Sunday, June 7, 2009
A woman on a mission to transform Dominica's urban ghetto
By Cherryll Lafond
Dominica, the Caribbean island which boasts itself as the nature island of the Caribbean. It is best known for its natural beauty, pristine splendor; and mineral springs formed from its volcanic properties.
It is an island, which has produced the world’s youngest prime minister, some of the longest living centenarians, and the very first female prime minister to govern a Caribbean Nation.
But behind all this pristine beauty, the social and political attributes, is a very dark side of societal ills of poverty, child neglect, child and sexual abuse of every form, faced by a child in every other household, particularly the less fortunate children in the island’s Urban Ghettos.
An unnoticed epidemic for decades, which has remain one the island’s deep dark secrets, but has continued to afflict the Dominican Society. In recent years, laws such as the Sexual Offenses ACT 1 of 1998, have been implemented to address some of these issues.
However, due to a lack of proper governmental structure, trained personnel, a non-bureaucratic, or a non-corrupt political system. This problem and many other inhumane situations continue to plague the society, particularly those who do not have a voice or an effective advocate who will let their plights be heard.
The stories told by some of its victims are heart-breaking, the perpetrators isn’t just the average person (a stranger), they are pastors, politicians, musical artists, teachers, a father, lawyers, law enforcers, child nurse practitioners, bank directors, doctors, family members, the neighbour, or a family friend in most cases these offenders are nearly three times the age of the victims.
The Dominican society has turned its back on these victims, and has desensitized itself from these ills; the treatment towards those who have succumbed to childhood sexual abuse is a very cruel one. Victims are ridiculed for their unfortunate circumstances; the government does not seem to care as to what is going on.
And has made no major efforts to address these problems, few are charged for such crimes, but in most cases, they receive a very light penalty, which may be a small fine and in very rare situations, may receive a short jail time, but no major penalties are given to sex offenders.
Based on who the offender is, and the position that they may hold within the Dominican Society, the charge or changes brought against them, quietly vanishes.
In some cases (most being the norm), the offender pays off the parent or parents of the victim, the matter is no longer considered a problem. As a result, some victims who have been scared by these ills are walking emotional time bombs; there are no therapeutic facilities or other such mediums for healing.
One individual, who has taken up a crusade in combating some of these problems, particularly in the city’s Urban Ghettos is Gloria Walsh.
Gloria Walsh is on a mission, and her mission is a one-woman fight, to help the children in Dominica’s Urban Ghettos, particularly in the Silver Lake community in attaining a better life, one out of what they currently live in.
Her concerns are very genuine; she is not deterred by any of the bureaucratic setbacks she faces in her quest. “It is sad, and those in high places are the very ones who are condoning the nonsense that is happening to these children.”
Gloria is no stranger to this field, a community activist for the past eighteen years, she has been involved in the community development of the Bath Estate Community, where she has lived. She also worked with Operation Youth Quake, a small organization funded by government to help in the development of young persons on the island.
A few years ago, she started a voluntary organization for youths, The Love One, Teach One Foundation Inc. (loveoneteachone.com), to provide a supportive program for underprivileged children and troubled youth in the Roseau areas.
It also provides participants help with their homework; provide additional instructions to them in different subject areas such as Reading, Mathematics, Spelling, English and Writing. As part of the Reading Program, participants have the opportunity to enroll at the public Library, borrow books, and research homework, as well as educational field trips and other social events of interest.
It is an agency, whose sole survival and success is based on the generosity of friends, family and other well-wishers. “Our society have become laid back, materials things are our comfort, once we have our comfort, it doesn't matter to us anymore.”
She gets clothing, food and other donations from a few concerned friends based in the US, others have promised to help, but these promises have never been fulfilled, without these types of assistance, her mission would have been a wasted effort.
She operates on a nonexistent budget and has sort the assistance of government for funding or any type of available aid, but these efforts have been useless. Her proposals to the government have never been read either can they be found.
“The Welfare Division’s hands are tied, not many workers to deal with what is happening right now, our Government don't care, and I will say it. Don’t you think they are not getting reports? So it doesn't matter to them.”
It is 5 am, Tuesday morning; Gloria is up, and is preparing to embark on her day’s journey. It is the start of a typical day. A single mother of four, she prepares her younger kids for school, so that she can be on her way to the various communities and schools she visits daily.
She prepares meals at home, for some 30 kids and provides lunch two days a week. By 9 am, she has already covered a 10-20 mile walk, where she visits the first school, for a PTA (Parent Teachers Association) executive meeting at the Newtown Primary School, where she serves as executive secretary to the PTA, she also serves on the a sub-committee for parenting as well.
Along her way she may be stopped by someone in the community who may need her help with some matter or another. Recently, she coordinated an aid drive for a family who had lost their home to a fire. She is determined to cover as much as possible in one day.
In one day, she will visit the entire Silver Lake Community. The Silver Lake Community is less than a 30-minute drive from the capital city of Roseau. It’s a community, which is plagued, with poverty, social ills such as unemployment, school dropout, teen pregnancy, gambling, drugs, neglect, child abuse and many other issues.
There are families in that community who hardly have a daily meal, and live from mouth to mouth or by the mercy of god for survival. One of the most disturbing things about this community, are the things the children who live there are exposed too, which range from drug trafficking, and sex exploitation of many forms.
As related by a resident who asked that their identity be kept anonymous, “some of the children are sexually abused by those bourgeois, and when they think you are going to the police, they will offer money to keep quiet. What money? Five hundred dollars, that kind of little money.”
By 10 am, Gloria whisks her way through the small narrow paths between the small-galvanized shacks, in the Silver Lake Community, where she meets with some of the parents. She is overwhelmed by the problems related to her.
Problems ranging from child support, child abuse, neglect, and in some cases a sexual assault, or abuse. “It's just too much in this little country of ours, I will say a lot of people are so caught up in the material world they don't care about their children, society has turned a blind eye towards a lot of issues concerning our kids.”
Most of these parents are young mothers, some of whom, barely made it through a basic education. She is their only form of hope. They look at her as the only person who can create a voice for letting their plights be heard. “It is for real, we are sitting on a time bomb of sexual abuse, physically, and verbally, all in all, the ills of our children are rampant in Dominica.”
It is also one of the areas, where the current Labour Party Government led by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has its most loyal supporters; some literarily worship their young prime minister as they say. He is adored by many of the residents there, so for that moment in time, their burdens are relieved, forgetting the impoverished conditions, which surrounds them.
Although the government has been offering free homes and other housing amenities, with aid from the Venezuelan Government, under what it dubbed “The Housing Revolution”, the revolution has not yet reached the Silver Lake Community, so this vicious cycle of poverty continues.
Some wait patiently for the upcoming general elections, which is roughly one-year away. It is the time when all the contesting politicians will visit these areas as part of their campaign strategy, every politician will promise a better life, a life out of the one they currently live in.
However, that too will disappear once the elections are over, and nothing would have changed. As noon approaches, Gloria shuffles her way out, through narrow walkways between, the cramped up shacks to the main road and heads home.
To be home in time when the students she feeds lunch to twice a week reaches her doorsteps. It is a hectic task but she is committed to her cause and forgets all the other setbacks she faces. “I am doing my fair share, and I am still doing for the less fortunate kids of society, I ensure that they going on the right track and I have spoken about the issues with CCF (Christian Children Fund), Ministry of Education, Welfare Department, but I will not stop.”
There is roughly an hour and a half break before she heads back to the Roseau Girls School, a small school in the capital city where she has secured a classroom for after school lessons with the kids from the Silver Lake Community.
During that time, she teaches life skills such as Personal Hygiene, Cooking, and Arts and Crafts. She tries hard to be the best motivator she can be to the kids in the program, by organizing community clean-up projects, with the kids there, and work with them on the various tasks, such as cleaning the public water supply and other communal facilities.
Gloria now looks forward to relocating the program to the Bath Estate Community Centre, which is within a closer proximity to the Silver Lake Area; it is also a bigger building, so more kids will have the opportunity of becoming part of the program.
She hopes that this will lead to the expansion of the lunch program from two days a week at her home to three days a week, at the Community Centre. Gloria also hopes that if this venture becomes a reality, it will offer a better sense of hope for the other kids in the Silver Lake Community. The situation may get worst.
However, Gloria will continue on her personal crusade to help ease the conditions there for the many children she helps. Her struggle will continue, but at the end, she is determined to bring about change.
Editor's Note: Persons wishing to support the efforts of Gloria Walsh can make donations to:
Gloria Walsh
Love Teach One Foundation
13 Balata Avenue
Bath Estate
Roseau
Commonwealth of Dominica, W I,
Tel: 1(767) 615-4220/ or 1 (767) 276-3129
Email:[email protected]
Or Directly to Acc # 21009010
Roseau Credit Union
Roseau, Dominica.
Dominica, the Caribbean island which boasts itself as the nature island of the Caribbean. It is best known for its natural beauty, pristine splendor; and mineral springs formed from its volcanic properties.
It is an island, which has produced the world’s youngest prime minister, some of the longest living centenarians, and the very first female prime minister to govern a Caribbean Nation.
 The heart of the Silver Lake community just outside of the capital city Roseau. |
An unnoticed epidemic for decades, which has remain one the island’s deep dark secrets, but has continued to afflict the Dominican Society. In recent years, laws such as the Sexual Offenses ACT 1 of 1998, have been implemented to address some of these issues.
However, due to a lack of proper governmental structure, trained personnel, a non-bureaucratic, or a non-corrupt political system. This problem and many other inhumane situations continue to plague the society, particularly those who do not have a voice or an effective advocate who will let their plights be heard.
The stories told by some of its victims are heart-breaking, the perpetrators isn’t just the average person (a stranger), they are pastors, politicians, musical artists, teachers, a father, lawyers, law enforcers, child nurse practitioners, bank directors, doctors, family members, the neighbour, or a family friend in most cases these offenders are nearly three times the age of the victims.
The Dominican society has turned its back on these victims, and has desensitized itself from these ills; the treatment towards those who have succumbed to childhood sexual abuse is a very cruel one. Victims are ridiculed for their unfortunate circumstances; the government does not seem to care as to what is going on.
And has made no major efforts to address these problems, few are charged for such crimes, but in most cases, they receive a very light penalty, which may be a small fine and in very rare situations, may receive a short jail time, but no major penalties are given to sex offenders.
 Some of the children of the Silver Lake community. |
Based on who the offender is, and the position that they may hold within the Dominican Society, the charge or changes brought against them, quietly vanishes.
In some cases (most being the norm), the offender pays off the parent or parents of the victim, the matter is no longer considered a problem. As a result, some victims who have been scared by these ills are walking emotional time bombs; there are no therapeutic facilities or other such mediums for healing.
One individual, who has taken up a crusade in combating some of these problems, particularly in the city’s Urban Ghettos is Gloria Walsh.
Gloria Walsh is on a mission, and her mission is a one-woman fight, to help the children in Dominica’s Urban Ghettos, particularly in the Silver Lake community in attaining a better life, one out of what they currently live in.
Her concerns are very genuine; she is not deterred by any of the bureaucratic setbacks she faces in her quest. “It is sad, and those in high places are the very ones who are condoning the nonsense that is happening to these children.”
Gloria is no stranger to this field, a community activist for the past eighteen years, she has been involved in the community development of the Bath Estate Community, where she has lived. She also worked with Operation Youth Quake, a small organization funded by government to help in the development of young persons on the island.
A few years ago, she started a voluntary organization for youths, The Love One, Teach One Foundation Inc. (loveoneteachone.com), to provide a supportive program for underprivileged children and troubled youth in the Roseau areas.
It also provides participants help with their homework; provide additional instructions to them in different subject areas such as Reading, Mathematics, Spelling, English and Writing. As part of the Reading Program, participants have the opportunity to enroll at the public Library, borrow books, and research homework, as well as educational field trips and other social events of interest.
 Gloria Walsh is a woman on a mission. |
It is an agency, whose sole survival and success is based on the generosity of friends, family and other well-wishers. “Our society have become laid back, materials things are our comfort, once we have our comfort, it doesn't matter to us anymore.”
She gets clothing, food and other donations from a few concerned friends based in the US, others have promised to help, but these promises have never been fulfilled, without these types of assistance, her mission would have been a wasted effort.
She operates on a nonexistent budget and has sort the assistance of government for funding or any type of available aid, but these efforts have been useless. Her proposals to the government have never been read either can they be found.
“The Welfare Division’s hands are tied, not many workers to deal with what is happening right now, our Government don't care, and I will say it. Don’t you think they are not getting reports? So it doesn't matter to them.”
 Gloria leads the charge in cleaning up. |
It is 5 am, Tuesday morning; Gloria is up, and is preparing to embark on her day’s journey. It is the start of a typical day. A single mother of four, she prepares her younger kids for school, so that she can be on her way to the various communities and schools she visits daily.
She prepares meals at home, for some 30 kids and provides lunch two days a week. By 9 am, she has already covered a 10-20 mile walk, where she visits the first school, for a PTA (Parent Teachers Association) executive meeting at the Newtown Primary School, where she serves as executive secretary to the PTA, she also serves on the a sub-committee for parenting as well.
Along her way she may be stopped by someone in the community who may need her help with some matter or another. Recently, she coordinated an aid drive for a family who had lost their home to a fire. She is determined to cover as much as possible in one day.
In one day, she will visit the entire Silver Lake Community. The Silver Lake Community is less than a 30-minute drive from the capital city of Roseau. It’s a community, which is plagued, with poverty, social ills such as unemployment, school dropout, teen pregnancy, gambling, drugs, neglect, child abuse and many other issues.
 Pipes used for washing in Silver Lake. |
There are families in that community who hardly have a daily meal, and live from mouth to mouth or by the mercy of god for survival. One of the most disturbing things about this community, are the things the children who live there are exposed too, which range from drug trafficking, and sex exploitation of many forms.
As related by a resident who asked that their identity be kept anonymous, “some of the children are sexually abused by those bourgeois, and when they think you are going to the police, they will offer money to keep quiet. What money? Five hundred dollars, that kind of little money.”
By 10 am, Gloria whisks her way through the small narrow paths between the small-galvanized shacks, in the Silver Lake Community, where she meets with some of the parents. She is overwhelmed by the problems related to her.
Problems ranging from child support, child abuse, neglect, and in some cases a sexual assault, or abuse. “It's just too much in this little country of ours, I will say a lot of people are so caught up in the material world they don't care about their children, society has turned a blind eye towards a lot of issues concerning our kids.”
Most of these parents are young mothers, some of whom, barely made it through a basic education. She is their only form of hope. They look at her as the only person who can create a voice for letting their plights be heard. “It is for real, we are sitting on a time bomb of sexual abuse, physically, and verbally, all in all, the ills of our children are rampant in Dominica.”
It is also one of the areas, where the current Labour Party Government led by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has its most loyal supporters; some literarily worship their young prime minister as they say. He is adored by many of the residents there, so for that moment in time, their burdens are relieved, forgetting the impoverished conditions, which surrounds them.
Although the government has been offering free homes and other housing amenities, with aid from the Venezuelan Government, under what it dubbed “The Housing Revolution”, the revolution has not yet reached the Silver Lake Community, so this vicious cycle of poverty continues.
 A typical house in Silver Lake. |
Some wait patiently for the upcoming general elections, which is roughly one-year away. It is the time when all the contesting politicians will visit these areas as part of their campaign strategy, every politician will promise a better life, a life out of the one they currently live in.
However, that too will disappear once the elections are over, and nothing would have changed. As noon approaches, Gloria shuffles her way out, through narrow walkways between, the cramped up shacks to the main road and heads home.
To be home in time when the students she feeds lunch to twice a week reaches her doorsteps. It is a hectic task but she is committed to her cause and forgets all the other setbacks she faces. “I am doing my fair share, and I am still doing for the less fortunate kids of society, I ensure that they going on the right track and I have spoken about the issues with CCF (Christian Children Fund), Ministry of Education, Welfare Department, but I will not stop.”
There is roughly an hour and a half break before she heads back to the Roseau Girls School, a small school in the capital city where she has secured a classroom for after school lessons with the kids from the Silver Lake Community.
During that time, she teaches life skills such as Personal Hygiene, Cooking, and Arts and Crafts. She tries hard to be the best motivator she can be to the kids in the program, by organizing community clean-up projects, with the kids there, and work with them on the various tasks, such as cleaning the public water supply and other communal facilities.
Gloria now looks forward to relocating the program to the Bath Estate Community Centre, which is within a closer proximity to the Silver Lake Area; it is also a bigger building, so more kids will have the opportunity of becoming part of the program.
She hopes that this will lead to the expansion of the lunch program from two days a week at her home to three days a week, at the Community Centre. Gloria also hopes that if this venture becomes a reality, it will offer a better sense of hope for the other kids in the Silver Lake Community. The situation may get worst.
However, Gloria will continue on her personal crusade to help ease the conditions there for the many children she helps. Her struggle will continue, but at the end, she is determined to bring about change.
Editor's Note: Persons wishing to support the efforts of Gloria Walsh can make donations to:
Gloria Walsh
Love Teach One Foundation
13 Balata Avenue
Bath Estate
Roseau
Commonwealth of Dominica, W I,
Tel: 1(767) 615-4220/ or 1 (767) 276-3129
Email:[email protected]
Or Directly to Acc # 21009010
Roseau Credit Union
Roseau, Dominica.
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// posted by TheDominican.net @ 8:56 AM
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this article is very good, it is well presented and really constructed. i remember when silver lake use to be so unwelcome, but the ideas and encouragement of these poeple has emphasise one onw keeping the village safe and clean. well done to you gloria i wish there was a lot of people like you. good job
# posted by 
: June 7, 2009 10:12 AM
: June 7, 2009 10:12 AM
Cheryll thanks for shedding light on the darker side of our Island paradise. All the more reason to have good, bold leadership that can tackle those problems...
# posted by : June 7, 2009 1:26 PM
: June 7, 2009 1:26 PM
Keep up the great work Gloria, I am really proud of u. If u need any help do not hesitate to chk me. Great article Ms. Lafond.I like it, people please donate to this cause.
Lady Jaguar
Lady Jaguar
# posted by : June 7, 2009 1:29 PM
: June 7, 2009 1:29 PM
Its great that you're doing something for a change and not just talking, the sad thing is the need the absurd need that we have for a PAT ON THE BACK. There are so many who do so much, did you honestly need a POTB for helping someone clean there yard, or are you one of those persons who have tell the world even if it destroys it? I wonder if there is any one in your family who have a need or ever will. Pray that they dont, because the same BACK you extended might someday be extended back to ??????????.
# posted by : June 7, 2009 8:57 PM
: June 7, 2009 8:57 PM
I am a bit confused on this last response here. What exactly are you saying here?? I think that the work highlighted here is a very good venture by the individual involved. We need more people in Dominica as positive as the young lady featured. you seem a bit angry at the work the young lady is doing.
# posted by : June 7, 2009 9:38 PM
: June 7, 2009 9:38 PM
As a Dominican living abroad, I must say I am disgusted by what I read. It is very hard for me to believe that in this beautiful, tiny caribbean island, such atrocity is going on. God bless Gloria Walsh.
# posted by : June 8, 2009 10:03 AM
: June 8, 2009 10:03 AM
yampiece area is also another area of that same disater thats in dominica ...the skerritt government dont care he probably have 2 women in each village anyway
# posted by : June 8, 2009 11:21 AM
: June 8, 2009 11:21 AM
What a woman! Great article. I hope to get in touch with Ms. Walsh and learn more from her.
Dr. Sam
Dr. Sam
# posted by : June 8, 2009 3:22 PM
: June 8, 2009 3:22 PM
Very interesting read, I think the writer has really delivered an interesting account, seems like the writer really did some real investigative work to get the real story. Wow, Dca has some talent,Ms. Walsh must really be commended for her work. A writer like that should do a little more of this type stories. Job well Done.
Kudos
Kudos
# posted by : June 8, 2009 6:43 PM
: June 8, 2009 6:43 PM
FIRST OF ALL,this article,i think,should awaken us to the undeniable fact of the total neglect of our children by the govt.the welfare of the children suppose to be the top priority of any govt.how can you as a leader talk about the future of the country and then turn your back on "THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY" which is our children.
SECONDLY,this article,i think,should also awaken us to the fact that we too, as citizens, home and especially abroad, have neglected our most precious assets.blaming our so-called govt.(even tho the responsibilities is somewhat theirs)and pointing fingers will not address the situation nor will it make a difference in their lives.we simply and immediately must act;WE OWE IT TO THEM,THEY NEED US...
SECONDLY,this article,i think,should also awaken us to the fact that we too, as citizens, home and especially abroad, have neglected our most precious assets.blaming our so-called govt.(even tho the responsibilities is somewhat theirs)and pointing fingers will not address the situation nor will it make a difference in their lives.we simply and immediately must act;WE OWE IT TO THEM,THEY NEED US...
# posted by : June 9, 2009 1:12 AM
: June 9, 2009 1:12 AM
GREAT SELF HELP BY GLORIA WALSH,
hopefully she will be assisted by as many as possible.
hopefully she will be assisted by as many as possible.
# posted by : June 10, 2009 11:04 AM
: June 10, 2009 11:04 AM
Ms. Lafond is excellent work on your part for taking time to bring the story in a very compelling and compassionate way of the folks in that part of the Roseau Valley to the attention of the world.
# posted by : June 10, 2009 6:20 PM
: June 10, 2009 6:20 PM
I was reading the article, and I am telling my self, I make enough money in my Business that I can provide some money to this young lady. Then I read where they worship the prime minister and they believe in thier PM. Wait a minute... One Man gets 500K of my tax money (bin Bobol) given to him by this same Prime Minister, and I have to take my hard earn dollars and give to who... I will keep my money,.. Tell thier PM when he gets the refund to give it to Gloria to help those kids... Amazing!
# posted by : June 11, 2009 6:56 AM
: June 11, 2009 6:56 AM
The article is a very touching one, I must say HATS OFF to Gloria for doing a great job with the kids in Silver Lake, I love the work she is doing, I have met her on many occasions with the kids, even at the Afterschool Program, it's a fact that the Government is dragging their feet on this Program but there is one pertinent issue I would really like to address, as the Godmother of 2 of the kids in Silver Lake to stand and agree with the SEXUAL ABUSE IN SIVLER LAKE I WILL NOT AGREE WITH THE WRITER. We have to be very careful as to what we put out in the public. Some of the kids are being neglected, the Housing situation is terrible, when the PM is talking about Housing Revolution, Silver Lake is out of it, you see drugs but to say SEXUAL ABUSE OF THE KIDS, I WILL NOT AGREE.
# posted by : June 11, 2009 8:22 AM
: June 11, 2009 8:22 AM
Persons wishing to support the efforts of Gloria Walsh can make donations to:
Love One Teach One Foundation Inc
13 Balata Ave.
Bath Estate, Roseau, Dominica
Or Directly to Acc # 21009010
Roseau Credit Union
Roseau, Dominica.
Love One Teach One Foundation Inc
13 Balata Ave.
Bath Estate, Roseau, Dominica
Or Directly to Acc # 21009010
Roseau Credit Union
Roseau, Dominica.
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