The Government of the People’s Republic of China has made available a first tranche of funds for the construction of 41 houses in the Carib Territory.
Hon Housing Minister, Reginald Austrie, confirmed this during an interview with GIS News this week.
Just last year, Government announced that the PRC Government had offered to finance the construction of the houses for the island’s indigenous people. The Housing Minister said that the sites have already been identified and tenders sent out.
“The project has been approved and in fact, while we speak, we have received about half a million dollars for commencement of the project. The total value of the project is about $1.4-million. The sites have been identified but on some of the sites, there is a lot of infrastructural work to be done like in Gullet River, In St. Cyr and in Sineku, we have to do the roads and infrastructure at considerable costs. But, in areas like Mahaut River where we will be constructing four houses, at Salybia in Point we are going to be doing four, in Bataca we are doing five and in Concord we are going to be doing two. These sites are ready to go and so what we have done so far is sometime late last week, the tender documents were sent out and we are hoping that within the next two weeks, we will receive those tender documents,” he said.
Work on the houses is expected to begin before the end of the year. The Housing Minister said that this is an extension to the on-going housing revolution in the Carib Territory. He added that this a tangible demonstration of Government’s commitment to residents of the Carib Territory
“We believe that the Carib people should be singled out for special treatment and that is why the Government is doing all in its power to ensure that the Carib people are treated as a special people in Dominica; not only in terms of housing but in terms of health. You realise that we just opened a new health centre and while it was funded by a foreign entity, but the Government still made a contribution to that facility because we recognise the importance of that facility. In terms of education, in terms of health, in terms of housing, the Carib people continue to receive from this Government,” the minister stated.
Government will work with the Carib council to facilitate the allocation of the houses to residents.
“The plan we had for the forty-one Venezuelan houses, we had, based on the situation that existed at that time, so it all depends on when these houses are completed. It all depends on what the situation is at that particular point in time we will decide on the allocation of those houses. But, as usual, we are involving the Carib Council. We are involving the Parliamentary Representative. We are involving the Department of Carib Affairs. So any decision that is taken as far as development in the Carib Territory in concerned, particularly in housing, we have unanimous support and approval from the Carib people because we ensure that we are involving all the entities, all the stake holders in the Carib Territory,” he said.
reggie what happen to de housing revolution in portsmouth, so many unfinished, plastic and houses at the back of the hospital.they have been so for a few years now, but dem jack@$$es up there always saying LABAR.
Dominica is digging it’s own grave by accepting everything the Chinese throw at them.They are now ‘so called’ giving but what will they want in the future from us is Communisn (expansion back door style). I hope the tip of our noses is not the end of our sight because I dont want to see a massacre (like the one which happened in China a few years ago) done in DA on behalf of the Chinese by their lackeys in government.
china is acommunist country , if it walk like a duck quack like duck then it is a F=== duck iwas home a few years ago, they were all pregnant [chines] Rude to the locals, watch you like thieve it is very uncomfortable feeling when you walk in there store,Dominican watch your back they are up to take over. and once they do you will be reading the little red book .
Building homes for the people is not enough .Never have i heard Austrie say anything about a play ground for the kids. There is absolutely no foresight and this will create a problem for the future. This Housing project must be properly planned.Go back to the drawing board and discuss this with the Village council
Allu doh tired lie and fool people…..
Everytime allu open allu mouth is a lie….Just shut up nuh man…..
Thanks to this Labour Party Administration. They are the only government in the history of Dominica showing genuine interest in the development of the Kalinago People.
Thanks you once again.
YOU RIGHT BECAUSE EVERY FIVE YEARS HE WILL GIVE THEM RUM,OLD TOYS, INFERIOR CHINESE GOODS AND THAT IS GOOD…
KALINAGO PEOPLE TELL SKERRIT TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO GET JOBS SO YOU CAN EMPOWER YOURSELF, ENABLING YOU TO BUILD A HOUSE OF YOUR LIKING.
WHEN HE GIVE YOU THOSE WOODEN HOUSES YOU MUST GO BACK TO THEM FOR MENTAINENCE ASSISTANCE.
PATRICK JOHN GIVE THE PEOPLE OF BATH ESTATE AND CANEFIELD CONCRETE HOUSES
well well well dominicans need to take a trip to bellvue rawle to see what the chinese built there. if they are going to build these houses then the kalinago are in for it
go an see the crap at bellvue rawle … imagine a year after see what happen to the first house
and i hope we realise that because we are talking about chinese employment in dominica and dominicans not getting work the chinese are giving this and that here and there
but then again skerrit go and sign mou so now we paying the price.
REST ASSURED THAT THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH!!!
They built houses in Carib territory, people living in dem already and up to this present time,there’s yet to have an official handing over ceremony, compare to other communities. They did that under the table. The Parl Rep. Doh even know what happenning in the territory. They by passing him in all functions they have
while the minister is at it can he get the chinese to drop a container of chiny shoes in the territory as well. It is my observation that a lot more Caribs are walking without shoes again.. especially the labour supporters… after all the symbol is the shoe… check it out mr minister.. the observation is true… there is no money in the territory… there were no cruise ship and no more fig… so before the houses come again to stay and poowee bring some shoes… before the next election the ration will come… mark my words…..all shall eat
Chinese road, chinese bridge and chinese house! We doing good. I even hear the chiny man say they going to put two lions on the bridge to make sure people know is a chiny bridge. By the way, how did government acquire land in kalinago territory to construct 41 houses? I thought the land could not be owned or acquired but just occupied. Correct me if I am wrong.
What’s wrong with our country? Why do we keep accepting aid from China?? Doesn’t he realize that China will eventually ask for something in return for all this aid? Obviously the PM doesn’t know China the way I do. But CHINA IS NOT A FRIENDLY COUNTRY!!!! They don’t even allow their people to leave! You think all the Chineese presence is because they came voluntarily? I’d rather we get Aid from Thailand or Venezuela!
Great news for housing and people development!!
What’s the plan for creating jobs in that community? what’s the plan for all these acres of un-used and unassigned land? The Carib Territory used to be known for successful passionfruit cultivation in the 90s…what up with that these days?
I thought we were no longer using the term “Carib”. Secondly, it is ironic that China is going to help the indigenous people of Dominica when they terrible record concerning the treatment of their indigenous people. They have illegally occupied Tibet and have treated its inhabitants as second class citizens in their own country. LOOK OUT DOMINICA!!!
ADMIN: The official name of the place Carib Territory must remain until there is an official name change. However the people themselves can be called “Kalinago.”
Thanks ADMIN. Very good for education.
Will DOMINICA ever belong to Dominicans any more every time I turn around China and chinese are doing this or that in the place where are we moving or going too I am afraid that the GOVT is depening to much on outside help to develope the Island. The people are not been notivated in creating avenues that can help develpoe because those at higher level believe the only way to go is by hand out sometime it leaves me to wonder does any one care do they really have the people at heart my response is NO.
We need jobs so we can work and support our families that’s what makes a man and on that project how many Dominicans will be employed by the Chinese.
more houses for the labour supporters to use as guest house. sleep in one, have breakfast in one, have lunch in another..wayyy to go minister
Mr Austrie, that’s very good. But what about your contituency. You were a Parl. Rep before a Minister. Could you PLEASE give us some attention. It feels like you are punishing us for something we know not about.
Charmer,good for u.When u have a man like Austrie in government what do u expect?U all in that part of the island too blind!
But dont forget that the Kalinago ancestors came across the Bering Straits from northern China and entered the Americas and later came to Dominica.
So if the Chinese giving the Kalinagio houses, they are just helping their long lost brothers!!!
Dominica is selling its soul to the Chinese.
Remember if the chinese are doing so much for Dominica and all we are saying is thanks they will want to leave their mark. There is a china town in almost every state in the United States. Now they are spreading like fire in the Caribbean. When the chinese come they do not go back and they become properous and we are here and can’t get rich.
Because it’s their government who is financing them,they are working for the communist state of China.Their population is so large that their government has to export them
Hmmm no one is asking why the Chinese spending sooo much in Dominica? I hope our bottom will not burn us later eh, hahhh boy.
And why is this? Is the Carib Territory going to be used as collateral?
This country doesn’t seem to be aware that loans come with strings.
The first sentence of the last paragraph is some what ambiguous .
This a another job well done by the minister but i think that other societies in dominica has people that is in much need as the caribs/ kallinagoo people and on that note i think the caribs should get equall treatmnet as any other Dominican.
Also Minister , the allocational of these houses should be done through the social/welfare departmnet ,with consultaion of the carib council. It should note be done by who support labour/ UWP.