Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that his government will erect a monument to honour victims of Tropical Storm Erika.
He made that statement while addressing the nation on Friday afternoon on the eve of the 1st anniversary of the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.
Tropical Storm Erika devastated the island on August 27th, 2015 causing several deaths, infrastructural damage and forcing some residents to evacuate their homes.
“I said a year ago and I reiterate now that the government shall erect a monument to honour victims of Erika,” he said. “This will be done, when once we have returned a greater sense of normality to the lives of those displaced and most affected.”
He continued, “In the meantime, let us use the powerful weapon and armour of prayer, to their honour and relief.”
According to Skerrit, one year later after the August 27th storm, Dominica is again challenged and charged with the responsibility of building-back-better.
“Let us use this weekend to memorialize those who we lost, pray for those still afflicted or displaced, pray that our nation will be spared during this hurricane season and, very importantly, recommit to the task of building Dominica, better,” he stated.
He went on to say, “We are not yet where we would wish to be, in terms of the rebuilding effort, but I am sure all would agree, that our progress has been remarkable and we are on course to building-back-better, our beloved nature isle.”
The Prime Minister noted that the process of rebuilding is not one that can be rushed and said the reality is that replacing and rebuilding the entire damaged infrastructure and resettling displaced persons, is a mammoth task.
“This Government is determined to build a stronger more resilient Dominica. This concept will be applied to our construction practices, and very importantly, to architectural and engineering designs,” he stated. “There will be greater emphasis placed on environmental issues and this will be appropriately reflected in our overall national land use policy. Simply put, we will build to create a more secure future for current and future generations from any and all eventualities, down the road.”
Below is the full version of the PM’s address.
Fellow Dominicans, residents and friends.
Saturday, August 27th is exactly one year since we witnessed the wrath of Tropical Storm Erika.
I used the word wrath, because it best conjures up and recreates the scenes of devastation that would have unfolded across our nation, as this weather system unleashed its fury over Dominica, for the better part of eight hours.
In the months that followed, we have worked hard to reconstruct our lives and rebuild this beautiful nation of ours.
We are not yet where we would wish to be, in terms of the rebuilding effort, but I am sure all would agree, that , our progress has been remarkable, and we are on course to building-back-better, our beloved nature isle.
The process of rebuilding is not one that can be rushed and the reality is that replacing and rebuilding the entire damaged infrastructure and resettling displaced persons is a mammoth task. This Government is determined to build a stronger more resilient Dominica. This concept will be applied to our construction practices, and very importantly, to architectural and engineering designs. There will be greater emphasis placed on environmental issues and this will be appropriately reflected in our overall national land use policy. Simply put – we will build, to create a more secure future for current and future generations from any and all eventualities, down the road.
Dominicans will never forget the carnage that revealed itself, on the morning of August 28th, 2015. We have spoken about it repeatedly over the last 365 days, and since then, every single community has been touched in a positive way by the efforts we have made, as a government, and as a people, to reconstruct and recover from this ordeal.
The occasion of this first anniversary, is opportune for us to pause, and remember the many who lost their lives during that time. Family and friends are not likely ever to forget them. As a nation, it is important that we too remember those who perished and those who are still suffering, physically and emotionally, from the passage of Erika.
Infrastructural damage can be repaired and, indeed, our surroundings can and will be made better than before. But the emotional impact of Tropical Storm Erika shall forever be with us. Those who died have left a void that can never be filled. I believe it is incumbent upon us to intercede unceasingly on their behalf, and to celebrate their lives.
In this regard, the government has deliberately not opted for a sole commemorative national activity. Though this would be impactful, this would not be as far reaching as if every single Dominican made it his or her duty, this weekend, to offer a word of prayer and thanksgiving in memory of those who perished in the encounter with Erika and also, to pray for an ease in the physical and emotional pain still experienced by thousands in our midst.
I would therefore like to request ALL churches on Dominica to include in their services this weekend a special prayer for the victims of Tropical Storm Erika. We need to pray for the souls of those who are no longer with us, and for a healing – physical and emotional – of those who continue to carry and bear the pain of that tragic event.
My Brothers and Sisters, Dominica is a God fearing society. Even if you cannot make it to church, and I would hope that you make an effort to attend, I would like for every citizen and resident of this country, to stop for a moment this weekend, and intercede on behalf of the deceased, the bereaved and the afflicted.
I said a year ago and I reiterate now that the government shall erect a monument to honor victims of Erika. This will be done, when once we have returned a greater sense of normality to the lives of those displaced and most affected.
In the meantime, let us use the powerful weapon and armor of prayer, to their honor and relief.
Fellow citizens, residents and friends, one year has passed since the tragic night of August 27th, 2015. One year later, we are again challenged and charged with the responsibility of building-back-better, this nation of ours.
Let us use this weekend to memorialize those who we lost, pray for those still afflicted or displaced, pray that our Nation will be spared during this hurricane season and, very importantly, recommit to the task of building Dominica, better.
May God Bless you all. May God Bless The Commonwealth of Dominica.
I thank you.
Skerrit practice what you preach,you have brought more division and hate after Erika ,when you should have work better with the Opposition and create more unity in the country is has become worst,Look during your budget presentation ,the complete disrespect toward Lennox by Kelvar,and you sit around and laugh,our once beloved country is doomed my friend.
Remember the dead and celebrate the living.
Declare Petite Savane a disaster area and move on!!
Good move PM!
DR Skerritt, one year after Errikka, Dominica has even gotten 100 years backward.
You guys are not on the side of the poor. It’s time that poor people who vote you guys religiously stand up for there right.
You as Prime minister keep taking Dominicans for fools. You are out there employing ambassadors like Lauren Bannis and Vince and crew , when projects in Dominica can’t start or out of existence.
The biggest monument is the after math of Errikka in Dominica.
You don’t even hear Dominica being mentioned internationally especially after the world gave so much money n so forth..
Stop using poor people. Poor people stop allowing labour and Skerritt to use you all..
God is a God of justice and truth.
We are surrounded by evil in the leadership that’s the truth and we all know it
The mistake we make is to put this man as PM of Dominica we are not going anywhere,can’t you all see that speak the Truth
can i ask who was the engineer who said that the place was unfit for people to live, displacing those people because of a natural disaster which occur everywhere from time to time….
Are you going to build a monument like the one you built in pond casse’ for the Kalinago people ?
A monument? That is not appropriate to say the lease
a pouplar contest that is all is is from skerrit making news only for himslef
“In the meantime, let us use the powerful weapon and armour of prayer, to their honour and relief.”
What powerful weapon? What has prayer ever accomplished? Be realistic people. I’m not talking about wishful thinking and voodoo/superstition/obeah/faith metaphysical crap. I mean actual real world results. What nation has ever been built on prayer? What war has ever been won by praying? What technological advancement has ever come to us by praying?
All it does is make those praying feel like they’re actually doing something when in reality it’s less than nothing. It makes people feel all self righteous and satisfied in their smug sense of self worth having participated in a woefully useless activity while simultaneously thinking that they have actually made a contribution.
If people want to help to recover from Ericka they need to work and help to build up the country. Not pray.
@ Dante Jones, If I were the ‘admin’, your post would not be on here. You need prayers and forgiveness for you are so ignorant of what you are talking about. Pray conquers all. I wanted to be angry at you but a little voice asked me to forgive you and say a little prayer for you. Maybe next time you will be different
You may not like how Jones stated it; in a since the man is correct!
Prayer is a personal, between an thing between God and an individual, though it is okay to pray for people in authority, because of their wicked ways! Nevertheless, although God was not left out in the American constitution, the foundation of America is built on God, that is why we read on the American Currency “In God We Trust.”
Hence, America is the most prosperous nation on earth, with the largest economy under the Sun with perhaps the hardest working people on the planet!
Dominicans like to hear, and talk about prayer, nevertheless, when we pray for something, we have to act; if we pray for a dollar, and sit back and do nothing to get that dollar, we will never see it fall from the sky. However, if we endeavor to do something to earn God will help us along the way to get more than the dollar.
What Skerrit is doing is using cheap psychology on a nation where people still believe in superstitions,…
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What Skerrit is doing is using cheap psychology on a nation where people still believe in superstitions, and believe there is nothing wrong with been poor. And that is one of Dominica’s greatest dilemma; Skerrit control his supporters psychologically with crap, helped along by the Roman Catholic priests, and some other puppet of other religions. Who impress people that Jesus was a poor man.
The Bible teaches prosperity, it teaches people how to become rich, and I can tell you one of the east way it teaches is trading, buying and selling, and I do not mean the sale of passports. The Bible never told Government to allocate money in the budget to do anything via grants, and loans. A grant is welfare, that is begging. And let us not forget God said a borrower, becomes a slave to the lender.
Dominica will always be a slave to nations like China, our national debt will never be paid off while Skerrit is prime minister of Dominica, as long as our economy is based on…
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Dominica will always be a slave to nations like China, our national debt will never be paid off while Skerrit is prime minister of Dominica, as long as our economy is based on loans, and grants from foreign nations. Our prosperity will come by manufacturing, and export of products, tourism, and any forms of business that will create employment for the people, thus taxes can be collected to generate revenue into the nation’s treasury.
Skerrit and his clowns, and followers can pray from now until the Sun, Moon, Stars, and sky crumble, and fall to the earth, not one dime will fall from the sky; and do not blame God for Dominica’s poverty, blame it on the Skerrit’s of this world, blame it on the labor party, and people like the idiots he has around the world as ambassadors selling Dominica’s passport, and all the proceeds goes into some deep pocket Dominica politician!
“Prayer conquers all”(Me). Keep praying, and don’t anything to become a victor, and you will…
Boy SKerrit what is the meaning of this, those people tell you want you monument you want to raise the dead again you not Jesus Christo is because Denise go and do some black magic for allu
by Peter R Augustine………….
yes boy skerrit our progress or lack thereof has been remarkable! under this inept dlp we sink further into the abis! c’est la nous Mort!
This is a wise decision to remember those who lost their lives during TS Erika. It will be pleasing to their family and friends who have many memories of them and will always be saddened that they are no longer here with them.
They will be able to visit the site and reminisce on their lives, those good old days when they shared all good things with them. There will be much to remember about their loved ones whom they wished could be here but through fate are no longer here. Know that they are here in spirit. Gone but not forgotten.
It will also be a site that D/can residents and visitors will visit to also pay their respect to them. It will also be a time for those who were spared to be thankful.
In the hearts of all those who knew them, they are still alive, if not in person but in spirit. Memories never fade.
RIP to all of you who did not stand a chance against the mighty power of TS Erika. Your memory will live on forever.
I recollect that last October, at an Independence Art Exhibition on the theme of Tropical Storm Erika, international award winning sculptor Roger Burnett, exhibited a maquette that depicted a group of figures to commemorate the plight of those made homeless by the storm.
Incidentally, in 2002, at the request of the government, the same sculptor submitted of maquette of a sculpture to commemorate Prime Minister Rosie Douglas.
boyyy hmmmmmmm…jah knows…what a day that was. May the dearly departed Rest In Peace. My condolences to their families and friends. To those still displaced continue to hold strong. The Lord says he will never give us what we cannot handle and so continue to have faith in him.
In any event it should not be a monument, but rather a Wall of honor, or a Mirror of Honor where all the victims name are written in stone or on granite.
When we speak of a Monument as in this case we could be implying a sepulcher which is a burial vault. Since the victims are not all buried in one place, the wall of honor, or mirror of honor with their names would serve a lasting evidence, a reminder of someone, or something noble or great i.e. a distinguished person, or persons’
A memorial or building erected in remembrance of the victims may not be appropriate. We should also remember the victims of Hurricane David, in which Elijah Prince of Marigot/Wesley perished, there was another case where somebody in the village of Marigot was washed away in the middle of the village due to the refusal of Skerrit to build a bridge over what the people of Marigot called a gutter, it is actually a strong running stream which empties into the sea; hence it can be considered a river!
Francisco you are always negative of everything that goes on in Dominica ,how much are you contributing to purchase the GRANITE if you know what GRANITE is this is the most expensive material that can be used for that purpose ,you now talking about Hurricane David Mr.Skerrit was probably still going to Elementary School when Hurricane struck Dominica.
According to you comments ,you said that Skerrit refused to build a bridge over a gutter in Marigot so the man was washed away are you serious come on Francisco be real where was Skerrit in 1979
Hope that your contribution is on it’s way,for he purchase of the granite material.
I’ll tell you how expensive is Granite; one who have granite kitchen counter tops in all of his apartment buildings, and in the house he lives, including his bathrooms sinks, should know the cost of granite.
You see; with you people any crap goes, the cheapest always turns out to be the most expensive for foolish people; I do not have to donate one dime to anything in Dominica, you all want Skerrit, take Skerrit, he has more money than I; let him feed the crumb the devil leaves: Relish his crap, don’t ask him “where are the jobs.”
I do not manufacture and sell passports, my hard earn money is to take care of me: and when I die, my residue goes to my son’s and grandsons not to people who like to dress in red! If you all were not low minded; can’t think people, five hundred million dollars would not be spent at Melville Hall, instead a New International Airport would be built!
Victor, you are so damn ignorant, it is pitiful I am responding to you!
What difference would it make if Skerrit was born yesterday or yesteryear, prior to Hurricane David, or the other shortly after that?
They fact is that Crapo Skerrit is honoring people who perished in a Storm, the people who perished in David are Dominicans too, and if you are honoring the dead, of yesterday, it is also appropriate to honor the dead of yesteryear; who also perished in worst storms than Erika!
Are they not people also, are they not Dominicans too?
Guy shut your bloody mouth, and don’t mess with me okay. As for that fool Warrington, one who writes his name in all lower case letters, if a mad scientist created “made me” perhaps I would be an idiot, and ignorant as you are. God created me in his likeness.
His Sprit is in me; the breath that I breath is the Sprit of God he put in me; that is why the Bible taught me my body is the temple of God; it did not tell me I was made by a mad…
What mad scientist invented you?
You that fool Warrington, one who writes your name in all lower case letters, if a mad scientist created “made me” perhaps I would be an idiot, and ignorant as you are. God created me in his image, and likeness.
His Sprit is in me; the breath that I breath is the Sprit of God he breath it into me when he created me; that is why the Bible taught me my body is the temple of God; it did not tell me I was made by a mad scientists.
If I was a fool like you, perhaps the material granite would sound strange to me, as it is to idiots like you. In my world; granite, marble, ceramics are the norm in everyday use by people who even live off welfare; because some of you are so backward, and enjoy poverty, every bit of luxury you accept as impossible to have, my life is not a life of poverty, I enjoy the best!
the smart one don’t know the meaning of monument.
“When we speak of a Monument as in this case we could be implying a sepulcher which is a burial vault. “(Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque).
Guy I can give you several definitions of the word “Monument:” nevertheless; this smart one is capable of introducing you to the simplest definition of the word
My hope is that perhaps you have the faculties, to aid you in understanding the meaning, if in the natural you are unable to understand, perhaps if you get inebriated on some white rum, or crack cocaine you might become more confused, and by chance when you get out of your demented state of mind you will understand what you read when you read my comments!
P .M Skerrit as much as I love you ….I must disagreed with you on one thing and that is we can not pray for the dead ……according to the bible the dead knows nothing their bodies are in the ground and their breath goes back to God …..So there for we pray for the living and along for those we are grieving. ….The dead is in a unconscious state they knows nothing ….my prayers goes out to family and friends who are still are still grieving at this time. …keep on strong God is in control. …He knows
best.
..
Well Skerrit is a god you know, maybe he hears the prayers for the dead.
The Bible teaches; God is not the God, of the dead, but the living, and what did he say to the man who told him he could not follow him because his father was dead?
“Let the dead bury the dead!”
Here is this man talking about declaring two days of prayer for the dead; Skerrit is a politician, and to me that order is nothing more than telling the religious organizations, and people of the country.
I Skerrit, am the boss in charge, and when I order prayer, get down on your knees and pray and pray to me.
This is the man who told Dominicans ” when people asks God for something, and God take long to give it to them; when they “come to me” that is he Skerrit, he gives it to them right away!
The Dominica god that evil dictator does not believe there is an omnipotent God over him, he follows the advise of his boy bishop, and one sided bias ……….priests, but one day he will have to answer to…
Did God tell you that? This is your opinion which is totally wrong. Do you know where their souls are in eternity?
There is a lot in the Holy Bible that you of all do not conform to. Therefore, keep your piece which does not represent everyone’s opinion and teaching.
You must be mr/mrs/ms know it all. Keep misinterpreting Holy Scripture as some of you do, thinking you are correct, more so than others, as you spread misinformation and lead some astray with your false teaching and see where you will end up.
Facts, quote me one scripture in the Bible: either the Protestant, or the Roman Catholic Bible where God Jehovah, or Jesus Christ instructs you, me, or anybody to pray for the dead!
What I do know is in Roman Catholicism; your popes, and priests gets up and talk about praying for the dead. That is a useless ritual. While we are alive we pray for ourselves. We can pray for someone, however, the person we decide to pray for must be in agreement, with us in order to have that prayer answered, and something accomplished.
If I am about to die, and you pray to God, to let me live, and I desire to die, who’s prayer do you believe will be answered? You praying for me to live and I want to die; that would be a matter of confusion. God said he is not the author of confusion; and he also said he is not the God of the dead but the living.
I am not going to make this long but since I want to prove you wrong: I will return with something convincing!
Facts, let me shatter all the Roman Catholic myth about God you have in your head; I do not talk about God based on what religion, or man in robes teaches, for they are liars. I am going to present it to you as said by Jesus, you either accept it, or reject it. Believe God if you wish, or the roman pope, and priests.
In the Book of Mark: 12:19, 20, 21,22, 23 – 27 we read:
19. Master, Moses wrote unto us: If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children; that his brother should take his wife, and rise up seed unto his brother.
20. Now there were seven brethren and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed
21. And the second took her, and die neither left any seed: and the third likewise.
22. And the seventh had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them, for the seven had her to wife.
24. And Jesus answering said unto them: Do ye not…
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24. And Jesus answering said unto them: Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God.
25. For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
26. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I Am The God OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB?
27. He is not the God of the dead, but the God of living: ye therefore do greatly err.
So, Facts, who is right and who is wrong, you pope, and priests, who told you to pray for the dead; if God is not the God of the dead, what make you believe he will answer your prayer to him for the dead?
Al of what Skerrit is doing comes from his Roman Catholic background, which means squat to God, it another “for in vane they worship me; in reference to God!
All catholics believe that.
believe in that nonsense
so true, but 12 idiots gave you the thumbs down, i am guessing they must be catholic, who think they can pray for the dead…
Freedom of Speech is one thing; but wearing our ignorance as what the Late PM Pierre Charles called a badge of honour is something different. Some of us are simply too negative.
I am sure no matter what the Prime Minister or Government says or do, some will oppose just for opposing sake, nothing else.
This is a wonderful thing to focus on one of the worse disasters in recent history for many of us. All who were too young or were not born yet when Hurricane David struck Dominica, the ravages of Tropical Storm Erika we should never forget.
May the souls of the faithful departed continue t rest in peace and may their families and friends know the rest of us will never forget them or what happened to our country a year ago.
We are grateful to all those who came so readily to our aid following Erika and our many heroes. We continue to Praise God because we know, it could have been much worst.
It is commendable what our government continues to do. Lest we forget.
I DID NOT FIND ENOUGH EFFORT TO RESCUE PEOPLE. THEY WERE LEFT TO DIE BODIES WERE NOT RECOVERED. WHAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE MONUMENT?
Do not worry about it. The authorities know what will be placed on the monument.
Consider, they lived. They were precious lives. Sadly, they died in that disaster. They are worth remembering.
What TS Erika did will forever be etched in Dominica’s history. It will also be passed down to other generations until the end of time.
The monument will be a place to visit, to pay respect to their memory, to reminisce in many ways also of that fateful day/night which took so many lives, destroyed property and displaced many. Lest we forget.
It should be a reminder how life is short, fragile and anything could happen at anytime to anyone and in numbers when we least expect it.
It should also tell you to be kind to your fellow people for you know not when your life will be snuffed out. Then comes the judgment for eternity. If this does not move you, nothing else will.
@conscious…you are such a *******…did they find those two dominicans at the world trade centre and most of the dead of that sad day? well fool as you are let me tell you there is a monument at the sites and other locations where the terrorist attacked and killed innocent people on 9\11 without a dead body..you are so backwards in you thinking..fools like you die for lack of knowledge