Dominica to be pit latrine-free by the end of 2017 PM Skerrit vows

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Roosevelt Skerrit has affirmed that by the end of the year 2017, there will be no pit latrines in the Dominica.

Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting held in Layou on Thursday evening, Skerrit said that a list of all persons in the country in need of washrooms has been looked at, and he is “systematically going about providing the resources to eradicate pit latrines in Dominica.”

“Because I want for this country at the end of December 31st 2017 to proclaim to the world that we have no pit latrines in our country,” Skerrit said.

He also said that relative to the list of persons in need, resources are made available “irrespective of whom you are.”

“Everyone will benefit from this and I believe that we have to take this very bold step,” he stated.

The Minister for Housing and Skerrit himself are both overseeing the processes of this goal.

Skerrit also confirmed that relative to Layou, all contractors for the construction of the washrooms within the Layou will be villagers of Layou.

“All of the contractors will come from Layou. There will be no one coming from St. Joseph or anywhere else. All the contractors building these washrooms will be from Layou. So the monies will stay in Layou, in our pockets, in our homes, so as to build the economy of Layou,” he said.

The average cost for the construction of a washroom amounts to E.C. $11,000 and will be funded by the Citizenship By Investment Program (CBI).

Other announcements made by Skerrit at the Layou meeting are:

-A second round of financial assistance for small business will be forthcoming soon.

-Every child who is attending the State College will receive $150 per month as a Transportation Allowance.

-Housing assistance will be included in the next round of assistance for Layou. PM Skerrit said the Govt will rebuild homes; not patch them up. He said he would like to target homes of elderly persons first.

-Financing for the reconstruction of village roads will soon be made available and persons from Layou will be awarded these contracts.

-PM Skerrit has seen the drawings of the resource and hurricane center and has asked for the project to go to tender so that construction can begin.

-The huge potential of the beach now appears to be becoming a reality with the news of the construction of a permanent stage; lights for night volleyball and other activities.

-Encouraged activities on the beach every weekend and not just during titiwi festivities so that persons from the community can make money from these activities.

-All of the projects listed above are being funded by money from the Citizenship by Investment Programme.

-$6 million was recently approved to continue to fund the NEP programme for another 6 months.

-Specific numbers on the number of latrines to be constructed in various communities around the island.

-CBI is also supporting the construction of 381 homes and other amenities for the people of Petite Savanne who were displaced after Tropical Storm Erika.

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35 Comments

  1. Me
    January 16, 2017

    If you are in the business a toilet comes in handy.

  2. Dominican for life
    January 16, 2017

    all this is part of the new airport we will see more people coming to dominica by the time they get that done lol lol lol lol that is not news my people get some news from Antigua and be part of the world my people wake up

  3. Anonymous
    January 16, 2017

    Watch which merchant is importing a lot of toilets. There definitely is money in kaka.

  4. WHO HAVE A BACKHOE?
    January 15, 2017

    I prefer to have my pit laterine than to have a Skerrit led DLP administration that embarrassing Dominicans all over the world. Pit laterine free? What about Skerrit free? The later would be much better for the image of Dominica.

  5. AK
    January 14, 2017

    Shout to the world no more out latrines in Dominica :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: and the man well proud of his great accomplishment. What an idiot!!! CBI money suddenly available like glo coco!!

  6. January 14, 2017

    Every time the PM makes a political statement I should not have make a comment because everything he says makes absolutely no sense to me.

  7. Freelance
    January 14, 2017

    That’s good news the cabinet will n o longer be in existence come end of 2017.

  8. Doc. Love
    January 14, 2017

    I hope Mr. Letang and his public servants are seriously taking note of all these millions of dollars that are being spent by Skeritt. These days it would appear every thing is free in Dominica. For instance, free housings, red clinic, NEP and now FREE TOILET FACILITIES. In years done by, whenever the hard working public servants would ask for an increase, their was never money in the treasury, they would have to settle for zero percent increase in the first year, two in the second year, and maybe five in the third year. It is going to be interesting to see what happens at the next salary negotiations. Those laborites who liked to criticize the public servants during salary negotiations for wanting to destroy Dominica, because of a bad economy and they are still asking for eight to ten precent increases, well, your Prime Minister has said money is no problem. I believe the next salary negotiations will be the best the public servants have ever experienced.

  9. ye yep
    January 14, 2017

    Distraction.
    ….and isn’t this pit toilet thing a UN program?

  10. anonymous2
    January 14, 2017

    Are you kidding PM, these people just go in the bush, most aren’t near any bathroom or latrine. . I guess that you always head for the nearest modern bathroom.

  11. Iamanidiot
    January 14, 2017

    So we never used to hear about CBI, Lennox went to 60 minutes. All Tom Dick and Harry wash their tongue on him and write open letter. ALL OF A SUDDEN list circulating on facebook of what CBI money doing and all projects being done is funded by cBI….I see…

  12. Iamanidiot
    January 14, 2017

    BOY…CBI money really long wi pal. The amount of projjects CBI money running passports must be selling like hot bread

  13. Smiley
    January 14, 2017

    By the end of year 2017 I need a proper hospital in my country. Stop spending time on things that are not a priority..what happens to people who can\’t fly to America for health conditions??

  14. Naturally Dominican.
    January 13, 2017

    Skerrit and all those that support him need to be treated by Dr Griffin Benjamin, this is real madness, have they even given that idea a though so much to go on the media and make such a ridiculous pronouncement. Well for the believers of Skero, anything will go.

    • One flew over the coocoon's nest
      January 16, 2017

      Naturally Dominican.
      Skerrit and all those that support him need to be treated by Dr Griffin Benjamin, this is real madness,
      True real madness bc Dr.G Benjie is in need of treatment himself.Lol
      DA is in crisis Gov’t,Opposition Dr.B all gone mad Don’t even mention the rest of the population

  15. ?????????????????????????
    January 13, 2017

    I think Skerrit has a fobia for pit latrines :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

  16. freegid tree
    January 13, 2017

    See how green de grass is around the latrine? Same way it do de dasheen. Naturally organic. Every banana field should have one or two latrines.

  17. Dan is de man in de Van
    January 13, 2017

    Something happening and it’s so xciting. Oti toilets la from china. Skerit give them toilets. I thought by now all Dominicans had a flushing toilet even those who has no running water. Skerit stop talking pit toilet and do something intelligent for my people…. running water and proper housing. Some people will go outside to use the toilet as there living space may be smaller than the toilet area. Largent passport la ka bat boom boom ou… bayche…..

  18. LET'S TALK DOMINICA
    January 13, 2017

    But if Skerrit is genuine about pit toilet, why not first build a PUblic convenience in every village? Why not give the local government the money and allow them to build the toilets? What about planning division, are they not supposed to inspect and approve the site for the toilet like they would anyone else? Boy what a trend and example the government is setting?

    • Toto
      January 16, 2017

      Hear, hear. only one public convenience I know in Roseau, by the museam there and that not always open. You hear that hard headed people from the end of this year your boss does not want you to use any latrine again, so am sorry but its back to the bay front and smooth stones.

  19. Council chairman
    January 13, 2017

    That pit toilet thing is nothing short of Skerrit’s way of misusing the passport money, . For a PM to take our money $11,000 average cost per toilet, according to him is unheard-of. First he has his contractors all friends of the DLP to not ONLY give him his inflated price but to make it look legit he uses the village council to send the money but they can ONLY give jobs to Skerrit’s contractor. The council CANNOT go and negotiate with anyone in the community to see if they could get it done for less. So say the a toilet would cost $5000, the council pays the $10k to 11k to Skerrit’s contractor and the rest is history. Another problem with this money giveaway is, in some case there is severe family dispute concerning the house, but Skerrit builds toilet. Also, in some cases the house needs a roof but Skerrit builds toilet while in some case owner migrated and house is rented, but Skerrit uses state money to build toilet. Corruption, corruption

  20. Africo
    January 13, 2017

    I will always have a pit latrine as a standby for when the water gets cut off. I hope that no one will come and demolish my well-built stylish pit latrine..!

  21. Kompromat
    January 13, 2017

    I don’t know if I should be laughing or alarmed at the sheer absurdity of this proclamation…is he also going to install the indoor plumbing necessary for operating those toilets, or will citizens have to tote water from nearby stand-pipes and rivers to flush them?? I’m curious…

  22. Legion
    January 13, 2017

    Dominica need to be rid of this PM more than those pit latrines.

  23. what a smell!
    January 13, 2017

    Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Roosevelt Skerrit has affirmed that by the end of the year 2017, there will be no pit latrines in the Dominica. Ya right Medard! You go boy!
    I guess you already have a modern one with a Gold seat.
    Passport money can do all that.
    My point is how do you achieve this when the country has been transformed into a colossal latrine with everybody shitting on the island thru passport purchases some diplomatic. I smelling something awfully bad.

  24. jihan
    January 13, 2017

    Skerrit why dont you say this instead,100% of our young people will be employed by the summer of 2017.I will still continue to use my pit latrine in the country side.

    • Noreen
      January 15, 2017

      Jihan you are rights he should use the money
      to help the youths start their own buisness
      keep them out the rum shops make a life
      they can be proud of. Then they will build
      their own pitch latrine or not.

  25. January 13, 2017

    Under immense pressure concerning the questionable diplomatic appointments of this Prime Minister, we now see CBI funding building everything from houses, bridges and roads to modern washrooms. However, the fact remains that the United States Government has finally zoned in on these diplomatic appointments and, inevitably, there will be some serious repercussions that will ultimately affect the entire CBI Program, probably even bringing it to an abrupt end. This new drive to show Dominicans how important the CBI is to the Country’s development is a bit too late. The U.S. Government are not like local politicians who jump from issue to issue every other week. When it comes to U.S. national security the issue takes top priority. I’m afraid the damage has already been done in Dominica’s case. Spending the money now in an effort to sway public opinion in the local debate really has no bearing on the decisions and actions of the United States.

  26. Da4real
    January 13, 2017

    I’m awaiting the critics to pen their ignorance because no matter what Skerrit does is subject to criticism.. Fantastic job PM. This venture will help with sanitation problems hence helping to eradicate the roach infestation… Great job Mr. Prime Minister and thanks….

    • Ginger Spice
      January 13, 2017

      Smdh

      Give up Skerritt no matter what you do you will never win Whine whine whine cry cry babies

    • %
      January 14, 2017

      HERE I COME!!!
      Both you and Skerrit need to concentrate on creating employment for the citizens,resurrecting agriculture,giving the citizens INSTITUTIONS that are functional,giving us transparency and accountability for OUR passport sales,giving us proper roads,and at least ONE highway among them..We do not have any highway in Dominica…Stop your pit latrine idiocy…Didn’t you see how Skerrit went to hide like a TOO LOO LOO,to avoid the CBS 60minutes interview?Is Skerrit a leader?Give me a break!!!

    • Mouche miel
      January 14, 2017

      Da4real,
      You penned yours did you? Boy, are U the classic ej of the ignorant! Re:read Dr.Kermit’s post. Then Read again, read anew, read encore, de Nuevo saqwuay cooleve!
      Don’t you get the drift? The move to cover up neutralize is too late.
      Even the Blind can see that. To substantiate nearly 5000 D/cans need vision correction via glasses, minor surgery as Dr .Darroux spoke about in November-December. Soon, just for fortification Dr.Benji will tell us how many 1000’s need mental help. So in NUT shell( we are full of nut-heads on island) now legally blind voting right is a national crisis. There is no electoral reform let alone brailled ballots.
      I doh want to but I have to laugh- Shadow

  27. passqueen
    January 13, 2017

    when that place was well scrub and clean smelling blech go there in the rain and just be quiet and listen to the rain on calvanize

  28. papa
    January 13, 2017

    What’s that that is a news is that the last cacarat

    • Mouche miel
      January 14, 2017

      Well it just goes to show our level in 2017 remember their phrase/ Neo -DLP catch phrase? N.B I did not DLP. It – the Neo-DLP is not the DLP it is not” Taking DA to the next level the next “level.
      Neo -DLP has Charles Saverin in it, it like a politically engineered cartel within an organization under an umbrella organization. Then it has Medard a guy who fell in the crack- a politically orchestrated move by those who are now reaping off the state by the 10s of millions thru passport sales amongst other evil ways. Thousands are left holding empty bags-sac veed.

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