Roseau South MP condemns Newtown shooting; calls for a national action plan to avoid senseless violence

Francis called for a national action plan to address what he referred to as senseless violence. File photo

MP for the Roseau South Constituency, Attorney Joshua Francis, has condemned the recent killing of a 27 year-old man in Newtown calling it a “senseless” act of violence.

Telford Kerry Ursan George, 27, of Stockfarm was shot and killed in an apparent drive-by shooting which occurred on July 4, 2018 in Newtown.

Francis, who escorted the two police suspects in the shooting, Jason Telemaque and Leon Ettienne,  to police headquarters on Tuesday, has also called for a national plan of action to address such violence.

Francis spoke to Dominica News Online (DNO) on Tuesday.

“I am broken hearted, it is a very sad moment. As the Parliamentary Representative my spirit is hurt and injured by this act of violence and I sincerely condemn such behaviour,” he said. “Such violence is senseless…it brutally injures the heart and minds of families and the community by extension.”

He said lives are affected when things like that happen.

“The loss of life is a most painful thing for any family,” he said. “I can only imagine the brokenness and the pain that the family of the deceased is going through, as well as that of the alleged shooters,” Francis continued. “It is never an easy thing for a family to lose a young person and it is never an easy thing for a family to be on the receiving end as well, because the alleged shooters have a family and they must be hurting too.”

This latest episode of violence among youth has prompted the Roseau South Parl Rep to call for society to find a way, perhaps a national action plan, which he says must be implemented at the local level in an effort to avoid those types of senseless shootings.

“We have to find a way to make our society more peaceful, find a way to resolve our conflicts without resorting to violence,” Francis stated.

He appealed to the Roseau South Constituency, particularly the people of New Town and Loubiere, to rally with, and support each other.

“I want to ask people to rally and to support each other,” he urged. “It is a very difficult time, but when we come together as a team, when we come together as a community we are much stronger, we can support each other.”

 Francis also highlighted the need to reach out to young men in society and to find a way to help them.

“Our young men are in trouble, we need to help our young men, we need to go back to the ground and connect with young men,” he pleaded. “And we need to hear them out.”

He said young men are quickly becoming marginalized.

“We need to listen to them, we need to find a way to help them,” he remarked. “Because the people who are being killed, the majority of them are young men and the people who alleged kill the majority of them are young men.”

The Roseau South MP recommended a proactive, preventative approach to stop that type of behaviour and called on families to take responsibility for their children, especially the boys.

“Talk to them, look over them, do not curse them, follow them, give them love, show them care, inspire them to go back to work,” he urged. “I think that is the biggest problem for our young men right now, is that they are being ignored and they become rebellious, they are aggressive, they become more and more violent…”

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22 Comments

  1. My Name is Chrissie now lives in New York born in Colihaut I was raised in a Christian Home the WORD sats train up a child in the way he should grow when he is old he will not depart from it.Parents your children are looking at you from the time they were born you are totally responsibly for your children not school not church not the Police not the prison not THE Laws they will put in place mother and father be an EXAMPLE to your children what they see at Home that is what they will go out with for the rest of their LIFE

  2. Shirley
    July 12, 2018

    This will continue to happen as there is no punishment for murderers in Dominica.
    A man kills another man three years heading to four years ago and the murderer is on bail enjoying his life whilst we the victim’s family are suffering daily due to the illegal killing of a loved one.
    There is nothing in place to stop these criminals as they know there is no justice in Dominica and that they will be free even when such crimes are committed.
    This needs to be changed else the killings will continue. No respect for life.

  3. Failed Government
    July 12, 2018

    The system also failed these young men, by not providing opportunities in the communities for national growth. Where are the trade schools ? or training programs ? and what about gun laws? guns are being smuggled into this country left and right but no one is saying anything about it. The lackadaisical system that don’t care much is partly to blame.

    • July 13, 2018

      Stop making excuses, these men failed themselves. Last time I checked primary and secondary education is free in Dominica. There are increasing number of opportunities for higher education, yet it seems as if only the women are taking advantage of these opportunities.

  4. KID ON THE BLOCK
    July 11, 2018

    Was that not a terrorist act?
    Pass the Terrorist Bill.

  5. July 11, 2018

    last time i commented this subject, the vilest of synonyms was used to refute my take. Br Joshua, it seems, was able to reach and reason with these two mis-guided young men. Dominica, is not isolated on this issue, it is the same or worst, in all the Islands.New Prisons are being built, though it takes more to keep a young man in jail than educating him, Gov’t have taken the route of incarceration. Dominica’ historians are not writing the true history, we read and see Genocide on the news, yes, Dominica have had its share, to some its been a very long time, crimes against humanity has had its mark in Dominica, Blood have been splattered, and run like rivers , Our young men must be reeducated, we need to teach them who the real enemies are and how to avoid and fight against it, . With the need for foreign investments, Zero tolerance will be a long term policy, a vast # of HOLIER THAN THOU Dominicans will certainly applaud.

  6. July 11, 2018

    Here we go again!! It seems that violence is only acceptable when it is practiced by the UWP. The violent incidents at Salisbury where the police were stoned and the distruction of private property in Roseau by UWP supporters in 2017 was engineered by the leadership of the UWP including Joshua Francis. So Mr. Francis should just shut up and stop insulting people intelligence.

  7. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    July 11, 2018

    We need to engage our young men and provide them with opportunities to empower themselves. When members of the “Cabal” pick and choose winners and losers based on tribalism and identify politics, the end result is lawlessness, anarchy and chaos. With little Foreign Direct Investment, high unemployment and systematic persecution by the “Cabal” murder in broad day light is the end result.

  8. LifeandDeath
    July 11, 2018

    Joshua, you continue to inspire. This is indeed a sad situation and it runs deep. On a whole our people are very short tempered, even the women. See what happened in Bells recently with the scalding of the 15 year old.
    Our ppl need mediation. We have to stop making enemies of our neighbours..we’re all trying to live and thrive. Instead Like Joshua said, our attitude must be to rally and support each other..Dominica can indeed be the best place to Live, work and enjoy life if we see each Dominican as an essential part of the whole Dominica.

  9. One of a kind
    July 11, 2018

    The biggest problem is that our young men are being ignored??
    No you jack***, the biggest problem is laws in Dominica are too easy going! We live in a world where Criminals are hand held too much.

    Those a-holes should be jailed for life…treat them like the piece of garbage like they are…until Dominica gets firm with crimes like this, crimes will continue.

    PUT THE FEAR OF PUNISHMENT OUT THERE AND OUR YOUNG MEN WILL THINK TWICE! STOP WITH P**** LAWS.

    • Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
      July 12, 2018

      Then join me in my quest to return capital punishment to our laws. Whenever the murder in broad day light, we will hang them in broad day light.

      • Shirley
        July 13, 2018

        100% IN AGREEMENT

  10. July 11, 2018

    Joshua is there “sensible” violence

    • Shaka Zulu
      July 11, 2018

      Yes they in. Lets say someone walks into your house to rob and you and your family relaxing while they pounce on you, what would you do? Well my friend thats where sensible violence comes in.

    • DA fails
      July 11, 2018

      Well Mr laborat, Sensible violence could be when a vagabon trying to break into your house, and you call the police and they deal with them.

  11. Ibo France
    July 11, 2018

    The home is the most important institution in the community. If the home is dysfunctional, society becomes dysfunctional also. Proper parenting is crucial if we are to bring back decency, brotherhood, sisterhood and a sense of normalcy to our daily living. The onus is on the parents to be exemplary role models for their children. Unemployment is a problem. It’s much too high among the youth population. It is said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Nothing stops a bullet like a good paying job. The present economy, in its anemic state, is failing the country, most particularly the young people. I’m convinced that many of these allegedly ‘bad boys’, if they are gainfully employed, earning a good weekly paycheck, they would depart from their criminal tendencies. I have personally seen this. Kudos to MP Francis, his words are very instructive and he practises what he preaches.

  12. %
    July 11, 2018

    Good call honourable Francis,but those vote foraging misleaders in the DLP will ignore your call.Their prime focus is to steal elections.Remember the OAS observer team told us how FLAWED the 2014 election was?These idiots,and lazy DLP men and women have failed Dominica.
    Where The Wicked Rule, the People Mourn..This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party!!!

    • &&&&
      July 11, 2018

      WeeMama % resurrect. You’re right my boy, where the wicked ruled people mourns. Yes that’s why we hot rid of UP we were tired of Payless payday. See under your leadership your constituency is drug ridden, Views Expressed

  13. marie-claire R Skerrit
    July 11, 2018

    That’s what i’m talking about. This man there exemplify the true being of a politician who cares for the well being of his community and the people he serve. I need to see more of our leaders show those traits

  14. The Guard
    July 11, 2018

    All this you say yet you defend them and send them right back out to re-offend.

    • July 12, 2018

      @The Guard, this is sooooooooooooooooooo true! All of the very excuses that those young men use to commit their hedeous crimes

  15. jamie
    July 11, 2018

    Mr.francis,i respect you a great deal,dominica has a regime party,and i never hear the leader condemning these acts,and finding solutions,this will continue unless the leader find jobs and development for the young men and women.this is very sad days in dominica.dominicans make a change.

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