Squatter Regularisation Programme touches the lives of over 500 families

Austrie. Photo credit: GIS

The Hon. Minister for Lands, Housing, Settlements and Water Resource Management, Reginald Austrie, has said that the Squatter Regularisation Programme has impacted on the lives of hundreds of families.

The Government of Dominica introduced the programme in an effort to provide nationals who had been squatting on Government properties for decades to actually own these properties by purchasing it from Government at one dollar per square foot.

The Housing Minister spoke of the impact of the programme when he addressed Parliament last week.

“For this financial year, we have taken care of 72 families added to the 483 that had been done before. So to date, this Government has given 555 families land $1.00 a square foot. I have made the point that these lands cost between $5 and $8 a square foot. As a result, we have not only given them a piece of land at a dollar a square foot, we have also given them money because one from eight is seven,” he said.

Minister Austrie however made an appeal for the beneficiaries of the Squatter Regularisation Programme to pay the monies owed to the state.

“People should make an effort to pay up. We have to pay. After all, this is the State property; it is not Skerrit property or the Dominica Labour Party property and say, ‘So because I am a Labourite, I am not paying,'” he pointed out.

He continue, “This is Dominica’s property. We believe that if you pay your one dollar a square foot, it gives us an opportunity to assist somebody else so some other people who are in a similar or worse position can benefit. So I want to put out an appeal and not only for the one dollar square foot people, but everybody should pay. Because people have a habit, it is Government thing so they are not paying for it, but they have to pay otherwise, we will be forced to institute measures to force people to pay. While we will continue to do everything we can do to ensure that persons get land and everybody owns a piece of Dominica, we must not take advantage of the situation.”

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27 Comments

  1. July 14, 2011

    i appreciate and am very thankful for owning a piece of my Dominica every one should own a piece of their country young adults leaving school should get the opportunity to own a piece of land with conditions cause we doh want them to sell it as they get it i say thanks to the Prime minister and him team for giving me the chance to have what is mine

  2. dominican abroad
    July 9, 2011

    I am a domincan who live abroad can i just come home and uccupy a government piece of propert over lookinf the ocean and pay a dollar per square feet? where in the world can you do that with an ocean view and still bitch about the price ? people come on you folks dont know how good you ys have shut up , and thanks God for what you got.

  3. dominican abroad
    July 9, 2011

    I think dominican are gettting away with murder any piece of paridise at a dollar is a great deal all the critics should shut up. i wish i was elegible to purchase some of that.

    • Cerberus
      July 11, 2011

      It is easy enough. Make a deal with one of those squatters, who will pay $1.00/sq.ft and then sell the property to you for $2.00/sq.ft! They would double their money overnight! The reality is that those, who have the money to build/buy a property have little desire to live in a squatted community. If that were the case why would they choose areas like Morne Daniel, St. Aroma or even Wall House, not to mention Beau Bois where land price are easily more than ten-fold those of squatted lands. Do any of our ministers live in these areas, despite the fact that they could acquire property there at bargain prices? The facts speak for themselves.

  4. me camem
    July 7, 2011

    And now I hear that people suing for squatters land that was not continuously occupied by the sue-er. Shame on you PARA, you know wat right. The government should step in and prevent dat foolishness.

  5. Ted Lewis ( possie)
    July 7, 2011

    Mr. Austrie,

    I am wondering if you are refering to the more than 50 letters that were disseminated for the residence in chance, Zicack , portsmouth last year . May i remind you sir that most of the people who now resides there were not squatters but DLP suporters from all over portsmouth, lagoon , glanvillia.

    One obtain squatting rights after occuping a piece of land for a period ( stand to be corrected ) of 12 years consecutively.
    From the moment the government deciceded to give away the lands at Chance numerous person ran and occupy land while others came to you ,Mr. Douglas , Mano , MR.PM and even Doubble O.
    It was just a friend and company thing going on.
    Don’t you remember the process under which such lands were distributed .
    Imagine there are individual who recieved lands and never pay a cent until such letters were distributed last year.

    Why do you thing these individual don’t make and effort to pay, sir ?

    Had your administration instituted a proper process ,to ensure that 1) ONE IS NOT GIVEN LANDS BECAUSE OF POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS
    2) Individuals must show the ability to pay for the lands
    3) A decision on who gets lands should not be made by the PM nor minister on friendship basis( yes i do have families who benefited that way buts its wrong ) but on a set criteria as stipulated by the ministry or a committee.

    Anytime a minister or prime minister get directly invovle in the selection process then the end result will be exactly whats happening now (inefficient and ineffective).

    The last five houses that Mamies build ( should i say partially ) in chance were recently distributed and i want you to explain MR. Minister what criteria was use to determine the recipients , moreover, please tell me on what basis did the vielle case woman got one since i would want to believe that residents in the constituency should be given preference.

    Recomendation .
    Individual most show proof of employment and a standing order must be signed by their employers and the bank , and the respective GOV agency ,so that once that individual gets paid a certain amount would be directly transfered over towards the land obligation.

    Individual should be given a fixed time period ( don’t think any was given ) to pay for the land which should be amortized on a monthly basis.
    An intrest rate should be applied on arrears.
    Individual should not be allowed to build until lands are fully paid for or could be used to obatain a mortagage where the lump sum amount for the land is deducted upfront by the bank from the mortgage and handed over to government.

    The lands should be properly cut ( just look at chance ,zicak) and develop before being sold.
    The government should have secure finacing with NDBD/AIDbank . That way the government get its money upfront and individual would be more responsible towards their obligation .( this has a draw back though , will result in a higher cost to individual cause the bank would charge maket rate of interest)

    By the way, Mr. Minister i know of government employees who are owing but not paying for their lands and still received housing assistance from the same government and their respective paychecks monthly, food for thought .

    • Tourist
      July 8, 2011

      You are absolutely right. Shame that the government needs reminding how the process of ‘selling’ land works.

  6. anon
    July 7, 2011

    reggie u a good man unno but is ur masters there forming the ass, ur intentions are genuine but careful cuz those same intentions can pave a road to disaster.

  7. Weh
    July 6, 2011

    You know something I’m glad somebody finally see the freeness mentality that has taken over the minds of Dominicans. When Dominicans learn that everything is not free or is expected to be free then they will be able to move forward. Until then good luck.

  8. July 6, 2011

    I AGREE! IT IS THESE GUY WHO PROMOTED THAT KIND OF BRAZEN SQUATTING IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH THE SENSE OF LAWLESSNESS AND BRAZENNESS TO EXHIBITED AND PROMOTED AT THE TOP. (“IF SKERRIT DOING IT, I CAN DO IT TOO” SYNDROME)

    …AND TRUST ME, I HAVE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE (AND PROBLEMS) WITH THAT NEW ATTITUDE AND SQUATTING.

    • Squatting @ MH
      July 7, 2011

      So those SQUATTERS in the Melville Hall area that Eddo claim have been squatting in that area for more than 35 years some even 40 years now started that BRAZEN SQUATTING as a result of the Birth of ROOSEVELT SKERRIT i suppose!!! When land & survey wrote them eviction letters Eddison James took a delegation of 29 to 30 of them to the Minister office in protest of that letter i guess he was only protecting the Brazen attitude of Roosevelt Skerrit as well right?

      Stop letting party politics make an idiot of yourself, Dominicans are not as stupid as you think!!!!

      • Truth,Justice,Peace
        July 7, 2011

        The squatters as they are called will no longer have to worry about being evicted if they pay the minimal amount of $1.00 per square foot. The government has bent over backwards to satisfy them.
        They do need a place to stay, to be called home and permanently so.
        What needs to be done now is to build up the area, to enhance and beautify it. In other words, making it habitable and presentable.
        I am hoping that the government will ensure that the owners take care of their property and act accordingly.

  9. Sam
    July 6, 2011

    The money seem very small $1.00/square feet but for some that’s alot. That’s why they are squatting in the first place, cause they can’t afford to buy.

    • concern Dominican
      July 6, 2011

      1.00 SQ FT is an incredible price. I bet you for these people who have choosen to buy these properties, they all have marpin, or home phone and plus a cell phone. we have to move stay away from the excuses and look beyond the horizon. DA has moved on to another level; more of a upscale level and there should be NO space for excuses but growth. they can afford it. We have gotten to accustom to the freeness. “Dominicans pay up and stop being snorbs.”

      • July 14, 2011

        easy to say if you doh have six children and working for 35 dollars a day

  10. Wang Mou
    July 6, 2011

    The Minister of a Specific Chicken parts is spreading.Is it the good life? Lavida buena
    What an elevation eh Peepip?From cadava movements to where it is now.

    • Proctologist
      July 7, 2011

      Peepip really putting on wt 4 real.LOOK LIKE HE COULD DO WITH a reduction in consumption of the chicken parts and to have a daily bowel movement.He knows what happens why cadavas burns.

  11. Cerberus
    July 6, 2011

    If I were a squatter I would not pay either. Not out of political reasons or because it is is right to occupy what does not belong to you. I would do so simply because it does not make economic sense to buy that land in a squatted area even at the symbolic $1.00/sq.ft. Mr. Austrie says that the true value of such lands are $7.00-$8.00 sq.ft. but that is hypothetical only and meaningless, precisely because they are squatted.he has difficulty in finding buyers even at $1.00/sq.ft! And if I paid my $1.00/sq.ft. and put myself in debt for it, would it be easy to sell the freehold if I wanted to cash in? I challenge anyone to take their title for land in such a squatted area to the banks and try to get a mortgage or a loan on it! The painful reality is, but real none the less that hose who can afford to would prefer build their house elsewhere in spite of the higher price they would have to pay for the land.

    • Dominican - London
      July 7, 2011

      Cerebus,

      I have read the first paragraph of your comment. I do beg to differ. It is so unjust for someone to occupyones’s personal territory and state they are not paying.

      This I am in total disagreement with. The reasons being who kbnows feels it. 9That is all I am stating)

      • Cerberus
        July 7, 2011

        Dominican in London, I do agree with you but hat does not mean that ,as a squatter I would pay for land that is virtually worthless, exactly because it is squatted!! It is a con! I would become the owner of a property that has little or no market value!Far better the Govt. makes them pay rent for the land they occupy and if they fail to do so, there is at least good reason to evict them This way the the Govt. will also retain ownership. In my simple mind squatting equates stealing.

      • Dominican - London
        July 8, 2011

        Cerebus,

        Thank you for updating me. I need some form of education to clarify this here.

        Family property has been taken over and then stating and claiming squatters right, there were no form of authority given on our side, now we want to what is rightful our inheritance and we have to go through so much adversities. Is that Fair?

        Thank you.

      • Cerberus
        July 11, 2011

        Dominican London. No, it is not fair but the laws of Dominica make it possible. You should also know that Govt. owned land can not be legally squatted in this way i.e. whoever squats on Govt. land can never make a claim for ownership. I have often wondered why there is this discrimination between private citizens and Govt. and why private citizens can not enjoy the same protection? Are we not one and the same?

  12. Anonymous
    July 6, 2011

    here is my five cents on this … this is a dam good move …. i am fed up of paying taxes just to benefit lazy people..

    by i have some beef with the minister and by extension the government….sir it was you all who went around promoting that freeness nonsense. so now some people especially labourites expect freeness. another thing, i am so happy you realise that the government property is not that of skerrit or labour party – that goes not just for land but the taxpayers money. SO STOP LOOTING THE TREASURY

    do what must be done to reverse that dam freeness syndrome you all created. otherwise we should sing “isle of beauty, isle of FREENESS, isle to all so sweet and fair”….

  13. Truth,Justice,Peace
    July 5, 2011

    You will find squatting in every country. Governments have a problem with squatters who think that the government owes them property and that it is theirs as citizens. They are not mindful that there are those who are employed and who receive no amenities from the government and are obligated to pay their fare share of taxes in addition to their other obligation.
    It is a good idea to make them pay this minimal amount of $1.00 per square foot. They are fortunate. After all, they must have money to survive and they do get this money from somewhere, be it, some of them, from the government at taxpayer’s expense. They must also contribute to the revenue of their country.
    Citizens should not expect that everything be handed down to them for nothing. Every one must be responsible citizens and pay their fare share to their country.
    The DA government has down well to assist them to retain the land. Those people should be grateful.
    Hats off and Laurels to the DA government, namely the PM and his Party. No doubt, some discussions and thought took place prior to your decision. I am pleased with your decision. God bless you!

    • Truth,Justice,Peace
      July 6, 2011

      :oops:
      I meant to say “fair share”. A bit late but this occurs when we write. Thanks for being patient and understanding and for not correcting me. :lol: I realize my error.

  14. Stealth Critique
    July 5, 2011

    Squatting is nothing to be proud about. It is just the stealing of land; one doesn’t accidentally build their entire residence on a piece of land that is not theirs.

    • Anonymous
      July 5, 2011

      don’t pay , tell the minister pay it from petrocarrib money…

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