Marigot, Dominica –Two families from the north-eastern community of Marigot will soon be presented with the keys to their newly constructed hurricane safe homes, following their losses during the passage of Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
The keys will be presented at a ceremony to be attended by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
The installation of two pre-fabricated hurricane sturdy model housing units in Marigot, was made possible through the negotiating work of former Government Senator, Dayton Baptiste and other partners.
The former Government Senator Baptiste, in a formal thank you message at the end of the work cycle lauded the support of the 15-member strong team from the internationally-based Dominica Charity Organization for making the project a reality.
“Thanks to the work team and all who contributed, the Government of Dominica for its unwavering support in the facilitation of all local and international procedures and the Dominica Charity organization and Mary Sylvester for their commitment and drive to ensure that this became a reality,” Baptiste said.
Baptiste who is a trained fire and safety officer, led the process of negotiations and according to him “it was one of the most significant ones for him, as key to the acceptance of any of the properties was the guarantee of safety to the potential recipients”.
He further noted that the now completed installation of the houses is a rewarding and heartwarming experience.
“As we drove today to the families, we recognize that the children and home recipients are looking much happier, the project exceeded all targets and expectations – this is a model that can be replicated in other communities – providing significant help, and stronger resilience against future hurricanes,” he stated.
During a ceremony to mark the end of the construction phase, team leader of the International Work Team, Hans R Hochuli from the Switzerland-based “I care for You” organization, highlighted that the initiative provided significant help, and stronger resilience against future hurricanes, to the recipient families.
Hochuli showed his appreciation to his team through a message of gratitude.
“Thanks to everyone who made this great project possible! Especially to my more than hard-working Dominica special forces reconstruction team,” he said.
This project comes as a first for the island as the model units are built to sustain wind speeds of Category 5 hurricane strength.
The project in Marigot to install the two units was headed by an international work team associated with the Dominica Charity Organization based in Germany and local residents who also formed part of the team.
Local tradesmen from Marigot were trained in the Installation and maintenance of the housing units.
Negotiations for additional units are underway for Marigot and other communities across the island.
As usual opposition forces are promoting ignorance in an effort to gain political points. Many people in Peuto Rico wish their rich colonial masters (the USA) would help them after their hurricane experience. How is giving the people of Marigot houses post Maria a bad thing? Are you saying that the Government should stop helping people in need ? Are you saying that all our foreign friends should not help us after a Cat 5 Huricane or other disasters. Ungratefulness does not come from God. We must learn to be appreciative and thankful for any assisitance received no matter how big or small,
But as usual people who do nothing will criticize those who do and will go MIA in tome of desasters.
… as usual DLP forces come on here and talk utter BS in the hope we would swallow their empty propaganda.
I doh want to laugh nuh…
DNO, it might be helpful as part of your report on these houses to identify what makes them hurricane-proof, in consultation with the builders. I have to agree with several other commentators that from these photos there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of “proofing”. Is it that the wood walls have been laid horizontally? Has the roof been attached with hurricane braces? I do see strapping attached to part of the cinder blocks from the bottom beam of the house – does it go all the way around the house? What other features does the house in the photo possess that cannot be seen that would make it hurricane proof? I think such information might also be useful to those still awaiting construction. And, finally, some words from a building inspector, too?
…and in true fashion Skerrit will put himself in the lime light during the opening ceremony even though he hasn’t contributed anything. I hope the citizen of Marigot have plenty rotten tomatoes and eggs at hand to show that useless individual what they think of him. He is just coming to claim other people’s hard work for him as part of his election propaganda.
Gosh people love to complain! I’m sure the people who got houses would much rather live in a tent.
So Dominica has finally become a welfare state. Four walls and a roof and we call that a dwelling house. As they say beggars are not choosers but this style of housing leaves a lot to be desired.
It took me 3 seconds to see one potential weakness in the construction, and that is the entry door. To make this more hurricane resistant, the door should swing outward, not inward as shown in the photo.
An inward swinging door relies on the integrity of the lock to keep it closed during strong winds. On the other hand, there is much greater support for an outward swinging door with the winds pushing against it.
To make these homes hurricane resistant, all they need to do it adopt the Florida building code (as a guide).
I stand to be corrected,…….. Did they use pressure treated lumber in the foundation…….. If not, termites will eat through in a few years……..otherwise, something is better than nothing,……….I guess……..
“something is better than nothing,……….I guess……..”
True to a point, but that type of thinking encourages mediocrity.
Good jobs guys!!! Keep up the good work.
All Dominicans do is complain…… SMH…. Do or don’t do they still complain……best the government didn’t help at all because you’ll don’t appreciate nothing. A thank you is better than criticizing….. .
There is nothing to complain about but tell the truth would be better, we were told by Mary Sylvester of the Dominica Charity Organization in Germany/Switzerland who donate the houses and these builders came down to put them up, she didn’t say anything about the local Government having any part of it, but of cause they would give her a brake on bringing in the materials and that’s a good thing, so I don’t understand what other part does the Government have in bringing this project to a finish, As for Baptiste he got involved so he could make a name for himself and to impress the PM, so the people should not blame the PM for showing up, it would be much better that someone in the community be the one to hand over the keys to the house to the families someone of the church leaders would bring less politics to the end.
That’s how these guys want to score cheap political points? So if a man was married and had 2 children with his wife and Hurricane destroyed their house, is not the man’s responsibility to fix the house? What credit he needs for fixing the house! Man the DLP is the government of the day and they and only them got hurricane relief funds and therefore it’s their damn responsibility to help the people they have crippled What hell Baptist got it through his negotiation they trying to promote their? Is that there way of saying Baptist is better than Christmas? No matter what they can’t win Marigot. If Baptist is such a good negotiator, why didn’t he stop Skerrit from destroying their hospital?
Smh best all you start making all you boat like them Haitians. Dominica finish
“Hurricane Safe”… Let me ask, was it tested in a hurricane for it to be hurricane safe?
Why is there a overhang on the roof, a hurricane force wind can get under there and peel the whole roof off. And there is no concrete slab poured in the ground the wind can get up under the house too. The house should be constructed onto a concrete slab poured into the ground.
Everybody and their nenen getting keys to their house. When will the people of coulibistrie be afforded the same opportunity ?
Whenever I hear the name Marigot, the quintessential Patriot honourable LLL Leader Lennox Linton comes to mind.Not only that,the level of political maturity of the people also merits several thumbs up.This is a seriously marginalised community,that continues to remain independent,and continues to renounce the bad leadership and governance of their country.Central government,with the help of our passport money need to take care of these people,like they do to those in DLP held constituencies.They are our brothers and sisters too
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now
What a shameful thing to do %, are you praising yourself for the people who have received the houses? Rather wish them good luck in caring and maintaining these homes. The honorable LLL , please use your time wisely. Shame on you because you are full off FAT.
The owners better pray tht strong wid does not blow. Hurricane what? Sturdy my foot! This is funny
dem tings not hurricane safe.. I seeing Maria flying that.