I join in the total condemnation of what appears to be further increase in violence in the Wesley Constituency. It is indeed a sad day for us.
We have had in record time, the stabbing of one young lady and the shooting of two young men while another juvenile is taken in custody in a neighbouring island accused of another serious crime. I appeal to the villagers to remain calm and focused as we go through these trying times.
To the families of the victims, I extend my deepest sympathy for the acts committed against you. May God give you strength and patience in these trying times?
To the churches we appeal to you to take a more active role in the lives of the youth. It is time to move from within the walls and reach out further. The young persons are yearning for your help.
Let me commend Magistrate Behanzin for his efforts in putting together this peace conference. I express my fullest support for such a bold but necessary venture. I am available and willing to form part of this effort.
In the mean time as the parliamentary representative remains quiet, let me take the opportunity to inform the government on behalf of the youth and the rest of the villagers that they must now step in. A greater presence of the police and customs must be felt in the area and justice must be swift.
The high rate of unemployment is not helping. The young people must be occupied. There are too many jobless young persons in the constituency and they are now joined by a new group who graduated from college and secondary schools in July 2010. What are they to do?
The people of Wesley were promised a Community Centre as a gift for voting in the government. One year has passed since, and not a block has been laid in the foundation. We will not rest until this centre is built and commissioned. The young people need a venue to release all their stored energy.
It is one thing to blame the young people but have we must stop for a moment and think of their frustration.
Some students had to discontinue college because government discontinued the transportation assistance which was offered to them for the last election. Who should they turn to?
The playing fields at all the schools are in the most deplorable state that one could imagine, yet the parliamentary representative remains mute. Does she have a voice in cabinet?
I called for a symposium on crime as of October 2010 and identified some interest groups to be targeted. To date we have had no response from the authorities. I again make this call. We must engage all in order to deal with this serious matter.
Farmers, both young and old, are challenged with the increased loss of production, no markets, mass deterioration of some farm roads and condemnation of some others. This continues to add to the frustration of the youth. I call on the government to please help in removing this state of frustration on our people.
We are known for contributing to national development and wish to continue. I Pledge my support for any attempt to reverse this situation and to return this beautiful area to what it used to be.
Senator Ezekiel Bazil
Yes Ezikel,well said.We all can clearly see that there is a problem and has been for a long time.When you and I encountered the same or similer situation we did not turn to violence and crime.The problem is more deeply rooted and needs a collective approach.There is no one quick fix to this unfortinuate situation.However we must start somewhere now.Its going to be a long and hard road to which education is the key.I wish you the best of luck and God bless.
thats more politics talk than violence…..
mr bazil i commend you once again on a speech well written. it is wise of you to read your speech over and over before you publish it. the former school mistress have no idea of composition/comprehension and punctuation. in the mean time i would suggest that you and ms shillingford put politics aside and do something for the good of your village. its the politics that is creating the tricks in both of your heads. maybe dr paul need to perform a brain surgery in everyone of your heads and take the politics out. no bipartisanship in d/ca therefore the country remains at a stand still. just talk, talk, and more talk and no work.
At least i can relate to this speech..Well written..If you wrote it yourself the DLP should hire you to write speeches for them…
People! People! People! Stop seeing RED in everything… This statement is far superior to that of Mrs. Shillingford, It was well thought through, I commend you Mr. Basil… Let me just tell you laborites who only see red something… It is IMPOSSIBLE to address the issues confronting Dominica including crime to avoid referring to the policy makers and those who were entrusted to keep law and order in the country.
Yes everyone has a role to play, parent, teachers, government, civil society, the schools, the churches. I cannot understand why you people want to give all that credit to Government for the infrastructural (Superficial development) and not hold them accountable for the breakdown of the society. Do you people really believe that they have no responsibility there as well?
Come people, forget the partisan politics for the sake of Dominica and be rational in your thinking… Basil please coordinate your efforts with that of Mr. Behanzin and all others who are genuinely concerned about Dominica and let the Red Army continue to protect their fuehrer Skerrit. It is all about Skerritt for them. Once Skerritt is protected the rest of the country can burn!
Why don’t the UWP make this man the leader of the Opposition as opposed to Spags?
oh..he’s not the parl rep? my bad. i could swear he was…
It is very sad to hear what is happening to this beautiful country.The youths are without any assitance or guideance.they are filled with endless potential and need avenues to let out their steam. Take a look at the londonderry savanna, the last time I saw that place, I could not belive what I saw.I remembered growing as a kid, there was always some kind of activities taking place there , folks from the entire northeastern communities would come together for all kind of events it was a place or avenue they had .why is the area in such deplorable state.Where do the kids that attend the high school in the area , let out their energies;with all that idle time,young and vibrant minds, no jobs, no money, no leaders ,very little to hope for,then the only path left will be the destructive path. until every one understand that, and do some thing about that, nothing will change, and it could even get worst.
I applaud you Mr Bazil on such positive vibes.
Now let us start doing and talk less.
Doesn’t matter who you support, let us start to form groups/clubs, or join the already existing ones, and let us play the roll of making good things happen. Don’t depend on minister or government or churches to do everything. We have to make our contribution as well.
God Bless Dominica.
Well said, but it dosen’t tak a rocket scientists to tell the sensible people of wesley to get involved in their youth affairs. Ezekiel should be a labourite, UWP is not for him. He will be better motivated to get more things done.
mr bazil i take my hat of to u, you can only do what you can
i am from wesley living aboard. wesley was not like this we were tight knit and loving, politics has destroy everything, we are nolonger our brothers keeper.both bazil and shillingford could do more than talk to help our community.be there just the the way it was during the elections when they were begging for votes.sit with them,listen to them and together come up with a plan. wesley people are very intelligent.
Mr. Bazil, talk is cheap. You have been talking for a while but putting no action to the words that you speak. It is all well and good to be politically correct in delivering your speech but you have to back it up with action.
Pointing out the ills of the present government is not going to help. This is not a campaign it’s an opportunity to bring all segments to the community together to help Wesley.
The is issue in Wesley is not new, so tell us over the years what have you done to bring about some calm in our community. Have you lead or been a part off any thing constructive in Wesley. You have an opportunity to say, this is what I plan to do, not again repeating the same thing as the Parl Rep by trying to piggy back on efforts already started. You’re asking to be a community leader, stop talking like the Parl Rep and display some leadership.
The only person we saw trying to do something on the ground regarding crime and getting the community together are the church leaders and Ms. Athenia Benjamin. When she worked alongside Dr. Peter K.B. St. Jean in April of last year conducting two lecture series at the North East Comprehensive School, at the Woodfordhill Primary, the Woodfordhill Catholic Church and the Wesley Pentecostal Church.
There were young people in those communities who signed up be to Peace volunteers, do you know who they are. Since Ms. Benjamin is no longer in Dominica this was a perfect opportunity for you to pick up where she left off and run with the program but you did nothing just like Ms. Shillingford. Now you presenting a Press Release. Can we only talk when an issue is in the media and forget about the grass roots efforts needed to deter the crimes?
What is happening is just a reaction of the underlined issues members in our Wesley community face. So both you Senator Bazil and Minister Shillingford stop talking and show us action. I now realize that Wesley has two representatives in the Dominican Parliament. Shame on you both.
well ms benjamin cared so much about the people she should stay to help the youth.. i guess she left because she did n’t get the attention she was looking for.shame on her. if you al wants to help from the goodness of ur heart.. wesley have a parl rep where is she
Ms. Benjamin is helping the youth more from the outside than those two the senator and minister living on the Island, just ask the members of the group S.O.U.L. Enterprise.
the time to act is now. Shillingford, Bazil, Benjamin…and whomever else, I don’t care who you’all are need to put aside all personal gains and be true to yourselves and the people….all I SEE IS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE talking and devising schemes to benefit themselves..this problem of violence is bigger than all ah oonoo.I am a young man from Wesley living abroad and I’m very much disturbed..parents you have the biggest role to play…don’t let those kids of our’s down..
mr bazil please be the speach writer for the leaders of your party or become their editor. you sure don’t say the nonsense they say.
i like to be straight forward and i must say that Mrs Shillingford speech cant be compared to urs at all….i cant believe that she was a teacher (No offense) i must say if wat u r saying is truly coming from ur heart then im with u 150%…its time for her to start giving the gifts she promise to the young people and the people of wesley
Well thought of and presented statement. I did not see no bashing of any kind as accustomed to by the opposition. He identified some areas in his constituency that needs attention. What I think you should do, put your words into actions. Don’t just say that the parl. rep is doing nothing and you yourself is doing nothing but just calling out the issues.
Think outside the box, the fields are in desperate conditions as you stated, find ways to fix them. If the government does not want to help, hold them accountable by documenting every time that you went to them for help for your constituency. be an active member of your constituency, not only when issues arrive that you show yourself. Take initiative and make things happen.
Thumbs up to you Senator Bazil for such an inspiring message. I am a Labour supporter but politics does not have anything to do with my response. I give honour to whom honour is due. You have said a mouth full while our Parl Rep remains mute. I am proud of you boy. Keep up the good work sir!!
This is what you call LEADERSHIP!!! Senator Bazil I appoint you Pal Rep of Wesley. Constituencies in Dominica need more of you to represent.
positive statement Mr. Bazil, you r on the side of the Ghetto Youths.thanks bro!
Well said Bazil, the crimes will continue if the kids have nothing to do, i have seen this kind of killing
when the government of Ontario cut back extra caricular activites for the young people killing in toronto hard rise so high, the government have to engage the youth in after school activites, so the will stay away from all those bad things that happening in the Village, we need to work together to build our Village back . Gloria need to go back to her community and really talk to her people and see what is going on. you are in the right position to make a change in what’s going on in our comunity.
We all are praying for Wesley and the rest of the community in Dominca.
What!!! No more ‘Bin Bobol’???
Well said! As a touch of every aspect was being focused on. We need to get our streets back in Wesley with the help of prayers and some time we will. Heal our Nation.
Very well said Mr.Bazil. To the point and objective. Impressive! I’ll add.
There is something seriously wrong with these people who are supposed to be leaders of our country.
Firstly you have a parl rep who comes and tries to downplay the serious crime situation in Wesley by pointing out that there are more serious crime problems in other villages. Now we have an opposition senator who, instead of listing some of the things that might help to alleviate th problems, puts a partisan spin to the issue.
Everything problem does not have a partisan solution. He would have had a lot more credibility if he had listed possible solutions than to point out the failings of the government. Now is not the time to take partisan sides. We all have to come together as DOMINICANS (UWP, DLP, DFP, churches, community groups, elders……). We cannot be taking sides and pointing fingers on this very important issue.
this is a truely enlightening n positive statement
A much more refreshing comment. Finally somebody is thinking positive.
i read Mrs. Shillingford speech and it cant be compared to this one…trust me i have no idea wat planet she is from….This speech was a well put to gether one with great words of encouragement..Mr. Bazil continue to be the pleasant loyal person tht you are…If God is for us who can be against us..
Amen!
well said
well said well said my God these people just wonna let government do everything for them damn lazy
Bazil go back to wesley
mr.s shillingford is working
I really wonder if you “REALLY” want to know why Bazil left wesley?
show me the work that mrs.Shillingford is doing!!! Be real!!!!
WHATEVER!!! The editor of DNO had to give all you (you and Gloria i talking about) a fire before all you came out and say anything?! STUPES!!
I am thankful for the efforts of Magistrate Tiyani Behanzin. He has always been supporting our community. But the article said that he considers this a first step in our community. Thank you, Magistrate Tiyani Behanzin.
But I want to set the record straight that we have already began a movement for peace in our community. I was part of the Peace Development Workshop that Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean and the wonderful and dynamic Ms. Athenia Benjamin conducted in a local church last April. Dr. St. Jean headed the workshop as part of the beginning of the Peaceful World Movement in Dominica, and he was calling the islandwide events the Peaceful Dominica Initiative. He has a website on it. He also did workshops in my high school and at my little causin’s school in Woodford Hill, and other parts of Dominica.
Soon after Dr. Jean left, Ms. Benjamin headed a Radical Jam for Peace that was very successful. Dr. St. Jean and Ms. Benjamin were also filming the work for a movie. Dr. St. Jean said that he would be coming back this year, around April because he was doing similar work in other places and had to analyse the information for a book and a movie. He said that would take some time.
I hope that Magistrate Tiyani Behanzin invites Dr. St. Jean and Ms. Benjamin to work with him for the Peace Conference that he is planning. Dr. St. Jean is also the one who worked with Minister Blackmoore in 2003 or so with the Crime Symposium in Roseau so he has experience with these things. We should really get him to help us because the young peole, including myself, have a very good impression of him and he was able to get us to open up and learn a lot about how to really live a more peaceful life. He also showed us a powerfil movie called Lessons from Homicides that he did in Buffalo, NY. The movie touched all of us and some of the young people are still talking about it and how it made them think and change their behavior.
We need to build on things that already started and support the people doing them instead of doing things fresh from start over and over again. I believe we will be more successful in the long run. So get the people who are already helping us to further help Magistrate Tiyani Behanzin
Mr Bazil thank you for expressing your concern. Issues of youth & violence don’t need partisan political finger pointing. Concerned Youth you are clearly more mature than many of the adults here. Thanks for your intelligent contribution. The symposium should be non partisan and bring together genuinely concerned people working towards solutions.
Concerned Youth you are right there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. I agree that the work of Dr St Jean should be taken into consideration. A recent blog by Alex Bruno also touches on the subject matter. Two commentators were Dr St Jean and Ras Mo Moses. I learned from them that these two Dominicans are collaborating in the USA. We have the expertise. Ras Mo’s work is different from Dr St jean his youth friendly approach with poetry, music and theater gets youth stirred up and eager to participate. Ras Mo has worked all over the USA mainly in continuation schools, juvenile prisons and after school programs. I observed a presentation of his with inner city youth in Brooklyn what an experience that was. He kept the youth attentive with his performance which included audience participation, he provoked discussion on themes like violence etc based on content of songs and poems then he got the youth to create their own poetry, songs and music. I’ve seen nothing like it.
Dominicans lets use what is ours by engaging people like Dr St Jean & Ras Mo. Lets be united around solutions to violence and engaging youth in building a brighter future for Dominica
well said mr bazil
I/m not a UWP supporter, I’m a Labour supportet, though not a voter, But Thank’s Ezekiel for this word;s od Wisdom, Continue the wisdom. Instead the Parl Rep of Wesley congratulate you for those wise words, She had the Gut’s to be fighting back with word’s that just don’t make no sense atall. Continue the great work Ezekiel. The magistrate is doing both his job and hers, God bless you and Benzanin. Continue the wisdon on behalf of the youth. Gloria should talk about creating skills and work for the youth’s of Wesley, insted of fighting back with nonesense.
So you call on parliamentary representative, you call on government authorities, you call on churches, and police, customs, etc.
What about the familes of these ppl. They are victims, but from the beginning, they should teach their children right from wrong. Give them a good foundation to stem up from. The fruit don’t fall too far from the tree. Probably the parents themselves don’t know any better. I know mothers encouraging their daughter and sons to do illegal things just so they get the money to go and party. They themselves are worse and lazy.
Dominica is a a country where no man should be in the streets. In my village, young boys, 10, 11, 12 years go fishing, have gardens and doing somoething with their lives. Despite the great influence of the drug situation, they remain focus. Why? Because they have good family background and a strong society to correct them. Even hatians have to come and take advantage of the good soil. Dominicans just too damn lazy, and laid back, waiting for the government to spoon feed them while they can do nothing for themselves.
I am unemployed too, with a BA in accounting, and i didn’t get any schoalrship to go and study, have to pay my loans. I am not blaming the Government. I won’t blame anyone. I am responsible for myself. You all need to fix up your mentality and think of the real problems. Is ppl like you who lead others into negativity. Drowning the country. Thank God you are the minority. And i sure hope you read this.
Stop blaming the GOVERNMENT!!!! You too just as ignorant as every other UWP supporter.
too much negativity in everything…too much crticism in everything…what happen to the things like great effort,nice spirit,keep up the good work or u are on the right path..
nonesense: Your name suits you. You really have a BA in money sense but you lack the sense that is so common which we all call ‘common sense’. you should be ashame of yourself for lacking that. You need to get another degree- this time in common sense
Country gyal…. Nonsence lacking common sense, but you self not seeing the essence of what is going on.
Stop blaming the Government for every single thing. The opposition using the crime rate right now to say that the government is this and they are that, but the crime rate stems from the home…You should have listened to the radio this morning. Not from the government. There is too much already in place for the youth… but no… they want the fast way of making money, drugs…which then lead to the killing. Noone is encouraging crime here….
Parents smoking, drinking, using bad language infront their kids from young. How you expect them to grow up. Worse, is children raising children. Yet we lay back, and try to get the attention by saying is the government that need to step in? Is the homes, the broken homes they come from. Parents have to step in.
The opposition will never call out on what is already in place cause they want to shine… But they will never Shine. Lights OUT!!!
There is so much venom in your response and yet you are criticising the man for crying out for help from all and every quarter!
What is wrong with you people? Where has all this hatred come from?
He is appealing to all stakeholders and indeed volunteering himself and crying for assistance for these misguided youth.
Where did we go wrong to end up with such polarised views and vitriolic resposes to everything?
A hose divided amongst itself cannot stand.
Bazil you have my commendation and support young man.
Well Done.100 % marks plus an A for your effort.
while i would not be so harsh i must admit that i share your sentiments. Why are families not being held responsible for their own? Whats wrong with us? Mothers and fathers need to start raising their children in the right way and stop looking for others to do it for them.I am so tired with that sick mentality.
To this individual with the BA in accounting,get some sense brother. The role of the government can never be underestimated in generating employment for its people,or at least providing the enabling environment to generate employment…Before you use the title BA , be sensible in what you are writing.
thank you very much sir, I have not read a positive massage like this one coming from the opposition in a long time . all this and more can be brought t to the house , but rather the UWP stay out of paliament. nothing can be accomplish when this is done.
and nothing is accomplished when they attend. geez. why dont u people get it?!..lol