On the early warm morning of January 3rd a few years ago just as I was heading out of La Plaine for the airport, one of my classmates at La Plaine school, whose nick name is ‘My-Boy’ stopped by to say good bye. I hadn’t seen him in more than a decade and a half and so I welcomed the early morning’s surprise visit.
My-Boy’s left leg was amputated after a bolder rolled and pinned his leg while working in his garden in the mountains more two decades ago. He had never left the village and over the decades had grown to like the (rum) bottle immensely. He was at a stage where the ‘bottle’ was now drinking out of him.
My-Boy quickly asked me if I could give him a ‘little something’ for his Christmas. I handed him some money as he drank a few shots of rum from a small plastic bottle which he kept in his side pocket. He then asked me to give him a drink because he has to take ‘one for the road’.
I took a hard look at his face with its Kalinago features and it registered pain, hardship and emptiness. He told me that he had slept at the nearby Bus stop in the village square.His facial veins seemed to have spider like features. In medical circles this condition is called Telangiectasia, a benign skin condition which often affects the normal flow in blood vessels. One of the leading causes of this condition is alcoholism.
He then sang the song which placed him third runner-up in the last La Plaine carnival calypso competition the year before. The song was short on content but full of raunchy lyrics and sexual suggestions. That was not surprising as his calypso name is Mighty ‘Pum-Pum’. I was dying of uncontrollable laughter by the time he got to the chorus. Then our conversation got more serious. He told me that his biggest life regrets were that he hated school and always found an opportunity to stay away from classes.
I told him I remember clearly that he would join us at noon time as we headed home for lunch after staying away from school all morning. He would hide in the bushes and would spend the time picking mangoes and oranges or setting dove traps. Other times he would spend his mornings and afternoons on the river banks fishing.
The location of the school is at the bottom of the village at the junction where the road leads to Laronde and points south. My-Boy‘s home is in Balizear, the section of La Plaine at the base of Morne Gouvernear near the track which descends to the Sari-Sari Falls. That meant that he would have to walk a few minutes more to get to school than most of us who lived in the village center.
The distance from the school also made a perfect excuse for not bothering to return to school for the two hours (1:30 PM– 3:00 PM) after lunch period. My-Boy complained that the thirty minutes’ walk from Balizear to the school after lunch was too much for him in the hot sun and bear-footed.
He would always tell his mom and elders that he had attended school all day. Of course he never had any home work. We did not dare challenge him in public or complain to his mom about his constant absence from school. The few times we attempted to address that issue with him, he would always threaten us with bodily harm with his sharpened cutlass. He would say in patois, ‘If anyone of you ever mentions my name to my mother it will be judgment day for you’.
After about an hour of talking and reminiscing, he wished me safe passage to America and departed. He then hobbled away past the few sugar cane and banana trees that line my parent’s home, passed the big Jubilee cross and slowly disappeared into the valley. Our lives had taken very different turns after starting in the same place at the same time and under very similar circumstances and realities.
I began thinking about the powerful exchange I had just experienced. The conversation saddened me, forit was emotionally exhausting on my conscience and it pricked and fatigued my heart. I kept asking myself why didn’t I tell his mom that he was frequently absent from school. Maybe his life could have turned out differently. Also I wondered if there any treatment programs in rural Dominica like Alcohol Anonymous (AA) for folks who are afflicted with alcoholism and other drug dependencies.
Suddenly, my deep thoughts and temporary sadness were interrupted by the breathtaking sights of the majestic early eastern morning sunrise on the horizon. As a kid growing up in this mountain village I always sat on the steps looking east where the ‘skies meet the sea’. The early morning sun rays appeared to be bouncing off the canopies of the green and lush rain forests. To my right in the far distance was the therapeutic panoramic view of the unpolluted white mist billowing out of Morne Gouverneaur’s belly.
The powerful and almost magical sights triggered more memories of fun boyhood days while growing up in that that small southeastern agricultural community playing cricket with coconut bats and hanging out with My Boy, Jabo, Lotto, (the late) Sheppy and the other boys.
The sights made me realize how beautiful a country Dominica is. It then occurred to me in a very real way why foreigners from all corners of the world are flocking to the island and scrambling for all the land their money can buy.
A few hours after My-Boy left me on my parents’ back steps, I boarded an aircraft. Minutes later, it took a hard right and quickly disappeared out of Dominican airspace. But did I really disappear from My-Boy, La Plaine, and Dominica? I am not sure.Later that night my family and I arrived ‘home’ in Washington under frigid weather conditions. As I headed to work in D.C’s harsh morning’s rush hour traffic exhausted, sleep deprived and jet lagged, My-Boy’s conversation twenty four (24) hours ago weighed heavily on my mind.
I agree with the Scottish educated (the late) Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere who lead and took his country to political independence in the 50s and early 60s. He returned to his ancestral village after he stepped down from the Presidency and left Dar- es- Salaam. Shortly after, he told a BBC reporter that Dar- es Salem, London, Paris, Brussels, NYC and the big city was duty. He now is at home at the foothills of the Kilimanjaro Mountains tending to his crops and animals and having real friends.
My early morning rendezvous with My- Boy on those steps and the varied emotions I went through then and after that warm morning solidified my true (not relative) definition of home. My ‘real’ home will always be in the rain forests of the La Plaine Mountains between the Sari-Sari and Laronde river valleys, close to My-Boy’s home where the manicou and agouti bid each other good night’.
And there is no need for him to beg he gets cash from all his extended family on a regular basis.
This is the second article written by Emanuel about myboy I wish you would pick someone else to write about when you visit Dominica.
Myboy choose the lifestyle he has,he has very supportive family and has a bedroom to sleep on in his mothers house .You said that he has not been out of Dominica he has travelled abroad .He was fitted with a prosthetic leg which he choose not to use.there are individuals who worst off than myboy in Lapland he has three meals a day bathroom and clean clothes to wear.
LOL I must laugh at the people who chose, out this entire story; to highlight and argue about the description of MyBoy\’s face as having Kalingago features. Is it because he is an alcoholic and sleeps along the road side? Are these factors supposed to determine whether his features appear to be Caucasian, Indian, Asian, African or whatever it may factually be? You people crack me up. I know My Boy personally and Mr. Finn\’s description is 100% accurate, further more, MyBoy\’s mom is Kalinago; hence his features are certainly not far fetched. smh. Lovely piece Mr. Finn.
I was not aware that my family are Kalinago ,where did you get that information from.
I made a comment earlier today and do not know if you can access it.Why does( King) Emanuel write about myboy when he visits Dominica.
Why can`t he write something more positive about our village and his school mates.
For instance the two nurses who works at the health centre who does an excellent job went to school with him.
I am not here to debate Emanuel Finn, nor contradict his thesis: Nevertheless, I think it would be very dangerous for anybody to generalize, and associate alcoholism specifically with the Caribbean Indians, or Kalinago as they call themselves in Dominica.
I admit that some people are predisposed to alcoholism, and that apply to people in general. I know Black, White, Indian and people of all complexion who are alcoholics. I am of African decent, my grandmothers’ mother was a Carib born in the village of Sinekou I have have uncles with a name such as Valmond pure blood Carib, they drank; however, never became alcoholics: my grand mother drank, only when she had the money to buy a half gill, or a gill of rum.
If not moonshine worked. I’ve never seen her drunken, the Carib blood ran in her. Yours truly me; kid Francisco do have Carib blood in me, and in my life span, I drank all kinds of alcohol money can buy and drank to the day I was diagnosed hyperglycemic; I woke up and…
Yours truly me; kid Francisco do have Carib blood in me, and in my life span, I drank all kinds of alcohol money can buy and drank to the day I was diagnosed hyperglycemic; I woke up and simply decide to stop indulging!
So, because one is a Carib does not mean he/she have to become an alcoholic!
I like your comment very well stated.
“In medical circles this condition is called Telangiectasia, a benign skin condition which often affects the normal flow in blood vessels. One of the leading causes of this condition is alcoholism.”(Dr. Finn).
Dr. Finn, I am not a practicing medical doctor, nevertheless I also have a medical background, in that I majored in Health science, and I can safely say the condition of telangiectasia is a vascular lesion formed by dilation of a group of small blood vessels.
Superficial telangiectasias, are sometimes seen in the normal newborn children on the nape of the neck (stork bites), or on the upper eyelids, or upper lip (flame nevi). They usually disappear within the first year of life. I do not know how unique that is among alcoholics.
What I also know is that; telangiectasis, the lesion produced by telangiectasia, may be present as a coarse, or fine line, or as a punctum with radiating limbs (spider) Sorry I can’t be more detailed.
My Boy comes from one of the most loving and caring family in La Plaine ( Wasse Lordat and Brigille Alexander) His accident was unfortunate, but he was never abandoned nor turned out of his parents home. he drinks and behaves badly. Sometimes too drunk to get home on one foot. Hence his reason for sleeping in the bus stop. I will admit that he needs psychological help, but will he avail himself?
See, this is a good piece of writing, unlike the poems DNO keeps publishing. More of this. The poems are nice in theory but are just simplistic; put one of them next to any well-known Caribbean poet and you’ll see the difference.
this is a touching piece…good job
One of your best pieces, Dr. Finn. The yearning for home (I mean true homes where our hearts are) is a common feature of human history. There are many stories of Caribbean emigrants in the western metropoles leaving monies aside to be buried in the villages spotted around the Caribbean archipelago from when they come from.
So captivating, couldn’t stop reading. Give me a next Chapter please…..
I am touched. I am a child of the late sixties but I vividly remember going to Calibishie every school holiday and enjoying the old days. After reading Dr Finn’s article, I just froze at my computer. So many friends of mine from the Roseau Boys’ School era fared just like My Boy! Actually, had it not been for my parents will, I would probably be the other My Boy in Roseau. Actually, I feel guilty after reading this article. Why did I fare out better than many of my school mates? Is it because I was selfish and greedy? Did I do something wrong? Can I go back in time, and rescue them? I wish I had enough money to provide for all of them. Have mercy on me, Dear Father!
@ Oliver most Laplaine people are of mixed background. Laplaine is a combination of different communities for instance Larond, Lafonchete, Casgorey & Fresh Island residents are mostly descendants of Europeans, Laplaine proper is in the center with other small communities up, in and around. All these people mixed together in mixed marriages mostly black men with white women and some black women with white men. Then there are Caribs who come to the village and marry the black men as well. In short the effects of alcohol has imparted itself on everyone on the Island not just Caribs but if the man looks like a Carib, acts like a Carib then he can be described as Carib the fact is Laplaine people treat the richest and poorest in our community the same, no one is looked down upon… except for the tou lou lou’s
All of your stories put together would make for a lovely short stories. Well done!!
Dr Finn,
“You took a hard look at his face with its Kalinago features,” There is no way that anyone should take this article seriously as it is stereotypical and prejudicial. Here is an African person who is victim of his own circumstances and you try as much as possible to see him as a Kalinago, a hopeless alcoholic dependent on your welfare. I expect this bigotry and racism from and ordinary uneducated person, but you sir should be held to a higher standard.
You took that one little sentence to mean all that? Sounds like you’re the one being prejudiced and racist. Nowhere did the author indicate that the man’s ethnic features had anything to do with his condition. It was just a bit of descriptive writing smh
Are you expressing your own views? As you seem to be the only person to associate Kalinago with everything negative.
I did not see or find he associated the two – Alcoholism and Kalinago. I know this guy, he actually has Kalinago features, and that is what I think Dr. Finn was referring to.
My goodness I’m on the train going to work and I had to stop read this story a few times because I’m trying to hold the tears back. Bring big tears to this Rastaman eyes even my noise running.. waw
Ur Noise running? lol who chasing it? How come I do not have a noise any of the other readers do? where is the noise situated Never shamefull?
” Bring big tears to this Rastaman eyes even my noise running.. waw-” This Rastaman yor yor man! hahahahahhahahaha you maco man!
Don’s be ridiculous and silly. The emotions and we have for our island is deep and the identification we have with such stories brings most of us to tears. It is only the immature that would not be so moved
That’s our problem in Dominica. We try to hide everything even when we know we can’t! If it walks like a duck and it quacks, IT’S A DUCK!!! We’re stuck wayyy back in time. Chupssss
I just hope the Parl. Rep. for that area reads this article, which I hope will touch his heart like it has done to all of us who know My Boy. Since the Parl. Reps. have made themselves responsible for every thing, let’s see if the goodness of his heart will bring some relief to My Boy. Dr. Finn you remind us of the beauty, simplicity and hardness of heart of Dominica and Dominicans.
TOUT TWELLE id shake your big toe .the parl reps are in charge of everyyyythhhinnggg!
I just hope the Parl. Rep. for that area reads this article, which I hope will touch his heart like it has done to all of us who know My Boy. Since the Parl. Reps. have made themselves responsible for every thing, let’s see if the goodness of his heart will bring some relief to My Boy. Dr. Finn you remind us of the beauty, simplicity and hardness of heard of Dominica and Dominicans.
SAD INDEED!!Good to know that you have not forgotten where you came from!!!!! School experiences almost always remain etched deeply in ones mind!!!
There are other people who is in need of help always, what about the vagrants on the street ?? we should find place for each of them
I enjoyed reading your thoughts, brought tears to my eyes. I have several questions— Where can he go to receive services? What about prosthesis? Is he self medicating? Mental illness? This gentleman needs help?
WE need to come together and help this man.
Dr. Finn:
Thank you for sharing this deeply meaningful story from your past personal life.
It touched my heart and I hope it will have a bearing on whatever time I have left in this world, and also on the lives of others. St. Paul the Apostle admonishes us to “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15,16) Even as a young person I think I knew that to redeem the time meant to buy up every opportunity to do what is right and proper, although I certainly didn’t always do it.
This should cause us to review our priorities in the light of our values and act accordingly. We should be asking is my decision one I could regret in the years to come? When it involves somebody else instead of ourselves we should ask how am I best able to help this individual?
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
can someone help the man obtain housing?
Well Done!! LA has stories for books! Bless
Dr, Finn,
Your story is indeed inspiring and touching. I truly emphasize with you, my boy and his family. I wish to inform you however, that you could have used any other adjective to describe his facial features rather than using the Kalinago people’s features, ugly as it may be, to justify your conclusion of you friend’s difficulty or challenge faced. His facial description, which was based on the fact that he drank excessively, could be associated with any other community in Dominica at this time, including that of the LAB at Mahaut, among many others, yet you chose to associate it with the Kalinago. You need to travel around the country or the Caribbean by extension to understand the reality. While I understand that you meant well, these are the little things that cause loss of respect. Please review your story and come again .
There were two separate facts mentioned in the article, among others: Kalinago features and alcoholism. Why do you associate the two? The writer never said nor implied that one caused the other. Maybe My Boy is part Kalinago? Neither did the writer imply that the Kalinago features were ugly. Actually you brought that up and it is a reflection of your biases or insecurities.
Some people just like to look for grievances and raise issues even when there are none.
Alcohol is a problem among the Kalinago people and this unfortunately does mark its victims in ways they would rather not be identified. The same is the case among the native aboriginal people in Canada among whom I have worked for years on their Reserves.
Dr. Finn was giving us a realistic picture of a true situation to reach us at an emotional level and produce empathy that will move us to positive action. Basically, this is what I do in my work so I do understand the dynamics. He did not intend to offend anybody. I doubt if he has troubled many because these are things that are well known to Dominicans who I believe are very caring people.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Pastoral Counselor Certificate)
@chakademus an Rev.Donald hill, d.d
I would like to know if u all ever past in the Kalinago resently to make such statements. What all u saying is the Kalinago people alone that are alcoholics , where as it have alcoholics everywhere but jus one village u all seeing.wow!!!!
@ Oliver Frederick:
Mr. Frederick, My apologies if you are offended. i must tell you that this was not my intent at all. I realize that there are some sensitivities with our First Nation People and that subject. But the broader point I wanted to make is that all over our island there are traces of your people. I am no expert on the Kalinago but as I understand it ,they started off in the south on the fertile land – Geneva and were pushed off by the coloniialists until they settled on barren land in the North East. That being said – at one time La Plaine was an Indian village and not all left and migrated with the rest. That section of the the Kalinago were called Kiilourou. Up steam from the Laronde river is called Fon Kilourou. So My-Boy and his family in La Plaine have these features.
Please read this article.
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/features/commentary/commentary-our-indigenous-people-and-their-place-in-the-homeland/
thanks
Emanuel Finn
This I knew when reading the title. The author was not even visible I immediately Dr.Jno Finn/Finn with his contre I said Monsieur Quik Qwack! My brother said Jno Finn encore LOAO ! laughing our (a-s-es out)
Man everytime I read this guys contribution if I can so call it takes me back to high school 2-3 form when we were learning to copy the British prose. today( in retrospect) it makes me feel the efforts of colonialsm attempting to control my mind which I resisted and defeated growing in the same era as Dr.F/Jno F in a nearby village.
Honestly Dr .F you are stock in the colonial era of writing. I tend to agree with Oliver Stone oops! Frederick
See Oliver Stone does historical films like Jno F does historic prose lol!
The post Dr. F is/was all superficial and descriptive writing taugh at DGS,SMA CHS WHS back in the day.
Dr.F step bro! certainly nothing was ventured hence nothing gained.
@ Oliver most Laplaine people are of mixed background. Laplaine is combination of different communities for instance Larond, Lafonchete, Casgorey & Fresh Island are mostly descendants of Europeans Laplaine proper is in the center with pother communities up in and around. All these people mixed together in mixed marriages mostly black men with white women and some black women with white men. Then there are Caribs who come to the village and marry the black men as well. In short the effects of alcohol has imparted itself on everyone on the Island not just Caribs but if the man looks like a Carib, acts like a Carib then he can be described as Carib the fact is Laplaine people treat the richest and poorest in our community the same, no one is looked down upon… except for the tou lou lou’s
wow that’s touching and deep.
Sad and funny.
Very touching
I thoroughly enjoyed reading through your memories of my birthplace Laplaine, Dominica, but most of all about my “family” My Boy.
I only saw him a few months back and yes, I had to leave him with “a little something” which he asked for. It is sad to see what he has become and I do believe that if he hadn’t had his leg amputated, he would’ve turned out differently today because he only started drinking after he lost his leg. Quite a few boys would not go to school then and I doubt very much telling Ma Leek (mother) would’ve made a difference because he just didn’t like going to school.
Felt homesick whilst reading and I sincerely want to return to our beautiful Dominica.
Peace
Just like that!!
Felt homesick whilst reading and I sincerely want to return to our beautiful Dominica.
What’s preventing you? I guess U are just like ur village boy wanna have both worlds. unfortunately you can only have it one way doing what you guys do best visit then head out return head out,return, head out return,head out ad infinitum.
Peace
This commentary brought tears to my eyes. Dr. Finn these memories are forever present. Well put together.