The Kingshill community will now join the list of communities throughout the length and breadth of Dominica to benefit from the government’s Housing Revolution Sanitation Project, as 42 families in the area will be getting washrooms.
A contract was signed in Kingshill on Monday for the project valued at $462,000 for the construction of the washrooms. It will be funded by the Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI).
The washrooms will measure 6 feet by 7 feet and will be fitted with a toilet, face basin and a shower.
“Today we are here in Kingshill for the contract signing for some 42 washrooms which will be built there for the residents of Kingshill…,” Minister for Housing, Lands and Water Resource Management, Reginald Austrie said while addressing the contract signing. “$462,000 that will be spent here in Kingshill over the next couple months, this as a results from the proceeds of the Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Program.”
He said it is not the amount of money that the government is spending that is important, “but it’s the impact of the monies that we are spending on the lives of the people of this country.”
“I mean, how could you call a $1.6-million project which seeks to house 12 families who have been displaced since December who are living in scattered homes all over the place, who’re living in shelters and you tell me that is a little bit of money for an insignificant purpose,” Austrie argued. “I disagree. And how can you say to me that half a million dollars in a small community like Kingshill that seek to bring some relief, and you know already from the speakers before me and I am sure you will hear from Dr. (Kenneth) Darroux the significance and the importance of washrooms in any home, in any community and you tell me that is insignificant and is not worthy of mention.”
Austrie further stated that government can build roads, schools, airports, seaports, “but our social program under this government is one that has never been done in this country by any other government…”
He noted that this is the first government that has gone on a housing revolution, “not only to build houses for people and give them free of charge, but also to give them the land free of charge, and to repair their homes free of charge.”
“Never in the history of this country, no government has taken our social program to that level and to that height,” Austrie added.
He went on to say that because of the proceeds from the CBI Program, the government plans to eradicate all pit latrines in Dominica by the end of this year.
Austrie also mentioned some UWP constituencies that have benefited from funds raised under the CBI Program.
“In Marigot we spent over $90,000 [although the Parl Rep didn’t ask for it because he don’t like labour] he don’t want nothing the government have, but we still spend $90,000 in Marigot on the washroom programme,” he revealed. “In Wesley we spent $100,000 on washrooms … seats controlled by the opposition. In Woodford Hill, controlled by the opposition, we spent another $100,000 and right here in Kingshill a constituency which is controlled by the opposition, today we are spending half a million dollars in Kingshill.”
He pointed out that if the government can spend that kind of money in opposition constituencies, the program is not one that is predicated on colour, “red, green or blue”
“It’s about the people of Dominica, because we respect democracy,” Austrie stated. “You have a right to vote for who you want, when you want and how you want, but we as a government have a responsibility to look out for each and every Dominican, no matter what your religion is, no matter what your colour is, no matter what your race is, no matter what your culture is.”
Meanwhile, Housing Manager Hillarian Jules, who gave an overview of the project said he is sure that the 42 households identified, “not all 42 households had pit latrines.”
He explained that there are some people who built their houses only with a living and sleeping quarters.
“Very often we have the kitchen on the outside and no washroom, and sometimes we use the public conveniences,” Jules explained. “And so when we look at the number 42, I don’t want us to be alarmed to say that Kingshill has 42 pit latrines, no, there are some pit latrines but it is a number of other households who had no sanitary facilities within their houses.”
Jules noted that the households benefiting from these facilities will also be receiving a septic tank and soakaway.
“We note that in these communities there is very often no main sewerage system like we have in Roseau Central and no communal sewerage system where a number of houses are fitted onto one septic tank and soakaway, and so, therefore, many of these houses now receiving these washrooms will also be receiving a septic tank and soakaway in the ground to help to take care of the sewerage coming from the toilets,” he noted.
Jules told residents benefiting from this project that care must be taken of these facilities to avoid pollution and contamination of the environment.
“We employ the contractors to do your best to use the resources carefully, wisely to the benefit of the people of the community,” he said.
Jules stated that the cost of these washrooms range from $11,000 to $14,500, “because we know that Dominica is not a flat plain and so yes it is possible that in the construction of these washrooms we will find some easy, usable lands, and so contractors we believe that in the region about $11,000 we are able to build such washrooms.”
“But of course there are opportunities, there are occasions we are going to find that the land is a bit more sloping and a little more difficult to work out and we have estimated that about $14,500 will be able to give us these washrooms,” Jules added.
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You should be ashamed of you and your government. 2017 and people cannot put their own toilet what kind of poverty is this.
So CBI replace bananas and coconut, dasheen and mango ebeh weh look at how we come. I don’t mind the CBI program properly run and free of corrupt, greedy, sticky fingers but my God where is the agriculture? Is the rich soil we have we have water these men are not doing enough to develop the agriculture industry that’s DEAD in the dirt! Why can’t we have a more robust agriculture industry? No vision, no plan just a damn bunch of educated asses jumping on planes jetting around the globe begging corrupt people and falling prey to nefarious characters, and then so desperate we cannot say NO. So desperate because they KNOW that they have not done enough to help the economy. So you give some washrooms it have to make headline news…. ask Wesley and Marigot men how many big houses they built on bananas how many Toyota pick-ups they changed… now all you giving washrooms on CBI ! Fall from grace to disgrace hell with washrooms give people the option to earn and build houses…
I am not saying a toilet is not a good thing. but provide employment so that the people can build their own toilet. using physcology on people to their own detriment. Remember yo need to eat food to be able to use that toilet.
Regi I use to wonder what the hell our passports
Monies are used for but since mr linton spoke
Everything Dayclaway shame on u and your government
U speaking there as if these people are begging
Strategy? Psychology? Soon we will have a Ministry of S*** Houses
Every day now “CBI-funded” is the new catch phrase in every government project. Why you all trying to ram that down people throat so nuh ? And does this mean that CBI should be giving free reign ?
Austrie, there is a video recording of an interview circulating on Face Book of a Carib living in a broken down galvanize hut on the Renovation; when he was asked if he is satisfied with his life living in such squalor and dilapidated condition; he said yes. He was asked how long he has been supporting the Labor Party, and Skerrit, he said all his life!
The man is 55 years old, he lives in conditions that some people would not tolerate for a dog. In his galvanize pen, there is no electricity, he uses candles when someone gives them to him. His toilet is a covered pit-hole. Now it is claimed that eight ($825,000.00) hundred twenty-five thousand dollars was given to the Caribs to eliminate pit holes on the reservation. You all claim that seventy-five people will get this relive.
In that case each of the seventy-five will get eleven ($11,000.00) thousand dollars. So whereas this man does not have a house, if he is given eleven thousand dollars; will that amount be enough for this…
Continne:
So whereas this man does not have a house, if he is given eleven thousand dollars; will that amount be enough for this man to build a house with toilet facilities?
Guy, Dominica is exposed, the poverty, and backwardness existing in the country is exposed: Skerrit made the claim that he was going to transformed; take the country to a high level, which all islands in the Caribbean would use as a model to transform their country also. I suppose the mess that is exposed on the Internet, is indeed a good model for the world in general to see!
That man is 55 years old never held a paying job in the country, how could he ever own a house, has nothing to show for his years of living. When asks why he keep voting for Skerrit, we saw fear in his expression, hesitated and said he’s been coerced Labor Party operatives, and his sister to vote for Skerrit and he cannot refuse because they, gets angry with him. He said for four years they promised him house rice, sugar, and…
Finally:
He said for four long years they promised him house, rice, sugar, and flour, yet none was ever delivered. That is a shame, this man is not the only one these people has breath fear into coercing them into voting for Skerrit, they did it to an 83 years old woman I personally know! That is a horrible shame, you people have no conscience!
And anyone who do not believe that video does not exists, if you let me have your E-mail address I will forward it to you. I can be reached at [email protected]
Yes of course. Spend it. Is our money. You act like is a big favour you doing us.
To those of you laughing at the fact that this is a real issue, note that in some parts in Thailand, there are about 20 pit latrines used by some 2,000 people. Globally, about 11,450 schools still use pit latrines. Combined with a lack of water, disease among children is a serious concern. So imagine condemning the few hundred we have left (I’m subject to correction), that would be a major achievement. And by eradicating these latrines, the government puts measures in place to ensure the household receives a full set to include face basin, shower and potable water. This is a multifaceted real world problem and our government is being proactive in finding solutions. The right to water and sanitation are basic human rights, and I am happy to see the PM and his team working to achieve this for all Dominicans.
So, Williams are you suggesting that the status quo in Thailand, is the example we should follow?
That is the problem with most of you ignorant Dominicans. There millions of people in Thailand, where as there are less than seventy thousand people in Dominica, one would anticipate more poverty in Thailand than Dominica. And if People in Thailand are so poor why did the prime minister of rich Dominica went to Thailand and Singapore crawling on his belly……looking for handouts!
Oh s***….I did not know!
So instead of developing the economy and creating the right conditions so that people can develop their own selves and provide their own facilities, we are just selling our souls (citizenship) and giving people handouts? Aren’t we training our people to be dependent, beggars? What kind of development is that?
We are not progressing, we are going backwards. So short sighted and self serving. This is beyond shameful.
More wool pulling over Dominican eyes..bring it on!!..No more talk bout Petrocaribe..every thing is CBI now..Jokers!!
When will Dominicans be able to build their own toilets??? Them fellas quickly turning Dominica into a centrally run state..what madness is this?
It had to take the CBS report and widespread media questioning to bring out the CBI money. Where was it hiding all the time? Then, people saying Lennox did the country bad be accepting the interview with CBI
Well all you turning out projects papa with Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI) funds. Why all of a sudden funds are readily available? questions ministers, PM, Madam speaker and the rest of the cabinet?
It’s not toilet any more,it’s washroom now! But why are these labour party guys so fascinated by toilets like that? Is that the only thing these guys can do? Domnique it. Do something for the youth,creating jobs,do something man.
Perhaps you did not grow up using pit latrines or you still believe that every body in Dominica has a bathroom and flushing toilet. Why is it so difficult to support programs that brings benifits to the less fortunate. Is everything have to be tainted with political bias?
way to go austrie… CBI funds are being used widely over the last few months… are we marketing CBI within dominica these days? sould have been done ages ago.. but oh well.. good stuff
thats means XCD$110 for a 6×7 bathroom LOL first time i hear that. i must be fitted with gold trims and so on. Now presure come every mouth piece minister got something to say about a project.
no garcon, don’t you know these lavatories come with airco and an airblower to dry you bodo and when you lift the seat it plays “God save our toilet king” but not for too long because you must stand when they play that ode but seriously pal, don’t you think that the contractor must make a “voluntary”contribution to the party for getting the contract, after all.
While you giving free toilets the govt. in St. Lucia have cut their VAT tax from 15% to 12.5% to enable people to build their own toilet. What is your response to that mr. Genius Austrie??
Not even a fart I expect.
From Petro Carib to CBI woyyyyy so that had to happen for Dominica to start to see some of the CBI money.
Because of high unemployment on island,many families,cant take care of providing themselves with basic amenities..The hallmark of a FAILED DLP regime…Thanks to honourabe Linton for demanding and forcing this corrupt DLP government to spend our CBI money…We need accountability and transparency too.
462,000 to be spent on 42 families;
462000/42 = $10,043.48 per toilet/family
Well the cost of toilet going down. When austrie announced the 9 Million spent on 850 toilets it was EC 10,588.24 per toilet. Now its approximately $500 cheaper.
i am not a contractor or quantity surveyor but lets include the cost of plumbing and construction in some cases. do the numbers make sense now? i dont know i want someone to tell me. because i would not be surprised if they over estimate/ inflate prices.
…bulk discount?
All of a sudden the money flowing like a river? Now the pressure is on and all of a sudden cbi funding everything, toilets, carnival, nep, housing, road works, hospital, tout baggai!. Best all you name the country the Commonwealth of CBI, and put a passport in the mouth of the parrot that on the flag. Meanwhile production is on an all time low, unemployment is at a high, minimum wage is stagnant while cost of living continues to rise. Private sector employees are really government paid workers under the NEP program because the private sector cannot afford to employ. At some point the bottom ah go drop out. you heard? Carnival doesnt even feel like carnival this year. too much tension in the air.
Thank God for CBS and Lennox Linton. Without them this sudden largesse would not have happened. keep up the pressure.