In a short space of time 10 families, who were affected by the notorious 2010 San Sauveur landslide that claimed the lives of three people, will be handed the keys to their brand new homes.
The project is part of the government’s housing revolution and is costing over $ 2- million, with $ 1.3-million coming the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as a courtesy grant.
Structural works are already completed and finishing touches and the installation of utilities are being undertaken.
On Wednesday, March 25, several Government officials as well as members from the Chinese diplomatic corps and the media paid a visit to the project in San Sauveur.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Housing, Lands and Water Resource Management, Reginald Austrie said he is happy that the government’s aim to improve the lives of the people is being met, adding that the project is fruits borne from the country’s friendship with the PRC.
“For the people of San Sauveur I am excited, I am elated because as you can see the houses are of top quality and our aim as a government is to improve the housing stock but to also allow our people to live in decent housing conditions,” he said. “It shows a demonstration of friendship and respect and the benefits that Dominica deriving from having an established relationship with the People’s Republic of China.”
Austrie conveyed his gratitude to the PRC for the “very, very, handsome donation as far as relieving the plight of the people of Dominica is concerned.”
“I can only hope that the future of those two countries continue to work together, looks very, very bright indeed,” he said.
Parliamentary Representative for the Castle Bruce Constituency Johnson Drigo said he is pleased that the project generated steady employment for close to 40 young men for over five months.
“They were not only working but they were learning in masonry and carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring,” he stated. “There are quite a few guys who are leaving this project ready to work where ever they were to get a job in the construction field across the island and that in itself was very important to us.”
LI Jiangning, China’s Ambassador to Dominica who also gave a few remarks said, “I think this is a beautiful reflection of the friendship between our two countries and also the deepening cooperation between our two countries.”
Each of the houses cost EC$ 139,000 and are made with concrete and timber.
Soon 11 homes will be constructed on the west coast for those affected by Hurricane Ophelia in 2011.
never in the history of politics in dominica that i have heard of government building homes for people.no other government did this before.i must say that i am very proud of the government for remember the poor people of this country,ant one who is against this is just WICKED and EVIL
For those of you in the diaspora who claim to be well off, instead of having diarrhea of the mouth why don’t you come home and invest your money to help the economy or help those who are in need instead of all the criticisms you write every moment that you get? It is a shame that those who also portray themselves to be “educated” make such a fool of themselves on this forum. Try to encourage, instead of criticising and discouraging. Stop making a nuisance of yourselves! You should be an example to others instead of exposing yourselves as idiots and fools! It is time that you all grow up and act as though you have some sense!
if i did not have a house and was given one like that i would be happy… i am happy for those receiving… hope they give them a way to pay for them and not just give them free for the votes
DNO comments section is the playground of those who hate Dominica.
To the people who are punching me in my belly saying all sorts of bad “ting” about me; I am sure some want me dead. But even if I die before I’m through pointing out the deficiencies; I have another question. Where is the land escaping, where is the pave, or asphalt road in front of the boxes?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
I believe there is a law in Dominica which prohibits the construction of house where there are no developed roads.
What happen to that law, when those people step out on a rainy day they will step into the red clay, their floors will pay the price. And to the one who claim she/he was there when they dug out dead bodies, I would like the person to state what does that have to do with inferior architecture, and tell me in particular if there is inside plumbing, or if the owners still have to use the pit holes as usual!
When you throw punches you expect to be punched back. You sound like a maniac. Get a life bro. All so you must be on Food Stamp living in your section 8 apartment.
Francisco Telemaque You are a hateful envious man! you need to Shut Your ****** mouth! DNO, you need to start banning people. Everytime i come to DNO to read on the happenings in Dominica, you are here spreading your anger, jealousy and stupidity. Do you have something against progress in Dominica? Femer Bouche-ou!
These houses should be a starter to move those people from petite soufriere, good hope and san Sauvere to castle Bruce. I can’t understand why the people in authority cannot see the danger in those villages. There was no reason to build that school to house one hundred children in the middle of sea blast. Castle Bruce has all it takes to accommodate the population of those villages including morpo. Castle Bruce have land, schools, health facilities, recreation etc. All the utility companies will benefit because they will not have to lose money by serving those areas. Government will also benefit because they don’t have to pay school bus and other things. The people themselves will benefit because they will be living in a much more secured area and also will be more open for their personal development.
g people do not wait for someone to come from outside of Dominica to tell you what is so straight in your eyes. Rethink forget about what you have spent so far in that…
Sensible comment. If you thought of this yourself, you are one of those people who think outside the box. On the contrary; the people of Petite Soufriere can be moved to Rosalie.
Look at some cheaply built houses n.just look at the colors. These ministers should build houses like these.
Look at size of the buildings. They look like toy houses.
Just a failed government foooling people.
Poor Dominicans
These houses were cheaply built if 1 dosent stand a hurrican this hurrican season i wont be supprised too many short cuts were made and for you guys wondering and assumeing no not one of these houses cost $139,000 sad to say
People seems to want to criticize everything. Back in the 80’s the RBC houses both at Bath Estate and Canefield cost $175,000.00 before interest from the bank. Imagine the total cost? Some people took loans and rebuild their houses and by the way the original houses were called cardboard houses, as they would swell when they got damage if the rain would wet it. So I don’t understand if one receives a home and pays for it how does this become a hand out or have we Dominicans been receiving hand outs all the time. The Petro Casa houses if the people want to rebuild they can, do what every housing scheme has done in Dominica breakdown and rebuild. So when people want to come here and give opinions like they know so much like me myself who don’t know squat leave politics out of it and come honest and open.
It is sad and also disappointed that some nationals never have a kind word to say; always criticisms. What type of people are they who consistently have nothing good to state and on this Website that others are reading?
Everything the government do people talk ohhh my god do good it trouble do bad is problem some people won’t go anywhere in life be thankful to god and the good DLP
Yet they state that D/ca is backward. If it is, it is due to their unbecoming comments and criticisms. They are the ones who keep it backward. It does not appear that they want D/ca to enhance and beautify. What type of nationals are they?
To say that each unit costs $139,000 i get de impression that government is trying to make a statement as to the cost per unit.
How many rooms?
Are the bathrooms tiled?
Are the kitchens equipped with refrigerators, stoves…….only 10 houses.
I have seen the units.
Can they be compared to the ones above the college in stock farm.
The landscaping needs improvement or perhaps it hasn’t started.
The design is nothing like the petro casa nor the Chinese funded houses above DSC.
These houses look like they cost about $75,000 without considering cost of property (land)
Everytime ministry of housing boasting off a new housing project it’s always only about 10 houses.
With promises of more to come.
Petro casa housing in stock farm can’t be extended……lack of space..goal2 project and bureau of standard
Taking space.
Above the college won’t be extended…….too close to the edge. No more space available.
Banana industry won’t get fixef anytime soon.
Take this..hush up
The architecture are out dated, they look no different to what CDC once built. The only difference is they all are plastered with some red paint. I see boxes, the architecture stinks; if you are giving homes to people let it be something one can be proud off. People in a modern world no longer live in square boxes as those in the picture.
One wonders whether you have one of your own?
If I was poor as you I may wish my name was Steven Segal; you are in the movies you see that’s your dream, and so you have to impersonate another. I have homes you cannot enter not even to get a drink of water to save your miserable life!
My name is Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque; go to the registry of birth in Roseau, impersonate me, and get my birth certificate, you will find the name registered, as I was born in Wesley is Francisco Etienne Telemaque, Dods (Dodds) I added after the death of my mother who’s madden name was Dods. However it is recorded with the immigration and naturalization serves of the United States, and is in my travel documents!
I suspect you might be a seagull you know those that fly, rather than the actor Segal! You little rat.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Are you for real Francisco Telemaque? Or are you guided by your hatred
Francisco, it appears that you’re spending all of you retired life criticizing DA and trying to bring it down; that’s your contribution. The architecture is outed? Why don’t you come home and assist with your architectural skills, or donate a house that is not a square box to one of the victims of the landslide? The nerve of you!
Man/Woman, I am not an architectural nor structural Engineer! I am however, an Electronic/Electrical Engineer by profession, nevertheless, I know trash when I see trash, as it relates to house and buildings the boxes in the picture are nothing more than cheap trash!
Take a good look at the size of the porch: they are no larger than an out house, you know the one over the pit holes. You can go overboard ( frightened as in glad) because you are not accustom to anything better, but to me those has no value though they may cost over a hundred thousand dollars. I have rides, as in sports cars which cost more!
And by the way I am happily retired, indeed, nevertheless, I make more money while I am asleep at night than many people make in one year; If I could not do otherwise, maybe I would come home as you say to kiss Skerrit butt for a hand out but that will never happen, many who return is because do so because the may lack the educational skills to survive in North America, they…
The man is just sick over SKerrit! He’s a laughing stock to all readers.
I think you are right.They look like plywood houses and what they call in the states BOX HOUSES.I hope the materials were bought locally and not imported from China.We all know what Chinese do.They use any crap to do anything.
Its not the type of house but the fact that now the OWN a house thats the main thing here….we cannot need and still be choosing.
Trying to talk sense to Francisco is to engage in an exercise of futility, unless you seeking to enable your own torment. The man/woman is patently void of basic understanding.
Yep, I bet if your house was taken by a landslide your would have takes a matches box if you were given one. smh.
I cannot see that franciso once He see government and Skerrit he at the front! The man poor, he renting and living on food stamps and he’s at an Internet cafe to run his blasted mouth! You jealous of Skerrit! Just be yourself sweetie you cannot be him and will never be him. There are so many other post you can comment on but you are forever m.i.a but once you see Skerrit name you there. Hater! Get well soon! You a bum!
You know fool, every time you attack me, and I unleash my venom, and vengeance on you, DNO censors the contents. But hear this if you lived on Food Stamps, and go to an Internet Cafe you might be happy as I am.
Any Dominican who knows me in America, knows my life style, Anybody who knows me from California to Canada, whenever they see me, I they see me driving motor vehicles valued at more than a hundred thousand dollars, and I have more than one of them; as I told one bit of trash, I have homes which they would not be allowed into, not even to get a drink of water to save their miserable life; I say the same to you!
If you believe I use Internet Cafe here is my E-mail [email protected] use it at any hour of the day or night and see what happen, and by the I have never seen an Internet Cafe in America, in more than 30 years am residing here. What I do know is plenty of us has more than one computer in our house. You are an idiot!
You want to see houses looking like boxes? Take a stroll/a trip throughout the US and also Canada. The new houses which are built are like boxes. I am certain if there are high winds, the roofs of all could crumble. They cost an exorbitant sum. They are over-priced. Those with two and three bedrooms are not wide enough.
I once told a friend about three rows of houses that were built where there was one house on a lot with surrounding land. I said, from the outside these new houses look like boxes. The friend could not stop laughing.
When I think of my parents’ home in D/ca, I view it as a mansion compared to what is built in especially this city and suburbs. It was well-planned and constructed. I can tell you I miss that house and the area where I lived then including the neighbors. Fond memories will never wane.
I am certain the new tenants of this housing project will appreciate their new home and are proud of it. Cease your criticisms and wish them well.
What you may call Boxes Facts, might be the designed of more than a hundred years ago, they do not have gable roofs, the roofs are flat. These days they are no longer constructed, because of the building cods used in the twenty-first century.
Now in Arizona, and New mexico, there is a type of architecture where the roofs are flat, but they are build in that fashion with a variety of other features to accommodate the heat, and extreme cold in some areas, and mind you they can cost from a few hundred thousands of dollars to millions of dollars.
That is an area where most of the residences are writers, artists of some kind resides, and people in retirement too. Now as for the little room, I’ve never seen such in Canada, usually on Ferris Road in Toronto, or Montevideo Road in Mississauga with my relatives, or sometimes in Hotels, so that small room in Boxes, I have not experienced!
Mr. really stupid. damn chupit. You forget what you grew up in? Show off!
Lovely Dominica..I’m sure those people are feeling much happier seeing that their living conditions have improved.
how that cost 139 grand na, wooden house.. mama some big wig benefit. what a sin ting..
Madam/Sir, are you saying those square boxes cost $139,000.00 dollars, though they appear as if there are no indoor toilets. In a modern house with indoor plumbing facilitating toilets, one would anticipate seeing some protruding vents over the roofs.
I do not see any vents; simply because people are poor, does not mean they have to be treated like poor people, that to me is bondage. If I am unable to see a single vent, which should be dispensing the gasses and fumes produce in the septic tanks, or sewer system if any, that means the owners are still utilizing the out house or pit holes; so what’s the point to relieve themselves?
You tell people to shut up. I am telling you as T & T people will say or other islanders: “Hush your mouth!”
You are something else. What do you know and from a distance? Why do you not take a trip to D/ca and find out if they have latrines inside the house?
Do you want to receive God’s blessing? Give compliments and genuine ones. You do not appear to be the type of person who is capable of offering compliments. Do you ever need to change.
So what type of house do you reside in?
No Facts, I doh going Dominica you know; me mama, papa and all me uncles and aunts are all dead, except one aunt and a sister by mother. My nieces and Nephews may not even remember me, everybody my age alive are in England, America, and on other islands of the Caribbean.
The rest are dead! Funny all of us who left are yet alive, those who remain in Dominica are all dead. About two months a guy from Wesley died in Texas, some came from England, I have not seen that guy in more than fifty years. He remembered me, and found out I was in LA, he left, I got his number in London, and called him, every one of the guys, and women who left in the 1950’s are yet alive. Me too, but all of those who chose to stay in Wesley are dead. All I am prepared to do is look after my 80 year old sister and my handicap nephew, her son.
I going set off some trouble now by saying Skerrit caused their death oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah; ( him kill dem wid hard work).
Facts, I missed out on one answer; I have different places; if push come to shove I can live in, but I have a place in Los Angeles, and a place in Corona where I spend most of my time, and at least they look better than dem ting we talking about.
Nothing wrong in trying to help the poor. But of greater value to poor people is the ability to help themselves. And that is what the government needs to do.
I am not a big proponent of handouts. It just perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
Provide facilities for people to learn trades, provide them with the necessary infrastructure to grow crops etc. That is what we need to focus on. That way they can get insurance for their homes and rebuild their houses if disaster strikes.
All these housing revolutions are just band-aids. If you empower people, they do not need all these handouts. That is exactly what is happening in Canada with the native people. The government has spent and continues to spend billions every year, yet are stuck in a cycle of poverty that they are unable to get out of.
Please read the article again, the houses are for people who were affected by a landslide. And not all the government built houses are free, most cases the occupants have to pay. I do not see how this is a handout. We are color blind in Dominica, everything has to be political.
I am happy that these people have a place to call their home, can you imagine having to rebuilding and take a mortgage after a landslide has destroyed your home without any assistance. We need to be more realistic and start looking at the bigger picture. We are consumed with politics and forgot how to be caring and compassionate towards our fellow country men and women.
Where in the story did you read anything about people paying for these houses?
I didn’t take Thor’s statement as being political. I understood and agree with Thor, except in this situation. I am glad these people now have a home. and i don’t see why more cannot be done to enable people to support themselves instead of just giving handouts. Our people have become complacent and lazy, waiting for handouts from the government who doesn’t want any better than to make you depend on them because it assists in their political gain. Our people need to have some more pride in themselves and at least try to make it on their own. The Government is only here to help and build the country, whilst maintaining the prosperity of its people. Remember, the greatest role of a Leader is to teach his followers to Lead so that they can carry on the work that needs to be done. This is not political, it is proper Moral standing.
One Love!
They would not need all these handouts and as a result, would not “NEED” you
You are one of those ignorant people that sitting in the USA getting welfare, housing and food stamp from the US government but want to criticize when these people that lost their houses and family lives are getting a place to call home. You ignorant fool, I was there when they were digging and pulling the bodies out from underneath the mudslide. Where were you fool. If you don’t believe in hand outs, why didn’t you come forward and volunteer or help these families. You jack s&&t. If you can’t think of something good to say why don’t you just shut the h… Up?
Dominica will forever remain poor because we have become used to taking handout from every Tom, Dick and Harry.
You might not like what I say, but show me where I spoke anything but the truth?
@Dominique
I should add, if you knew my background, you would not have uttered these words.
I can only draw upon my own experience. We were not poor but by no means were we well off.
I was raised by my grandmother and one thing she stressed to me was the value of education and self-reliance. That was drilled into my head on a daily basis.
Fortunately, I heeded her advice. I was poor going to school, sometimes needed to borrow money from family to get by, but never did I lose sight of my goal.
Today, I can say the advice I got has allowed me to live a VERY comfortable life.
I only say this to encourage people to strive to be self-reliant. That way you do not need government to give you anything. You can look after yourself. That is a lot more satisfying that receiving free or subsidized housing from any government.
I have nothing against helping poor people. That help should only be a temporary thing to get you to look after yourself.
All governments assist those who have been affected by disasters. Some will give them a certain amount of money to repair or rebuild. I do not see why these negative people make adverse comments. If it were a bigger house and painted differently, they would also criticize them. These people cannot be pleased. They are never satisfied with what is done. I suppose they have nothing better to state.
Dno, I am interested in acquiring one of these houses. Can you please tell me what are the procedures in acquiring one of these houses?
So happy to see that these families will have places to stay that they can call their own….BUT 10 houses in that area with such architecture did not cost 2 million. We want a further break down of land cost, clearance cost etc. Other tan that i am happy
The cost of building houses especially in Dominica is not cheap. Why do you want to know? Did some of your money go into constructing the building? Did you help in constructing them?
Red roofs to remind the poor people that they did them a favor.SMH.I GUESS THEY WILL CONTIUE TO WALK THE MUDDY ROADS ALSO.
Grell you must have not gone anywhere to make that remark, look at any tourism country look at the roofs an see what looks the best then come back and talk, your remark is really sad.
been too many places that you will never see in your lifetime,freedom of speech,this is why our people will continue to remain in poverty,while the leader of the country continues to get rich and keep on begging china,we are sitting on billions of dollars in natural resources yet so much poverty,take a chill pill.and again i have traveled the world.
even a color of roof is politics? eh ben yes my people.
If you can’t find something good to say shut your damn mouth. Jealous you jealous; you well need one of that favor to shelter your head.
Gr-ell, you are so despicable and negative, I keep wondering if blood runs through you veins. There is absolutely nothing positive that comes from your twisted mind. You are so sickening and pathetic I would not like to be your neighbor or your enemy. Show me one government who doesn’t look after the less fortunate! You are always using derogative terms to describe the less fortunate in DA. Sorry HUMAN being. Can I ever follow your party?
no they wont continue to walk the muddy roads cause i’m sure you are prepared to make them walk on the streets of gold that you will build them.
p.s i’m sure the families that lost their homes tragically will be happy to have somewhere of their own again, it may not be a mansion but it will be called home.
some people are so political all they look see when they look at the picture is “red” roof. is that really red though?people stop politicking and be happy that these people get to have a roof over their heads without having to take loan etc.
The usual coming from you, eh? Depend on you to make such a comment. This is your trademark.
that cost 139,000.00 and right in town people donot want to pay for your house..
ok so what about de fixtures and fittings?