Dominica has benefited from relief supplies made available by the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee based on St Thomas, USVI, amounting to $US197,723.00.
Three 40-foot containers containing building materials and other relief supplies were donated to the island on Wednesday; two to the government of Dominica while a 20-foot container was presented to the Lion’s Club of Dominica.
The government also received US$1,500 from the disaster committee.
The supplies include plywood, doors, toilets, lumber, windows, nails, towel holders among others.
The Yes We Care Programme, Dominica Infirmary, Roving Caregivers Programme, Boetica Village Council and CHANCES- youth at risk in Jimmit are expected to benefit from the gesture.
“The Dominica Disaster Relief Committee based on St Thomas, USVI immediately sprang into action upon realizing the massive destruction caused by Tropical Storm Erika and spared no effort to mobilize and sensitize the local community in the United States Virgin islands to come to the aid of Dominica,” Liaison Officer of Disapora Affairs and Chairperson of the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee, Loreen Bannis-Roberts said while addressing a handing over ceremony held at the Woodbridge Bay Port on Wednesday. “To date we can truly say that the response has been tremendous.”
Bannis- Roberts continued, “Dominica and Dominicans needed our help and with this stark reality, we had no choice but to demonstrate in tangible ways that we in the Diaspora care. Today we can breathe a sigh of relief and experience the sense of satisfaction, accomplishment and joy that today brings.”
Ian Douglas, who represented Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit at the ceremony, expressed appreciation to the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee and their efforts in mobilizing the resources that made the presentation possible.
“It must have taken profound commitment and determination as well as persistent effort to contact and follow-up on all of the organizations, the twelve organizations and businesses in St Thomas who responded with such profound generosity to the plight of our people, brought about by the devastation of Tropical Storm Erika on August 27,” he noted.
Douglas said that the relief committee has stepped up to the plate in contributing to the rebuilding effort of Dominica.
“A task that all those who love this country must embrace as a mission over the next few years,” he stated.
Meantime; Director of Operations of MSI Building Supplies in St Thomas, Eubald Rene said in total the company has contributed well over US$140,000 in supplies to relief efforts in Dominica.
“This we hope will reach the needy in our community,” he said. “I pray and hope that the persons most affected will be recipients…”
Tropical Shipping Dominica and the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee of St Thomas has to date shipped five 40-foot containers with relief supplies and building materials to the government and the people of Dominica.
Two out of the five containers were shipped free of freight charges, while the other three were shipped at a discounted rate.
In October 2015, the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee made their first contribution of three 40-foot containers with relief supplies to Dominica.
Additionally, in November 2015, Dominica benefited from a financial contribution of US$19,282.02 or EC$51,833.93 made possible by the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee.
From that contribution, the government of Dominica received in excess of US$12,417.00 or EC$33,379.38, while six village councils affected by the passage of Tropical Storm Erika will receive US$1144.17 or EC$3075.76.
The village councils include; Petite Savanne Village Council, the Colihaut Village Council, the Coulibistrie Village Council, the Good Hope Village Council, the Boetica Village Council and the Delices Village Council.
This Lady only representing St.Thomas, when the press is saying the U.S.V.I.
She don’t come to St. Croix to have meetings with Dominicans out there. The only time you might find her on the big Island is when the Agricultural festival is coming up next weekend you might see her at a booth. So instead of saying the U.S. V.I It should be St.Thomas
I think mr douglas need some of that plywood for him self. please donate him some.
It is interesting that Liaison Officer of Diaspora Affairs and Chairperson of the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee, Loreen Bannis-Roberts, makes mention of all the contributions of Dominicans living on St. Thomas, failing to mention that the Relief Committee on St. Croix made early contributions. We did not work for praise but as Liason officer for the Virgin Islands, and not only St. Thomas, I expected Ms. Robert’s report to mention what transpired in the VI since all hands were on deck.
It will be nice to distribute these materials for those effected by TS Erika recieve these materials.
I would really like laureen to tell the people of DA what was her effort in raising these reliefs, how much she contributed… poor Dominicans, alu don’t know nothing that’s going on over here in STT, Laureen needs to stop lying and pretending to the preople of dominca, she did not contribute one dime to these efforts, at least Lawa provided the transportation but all Laureen did was sat down and watch people like me work day and nights, now she going down there and present, she should be ashamed of herself
Am I going to receive any of this to build a house …. I wait.
I am just puzzled. Why go through all the trouble of shipping building supplies if sending the money instead would have been easier and quicker and less costly. I hope it is not a ruse to bring in supplies duty free for one or more of Skerrit’s cronies to profit from. I would be easy enough to sell that off the books for cash. Forgive me for thinking that way but I have seen such crafty schemes before.
As far as I recall the intsitutions mentioned did not get affected by TS Erika. Alas thos Tisavanne people need to settle.
I really don’t want to read about anything that this woman…part of because over the years she has demonstrated a strong love for money and is willing to do ANYTHING to get money. The only thing about her that I like is, She DOES NOT carry my male surname because I would be scared of she not living me for a better offer / highest bid.
All help is welcome but I did not realize that Lareen Bannis-Roberts is a stand-in for Baroness Patricia Scotland.
I hope the right people will get the help they need and not the rugs..
Thanks for the chickenfeed and bread crumbs you all were able to effortlessly secure for the peasants in Dominica. But you all need to stop blowing these small earnings out of proportion and trying to make them look bigger than they really are. You all are really not working as hard like you’re trying to make it sound
So apart from the hot air you have been blowing from your……….what have you given?