Portsmouth land dispute coming to an end

Glanvillia residents at a meeting discussing the matter. Image courtesy of BRBP TV
Glanvillia residents at a meeting discussing the matter. Image courtesy of BRBP TV

The ongoing land dispute in the north of the island may be put to rest sooner, rather than later, as over 13 acres and more than 175 lots are currently being made ready for residents, according to Minister of Land Reginald Austrie.

On Tuesday, he disclosed that some lots are already subdivided and are in the final stages of survey.

“In Cotton Hill in Portsmouth we have already subdivided over 175 lots which we are now in the final stages of survey and those lots will be made available to the people of Portsmouth, Glanvillia and in fact to the entire north, at a price to determine by the government through the valuation unit of the Government of Dominica,” he stated.

Austrie said further that 10 acres have been selected in Georgetown and will be ready soon.

“In Glanvillia/Georgetown 10 acres of land have been identified in the Georgetown area and we are in the process of doing the sub division and seeking to make the lands available to the people of Glanvillia very, very, shortly,” Austrie said. “And an additional three acres have been identified in an area called Mountain which will also be subdivided and made available to the people of Glanvillia at a price determined by the Cabinet of Dominica.”

The matter has been a long running issue in Portsmouth. The residents have squatted on the land in a move which Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said was illegal.

Skerrit had indicated that government had purchased 25 acres of land, with about 101 lots in Cotton Hill, for the Glanvillia residents.

But MP for the area, Ian Douglas, had said the people were not interested in lands at Cotton Hill. He said they are sticking to their original plan and the lands in Georgetown should be allocated to them as promised.

Speaking to state owned DBS on Thursday, Douglas expressed his pleasure in hearing the news that the impasse was coming to and end.

“It’s great news all around and we’re just very happy for the way that some things are unfolding as we speak,” he said.

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95 Comments

  1. Hello
    October 15, 2013

    Who is going up for Canfield nuh? I hearing since UWP candidates go in a constituency things starting to happen. We have so many needs in Canefield. Our roads in the housing scheme need to fix. We need more street lights, we need playing fields. Look I see people squatting on the playing field in the east means they will get the land for a dollar $1.00 too. Some of us trying to clean infront of our doors but they rest of the community is very dirty. Alas help us nuh in Canefield.

  2. Dominican by birth
    October 15, 2013

    Make sure the certificate of title is in you the villagers hands before the elections remember dem man have plenty tricks

  3. TW
    October 13, 2013

    Squatter law needs to be reviewed
    It only promotes laziness honestly

    Why work hard to buy a piece of land when you can just claim somebody else own and stay on it like it’s yours then legally claim it after the set period…. That is wrong
    Work hard and buy your land it’s not fair that one set will get free while another set have to work hard for it. I wish they price the land at $7000.00 per sq foot lemme see who will get what after

  4. contact
    October 12, 2013

    Ian Douglas has no backbone. He has nothing of his father or Rosie Douglas. as far as I am concerned he is a whimp, His cousins has more character then he has. He is so washy washy he should not be in politics .His grand father must rolling in his grave. shame.

  5. tell me
    October 12, 2013

    It is alleged that a certain radio station man own land in glanvillia. is that true glanvillia people?And are you all really going to move to cotton hill?

  6. Man on the Ground
    October 12, 2013

    i have beeen watching the online comments on DNO for a very long time now. if the minister dose not feel the wind of change is blowing at 60 mile per hour then they must sleeping under rook in the hight of quep baboo. Mr P J.COM HAVE YOU SEEN THEM THERE LOL

  7. Plan Dominque
    October 12, 2013

    Why is it necessary for Cabinet to determine the price of the land to be given to the people of Glanvilia? Is it not a standard policy to settle squatters on land at on dollar per square foot? Why the discrimination in application of public policy.The Housing minister and this Savarin-Skeritte Free-lab, aka DLP party have been going over the island beating their chest as to how they have given poor squatters land at one dollar per square foot, now the policy no longer apply to the people of Glanvillia. Is it that the land is too good for them or are they being punished for deciding “we shall not be move”? Once again we see another failed government policy whereby the people are discriminated against for standing for their right based of declared government policy. The people of Glanvillia should now insist that based on government stated policy they too have the right to get the land at one dollar per square foot because they are squatters on the land. what is good for the gander is also good for the goose. This decision to allocate land to the people of Glanvillia is therefore just another vote catching decision. If it was not so the land would be sold to them at one dollar per square foot in accordance with government policy.
    Residents of Glanvillia let Ian your parl rep know that the problem is not yet justly resolved. Say no to Savarin-Skeritte political tricks. The land will not be allocated to the individuals before the next election so if the Free-lab party wins, good forbid, you will not get the land.

  8. geeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
    October 11, 2013

    lpo like joke in glanvillia the man came there on sunday and told people to bring there estemate who had there own he sign it the other he told them to bring it ti dublanc or give it to nanto when he finish he tell a feller to measure the road road start building already some of them they send them on training for small business ,i have never seen that in glanvillia for all the years i leave there now it different ,so i have to say thanks to lennox he have the pm like a made man wat a sham mr pm i am a labourite and u mr pm will not be getting my cross even if u give me the biggest palace flushing toilet land not this time mr pm i suffered under u and u think am going to give u my cross to finish me off with the little money i have on my savingbook that i have to build a little house on the land u say u going to give me there no mr pm not so u did not work to but me in a better place so dont look for my cross mr pm not again ,not this time one thing am not like those other glanvillia young people ,to the young people dont just agree for a one month fix two month fix with money,a house a toilet a a land ,all that good ,but if u dont have a job for a long tearm that will provide money in your hand food on your table to pay the same land,house and toilet it dose not make sence so peopl dont just vote labour dont just vote because your parents tell u to vote labour but for better for your chilren thank u possie.

  9. possie
    October 11, 2013

    Ian Douglass needs to step down and let them man respect him Ian has his law Deegree he can never stay broke doggy step down for your pples and also your benifit doe wait for the man to finish your lil dignity u have left bro

  10. 100% Dominican
    October 11, 2013

    From the information in this report, it appears that only 10 acres of land in the area originally disputed, will actually be allocated. So what has happened to the rest of the disputed land? Sounds like Mr. Douglas has backed away from him original position that the lands disputed should be given to the people and that they were not interested in lands in Cotton Hill. Well, for the people’s sake, I hope that this is all resolved to their satisfaction. Let us see what will happen to the original portion of land in the long term……..

  11. possie
    October 11, 2013

    All of a Sudden because of them promisville pple protest the comming now and give little contractors little road to build i c but the road was there to fix all the time in georgetown so unless Allu gvtment man doe see pple crying blood allu dont give them attention We blue vex in portsmouth now

  12. possie
    October 11, 2013

    LAND FOR VOTES LOL, they have no choice but to give up the land

    • forkit
      October 12, 2013

      i hope possie people get it before elections, because the chinese will get it after elections..

  13. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    Take note, that is a similar thing that was said before the last elections. The road was there, water supply started and after labor win the project stop. it start back because of the uproar and of course in the advent of an election. So let me see who getting what, cause on set of land is being offered to several groups. watch n c

  14. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    Take note, that is a similar thing that was said before the last elections. The road was there, water supply started and after labor win the project stop. it start back because of the upraw and of course in the advent of an election. So let me see who getting what, cause on set of land is being offered to several groups. watch n c

  15. UDOHREADYET
    October 11, 2013

    Squatters have no rights!! just because you poopooing on somebody land for years doesn’t give you the right to build a toilet there! just kidding… power to the people!!

  16. Morihei Ueshiba
    October 11, 2013

    Ian, Ian if u seating at a table with him and u turn your back he will turn on u too, u give it to him good, never back down for the people who vote u.

  17. political cancer
    October 11, 2013

    No one can sew a patch of old cloth in new dress and expect to fool people. This move by Skerrit and his multi million dollar friends are just trying a quick patch to see if they will not win the elections Skerrit going to call in December 2013. Set of unanswered questions are: who will get the rest of the land? What interest the likes of Mano, Bubbles, Skerro, Austrie and others have in the remaining property? I know Austrie was careful to say that lands are available for people of Glanvillia, Possie, and the entire north. Why not the entire country? Is it just for people from the north? I hope they don’t use that to buy land for members of the cabal from other parts of the island and those in China too

  18. talkingnumbers
    October 11, 2013

    My question to those in authority…What is it about that portion of land that it cant be given to those ppl seeing that it was already promised to them?
    Is it that this same portion of land was also promised or given to our asian friends?

    Time will tell

  19. so sad
    October 11, 2013

    Wa papa now ian dog last again. Poor man, such a nice man to be treated that way. All of a sudden portsmouth people get blue vex pm get fraid. mr ian remember ian dog cannot be last. U need to wake up and stop make pm use u like ur nothing in the house.

  20. possie
    October 11, 2013

    I am so happy to hear that the land is being distributed to the Glanvillia pple i just hope that the pple that really fought for the land are the ones that will benefit from it and not the guys that stood on the side and criticized the movement

  21. valda Bruno Durand
    October 11, 2013

    Even if there was no solution, who in their right mine think Portsmouth would have been blue. Wishful thinking.

  22. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    i’m from Possie, and i can tell you, we taking but we not voting skerro and his gang….

    • 333
      October 12, 2013

      empty barrels always make the most noise. After election i want to see what allu going to say. political hungry. earl and dem doh do enough damage to the island. anyone remember earl williams from salisbury? and the other suckers of UWP. zour kay weh paye la zour pakay wantway endeyn

  23. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    glanvillia people need to know beggars are not choosers. They sitting down on people land refusing to move. eh eh! wrong and strong? Well its not always where you want to be you can be especially when you using what is not yours. wake up glanvillia else the rest of the country will wake you up with a big bulldozer

    • Papa Dom
      October 12, 2013

      Who people land? Who does the land belong to?

  24. Me Again
    October 11, 2013

    “..Ian Douglas, had said the people were not interested in lands at Cotton Hill. He said they are sticking to their original plan and the lands in Georgetown should be allocated to them as promised.”

    Has Ian Douglas let the people of Portsmouth and Glanvillia down?

  25. cdj
    October 11, 2013

    So what! all governments are the same. So u all believe UWP will do better, they were already there. Jump high jump low! Skerritt and his DLP Shall be victorious whenever election is called. My people its obvious that the DLP will be the next government. Lennox and his squad u all are unprepared.

    • Papa Dom
      October 12, 2013

      You should be shot for making such a foolish comment. When you make ignorant comments like this why do you take offence when others call you foolish? I am disappointed that DNO would even publish that utterrubbish.

  26. big
    October 11, 2013

    people don’t be stupied that’s a trick

  27. thiny
    October 11, 2013

    BEGGARS ARE NOT CHOOSERS…TAKE WHAT IS GIVEN AND BE GREATFUL……..GO TO COTTEN HILL … and rename that place …i hate that name…cotten hilll????????..what the??????

  28. Doc. Love
    October 11, 2013

    DNO, have you forgotten my comments on the Portsmouth issue, it was posted since yesterday.

    • Doc. Love
      October 11, 2013

      That’s interesting, my request is moderated but the comments are still awaiting moderation.

      • 333
        October 12, 2013

        Doc. Love, UWP own DNO. they are too bias. Lennox will NEVER become PM. He will smell it and not get to taste it.

  29. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    workers kay faire bagai tou pas tou

  30. Hmmmm
    October 11, 2013

    Why is it always before election when you see things happening…… :?: :?: :?: :?:

  31. john bess
    October 11, 2013

    No compromise,i not moving from where i was born,i wont be discarded by scareritt and doglast,look what i getting for voting labour,i tired of that labour pain,i trying uw.p this time.

  32. Really!
    October 11, 2013

    I know all you UWPites blue vex, because there is a solution! All you prefer for there to be troubled . The people got what they wanted so whats the problem now!

    • DOMINICA
      October 11, 2013

      People did not have to take drastic measures to get a news solution. Remember it is just like before, the lots are on the TV and radio stations, they are just promises again.

      Promises were made before, reality and keeping to the promise has to be accomplished.

    • grell
      October 11, 2013

      it was never uwp,the land rightfully belong to the citizens,put the politics aside,that why their is no unity in dominica,bc arrogant people like you cant respect others views.

    • 4u2c
      October 11, 2013

      Typical DLP talk. It will take another year or more to get this straight with DLP and it will be done under pressure from the people in that area. DLP don’t give a RAT a****** as to if those folks get land or not.

    • faceup
      October 11, 2013

      What you talking about the hand outs lol stop begging !

    • unknown
      October 11, 2013

      solution in talk. when I see the action I will believe. when I see the people actually have land and houses I will believe. for now its just talk

  33. October 11, 2013

    Do not do,we not voting for you,do it is vote catching tactics,what really is the agenda you posters have in mind. We vote for things to improve,if this is the way to go should it be stopped? This double standard thinking will get us nowhere!

    • Blushing
      October 11, 2013

      It has been that way b4 u were born and all the political porties does it……our citizens accepts it! This time around they virtually asked for it! It’s the way ournpolitics is. We are not a wealthy nation and I will take the assistance and I’m happy for it and I will support the DLP!

    • Anonymous
      October 11, 2013

      rewind and come again you confusing

    • Anonymous
      October 11, 2013

      rewind and come again what exactly are you saying?

  34. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    I am still waiting for someone to tell me who owned the land before and how the government if it ownes the land came by it. I am also hearing talk or statements made by ministers , that the people are squatting on private lands. Can someone tell me how those private individuals came to own what was government land, since I believe that there is a procedure in place for disposing of state property.

    • niceboi/#`
      October 11, 2013

      Just like all the land Nassief “bought.” Who had it before him? how was he able to buy whole Dominica? Much to look into. The natives should get back their land. All of it.

      • Malgraysa
        October 11, 2013

        By natives you mean of course the Kalinago, good!

    • Papa Dom
      October 12, 2013

      No answers yet I see

  35. no name
    October 11, 2013

    I tell you, election really coming

    • DOMINICA
      October 11, 2013

      I agree

  36. kunoo mounoo
    October 10, 2013

    carrot and stick

  37. Anonymous
    October 10, 2013

    I think Lennox should start going all over to where people have needs. He should just speak things, and then the govt will bring it to pass. Reminds me of Genesis, In the beginning, he spoke it and it came to pass.

    • just saying
      October 11, 2013

      This government was working long before Lennox. And will still continue to work with or without him.

    • gwaj
      October 11, 2013

      Tell him to say that gwaj will become a multimillionaire investor oh’y! Maybe that will come to pass ;)

    • niceboi/#`
      October 11, 2013

      So Lenox is God? You are so out of your little strings.

  38. lit
    October 10, 2013

    but who tell allu election coming na….Everybody so hyped about election…Even though it call tomorrow, next week or next year it must call one day…choops..Everytime d government do something nowadays, everybody saying election…As long as the gevernment do things to develop the country, I don’t have a problem with it..

    • lupussssssssssssssss
      October 11, 2013

      stupid if you know anything about politics you would realize that that is a normal strategy just before elections? Where you have been all this time? have you been sleeping under a rock?

  39. rewardin lawlessness
    October 10, 2013

    So is the prime minister now condoning what he termed earlier as illegal activity. If that is the case then Mr. Skerrit you have double standards and that says a lot about you and your bid to get reelected at any cost. I can tell you most assuredly that you will buy or sell this time around but guess what you will not win the next general election whenever you decide to call it.

    All of a sudden what seems wrong to you becomes right just because you are afraid of losing some election. Learn this, if you do not stand for something then you’ll fall for anything and that is a crying shame. You are causing us to lose respect for you garcon.

  40. Tim
    October 10, 2013

    Boy that UWP convention up north with 10,000 people sent a very strong message: You are out come election time. Concessions,Education reform, new school in Newtown, housing scheme at Silver Lake, land reform in Possee making “devie”.

    Elections must be very near!!! swing high swing low you are gone Mr. Skerrit.

  41. Da Sage
    October 10, 2013

    Never become desperate enough to trust the untrustworthy.

  42. Da Sage
    October 10, 2013

    “Never become desperate enough to trust the untrustworthy.”

  43. Alethea Annica
    October 10, 2013

    Come on Glanvillia, land is not enough.
    Silver Lake just got One Million Dollars for two One Bedroom apartments and four Two-Bedroom apartments for six families. This represents $167,000.00 per family.
    These apartments are to be delivered free of charge to the recipients and the Campaign manager of Ambrose George is the Contractor.
    The project was never tendered and from my calculations this building should not cost more than $650,000.00 which means somebody is walking away with $300,000.00.
    Prove me wrong, make the drawings and the estimates public.

    • I'm just saying
      October 11, 2013

      Silver Lake project coming to more than 900,000.00

  44. Anonymous
    October 10, 2013

    The oposition is making the government work. Who said we had weak opposition?

  45. niceboi/#`
    October 10, 2013

    I wanted to move to Poor smout, but no more.

  46. lagoon
    October 10, 2013

    let me tell all u sunmting ,cotton hill is for lagoon people we doe want no granvilia people in cotton hill.stay in all u place!!!!!! :twisted: :twisted: so long that damn government say we getting cotton hill every five years he saying the same ting!!! send granvillia people up there and all u will see!! :twisted:

  47. CHANCE PORTSMOUTH
    October 10, 2013

    Ian doesn’t even know what is happening. Ian is obviously hearing the news second hand when he should be the one making the announcement. Ian is treated like an outsider and th as t is unacceptable on all count.

  48. Doc. Love
    October 10, 2013

    Skeritt isn’t as powerful or stupid as some people believe. Mr. Lennox Linton has been in touch with the Portsmouth people regularly and is also gaining strength. The Douglas brothers have been hinting about another political party, it would have been political suicide for Skeritt to play macho man. This is the ideal time for any organization to get what it wants from Skeritt, the man is vulnerable. Since Mr. Linton came on the scene, Skeritt has not been the same. In 2005, Savarin spoke about the many times the UWP broke ground, well, is now Skeritt breaking ground, garson like falling rain, tou pa tou.

  49. possie
    October 10, 2013

    The government (Skerrit) making a problem by saying squatting on the land at Georgetown is illegal. Now election coming, government now going to let us have the land. They creating a problem and when election coming they themself solving the problem that they themself created.What is that?

  50. October 10, 2013

    The DLP party will do any thing to get VOTES,but I warn our people dont be fooled dont just take it sitting down he went too far. We will be sending a message that will say enough is enough to the leader and his party at the election Polls.
    We have to get the Island/people back on track and we want PM to resppect our people, we need to start rebuilding to get employment moving.
    So what will be the next scandal Skerrit will be getting involved with is it going to be about the White Rats in the capital ? ..

    • White Arab Rat
      October 10, 2013

      Good for them. They placed their boots/feet down on the ground. If election was not round the bend, kai poule quasay. They whole of Dominica should take a page from that and from the rally at Lodonderry to stand together. The power is in the hands of the prople to vote them out. Enough is enough, get your land and vote them out. We suffered too much.

    • UWP Rats
      October 10, 2013

      I will gladly accept free education than free land.

    • October 10, 2013

      I hope you realize that ANY PARTY will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to obtain VOTES, NOT just the DLP.

      • just saying
        October 11, 2013

        Like the international airport and free education.

      • haha
        October 11, 2013

        like UWP say dey gonna give free education to all haha lmao

  51. John paul
    October 10, 2013

    Ha Ha Ha !Who are the Owners of the rest of the land? We need to know .I thought Mr. Skeritt said that these People were squatting on private land?Who are the owners of that private land and how did they aquire this land.
    Let us have a little transparency if You dare .

    • Malatete
      October 11, 2013

      Could it perhaps be Seaside Villas Ltd, in which Mr. Nanthan has an interest?

  52. vieille case
    October 10, 2013

    election flu

    • October 10, 2013

      Vieille Case in the house. YEA!

      • Malgraysa
        October 11, 2013

        Veille Case translates as “old house”. Is new house we want.

  53. thiny
    October 10, 2013

    No one should get the land at longhouse Georgetown glanvillia…this is indistrial land……divide land foe people to build shacks and tents …eye sore….just not right

    • White Arab Rat
      October 10, 2013

      You sound like you are the contractor for the people. Infront of them you will say another thing because have disguised your name. You just like skerrit.

  54. thiny
    October 10, 2013

    Oh my god….u all making the place look like a shatee town….that’s not right……

    • October 10, 2013

      Was Glanvillia not already a shanty town? It is getting a FACE LIFT.

      • 305goon
        October 11, 2013

        Yo, yall tripping with that shantee town nonsense talk. Where in Dominica is more shantee than vielle-case? House stick up next to each other like sardines in a can.

      • Anonymous
        October 11, 2013

        no that area if you look at the video only has presentable buildings…chineese owned iguess…these shacks are going to spoil the look of the place…that’s a shame

      • thiny
        October 11, 2013

        no…i saw a video of the of the area..and all i saw was beautiful buildings from a distance…chineese owned i guess…..these poor people have no right to build their huts in the area…they dont have money to purchase lan…..beggars are not choosers

      • Malgraysa
        October 11, 2013

        Itassi, facelift, boob job, stomach reduction. it is the same old ladfy underneath you know. That is why it is called cosmetyic surgery. Meme bete, meme pwel.

  55. dafriend
    October 10, 2013

    Boy oh boy, don’t things move fast in Dominica, when an election is approaching? Everything is being resolved just like that and cheques are issued by the government left right and centre? They are on the biggest spending spree ever. I wonder what is going to happen at the end of the finical year – there won’t be a penny for anything. But that is that red lot for. Voters beware and don’t let them fool you with their handouts, these guys are becoming more and more desperate. The breeze of change is blowing in their face!!

    • Food and Housing
      October 10, 2013

      I want a checque to buy 2 kilos to resell for big a profit. I need the minister of finance to work out the maths for me.

    • Anonymous
      October 10, 2013

      nonesense talk that, and you know it!!!!!Keep on dreaming!!!! The only change the likes of you will see is another 5 years of the DLP, like it or not!!!!!!!

    • October 10, 2013

      PERFECT TIMING. At the end of the fiscal year check with bookkeeping. There may not be a penny left over, but everything or almost everything will be DONE. You should be pleased, until next time.

      SURPRISE, the breeze of change is already blowing. Have you not felt it yet?

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