are the only one who can pinch a grain of salt. The government did right to charge you because you too fast…chap my head off now
seems jealousy is a big ting wi! lmao
Money you want for u to supply yourself with what? drugs? SMFH! Say thanks and move on… your 4-nanny (translate that in creole)
give a man a fish.he will come back for more fish…teach a man to fish. He will feed himself and some…….so although you see money as a major requirement. I beg to differ.Too many Dominicans await hand out money with no intention of working for it……FOOD FOR THOUGHT……..It is great what he is doing….quit being so darn negative……..
I agree with you Sir, we have been sending all kind of books to Dominica for years and I beginning it a waste of time and could be confusing for the children and those who read those books. The American and English spelling and grammar are so differentin so many ways. I always advocate sending money is always better as the moneys can be used in the business places as foreign exchange.If I had the authority, I would stop this barrel economy which prevents business from certain sales from the foreign spending//purchasing from their businesses. SEND THE MONEY ALL THE TIME
go and work for ur own money…ya’ll too like handouts
SMH I work tirelessly for charity especially DA, i do know books for schools have to be specific, This is why many parents can buy certain books from other parents and expensive. If enquiries are made to the schools as to what types are needed before sending that is fine. You donot send books because that are given, this is why sending the moneys to the school or to the parents to buy those specific books. I will also add due to the spelling and grammar of the American and English texts, it can be difficult/confusing for a child to comprehend. Please note all your comments are nonsensical and idiotic
ppl like you to jealousy…u well need those books to read to educAte urself dummy
u too jealiusy go educate urself with those books he sending dummy
I’m a bit puzzled by this article. The Dominica a grew up in and now know is no way close to how it’s described here. If I were not Dominican, I’d think Dominica is one of those slums in Africa where people go about barefeet with no electricity or drinking water and living in shanty houses, based on how this article is written. SHAME SHAME SHAME…
i cannot agree more. i am totally ashamed today. i dont even think i going to eat breakfast.
Where and when did you grow up in Dominica? In a 80s several communities in Dominica did not have electricity, and many of us ran around bare feet- that was quite common in the country side.
I think you need to look at alternative shipping companies. I recently sent a box of over 200 books from the UK (which is further than the USA) to DA for £54 (less than US$90).
mypoint exactly
Very good job..Maybe if each dominican in USA just give a dollar those books will reach to Dominica
one cent there are hundreds of thousands of D/cans on the USA
hi Bellot and Marianne
here in England i have the possiblity to collect tone of usefull items that can benefit our Country but like you the support is never stright farward
i have presently many thing but will the coustom coporate??
and whom in Dominica would i talk to?
Send the money instead. It will be cheaper in cost to you and better for the BUSINESES in Dominica as foreign exchange
Are U dumb GWATANCE it is difficult for him to raise 600 at minimum where he getting money to send to Scotts head for you to buy the white Powder?
u hah to email dem wi stehen!!!!
Here I was minding my own business on DNO:) and I stumbled across this article.
This guy though his intentions are correct I think he is giving a bad impression of Dominicans. If he is living the life in Wisconsin why doesn’t he use $600-1000 of his own money to send the books?
His statements:
“I remember my mom used to carry me on her back, walking a mile to go to church at 7 o’clock in the morning,” Bellot said.
—->So I’m guessing when you ride on your mother’s back to church you’re automatically deemed poor. But I guess he would know about how poor his family was.
“All the primary schools in Dominica they’re actually called government schools,” he said. “The only schools that are not owned by the government are the Catholic schools.”
—–> ummm… I guess since the US call their government schools “public schools” it’s not really a government school right? Do American Government own Catholic schools in the US? No they do not. Your statement was wrong because Berian bible school, seventh day adventists school, pioneer aren’t government school and are privatized institutions like Catholic schools in Dominica.
“People have been calling me and asking me to come back to Dominica to work because nobody has since I left,” Bellot said. “I realized things are dying out. Somebody needs to step up.”
—> Maybe it’s the way this article was originally written but there have been some hardworking Dominicans besides yourself Mr Bellot.
Lastly,
“I contacted the local mayor here in Wauwatosa,” Bellot said, explaining that he and Marianne wondered whether the old garbage carts from Wauwatosa could be sent to Dominica.
—-> Really? Old garbage cans filled with germs you want to send for DA folks? Leftovers?
“Because people don’t have those garbage cans at their homes, people have to keep the garbage at their home in plastic bags all over the place and then bring them to the side of the street for pick up,” he said, describing garbage pick-up in Dominica.
—–> ummm… Dominicans don’t have garbage cans at their homes? I’m sure Dominicans would like to hear that you tell people they have bags filled with garbage all over their homes and yards.
This may just be the way the article was written but if not sir you should do better by Dominicans. They’re envious nation but Dominicans I think are very clean in respect garbage and their environments. This article showed American media at it’s best a propaganda machine.
uMMM, Do you know Mr. Bellot? Yes he had to walk from Scott’s Head to Soufriere to attend mass. I dunno about on his mother’s back, but back then lots of parents would carry their children on a road which wasn’t so easy to walk.It is beautiful now.And yes he was poor. Guess if he were here he’d still be poor. Face it, most of us are poor. I have a job and i am “Monetary” poor. I live from one pay day to the next and no i do not “splurge” i cannot afford it.
Back then if you recall, we did call our schools Government Schools. Its only recently that the government part got taken out. At the time of Jeff being in Dominica Berean and Orion and the like were not in existence. So he a little off on the update. sue him.
If you were from the st.mark parish you would also know that there is a serious lack of leadership on all levels. And tho i personally thought he was a little weird, it was commendable of him as such a young man to be so committed to his community.
And are we really clean. While you drive around the island are your eyes opened? Do you see where our people are dumping garbage. Its all over in the ravines, over the cliffs. A few years ago solid waste undertook a campaign to clear the cliff overlooking la bym in Soufriere because lots of tourist frequent the area as you well know and the trash was an eye sore. They cleaned it . Well. Not too long after our people started dumping again. and mind you people from out of the st mark parish were coming to dump their garbage there and other places along the road. Are we really environmentally conscious? Have you seen the streets of Roseau.
And i think you miss the point. Do you think they are going to ship dirty garbage bins to Dominica.
Do you know that people generally do not like to keep garbage in their houses. Once its filled, it has to go out on the roadside whether or not the truck it picking up.Once there you know its a dog parade. and the garbage men do not pick up garbage strewn all over the ground.So if this will prevent the dogs from getting into the garbage what is the problem. Do we ever get “everything” new. Doesn’t our hospital operate on “used” equipment.
I know we don’t want to be seen as poor, and you have a right to take offense. I may have taken offense had i not known the man.
Lastly, if he’s gotten the much needed books and he needs a little help to get them here, should he have to use “all” of his own money. A little help might be nice. After all people who don’t need the help sometimes get it.
Cut the man some slack.
ummmm……. I never said the man was bad and if you read through what I said you’d see that I also thought that maybe the way the article was written made it seem that he was saying something else. I actually said that twice.
As part of that badly written article by the herald no where did it state what time or date this man left Dominica. This would shed good light on his current claims. No where did it state it’s brand new garbage bin. Actually it stated he would get “OLD” garbage bins. So please tell me where you understood it would be clean garbage bins. How can a garbage bin be clean if it’s old and used? People believe what they read. I’m not saying Dominica is perfect or that Dominicans are rich but the article is quite misleading. I’m not sure why you babbling so much when I took specific statements out of the article that I had an issue with. If you’re able to read and understand you’d probably have an issue with them as well. This article was written by DNO but was published in another newspaper in the US, hence, the author and the person giving the story need to make sure their facts or accounts of life there is accurate. Because I can tell you Americans keep their big garbage bins in their garage for days until the sanitation truck comes. My mother had a garbage bin, aunts have garbage bins so what he talking about DA people don’t have garbage bins…lols
The article wasn’t written by DNO****** Correction!
Oh yeah I really doubt he would be using all his $600.00-$1000 in his bank account to ship books. Are you stating that this is all he has in the US with three kids and a wife?
Only Dominicans I tell you …only Dominicans..
I could only get through the first paragraph. just because someone lives in the US does not mean they are made of money. A lot of people here make only 2000.00 a month and have family to feed etc.. Why so rude asking the man who is getting donations for a country that desparately needs it to spend only his own income. Whenever I go to Dominica is a money sign I wearing. Tired of it.
I think I have clear sentences here so if you can’t get through past the first paragraph you might want to ask yourself a question before posing a response to me.
My friend, alot of times we take E mails or written articles wrongly because of how we think.
That’s why I like face to face meetings better than anything Electronicly.
I know Mr. Bellot pesonally and I can tell you since the man left Dominica he never forget about his People.
I think MR. Bellot left Dominica in the mid to late 90;s give or take.
The man always finding way to help the Soiufriere Constituency and Dominica by extension in any way he can.Every year the man come back to Dominica he bring something for the Island.
Mr. Bello is actually a supporter of Good Government and stand for honestly and transperacy.
He is the only true Independent voter in Dominica I know. The man is not afraid to share his honest opinon with the media or anyone even if he vote for you or suppoet you.
Mr. Bellot achievement and hard work in the Parish of St. Mark is way more than any Parl Rep appart from Mr. Charles Maynard.
The man is a strong Believer in Christ and very honest.
Since the man left the Soufriere Scott’s Head area no one has step up as a vibrant leader.
What happen to the following since he left: fun Carnival in Scott’s Head,Kone Konla, St. Peters, Free Blocko, Queen shows,youth group Church activities,Clean up campaigns, Exciting sport activities just to name a few.
My friend you need to take a walk or drive to the St. Mark area and ask about the man.
Please go do some research.
PLease tell me where I said this man was bad! If you can find one sentence where I said he was bad then I will agree that I’m wrong. I said his opinion or his account of DA is misleading. It most likely isn’t a deliberate attempt on his part but it is misleading and the writer of this article for the herald did a terrible job writing this. I think Dominicans always ready for maypwe before they even understand what is being said.
Good job Jeff, I had to comment on this critic because apparently he/she either doesn’t live on the island or lives there and it’s just mechanstay .gabbage disposal in Dominica is bad in the sith, as a tourist that turned me off to stay away , beautiful island but alas.
are clean and old synonymous. I don’t think so. Clean, whether treated with bleach or some other germ riding agent to make usable again.
As in you wash your dishes after you eat to remove excess food.
New,as in never used before.
quite different meanings me thinks.
So tell us which religions are the chosen by god? hahhahahah you people
yOU have it wrong my friend.It depend on the type and books within the curriculum of the schoos. Please note school books are expensive in Dominica as all parents will tell you.Therefore, send the money to a specific school with the instruction to purchase the specific books and other school work instruments will be more satisfactory. I know, Maybe the Govt knows it will be cheaper if you send the money to be used as your instructions
Where that come out u just completly left the topic for ur own political motive… i hope u in the best church.. Let he without sin .
Great Job Bellot! Keep up the good work.
While I question the importance of bringing up kids in the church Bellot speaks of, I applaud his decision to collect and ship these books and hope he is successful in his project. We need as many books as we can get here. Projects like this, alongside the literary festival, will do our island well in the future.
what is wrong with raising your kids in the catholic faith????
The kids brought up in the churches not mentioned by bellot have proven to be ten times worse than those brought up in the church Bellot mentioned. Take a look at your church and ask yourself how many of them are better in their upbringing. You forget those socalled pastor kids robbing credit unions. Also u must take a survey of the kids from Bellot’s church and the other churches and compare the upbringing and the end result. Fool
Well done Cuz. Always passionate about the less fortunate. An exemplary leader !!!!!!!!!!
This is great…what he’s doing. But there is a tone in this story that makes Dominica sound like a poor, backward state that has not yet come into the modern era.
Or maybe it’s just me.
You and your family are an example of the work of Christ. You make us proud. Thank you for remembering the less fortunate of Dominica.
May God continue to shower his blessings upon you and your family.
God Bless You my friend..
Great work..Mr Bellot…Another good deed from a fellow Dominican, however the government hindering progress. That is why so many Dominicans restrain from doing…..
Keep up the good work brother Bellot. Your reward is not in this word. God bless you!
Good, very good, noble deed indeed. Don’t give up.
Although it is good to get the young people back in church. It is even better to get them to submit their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Good job Bellot. You were always a positive chap. Keep it up.
Perhaps Hands Across the Sea can assist with transporting the books. Surf to http://www.handsacrossthesea.net and contact them. I am going to e-mail them a link to this article too. Good luck. It is a wonderful thing you’ve done!
Congrats to you Jeff on a job well done… Keep up the wonderful work!!!!
Good Job Mr Bellot, Jahovah sees your hard work and good HEART for your Country.