Squatters occupying state land in Canefield East are coming under more pressure, this time from the Physical Planning Division.
Notices of compliance are being served alerting them that they should remove structures built on the land by June 26 or they will be demolished by the division.
“We are in the process of issuing compliance notices to all persons,” chief physical planner, Kelvin Rolle said.
Rolle explained that Canefield East is a planned development approved a few years ago and all the roads and lots have been laid out with areas for recreational purposes.
He said squatters have moved in and constructed stuctures which “is not in accordance with the plan.”
“They have not gotten any permission from any department to do that,” he stated, pointing out that it is the responsibility of the division to take action.
He noted that the under the Physical Planning Act, the squatters have 49 days to comply, with June 26 being the deadline.
Rolle said squatters don’t have to wait for the 49 days but “should stop all construction work immediately and they should remove their buildings from the site.”
However, after the 49 days are over, “the physical planning division can move in and demolish the structures that have been constructed without permission.”
Reports indicate that there has been a surge of squatters in the area and this has created some level of concern among nearby residents and authorities alike.
Allegations are swirling that the squatters were given permission to settle there by a minister of government.
Notices have already been served alerting them they should vacate the area by May 2 or be evicted but it is reported that the warnings were ignored and construction of houses has continued.
Both prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, and housing minister, Reginald Austrie have made it clear that the squatters will not be allowed to remain on state land.
“I am saying to you, you listen to me, get out of the government land…” Skerrit said last month.
I thought they were evicted and had moved from the area. If they refused government orders, they appear to be out for trouble. They did not take the notice seriously nor are they taking the government authorities seriously. These people are lawless ones.
Did someone advise them against moving? They will have to be evicted at all costs. Laws must be obeyed otherwise face the repercussion of non-compliance.
DNO please post some pic please
Yes if it was my land I would be upset…but this is government land. Government should be helping peo[le with shelters not living them homeless, plus the government have land already, a little piece of land they cannot leave for our Dominican brothers and sisters then? Greedy people
Sorry for the typo errors in the previous comment…………….Yes if it was my land I would be upset…but this is government land. Government should be helping people with shelters not leaving them homeless, plus the government have land already, a little piece of land they cannot leave for our Dominican brothers and sisters then? Greedy people
If it was your land u would be upset so what makes u think that government must live the land for them did they get permission from government to occupie the land. Be real u dont take land that does not belong to u even its government
All laws in Dominica should be looked into. They are too old and does not reflect life today. Dominica has enough lawyers who grew up in that country and listened to their grand parents talk about all the ills that happen there. Everything in the world is changing.
We Dominicains too like handout. This is what is cripling our country. Remember this rule we much all work for what we have / or would like to obtain. The PM is doing the right thing in asking the squatters to vacate the area. No matter how he had address the matter to the squatters there would always be an issue.
Remember this rule: “We must all work . . .”
If everyone tried to look for a job, not be dependent on ingesting marijuana and/or other illegal drugs which inhibit them also socially, they would and also Dominica, be in a better position .
you should know that not everyone can find a job so don’t go saying these folks are drug users just because they squat would you rather them as vagrants on the streets
handouts? Tell me what has this government done in the last 14 years to ‘un-cultivate’ the culture of handouts? To me they went a few steps further and introduced the ..’meet with the PM programme on Wednesday’s”. I share the same sentiment on Dominicans like handouts.. but I am of the strong belief that the government should have done more to eradicate that mentality… they’ve encouraged it, that’s why its so prevalent!
Two weeks ago the government came on the radio and said that they prefer aid as opposed to hard work and achievement. The policy of the government has been to create mendicancy so why chastise the squatters for following the trend. If it is ok for the red clinic operation and hand out party why not a squatter parade
So why they did not do the same in benard ravine. Is the vote they want
Well is simple you know…… all my padna have to do is doh vote for Blackmore…remove anything red from around you
If he doh voting red I know his entire family will roll with him.
I glad for you Rayburn
in 2008 squatters occupied gov’t land . at otrobando st. joseph gov’t school yard , some build home for their self , others build houses to rent. to haitians.. the gov’ t
the physical planning division new about that , they did nothing .why. because they are labourites.
Firtst and foremost, taking what does not belong to you is wrong, but at the same time, I am getting mixed signals on the whole matter. I am hearing that the people were sent there, I am hearing that the prime went there on their own. It is justa bunch of hear say. I believe what the government need to do is have the area surveyed, offer to sell, to those people who are in good location and the others have them move to some where else. I am a Dominican, and I know it is very hard to have your home demolished, not knowing where you gonna live. So please people, cooperate with authorities and all will be well.
Ignorance of the law is no defence. Taking what is not legally yours is stealing, no matter who does it. I think the commandments clear on that
All of a sudden it’s not the start of May again which has come and gone and it is now June 26th. I hope the people who live at Canefield East wake up and realize the game that they’re being played in. This administration is playing for time and seeks to dilly dally with this situation with technicalities, pretending that they are doing something about it, with the hope that elections will be over before this chaos can be resolved.
They are giving the squatters ample warning and opportunity to get out.
There has to be intelligent people in Dominica. People who are objective and clear thinking. Please let those folks have a say-so in what’s going on in the country.
Do you not think that they had such an opportunity and they blew it by living indifferently as squatters?
Squatters do not contribute to the economy and have no intention of doing so. Therefore, what say do they have and what say should they be given?
Political Expediency And The Rule of Law in Dominica. There are so many inconsistencies in this developing country in the socio-political, geo-political, economic realms that the government appears to be hopeless. There is dire need to balance doing what is right, fair and just and what is politically correct. Like Buju Banton said, “It’s not an easy road…”. But this government must concede it’s pride and contemplate speaking with the people, sourcing concrete advice in order to resolve this matter. But the reality is winning elections might just be paramount at the expense of law and order, justice and fairness. Somebody allowed this uncanny action to take root and the wound is beginning to smell!
Are you blaming the government? Why not blame those who have chosen such a lifestyle? What use are they to the economy and the growth of Dominica?
Them fellars are playing for time. Skeritt and Regie said May 2nd. Planning Division now says June 26th. Maybe Savarin will say July 9th. Dont expect any serious actions until after the elections, ,just incase they win.
Smells that way Doc., Does it mean we have election before that date and the P.M. will call it when he gets back from China?
“If the minister don’t stop them and our homes are demolished, we going for his home. He that and us there because they need or votes so he will have to come and move us to somewhere else if they already have development plans for there”. These were the words of a few squatters that I know ate NO JOKE FELLAS.
“I waiting for them to demolish my home wi.” Another one said.
You can call them radicals who do not obey Laws.
Take a trip to Barbados and see what the Gov do to squatters. will tell you they bulldoze the lot including houses with children in it . So Dominicans whilst my heart goes out to those who are homeless even in big cities they do not hive houses to the poor. i am afraid every body pays their way. Wake up idiots. You guys are the ones who is quick to call other people thieves what do you think you are doing when you take something that is not yours voleur
Physical Planning Compliance Notice, what a joke!
Mr. Rolle, how many compliance notices has the Physical Planning Division issued over the years and how many that have been ignored?
A compliance notice is nothing more than a sheet of paper quoting a law which does not worth the paper on which it is written.
Note one single Dominican has complied with a Compliance Notice. There is a case where a monstrosity of a building was constructed illegally, the building is structurally unsafe and the Physical Planning Division could do nothing for the owner to comply. Sad to say the building is presently occupied with multiple occupants. God forbid nothing unfortunate happens.
So after the politicians, both in local authority and cabinet, give people permission to occupy land and build, the P.M. comes up with his gran charge to vacate, now they expect Kelvin Rolle to take the fall for them. Mr. Rolle serve your Compliance Notice as part of your job but leave that alone, let the politicians cook in their own mess, they started it, let them solve it. I can guarantee you one thing, it is solved already, the squatters are not going anywhere and soon then will receive their certificate of title for ONE DOLLAR.
The people of Canefield East press on, or you will be doomed forever. This is high stakes politics.
As we speak there is one which looks like a banana boxing plant but is supposed to be an apartment building being built in Jimmit. I always wonder if is one set of people planning goes after.
Some people do not obey Laws. Should something unfortunate happen to that house, as I suppose a disaster, they cannot blame the government authorities for they were given an order to demolish it and vacate.
so now is another story .they have to investigate those in housing who are securing property for their friends,and the decision to give the person the land was never passed in cabinet.so they go behind the back of the government and do what they want.so investigate those culprits
:?Shouldn’t there be an institution like the lands and survey division for example where people can apply for land or housing lots when government has available land advertised. One can really see that this government is not and can’t governing properly. They are running the island in a loosely, destroying every institution.
Why is the planning department so selective on who it chooses to pursue? For example at the top of Kingshill there are 2 houses illegally built on the edge of the mountain which is government land. One has been completed and the other is currently under construction. In addition, this squatter has cut down a lot of trees and vegetation which will ultimately lead to serious land slide issues for the people below in Elmshall. Planning are aware of this and are turning a blind eye as they are being told these are ‘farm’ buildings.
I guess squatters realized they are dealing with a set of jokers that don’t have to wait on April 1 to give an “All fools day” trick anymore but instead, “All fools Day is everyday.”
For example, they were asked to leave on April 25, but instead more houses were constructed. “Notices have already been served alerting them they should vacate the area by May 2 or be evicted but it is reported that the warnings were ignored and construction of houses has continued.”
Mr. Rolle, the fact that people know your BOSS is a bunch of jokers that have made “All fools day” an everyday occurrence, they will not listen to your June 26 warning and they will just laugh at you. So don’t allow those jokers to cause your blood pressure to go up while they themselves are encouraging more squatters to move in behind the scenes.
“Your boss is a bunch of jokers?” Bad english
@smh, I was not taking an English test. I was just pointing out some of my observations. If you want to have a good English class why not start with the head of state whose English terrible? What about changing it to your government is a bunch of jokers?
The audacity of the PM to simple state” Get out of the Government Land.” Why dont the Government meet with the people and possible have a resolution to this that simply just evicting them.
Marco, that would be the just and right thing to do however, these forlorn politricking fools are void of any kind of logic to engage the citizens in a humane approach.
Dey are to bold get the hell out i say we do want allu around us
What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
I wonder if it was your land what the you would have done.
A meeting is very healthy in resolving conflicts.
Someone squatting on your land, would you go talk to them to resolve or to boldly tell them to get off your property? wear the shoes and see how it fits before you say it too small.