An emotional Octavia “Teacher Bonnie” Alfred took the stage and then some minutes to compose herself and dry her eyes, as the crowd cheered and the song ‘Step by Step, I’m walking this road’ played in the background.
‘Teacher Bonnie’, humble servant, thanked God for calling her to serve at such a time as this and echoed sentiments of servanthood throughout her presentation. She revealed the many areas that she has served her community as a teacher, youth worker, principal, choir member, Sunday School teacher, missions leader, church cleaner and pastor’s wife. “I see politics as an opportunity to serve and not as a privilege. I want to be like Jesus who washed his disciples’ feet”, says Alfred.
She said that her decision to serve her country is firstly, an answer to a call for all hands on deck to rebuild, out of love for country and answer to a call for capacity building to move Dominica forward and because she desires to use all her talents, gifts, knowledge and resources to help Castle and Dominica. Alfred thanked the Government on behalf of Castle Bruce for all the work done there and Dominica by extension inclusive of the newly built primary school, free healthcare for persons under 16 and over 60, monthly allowance for persons over 70 and compassionate allowance to those who are sick and not yet 70.
While she hesitated to name her plans for fear of them being stolen, she did name two which are a new landing site for fisherfolk and the dredging of the river for river tubing activities. She mentioned that the funds for the road from Pond Casse to Petite Soufriere have already been approved. There are also plans to modernize the Bay Oil distilleries, Cassava factory and to provide proper play areas for youth.
Alfred promised that as Parliamentary Representative she will ensure that Government continues to work for you (Castle Bruce Constituency). She will work to bring people together and to increase enterprise and economic activity. Further, she will “build values such as tolerance, compassion, pride, embracing differences, respect for democracy and taking ownership of community activities, programs and projects”.
She urges all to put differences aside and support real change which is progress. Octavia ‘Teacher Bonnie’ Alfred replaces Parliamentary Representative, Johnson Drigo of the DLP and will run against Ernie ‘Teacher Ernie’ Jno. Finn of the UWP.
