We are collectively experiencing more and more natural disasters compared to decades before the 90s. 217 million people are affected by flash floods, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, heat waves, and drought year in, year out. More often than not the poor and the marginalized suffer most from the wake of natural destruction.
Dominica, much like any other island countries, exposed to the wrath of wind and water, is just as susceptible to gale-force winds and heavy rains as any of its neighbouring countries. Even developed countries are not spared from damage and destruction caused by mother earth; notwithstanding that it is during these months of June to November that the nature isle experiences the most hurricanes.
It was only last Sunday, 28th of July, when Dominica experienced rainfall equivalent to a month’s worth of precipitation. Events in open-air venues were cancelled, plans postponed, and most locals decided to stay home to weather the storm.
Some of those that decided to stay home were the 166 families that were moved-in to the brand new climate-resilient homes in MMCE’s flagship project in Bellevue Chopin.
One of them, Mary Fontaine, originally from Petite Savanne, who lost her home to Tropical Storm Erika, was moved-in last December 2018.
“I’m so very thankful we were given this new home for my family and myself. Although there’s no place like home, like that one destroyed by Maria, I am more than happy to know that my family will be safe should we experience another Erika or another Maria.”
Mary continues, “It is the first time I experienced that kind of rain since we moved in… there was no flooding inside my home. Not a single drop of rain. What amazes me is that as soon as the rain stopped, the water in the streets just vanished, as if it never rained. Everyone in my family remained dry.” she ended.
Another happy resident is Richie Baron currently living with his 83 year old mother Justine, both were victims of Hurricane Maria. They were residing in Fond St. Jean when the hurricane destroyed their home.
“I carried my mother on my back to get to safety after our area was destroyed. Landslide everywhere, trees uprooted, roofs flying over our heads, our own roof was blown away. We should all be prepared specially that it is now hurricane season.
“It’s such a big relief that our house is very sturdy and climate-proof, you know? I always get scared… trauma… when it rains a little bit too hard and the wind starts picking up.” He continues. “now that I am here, I am not afraid that my roof will be blown away and our home will tear up, even the rain was consistently pouring hard last Sunday,” Richie ended.
“I am very much happy, I feel I am in paradise, it is a lot safer here.” adds Richie’s mother, Justine.
The same sentiments can be heard from the different residents of Bellevue Chopin where everything was built with safety and climate-resilience in mind.
Housing Revolution Dominica emerged as the Government’s prime response to the catastrophic events experienced by the Dominicans. This means that building houses that were hurricane-resilient does not stop until everyone in the country feels safe and secure in their own homes during adverse weather.
In accordance to this, the Government launched its new housing projects and on September 2018, it signed a contract with Montreal Management Consultants Est. Ltd. for the building of other hurricane-resilient housing communities.
Listen, Montreal Management might actually be able to help some of us get off this sinking ship. I saw their website and now I’m convinced. I need a second citizenship. Sign me up.
Let’s be clear. The area that got flooded was the Bellevue Valley. This particular area is like a swamp, even back in the days grapefruit trees were not planted there because of how waterlogged it was. Now they built the houses there with no proper drainage system. People lives are at stake here. Damage control ki sa.. This lady doesn’t live in that particular area. Dno next time very the information before it is published ok..
I would really like to know where all the run off water from the roof of these new settlements going ein , is it Pichelin or down Fond Baron.
I really dow want to hear of no disaster nah . because I awready know dem kine of institution not getting sued.
dey jus asking for Skerrit to go, but when he goes who going to be held accountable and how we going to get our monies back ?
when de man disappear, that’s it wee. Choo zor pwan pan .
Put up your hand ✋ if you believe MMCE is giving us these buildings for free, out of the goodnes of their 💕. Lemme see those hands.
The pictures show how different life in the Bellevue Chopin housing estate is to life as it was lived in Petite Savanne. I am not saying that re-housing was not necessary but it could have been housing more sensitive to the villager’s lifestyle.
Clothes lines are strong between fall pipes and yard space is limited to flower beds. I doubt that animals are allowed.
This is in response to the pictures which showed flaws in the set up at Bellevue. this is the damage control they are trying to insert. Fine no problem. But i have been to that settlement and i have seen many infractions. I saw steps made with concrete poured on bare soil. Ive seen a lack of irrigation to allow for the free and SAFE flow of run off water. Ive seen no widewalks for pedestrians (like children and elderly people. From the pictures i saw gathering of water aaround the base of buildings, i saw water in the walls making bubbles in the paint, ive seen. Granted those two people made it out ok after the little water we got last week. But lets see how things turn out. Last week a lady was complaining about her toilet always flooding. the plumbing not so hot. I say sing for all you supper eh. Is that they train all you to do these days. Sing loud.
Are you saying that the workmanship is faulty, that there are mistakes made ? That if you were the builder you would do a perfect job? Well not everyone is perfect like you.
While the observation you made and posted is a good thing it does not make the project a bad thing. In no way can providing homes for people be bad. . The effort deserve bragging rights and should not be characterize as ” singing for supper.” I have seen homes built, expensive homes, but when finished were uninhabitable .
….., because the houses are free, does it not matter that they are built to standard and up to code? who is inspecting these homes? You cant have bragging rights about something that will be unsafe and dilapidated in a few years. JJ your comment is RUBBISH!
There is a foolish notion that somebody is building resilient houses in Dominica. They believe that nonsense that Dominica will be the first resilient country in the world. However no one has revel what science they using to make Dominica into a resilient country.
I live in the United States of America, which is the richest nation on the planet. Right this day floods and tornadoes “gale force winds” are destroying homes roads and what have you; people are loosing billions.
In Florida, Texas Louisiana and elsewhere hurricanes come along every year doing damage.
If there was some form of scientific technology in building a resilient house, or street capable of bending and returning to it original shape without damage, I suspect in America we would be building resilient roads bridges, houses too.
Nevertheless; only in Dominica this resilient scientific technology seems to exists!
When the Santa Anna Winds blow in California they are as strong as hurricanes, turning over trucks;…
So, let me try and finish this:The terminology ” resilience and resiliency” simply means something which have the ability to bend, and return to its original shape without damage.
So, I wish Roosevelt and his scientists and his minister of resilience, to tell us what type of structures are they building that can withstand the elements; wind, fire, water, in addition to earthquakes, and termites.
As I was saying when the Santa Anna Winds are blowing in California in certain areas the wind topples over eighteen wheeler trucks; are the manufactures of automobiles supposed to build resilience automobiles too; in order to suit Dominica?
Oh yes we have the reputation of having the youngest PM in the World. Recently we elected the youngest Kalinago Chief (age 22). A far cry of how the indigenous people of the western world are treated.
In the budget address this week the PM outlined the first stage of having electric vehicles to replace gas burning ones. It is going to be electric, great idea.
So we can be first in spite of the cynicism of the Malvolios of this world who with their small minded attributes think that we are too small, too poor and too backwards to succeed, to be first. The dice is cast and we are moving on and gaining momentum. There is no stopping us. So if some negative people do not get onboard they will be left behind.
The quick recovery from Maria should us that we are competent, we are able . Maria also should us that the climate resilient/environment protection/nature island policy is the right policy to follow. We will be the model, the paradigm for the whole world to follow.
joseph john; with people like, this island will continue to be a slave plantation of ignorance! An island with no proper infrastructure where a plane can hardly land and cruise ship can hardly berth, you’re writing pit latrine material of an island the world will follow!
An island where its people want to run away from a bunch of rogues! 
Well its a policy of the government to be a climate resilient country , the first in the world. No one else in the world came up with the idea, not the G7 or the G 20. Not the Paris Conference on Climate Change. We are the first in the whole wide world.
Its at the theory or the formulative stage and it is usual for obstructionists to make fun just like fun was made in the 1400’s when some advocated that the world was round as a sphere and that ships would fall off the edge and disappear. Or the early Christians were jailed and killed when advocates claimed that Jesus is God.
When you are first people will laugh but that the challenge to be overcomed . Dominica has been first before…first in the Caribbean with the Credit Union, Number one in the world in lime production. No. one in the co-operative bank by JB Charles. first in Caplypso ( patois songs) in the Caribbean with a the National Bank. Oh we had the reputation of having the best botanical gardens in the world.
Yeah, Skerrit came up with it in his dreams and now he is selling it to labour supporters and they of course are ready to buy. Perhaps someone could tell me how he intends to finance his pie in the sky. Nobody? Oh well, there we go…
Just a note to you. The USA is not the richest nation on the planet. Luxembourg is the leading richest country in the world.
Norway. Iceland. Ireland all these country is richer that the USA.
Just a note to you!
You are right. The USA 1% money controllers are the richest people in the world but because of wealth distribution the USA is not the richest. The per capita measurement is based on percentage not actual counts to inflate the position o the USA.
The USA is also NOT the most joyful place on the planet. The most joyful places are Denmark, Singapore and Costa Rica.
You’ve been on google again, haven’t you? You are one sad individual…
Don’t forget Dubai/Saudi Arabia
It is good to see my people in these houses , I hope they have titles for the houses like we in Bath Estate , River Estate and Stock Farm do. It would even make me happier to know that they have all found employment in the many industries , Hotels and Farms, that Skerro Family party has developed all over Dominica in the past 20 years. Labour Ka Travie Pour core yow!
This is so one sided, it makes a mockery of unbiased writing ..
Way Papa!
you mean dotish people nearly die on sunday but they here doing damage control for skerrit who was safe in the big house? retarded or what?
They were not the ones who almost died..
DNO I am gonna ask you again. Are you a political news portal? On Sunday I saw videos of the water in the Belle View housing project. I wasn’t crying so the water I saw wasn’t coming from my eye. If you are giving us testimonies of residents why didn’t you find the person who took the videos and let us hear from that person. If you want to show true credibility let us hear from both sides. Surely the videos of the flooded areas were not doctored. What is your skin in the game? According to you there are 166 families in the housing project. Two of the 166 gave testimonies. Did they approach you or did you seek them? What percentage of 166 is two? Please so not allow politics to drag your credibility into the gutter. There was life before labor. There is life with labor. There will be life after labor. In fact there will be much more stories to during forth when lab or is out of office. When there hidden deeds begin to surface yhere will not be enough space in your paper to expose…
If you took the time to look at the piece, you would notice that it was under “Business Byte” and authored by Montreal Management Consultant. So pause … breathe. Politics will be the death of you and many others.
@ Gouvelma….., Instead of making all those fake accusation why don’t you go and make your eyes boil your peas . Take pictures and have interviews with the residence of those brand new climate resilience homes.
When you try to disparage the homes by the Housing Revolution ask yourself this….in which country does the government provide homes free of charge for its citizens. Do you know what’s it like to be living under a freeway with no amenities, do you know what it is to be living in a one bedroom ‘kie pie’ with a family of more than five with no water, no lights and no toilet ?
Do you know what its like to face a 20-30 year mortgage and after 10 years you are evicted because you miss one or three payments. You go from a comfortable home to being homeless.
you are drinking from the same cup as the uwp group who have no idea what empathy is because they have none. Someone once said sheltering the homeless is good because you will be blessed with a home yourself.
In the case of the people of the Petite Savanne Constituency, they deserve to be rescued and provided with houses, especially when they have been relocated by the government and the money comes from the sale of their patrimony! If they can provide free houses to the people, can you imagine how much they are pocketing
“The same sentiments can be heard from the different residents of Bellevue Chopin where everything was built with safety and climate-resilience in mind”.
@Gouvelma, you ask: What percentage of 166 is two?
That question of yours sounds like you did not understand that passage above, from DNO. It means that there are more than 2 people with testimonies as such. Did you expect DNO to write down all the testimonies that they received?
And how can we have rain without water, that kind of rain was all the way in Toronto, where I live, and in other nearby cities or areas, it continued right through Monday.
How foolish of you to compare the tears from your eyes with the falling water of rain, just in case you thought you were being smart–that is not so at all, eh!
Elizabeth, you are arguing, but fail to give the answer of “what is 2% of 166.You said at age twelve you taught school, so should know that (166 X 2/100 = 3.320 or 3.3 is two percent of a hundred sixty-six!
Remember I never go to school in me whole life eh!
(166 X 2/100 = 3.320 or 3.3 is two percent of a hundred sixty-six!
Telemaque Many times you are the one who needs to “shut up”!
My response to “Gouvelma”, was to show him/her that the News Article was not speaking about no 2% of 166, that person used the 2 testimonies to arrive at that foolish conclusion–of course I do not expect you to notice that, because you never understand the message that is placed before you.
What I pointed out was that people of, or among the 166 number was interviewed and the testimony of 2 people, were chosen for print out. If you had read what I wrote with good comprehension, you would not expose yourself with that stupid post.
You are right: “You never attended school in your whole life”–it is a confirmation from you, for no one believes you had any kind of schooling. I most certainly don’t!
Or else why don’t you ever understand what is written before you? You need understanding to learn at a schooling faculty
You do not know anything about mathematics, that is why you could not tell the person what is 2% of 166.
So, I’ll show you another way which is simply multiplying (166 X 2)= 332.000; hence you move the decimal point two places to the left where you should arrive at 3.32 or actually 3.3%.
You are the one who do not understand what you read oui!
I have noticed recently that things with DNO have changed and for that reason I do not log on so often let alone comment. The majority of my comments and not published anymore or are being published several days after they were posted. Hence I don’t bother anymore. Presumably DNO also received a pre election envelope from the Skerrit and Gucci party.
ADMIN: Thank you for your honest feedback.
Comments are generally approved within 24 hours though that depends on (among other factors) the volume of comments that we receive – which is much higher during political season.
We will continue to change in an effort to improve, what will not change is our value of being independent and reporting news from all sides. If what you want is more in-depth critical pieces, those are articles we so as well they just take a bit more time to develop.
DNO. I have notice the improvement. Being independent ( without bias) is the way to go. This will improve your credibility and your ratings.
I am now receiving less… ” duplicate, you have already said this, and your comment is under consideration”
For some people you are the only news source on D/a available . So keep on improving. That means no more photoshopings.
ADMIN: Thank you. Your comment made us laugh. We believe we know what you are referring to, but we have never photo shopped anything.
DNO , he saw water. That is what happens when it rains. The rain can be 200 or more inches per year in Dominica so you WILL see rain. DNO can you write something about relief rainfall and conventional rainfall. Difference between floods, heavy showers and drizzle, o yes rain shadow area and water catchment.
And uwp posters want me to support their nonesencecal bombastic verbosity with all their duplicity. No way. I was born in the night but not last night and I have more than a 5th grade education.
Obviously, PR piece by Montreal Management to control the bad press from the lack of proper drainage in the new settlement area
What all this is supposed to mean,why does any government expect praise for doing their duties with the resources of the State being entrusted to them by the people
Whenever there are disasters of any kind and some of the people are unable to rebuild for themselves, it’s the duty of the State to assist! On another note; the people have already started making the place look like a junk/dump by having all kinds of plastic containers and tires with plants in a disorganized way! The state of mind of these people is something else!!!
Ammm hmm damage control. However the area that was not flooded is not the same as where these people live .. let’s try to remedy the situation because that particular area is the run off for all watert in the area.. we are greatful for the houses but it doesn’t mean we have to overlook the flaws..
that damage control ting you trying is lame and senseless since we live right here on island…..de flooding didn’t take place on Mars.
this is the view of 1 single resident of the area.
no live photos of the not 1 drop ……and water disappearing into nowhere?????
whereas we have live videos of the flooding madam!
in terms of new development …….as a model……look at the drainage.
by de way de photoshop pics they showing on other news media outlets show de area like a secluded high end housing development
FAKE FAKE FAKE!!!!!!!
As the developers, Montreal Management Consultants sponsored, this “BUSINESS BYTE”, it would be helpful if they could have stated the cause of the flooding and what appeared to be water seeping through house walls. The amount of rainfall was nothing unusual for Dominica.
What is this supposed to be? Damage control? Look lady, the whole world saw the videos ok, flooding, water seeping in through walls, plumbing going crazy. Maybe you were not affected and you are happy in your home, good for you, but others were not so lucky. Don’t you think you are being just a tiny bit selfish by making a public declaration that the houses are safe. You don’t know that as fact. We need building professionals to asses the damages before we can deem these buildings as safe enough to remain during a tropical storm. MMCE, this may be a “third world country” but we are not stupid. If you are building homes for our people, build them properly.
Wow, Where are your building professionals? even yourself just know how to complain. The video you saw were exaggerated for your info. I myself saw Bellevue last Monday when I visited my aunt to check her. That flood you are talking are just a minor flood on the road which filled with rubbish.
Morris you are a wicked soul. While you in your warm nice house you come here to say the video was exaggerated? In what way? Shameless! for your information the whole world saw so you coming here with that rubbish talk is useless. ‘Where is your video? Soon you will run out of excuses, dont hurt your head.
I did not know that DNO was in the business of damage control.
DNO thanks for this eye witness report.
We are on our way to making the housing revolution a reality by building modern houses/homes.
Hope the agricultural revolution is on the horizon to back up the tourism (hotel) revolution that has already started.
1 voice is not enuff to bluff
@wow How can she not know that as fact when she mentioned her house as an example?
Here is what DNO wrote: “The same sentiments can be heard from the different residents of Bellevue Chopin where everything was built with safety and climate-resilience in mind”
So who knows the facts? You or the people with the “testimony”? Perhaps you do not know what testimony means, or else you would not deny what was spoken.
You people need to stop with the “he said, she said, they said”. Learn to speak from your personal experience. That is what the people with those houses did.
ADMIN: Point of clarification: the author is Montreal Management Consultants.
Thank you DNO, for pointing that out. Next time I will be sure to pay attention to that fact.
“Did you expect DNO to write down all the testimonies that they received?” Elizabeth Xavier
This one, in my comment above sound like that same mistake, I acknowledge it.
Did you see any flooding in the people’s homes? It is interesting to see how we pay attention to the things we want to see and not to the facts.
Yes bakes, while you were roasting and frying we saw water leaking from walls We also saw the people re traumatized again wicked souls
Bearing in mind that all the people that got those houses free of charge are either seasoned Skerrit supporters or those that have pledged votes to him, it is safe to assume that they are singing for more handouts now.
Wonderful to hear that.Very happy for you all.
You know what they say…..the proof of the puddin is in the eating. This is a great testimony to show that our housing technology has improved and we are fully aware of climate resiliency as the first in the world.
This is a great step in our commitment to shelter the homeless.
Come down during hurricane season ans see for yourself. Dont take the word of people singing for their supper and accepting mediocre gifts.