Carib Territory receives housing assistance

Skerrit

Government says it has sold ten out of 41 houses built under the Housing Revolution Program for the Carib Territory and will put the profits into a special fund for the Kalinago people.

31 of the 41 houses have been meted out free of cost to families in the Carib Territory and the others have been sold to others in the area who can afford to buy, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced at a meeting of cabinet in Sinekou recently.

“We’ve agreed to sell 10 to people who have salaries and we sold it at $30,000 each and the balance of them we have given them to the beneficiaries: single mothers and the elderly at no cost,” he stated.

He said the $300,000 expected from the sale will be put into a special fund to be jointly managed by the Carib Council and Government to assist others in the Carib Territory to improve their homes.

Prime Minister Skerrit said the gesture will change the lives of many of Dominica’s indigenous people.

“The homes that we are putting them in here is a remarkable difference which will lift up the spirit of their children, lift up the spirit of the older people who will be benefiting from these houses,” he said.

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23 Comments

  1. Bvi cariblady
    April 4, 2012

    People please life is short let enjoy what we have and who is willing to help us. We have been neglected for a very long time .Right now we have a government which is helping us now God heard our cry ,we a getting help lets just work together and stop being swallow minded .thank god for your love and kindness you are blessing us with

  2. Anonymous
    March 29, 2012

    Please dont cry on the kalinagoes too much becuase poverty is all over the world. This does not mean that the kaliangoes are so poor as the rest of Dominica think, I believe that they can help themselves . All that is needed is proper planning and for them to be focus as a kalinago people.It is true that not all of them a fortunate to that of an improved living conditions. As compare to the rest of D/A. But they are special and needs to be treated to the evry best. I believe that they have many unversity grads like the rest of D/a who will one day return to take the bull by the horn.

  3. Deoborah
    March 28, 2011

    I have 20% Carib blood can I get a free house too?

    • KARIFUNA
      March 28, 2011

      U have to be living there boss. 20% is enough but they have to vote u in lol :lol:

  4. IN GREAT NEED
    March 28, 2011

    are the caribs more impotant than the rest of dominica?

    • under the radar
      March 28, 2011

      yes

    • hello
      March 29, 2011

      Dont miss the point.

  5. yes indeed
    March 28, 2011

    I can say that it is tremendous progress and some of the people receiving the houses have appreciated them.
    However , the government has no respect for the Kalinago council and do things on their own , the Kalingo council was responsible for dispersing the houses,,,but the PM once again did what he wanted, undermining the authority of the council. Treat the Kalinago people with respect MR.PM , not sure if anyone heard of all the ruckus that went on for those houses. More and more I dislike what they do….. if you had to hear the full story of how those houses came about you would be shocked. Disrespectful disrespectful disrespectful….Peace

    • Possie girl @ Polk
      March 28, 2011

      Once again, Dominican people………never satisfied. You guys are unbelievable! Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. WTF!!!!!!!

    • kalinago youth
      March 30, 2011

      I do agree that the PM have not respect the chief and the people. Yes house was build but if the PM had done what they had given him money life would have been better for twice the amount he is talking about now.

  6. KOKAY THERE
    March 27, 2011

    We shall not, we shall not be moved!!! God bless you Mr. PM.We love you, God has a special place for you.

  7. da
    March 27, 2011

    No one has asked how much these 10 people pay back monthly for these houses? looking at the area these people works most likely locally with small wages?

    • hello
      March 29, 2011

      what does that mean?

  8. D.L.P POTOE
    March 27, 2011

    GOOD MOVE. THATS TEN THATS IN BETTER HOME AND NOT JUST THE TEN. BECAUSE I’M SURE THEY HAVE KIDS.

    SO ITS A GOOD MOVE MY PM.

    GOD FOREVER BLESS U MR PRIME MINISTER.

    SOME OF THEM HATE TO HEAR US SAY GOD BLESS YOU.

    BUT IF THEY DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT THEY WILL SEE IT.

    GOD BLESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS YOU HON. PRIME MINISTER.

    WE PRAYING FOR YOU.

  9. La plaine New-jersey
    March 27, 2011

    God bless u my dear PM, go skerro go..

  10. malatete
    March 27, 2011

    Can some one, please enlighten me…seriously! If land is communally owned in the Kalinago territory by the Kalinago people how is it possible for Govt,,(….or anyone else) to sell property there?
    Also,why do some people have to pay for their house while others get it free?” Is there a selection process? And who decides, who gets what? What are the criteria? What happens when the recipients of a “free house” subsequently and miraculously find a steady income (which I hope they do)? Do they have to pay for their “gift” then? Do all of them get a valid and negotiable title regardless? Wouldn’t it be be better to create jobs rather than handouts? I am asking these questions without any political prejudice and hope someone can answer them in the same vain so that I may learn.

    • warma
      March 27, 2011

      your questions are valid and unfortunately I am not in a position to answer them. I will offer this theory though; I suspect the houses that are being sold are probably prefabricated units, therefore its just a matter of moving the units to the plot of land and assembling. I do not believe the government is selling property on Kalinago lands.

    • Hitman
      March 28, 2011

      This comment makes absolutely nosense. Those who can afford pay $30.000 for an $80.000 house, and single parents and the elderly get theirs free. What is so difficult about that to understand? If there is no reason to disagree and you don’t want to agree, just be quiet. Don’t comment and embarrass yourself.

  11. kalinagoQ
    March 27, 2011

    While the houses are great and the intention of the Government is very appericated. We must not forget the fact that it is better to teach a man how to fish than to give he a fish each day. There are some persons who are receicing houses that need to be thaught this valuable lesson are home will not improve nor uplift their way of life until the realise the value of life. To all who are able to help come together and assist our people to embrace opportunities, use their talents and the land available to make their lives better creating need job opporrtunities.

  12. Muslim_Always
    March 27, 2011

    Yes Mr. Skerrit help the underpriviledged people that is good. I want to suggest to Mr. Skerrit in addition to this, to have youth centres throughout the reserve for the youth to learn skills. A micro agro processing centre should be placed there to train the Kalingo people to use their raw resources such as fruits etc to make secondary goods so that they can sustain themselves.

    We need to inject into these areas meaningful projects so that the people can empower themselves.

    Not only should the agroprocessing centres should be placed in Kalingo reserve but this should be in many areas in the country so that we as a people can provide for ourselves and export to others. When we have meaningful projects then people can get jobs to feed their families. Many Dominicans would like to come home. They are living from hand to mouth. If a proper climate of agro processing and investment is created then we will see more improvement in our standard of living.

    • warma
      March 27, 2011

      I like your ideas…but you see those statements “Many Dominicans would like to come home. They are living from hand to mouth. If a proper climate of agro processing and investment is created then we will see more improvement in our standard of living”, you are so right on that it’s not funny. I personally am in the mid-stages of making plans on moving back home before i’m too old (am in my mid-40’s and want to make the move within 18 months) so that I can use my knowledge, education and experience to the benefit of my country as well as to create a more relaxed, less stressful life for myself….but your point is so true – I know so many people who would move back. People back home watch TV and see the “developed” lifestyle and they long for it, but that is a mirage. TV and reality are 2 different things.

    • Hitman
      March 28, 2011

      A very good contribtution. I am always of the view that if you give someone a house but not a means of sustaining themselves they will always be at your feet. Even so when it is time to repair these houses they will come to you. So it is great to give them when they can’t afford, but also required is to train them and provide employment for them while you are at bettering their lives.

  13. DESIE
    March 27, 2011

    :-? :-? :-? :-? :-? :-? :-? :-? :-? :-?
    Please tell me why some people Dominica against that
    Some people just like to see others stay without

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