Gov’t to buy 1,000 petrocasas from Venezuela

Petrocasas at Center in Grand Bay for the relocation of residents of Dubique. Photo Credit: GIS
Petrocasas at Center in Grand Bay for the relocation of residents of Dubique. Photo Credit: GIS

In light of the “economic challenges” face by Venezuela, the government of Dominica will soon sign a contract with that country to purchase 1,000 petrocasas which will be distributed throughout the island.

Speaking at the official signing ceremony for the building of houses for the relocation of the residents of Petite Savanne on Thursday, Housing Minister, Reginal Austrie, said the matter is based on principle since Venezuela is a true friend facing economic and social challenges.

“As we all know they are facing their own their own economic and social challenges, and as a true friend would do in spite of difficulty, they would look to see where they can assist you,” he stated.

He pointed out that the government of Venezuela has been very focused in assisting Dominica, especially after the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

“The Venezuelan government has been very very focused in their assistance to Dominica not only on this occasion but in many other circumstances,” he said. “That is why the government, based on principle, has taken a decision, the government has taken a deliberate position to purchase 1,000 petrocasas from Venezuela for distribution across the country.”

Austrie noted that although the purchase is a “small token” by Venezuelan standards, it demonstrates government’s understanding and its attempt to assist in the reconstruction of the South American country’s economy.

“Venezuela doesn’t need our handouts, what Venezuela needs is to open up in terms of trade that they can earn the necessary foreign exchange and they can meet their requirements,” he stated.

He remarked that discussions on the matter are in the final stages and the contract will be signed soon.

“Very shortly we will be signing a contract with Venezuela for 1,000 petrocasas, slightly modified designs, from what they have given to us, to continue and compliment the housing revolution as started by this government maybe some ten years ago,” Austrie said.

Following the passage of the Erika is late August last year, Venezuela donated 300 petrocasas to Dominica.

Over the past three years, Venezuela has been on the throes of economic problems but it has now become a full-blown crisis.

Hit by a 10-year low in oil prices, the country is lacking in everything from bread, to flour, to toilet paper and other basic items. Looting has become common. The healthcare system is in a state of extreme turmoil with infants dying at an alarming rate. Essential drugs are hard to find and hospitals and doctors are reporting that they have no gloves, water or soap to perform basic procedures.

A model of a petrocasa
A model of a petrocasa

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24 Comments

  1. Face the Facts
    June 19, 2016

    It is feasible, now that Venezuela is experiencing additional difficulty, to help a friend. At this point Venezuela is unable to deliver as it promised.
    It is fitting that the PM will purchase some of the petrocasas from Venezuela. Some nationals are patiently waiting for them to be set up for their new home. In addition, it is a helping hand to Venezuela since in better times the government has been generous to Dominica.
    When the PM does a kind deed as this, keep in mind, it is on behalf of nationals. Do you not see yourselves as generous people? I hope so. :)

  2. Anti-corruption 1
    June 19, 2016

    I hope the casas will not be solely for election campaigning or to be handed solely to Labour supporters. It is high time we stop the practice of using PUBLIC funds to support only one group on the island. DA and the public purse belongs to all of us, whether UWP, Labour or Freedom. It is high time we hold this gov’t accountable as what is going on in the past few years in terms of distribution of public property and funds is outrageous.

  3. Petra Casara Darroux
    June 18, 2016

    me myself do want no petroline casa… i want a house like the one i had in Petite Savanne. Let’s say like the ones Reggie Austrie have in Toucarie and Morne-A-Louis. Well i cannot afford the one that Roosevelt Skerrit in La Paille, Vieille Case so i will go for the one the pitbull have…. :lol: :lol: :lol:

  4. June 17, 2016

    A friend in need is a friend indeed. No good Deed goes for free. comrade! can you spare a dime. seriously.

  5. Doc. Love
    June 17, 2016

    Before Regie makes a statement, he must think about what he wants to say, but a again when a Rottweiler is about to attack it does not think. When he talks about hand out, if he is referring to Mr. Linton, he didn’t understand him. If your friend has a financial problem and you try to assist him, that isn’t giving him a handout. In any case, with Venezuela’s situation, everything especially cash helps. I don’t think they would consider $1 million a hand out. If the Skeritt led Administration had cared about Venezuela, why didn’t the Government take the same million dollars and purchase agriculture produce from the Dominican farmers and ship it to Venezuela, but instead they decided to take Mr. Linton’s suggestion and turn it around and instead of cash or food, they have decided to purchase houses. You noticed he has not mentioned anything about the 250 houses balance, Venezuela promised us approximately nine months ago. Therefore, are we going to get 1250…

  6. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    June 17, 2016

    Dear Mr. Mountain Chicken Carpaud (Crapo) Mentality Sly Eye Indian doctor of nothing Roosevelt M. Skerrit!”

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

    Me almost cousin, where are you going to get the money from to the brook Venezuelans for their property? You beg Venezuela so much, they empty their treasury to keep you in power, all the petroleum products you trust (credit) from Venezuela and never pay for one pint; help bankrupt their economy, now you are talking about buying house from them.

    Tell me Mr. Crapo where are you going to this money from. And by the way, try to get some verity in the architecture, those looks like boxes, let there some variable, don’t let all the structures look the same; unless you are going to hide in that community where your house will not be easily identified

  7. LifeandDeath
    June 17, 2016

    Two things..
    1.) Note how Reggie now admits what the Venezuelan ambassador denied a few weeks ago which is that Venezuela is in economic and social crisis…Mind Games!!
    2.) Notice how ironic it is that Reggie also says that the Venezuelan people don’t need our handouts but they got to that very position by the same handout mentality..and even more Ironic that’s the same mentality employed by this current labour party administration to secure votes and maintain Power..Good Luck to Dominicans with such dunce Leaders.. can’t see and plan even two years down the line..Dominica will reach nowhere with such uninspired men at the helm..they struggle to be convincing and prey only on the poor and indigent

  8. Not a herd follower
    June 17, 2016

    I thought we were getting the houses as a gift. That’s what we were told a few weeks after the passage of Tropical Storm Erika in August 2015.

  9. Moi
    June 17, 2016

    eh beh look it. i thought the ambassador said that things a fine in Venezuela. boy all dem socialists jokers will fall one by one.

  10. my own
    June 17, 2016

    WELCOME to ghetto Island……good thing Murray block close, he won’t cry how business dread…..block makers will feel the pinch…. but the people with the concrete trucking companies will make MILLIONS….. for those who know, knows where I am going with that.
    Again…continue fooling us fools.

  11. Dominican
    June 17, 2016

    Mi casa, su casa, casa blanca, cassa ropa, casa shop, casa puttana, casa de mierda. Which casa? personally I prefer the casa de la cerveza. Can you arrange that Reggie? I’ll vote for you and even wear a red shirt.

  12. %
    June 17, 2016

    Mr Venezuelan ambassador, I hope you will soon admit that things are indeed very bad in Venezuela. I will take a few supplies to you,,but I would like you to bury your shame and accept it.

  13. Latino
    June 17, 2016

    My Venezuelan friend just told me that petro-casa is made from plastic, gets very hot in sunlight and burns quickly if ignited, that’s why Venezuela stopped making those likle huts nuh!
    good enuff for DA wi, lets put the red clinic in such houses wi! LOL

  14. leah
    June 17, 2016

    Dominicans have a problem with EVERYTHING!!!! awa wi

  15. Favoured
    June 17, 2016

    Wah mouth open torie jump out. Reggie now admitting that things are bad in Venezuela , ambassador Sir, with all due respect I expect you to give Austrie a public tongue lashing as you did in the case of Mr. Linton. And Reggie please tell us when are going to have more pity on the suffering people of Venezuela their Petri Caribe money we owe them. Ah Austrie you do not have a heart and a conscience please pay the people their money instead of having it in Dominica playing politics.

  16. June 17, 2016

    I just hope that the terms are cash on delivery.

  17. Real!!!!!
    June 17, 2016

    Why did not the GOVT find out what agricultural products they needed and pay the farmers of Dominica for the products and send it to Venezuela.

    This would be win-win situation for both Venezuela and the farmers of DA….then this money move around in the weak Dominica economy.

    SMH…

  18. June 17, 2016

    mixtures and more contradictions in the way you all present your stories ; this just leaves the masses confused as to how to lock those open doors that lead to you all inabilities . every thing is contracted and signed yet the people pay day after day with their lives and way of living . then this is how they pay for their contracts they signs . with our people’s lives?
    . change it dominicans change it .

    • AAGabriel
      June 17, 2016

      They (the government of DA) are just as confused as the masses. There is just a few clear thinking people left.

  19. Unknown
    June 17, 2016

    “As we all know they are facing their own their own economic and social challenges, and as a true friend would do in spite of difficulty, they would look to see where they can assist you,” he stated.

    Wasn’t Linton chastised for voicing the same sentiment? Where is the Venezuelan ambassador to criticize these statements of lies and media distortion of his beloved, happy, prosperous nation??????????????

    The Venezuelan ambassador said Dominica is worse off than Venezuela…why are we buying from them instead of selling to them? All our fig and provisions and meat from our abattoir and coffee from our plant???

  20. %
    June 17, 2016

    THOUGHT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DONATED!!Venezuela can no longer give…Skerrits friends Chavez and Maduro by their handouts policy have impoverished Venezuela…It is sad that Dominica is following this same path that landed Venezuela to where it is today…Handouts just to stay in power,is the recipe to failure….

  21. Whistler
    June 17, 2016

    Smh, something isn’t right seems the boys club has a secret vault loaded with millions of cash hidden in planet Mercury?

    what amazes me is the element of surprise announcements of things, you wonder if there Is a Parliament in the island..that doesn’t sound right to be…something is going be ugly into the faces of Dominica and Dominicans if they don’t question it…

    what’s the overall aim, the economy is dead, why aren’t the funds be pushed into the local industry to stimulate growth, including duty free etc….what about the island’s Debt
    i think Dominica has lost it folks..seem like a vikey via type governance with no planning..how much more has Dominica collected from the sales of it’s national passport
    these are the questions..why such a shady evil boy’s club motive…

    civil servants can’t get a raise in salary they’re unable to purchase good and service due to the high cost of living…what’s the economic drives…the middle class is dismantled in Dominica…

  22. anthea
    June 17, 2016

    won’t other countries get together and help venezuela especially with food and medication.??????oxfam and whoever????

    • Tjebe Fort
      June 17, 2016

      You must be joking, for Maduro’s gang to sell it on the black market?

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