Seventy-three (73) more families across Dominica received keys to their newly constructed climate-resilient homes under the Government of Dominica Housing Recovery Project (HRP) yesterday. Of this cohort, 22 are identified members of the Kalinago community and 44% of the total grantees are women.
The beneficiaries were handed over their keys during the fourth handing-over ceremony held at the State House Conference Center.
“It brings me immense joy and honour to stand before you today as we celebrate this festive season. It is a time of giving, a time for spreading joy, and a time for new beginnings,” Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Melissa Poponne-Skerrit said while delivering remarks. “And today, I am honoured to share with you a significant accomplishment that embodies the true spirit of this holiday.”
She continued, “Today marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing communities through the Housing Recovery Project.”
According to the minister, the homes were built to safe and secure standards at no cost to hundreds of families across the country.
“This remarkable achievement is possible due to the policies of this government and its commitment to ensuring affordable housing for so many of our citizens,” Poponne-Skerrit stated.
Furthermore, she said under this initiative a total of US$40 million was allocated towards the construction of these homes.
She thanked the World Bank for its partnership and collaboration.
Poponne-Skerrit also used the opportunity to emphasize that this is a demonstration of their support and belief in Dominica’s development and its responsible and transparent financial management.
She went on to state that to this date the HRP has delivered a total of 176 homes since its inception.
“In addition, this year alone, the Government of Dominica has handed over 176 new homes under different initiatives,” Poponne-Skerrit revealed. “These 176 homes have been given a fresh start and a new chapter in their lives.”
She pointed out that the housing program goes beyond just affordable housing.
“It is part of a larger strategy to combat poverty and inequity in our society,” she noted. “It is a testament to our collective commitment to creating a more inclusive and just nation.”
Poponne-Skerrit continued, “It is about strengthening the fabric and neighbourhoods, and creating a sense of belonging.”
She added, “It is focused on creating a stable environment that fosters growth and prosperity and so we continue to diligently build on our revolutionary initiative, ensuring that every deserving family finds solace in a safe and comfortable shelter.”
She told those listening who are awaiting housing or land opportunities to not be discouraged.
“And if you don’t currently possess land and you are seeking to purchase property for development, I invite you to visit the Ministry of Housing where we can present you with state-owned land for your investment,” Poponne-Skerrit urged.
She said the Government of Dominica is well on its way to fulfilling its mandate of building 5000 resilient homes by 2030.
Meanwhile, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist and Task team leader from the World Bank, Suranga Kahandawa who delivered remarks remotely said he is delighted to see another batch of 73 homes to be handed over to their happy owners.
“Homes are the centerpiece of our lives, therefore investments to improve the resilience of the housing sector are very important,” he said.
He said also the Government of Dominica has taken many initiatives to strengthen the resilience of the housing sector as well as the broader resilience of the country.
He congratulated all the beneficiaries who received their keys today to their new resilient homes.
“And if you don’t currently possess land and you are seeking to purchase property for development, I invite you to visit the Ministry of Housing where we can present you with state-owned land for your investment,” Poponne-Skerrit urged.
I went to ministry of housing to enquire about available land to build my home, I was informed by a chubby bald headed guy who works there that all land is now in the hands of private ownership so I should try buying land from some private owner .
from what she’s saying, if I get farmland from the government I won’t own the land, I will just be able to lease it while I plant on it “we can present you with state-owned land for your investment,” Poponne-Skerrit urged.” STATE owned land for your investment. is this China? Are we under the socialist/Communist type of society where we own nothing? Is it true that squatting land for residential and agricultureal use is now illieagal because that’s what I was told by that guy at the ministry.
Meanwhile banks closing. I waiting for NBD to announce that they selling assets like one of their many locations. that will be the sign for me.
I’d rather have a house built for me on my own land/property. But what the labor government is doing is giving houses for votes. That’s illegal on its face. Then all these recipients will be given Red T-Shirts, Red headbands, and Red handkerchiefs to paint the country Red. The secret behind this is that, these people become very violent in nature as if an evil spirit takes over them. Before they are given keys to those house there’s maybe some coco maqure that is performed in every room of the house to possess these people. This isn’t a simple transition. The devil is in the details. Going going gone Dominica.
If these people are “owners” of these houses, could they put an additional to their homes if their family size increases in number? Or build an upstairs for better view? I guess not. So it’s not their dammm house. They are simply being fooled. Skeritt is their landlord and what he say goes. Keep your house eh Skeritt. I like my freedom in my little jupah.
Dumb and Dumber what a shame .
House isn’t yours if you don’t have a certificate of title for the land and documents for the house. In the 1970s a housing scheme was built in Jimmit by the government and people got their homes in spite of their party affiliation. These homes were not free but affordable and everyone has their title and they can sell their house if they wanted to.
These houses that Roosevelt is Reding and making a scene about are government’s property. So these occupants will soon begin to pay rent and upkeep and maintenance of the property when a new government is constitutionally installed by the patriots of the Commonwealth of Dominica. It’s not “sweet Dominica” right now but it will be sweet again for most. These giving away of free housing is nothing more than a manipulative fraud scheme to buy off the simple and lazy creatures.
Aright if you say so,,,
Dominica Suppose to be high class yeh soh Scan a copy and give us a copy of 5 and all you have to do is black out their personal information,,,
Or lets see your copy nuh,,,
“Starboy of Stupidity” created a dependent society, which you “Star-girl” and the rest of the Cabal, and your mouton batallie supporters and enablers have endorsed; woman go read your proverbs, you have elevated the status of poverty in Dominica, and brought us parallel with Haiti as the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere; nothing to be proud of or shout about dummy.
This housing project amounts to political grand standing by this plutocratic administration led by a pathetic imbecile.
No documents of ownership have been given to recipients. So these occupants remain dispossessed. The keys can be taken back at anytime. Because of this fact, the tenants remain fiercely loyal to Roosevelt and his anti-progressive party. In fact, they are indoctrinated to feel as though they are indentured servants to the plutocrats in the hierarchy of the Labour Party.
There will be always poor and indigent brothers and sisters among us. But when 90%+ of a country’s population is below the poverty line, that’s a monumental problem. This is incontrovertible proof that the country is badly mismanaged. Corruption is inevitably the primary culprit.
Just over twenty years ago, many more people had the wherewithal to build their own homes. Not now. Daft Roosevelt and his obtuse wife have created a society of lifetime mendicants.
They got keys but did allyou give them title to show ownership???
Do those people own those properties or is Government own and dey juss borrowing it until dey stop supporting DLP wait I mean Skerrit and Melisa,,,
Just like the Red Clinic Started den it was NEP now is Housing!!!
Allyou just have dem poor people begging to be fead every day instead of teaching dem how to feed themselves so they can be truly self-reliant!!!
Stop allyou foolishniss nuh!!!
yes rastaman those houses are their own. They show title of ownershilp
thats all u can do…bla bla bla bla…just talk…putting up Christmas light…is this creating jobs ?no wonder Dominica flag has a parrot
Melissa Poppone Skerrit,all the blue bugs are lining up to have their checked.And UWP expect to win an election in Dominica.A handful of lazy UWP supporters in the diaspora who,have never created a single job in Dominica,perched on a branch larglee what to control Dominica.That will NEVER happen.
On an individual basis I’m happy for the people who received the houses. On a national level however this makes me really sad. The government is creating a nation of dependents and beggars. Ideally a family should be able to fend for themselves and over time develop to the level where they can afford to buy their own home. If they cannot then there is a flaw either in themselves or the economy in which they live.
By giving people free houses government is sharing temporary happiness but robbing them and the country of true growth and development.
In an imaginary world, your logic would be reasonable. However, in a real world, the reality is that anywhere on this planet, there are and will be humans who can never afford a safe and comfortable shelter on their own and will always need help. This is the fundamental premise on which “social housing” is built as we see in France, US, Canada, etc.
Remember…this expanded Housing Revolution emerged after Hurricane Maria when more than 90% of the housing stock on island was damaged or destroyed. Not everyone had insurance and most who did, were under-insured. This caring and responsible Labour Government decided that to save future lives and to support families as they attempt to rebuild their lives, it is strategically important to help those in need. It is in this context that you should see this state investment: Save lives and help individuals to be independent and resilient.
Great in-depth analysis and explanation Putin. You could not have said it any better. Housing is provided everywhere in the world for the unaffordables. Imagine if Government had ignored their housing issues? They would have been out there complaining that the Skerrit Government does not care a hoot about people’s livelihoods. These UWP bums do not know what to say. They are just belching bubbles and need to be ignored. Here you are helping the poor and needy and they say Government is turning the country into a begging country. Ha ha ha.
That is a failed program that government walked away from…since August dat project close.
All of the houses identified did not get constructed.
Very low trurn around…..worthless contractors……some with no experience.
leaking concrete roofs cracks in walls and general poor construction…..de PIU did their own investigations and supervision.
contractors leaving projects unfinished and walking away with money…….owing workers too……even foreign contractors…..was anyone fired?
these pictures were selectively taken obviously.
what about de unfinished ones.
will you take some contractors to court for moving away from de contract that they sign
de beneficiaries know about their troubles.
I hear that you doing de program by yourself……especially for Goodhope residents relocation to Castle Bruce.
people been getting their keys right after de job complete so I don’t understand why you doing that big ceremony for fame!
“Very low trurn around…..worthless contractors……some with no experience.
leaking concrete roofs cracks in walls and general poor construction…” Are you saying that those same “local contractors” whom you have been promoting for “local jobs” are incompetent and do shoddy work?
Well said Putin. These are the same local contractors they complain about not given a share piece of the pie, that the Government gives foreign contractors all of its contracts and leave the local contractors with nothing to do.
dlp contractors
Get you fact before you write. He who knows not and does not know he knows not is a FOOL