Arnold Conrad Active has been described as a “loving, caring father to his five children.” Active, won elections for the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) in 1961 and was made Deputy Speaker of House of Assembly. In July of 1973 he was made Minister of Home Affairs.
He was born on March 19, 1932 and died July 26, 2019 and on August 19, 2019 he was accorded an official funeral by the government of Dominica. In attendance was President of Dominica Charles Savarin and his wife, former President Eluid Williams and his wife, Speaker of the House of Assembly Alix Boyd Knights, opposition Senator Felix Thomas, Deputy Prime Minister Reginald Austrie along with Portsmouth MP Ian Douglas.
The official funeral was held at the Cathedral Chapel of Our Lady of Fair Haven with Dean of the Roseau Cathedral Fr. Nigel Karam as the main celebrant assisted by Monsignor Eustace Thomas.
His body was laid to rest at the Roseau Roman Catholic cemetery.
In his homily Fr. Karam stated that “every funeral should give us food for thought” and that in less than a month this was the third official funeral that he was attending in Dominica. “Is this a sign…is it coincidence”, he asked.
Every funeral should give us cause for thought to examine our life, our consciences, our behavior, our attitudes, we have gathered here to pray, listen and act accordingly,” the Catholic priest said. He spoke about the three main virtues of Christian life which are “faith, hope and love.
Dean of the Roseau Cathedral Fr. Nigel Karam
“Those who cultivate faith, hope, love, prudence, courage, temperance and justice in whatever spree of life, but most assuredly in public life as well, these people find peace, these people find true happiness and the face of God,” he said.
Fr. Karam explained that as Christians and human beings we are tempted everyday by what is called “vice” the opposite of “virtue” where he says “sometimes pride, envy, intense anger, the lack of discipline or slot, greedy, glut toning and loss take control of our heart. “
“As Christians, we must always be mindful of virtues and vices for these vices can easily corrupt our hearts, minds and behaviours,” the priest stated. He warned that “those seeking consistently in vice will not see God’s face” and called on the faithful to “live in Christ, be ready and make sure that our baptismal garments in not stained in vice.”
“Christian faith and devotion must not warn in our country, our motto on the Coat of Arms says Après Bondie c’est La tere, may that motto find a home in our hearts and becomes a virtue we practice daily Après Bondie c’est La tere that faith, devotion to God, love, justice, peace, courage, prudence, temperance come before anything and everything else in our life,” Fr. Karam stated.
This article is copyright © 2019 DOM767
