Residents of the southern community of Grand Bay had reasons to celebrate on Tuesday evening as ten families received free “Petro Casa” houses at a handing over ceremony on Tuesday evening.
At the same time a $3.7 million Police Station, which will house 20 officers, was officially opened at the ceremony.
The ten single parent families officially received the keys and letters of allocation to homes funded by the Government of Dominica and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
One recipient, Jennifer Bonnie, became emotional as she showed her gratitude to the prime minister and Venezuela for the gift.
“I want to say to the Honourable Prime Minister that owning a house was to me a fantasy. Making this mental image become a reality was definitely beyond my ability. I can safely say that all of us receiving the houses today were in a similar predicament,” Bonnie stated.
She indicated that she was unable to build a house since she did not own any land and was self-employed with two children living in a “hand to mouth” situation.
“Sometimes I wondered is anyone hearing my cry? Little did I know that somewhere beyond the horizon a man with a very big heart by the name of Hugo Chavez heard my cry, Grandpa Chavez, wherever you are I know at this moment that you are smiling knowing that right here at Grand Bay in Dominica, you have given ten single parents reasons to smile and live comfortable,” she said.
She thanked the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative of Grand Bay, Justina Charles, saying that they have both given ten single parents reasons to live again with pride. Bonnie urged her new neighbors to live in peace and develop their new environment.
The new police station, which was housed in a private dwelling home since 1998, was formally blessed and opened at Tuesday’s ceremony. The police station was also funded by the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela and the Government of Dominica.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit indicated that this is a clear manifestation of his government’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful society.
“This country must remain as peaceful as it ought to be. I want to ensure that all of us can walk through the streets of Dominica without any fear. Security is important and we have to continue to invest in security,” he said.
The Prime Minister also noted that his government’s decision to assist families in need is part of its responsibility to citizens.
“I get really offended when I hear people talk about the manner in which we have been helping poor people. There’s no reason why anybody should be jealous of a poor person getting help. And outside of politics, we have a Christian responsibility as a society to look after the poor and that’s what we’re doing, you don’t have to vote for us because we give you a house because we are doing the work that we are responsible to do,” he said.
The beneficiaries of the houses are Michael Henry, Joycelyn Benjamin, Shirley Peters, Marshera Leatham, Marvella Alexander, Marie Henry, Joana Pacquette, Jennifer Bonnie, Gwendolyn Gabriel and Georgette Gachette.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing, Settlements and Water Resource Management Ivor Stephenson said each house is valued at $90,000 and were built using pre-fabricated panels made of PVC erected on a traditional type foundation with a pre-fabricated roof fastened to a metal frame.
The doors, windows and sanitary fixtures were all made from PVC material while the pre-fabricated panels used as external and internal walls are filled with sand, cement and concrete mix which provides structural stability to the units.
He indicated that the homes are low maintenance and only require soap and water to clean.
The homes were given to the beneficiaries free of cost however they are required to pay for the land at a rate of $1.00 per square foot. It will be leased for a period of fifty years with an additional rent of only $100.00 per annum to be paid by half yearly installments.
The beneficiaries can purchase the property at a price based on the value of the land at the time of allocation and they are responsible for the payment of all utilities, insurance and local government taxes.
good work chavez
Abortion is still illegal in Dominica. Is the church in cahoots with the politicians in order to keep people poor, subdued and dependent? Just asking.
i understand that the owners now has 2 pay a large sum of money for the land which the houses are built on… Why couldnt they use that money and build their own homes???
you all must stop spreading rumors and listen carefully. they only have to pay for land at $1. per square foot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrocasa Please be quite take a moment read then make all the wild accusations as to the type of houses….
Well the Petro Casas in Chance(P/mouth) why the dragging of the feet??????
Honestly no matter what was done some people would still be dis-satisfied. I believe that some people are less fortunate and need help. They should not have to be ‘underdogs’ to people in better living conditions than they are in. Some of you talking about bible here will not even send a bone to a dog far less to help the needy. Circumstances help determine what kind of person we become and so if the government can help put a roof over children’s head and give them peaceful rest, I’m all for it. Let us not focus on the mothers but think of those poor kids who could one day become our leaders because of this improved living condition.
WELL DONE MR SKERRIT! WELL DONE NURSE CHARLES! WELL DONE LABOUR PARTY! WELL DONE AND THANK YOU VENEZUELA! MAY THE SOUL OF HUGO CHAVEZ REST IN PERFECT PEACE!
good idea Mr P.M, just hope this generousity will spread to other parts of the island. We have lots of poor single mothers all over DA..thanks
Houses are a great idea, plastic or not, but the Pal rep needs to stop ordering the cut down of 120 year old Mango Trees – specially those by PCSS. Come on, pple in that area know exactly what I meen. Too bad:cry:
what benefitu had from those mangoes tree other than expence. You self know how many vehicles windscreen have been broken every mango season. so wake up and stop being a hypocrite and leave the woman alone. she is doing more than u ever done
That’s all this Government is about hand-outs
I second that. They buying their vote. And guess what , the people fall for it and then they going on radio and complain about gov’t under cover.
Those homes are made with toxic PVC
some of us just like to complain. atleast a family has a shelter over their head and thank god for that. This government is trying it is not easy
You are right, this government is very trying!
PVC is toxic. Particularly inside the house.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrocasa
Sheesh a 3.7 million police station, skerrit a Tomahawk cruise missile costs the US $1.4 million
If given a choice between a free government house and a job that offers me a future, I would most likely take the job because with the job, I can design my own house i.e. 3 bed/2baths etc. With the Petro Blogodow you take it wether you like it or not. My point is, while a house is important but government should be busy trying to give people a future instead of a house because along with a hous comes bills and if one does not have a job to pay their bills they will have to keep climbing the steps of the Financial Center tobeg money or run man. That is not development! This is just tricks of communism to keep you poor so you never have a future and always have to beg them.
I am not too sure if the population is aware that you vote for representatives to take care of the social needs of the people, and given the fact that the political environment is begining to get charged what is the Peresident doing in this?
????????
Is it true that a badly needy single mother of one and another on the way, was not given a house because of a person squabble with the paliamentary represetative? She was told that is it a small world and indeed it came back to hunt her. PLEASE DON’T MIX POLITICS with PERSONALITIES!
Well I don’t know nah. That’s the first I’m hearing of it but since u asked. I don’t know.
I’m sure mrs. Charles not reponsible for the one the way.
the woman should know she cannot bite the hand that feeds her
u dont like the king and u want the king to give u a palace. dont bite the hand that feed u
even if there are programes and work is not everybody that will be able to own a home because there are people who work from january to december and still cant own a home and they may never own a home so nothing wrong in helping the needy
Some of these people are not needy. I must point out that at least half of them are. The big question is how they determine “needy” since some of these folks are not single parents………..
Single parents are not the only ones struggling!!!!
Are not these young people lazy enough? Why encourage more laziness ? Do we expect the country to progress when the Government is giving handouts to people who don’t really need it? What these people need is training and jobs to be able to care for themselves and not handouts.Dominica has become what I call a welfare nation..The people have increasingly become lazier than before .Have we not heard of work ? These handouts are a way of bribery and it always comes with a price..Im not against the Skerrit administration neither am i affiliated with any political party but what the present government is doing is not helping the country or its people but rather making its people dependent on government for handouts..What happens when he cant give anymore handouts ? THINK !!!!!!!The government should instead of giving free housing to young people, create jobs and devise a plan to have them pay a small fee every month towards these houses…..
I have no problem helping the poor. I personally give a lot of money to various charities and other needy family members.
I would prefer it, if the government structured the program in a manner similar to Habitat for Humanity, whereby the people BUY the homes at prices that are very affordable.
We should encourage the local people and the recipients to donate their time to make these pojects a reality. I am not into just giving people stuff for free. The intention is good, but you can do more harm than good in the long run. Not only that, I think if people invest some sweat equity in the project it gives them a greater sense of pride when the keys are handed over to them. It’s like “I WORKED hard for this”.
Absolutely. I worked on some houses for Habitat for Humanity. And I worked right along side the person who was moving into the house. They were very proud of their part in the process. Habitat arranged for a low interest mortgage and a fair payment schedule and the people owned their own homes. It;s a great program.
I am not pleased with the phrasing of the titile of the artile its tru that these people were in need but the word “needy” is too grave a word to explain them this should have read single mothers received homes.
Wouldn’t it be better if these women received proper training and/or were given decent jobs. I am sure they are going to want to send the children to study. I guess they will have to depend on the government to do that, and also their insurance and medical expenses, they will have to depend on the government to do that too.
You see it’s always great to assist, do not get me wrong, but persons are not really interested in receiving handouts all their life, unless if you are just lazy and plain unambitous. Feeding young capable persons from birth to the grave is no way to run a country, this to me is pure under house economics. A clear attempt to keep people dependent on handouts.
Where are the jobs Roosevelt Skerrit? Where are the opportunities for young and capable persons to be able to build their 500,000 dollar “modest” homes?
i would shake you big toe if you were close to me
Boss stop being foolish, who you think lives in “Projects” in the States? Who do you think claims “Section 8” if they are not “Needy persons” then what are they?
Same can be said for Council houses in the UK!!
Govt has a social responsibility to assist the most vulnerables in our midst, and this govt is doing a damn good job at it, look at the “Yes we care” as an example!!!!
It is the case with each and every government across the globe, thats one of the many reasons they collect TAXES!!!!
I take this opportunity to congratulate this government for a job well done, keep it up guys, I will definitely be coming in to vote you all back for another term!!!! Who vex lost!!!!
@joe: so why u staying foreign? just come dominica and get your petro casa allyu love d greener pastures but allyu want to come dca and tie up us dat staying dere wit allyu maji. nobody is against helping the needy but as always wit this government it is how it is done!! ok in the countries u mention there is a structured program rite so why cant we do the same. yes we care has no struture,persons are untrained the elderly are still basically in the same condition. we must stop payng lip service to the plight of the poor and really take this seriously not just to gain political mileage with those easily mislead by cheap tactics(hmmm sounds like joe) and yes employement is the key factor in changing the level of poverty experienced particularly in rural communities. empower people dont enslave them.
Name me ONE country in the world where EVERYONE is employed and can afford your so-called $500,000 home and I’ll give you the keys to heaven. You moron!!!!!
Ummmm well I don’t think u can go to work from under a bridge.if you have a roof over your head I think it’s one less hurdle for someone. In any case I believe that these houses should be given to the needy elderly not to young and strong adults who believe that they deserve a free house because they chose to reproduce like there’s no tomorrow knowing full well that they cannot afford it. Whoever is in charge of choosing the recipients of these houses needs to do a better job.
Ten housing units given to ten single-parent families, classified as “needy”. No doubt they are needy but at the same time it is a valid question to ask, whether such, politically motivated largesse does not encourage irresponsible behaviour. The message seems to be: “Breed, create a need and we shall feed”. Would it not be more dignified and uplifitn to put programmes in place to encourage- and enable people to fend for themselves rather than foster a culture of dependy on government hand-outs?
Amen to that one!!! And I wonder if it’s the same PLASTIC HOUSES like the ones at Stock Farm that were given out!!!
Why are some people now trying to come up with what needs to be done .helping people who needs housing is important especially single parents.that right there is a jealousy move.
What heck jealousy? People need to be taught to work to earn their on keep plain and simple. The Bible tells you that by the labour of your hands you shall eat.
Of course there will be “needy” cases; but you have to admit that it’s much better to have people work and pay their way in life. Ask yourself this: who will pay the bills in the house, who will provide the food, who will provide for the children, who will…?
We often day that Dominicans are lazy, well wait for this generation to grow up and we’ll see the monsters we have created. By then the retirement age will be 100.
Blessed day to you while you ponder on this.
Whilst I agree with some of your comment but as a young single mother working on less than a thousand dollars a month..do you see someone like me ever getting a mortgage at the rate of requirements posed by the Credit Union and banks in Dominica? If the government which we voted for can assist with housing I will gladly welcome it and the rest is up to me to have it registered in my name and expand on it buying small and collect to make the place more comfortable to reside in. If you can consider this perspective of things. Just imagine being able to purchase land and build on it in this year 2013 on a $700 salary and a child to feed and send to school. And consider that it’s one child what happens to those with two plus kids.
I do feel for you but in a proper State this kind of assistance would be channeled through a social servicesw dept., that assesses each case on its merits without the blatant direct party interference and political propaganda that is exhibitied in Donminica. What we do is nothing more than vote buying.
so why doesnt your government address the wage bill and raise minimum wage? oh i know, all the big shot astaphans and nassief behind this government so they will never address this issue adequately while these people make millions your salary will never increase or how about a housing scheme for WORKING PEOPLE like yourself where u lease for an extended period at a reasonable rate even with your small salaries. then you could use your title to access a loan to improve or send your kids to study etc. empowerment not enslavement!!
As much as I applaud your efforts to raise your kid on your own….which is exactly the problem. I think that programs should be put in place to prevent young ladies like you getting pregnant and finding themselves in a “needy” situation.
And don’t get me wrong, I am aware that in few cases this pregnancies could happen as consequence of horrible acts, but in most cases it is due to irresponsible behavior of the young people.
How is it that you making a mistake and getting pregnant has to become the governments problem. These houses should be granted to real needy people that may have lost their hard worked homes to natural disasters.
By giving homes to single parents the government promotes our youth to continue this unacceptable trend and even encourage young people to be careless knowing that government will look after them.
what about the long white building below the pierre charles secondary school? don’t you all think is time this place is used to create employment for these new house owners so that they can pay their bills associated with house ownership? finally mrs. charles please place a head of your late hausband on the round about at the pierre charles boulivard please please please.
when she put the head then you all will say if the money could not have been better spent elsewhere.u see some of all you grand barians just blasted wicked and jealously. all wannted to rule her but u all couldnt so that hurting all you head
she have a mind of her own. she IS the parl rep NOT all you. sleeeeeep with it