PM Skerrit reports progress in Petite Savanne Resettlement Project

A section of the project. Photo: DBS Radio

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said his government is “making progress” in the Petite Savanne Resettlement Project, located at Bellevue Chopin.

He was speaking during a site visit earlier this week accompanied by members of his Cabinet, along with senior officials at the new location in order to make their own assessment of the progress and to get a clear understanding of the completion dates for this project.

“Once we can get DOMLEC connected, there is a section of the project for the development that we will hand over to the residents right away,” he said. “So far we can move in 70 people into the units and by November thereabout we will have over 100 ready and by December, well over that. We are making progress. The fact is we are much further now than we were several months ago.”

He went on to say that there has been great excitement from the people of Petite Savanne concerning the project.

“The whole idea is to bring back the whole nostalgic feeling of Petite Savanne,” he said.

He mentioned that one of the things that will be done there is the planting of bay leaf and a lot of trees in the area.

“We will be propagating plants from Petite Savanne itself, we will be engaging residents of Petite Savanne to propagate these plants and also to plant them and a developer would pay for these plants and pay to have them planted,” Skerrit explained.

Over 800 residents were evacuated from Petite Savanne after the area was deemed unsafe following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika which severely affected the island on August 27th, 2015.

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45 Comments

  1. October 6, 2018

    Looking down the comments, I begin to wonder if in Dominica we do have architects, or aspiring architectural students, with a critical eye for good design. The silence from that quarter (and from our town planners) on this, and other recently proposed housing schemes, is deafening.

    Can it be that they are such a wimp of a profession?

  2. Roseau River
    October 5, 2018

    A car park will need to be built…otherwise, the roadway will become as congested as the streets of Roseau.

    • Your auntie brother
      October 6, 2018

      These unfortunate people suppose to live on a small government stipend. How can they afford car.

  3. Karl Orndem
    October 5, 2018

    we continue to build roads that barely accommodate 2 cars. For example the botanic gardens road. These roads here have no sidewalks or parking lanes.

  4. Jonathan Y St Jean
    October 5, 2018

    And what did Lennox Honeychurch say last night at the EO LeBlanc lecture series about the location of these houses. All that glitters ain’t gold.

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      October 5, 2018

      Lennox Honeuchurch is not God. What is to be will be.

      • Me
        October 6, 2018

        Are you Skerrit’s brother?

    • Gary
      October 6, 2018

      You are drowning in your partisan political beliefs and you do not even know it, very sad. If Lennox Honeychurch said such thing it’s his opinion. Do not piggyback on someone opinion to give credence to your political partisan beliefs, opinions are not the truth.

      • RandyX
        October 6, 2018

        Your opinions most certainly are not the truth. They are nothing but propaganda for the chief liar of Dominica.

  5. Bob Denis
    October 5, 2018

    I try to keep my postings as real as possible , i also listen to what Woman/Man have to say and i also most definitely check their works. On the web, one is made to believe whatever he/she wants to adhere to. Depending on who you asked , anti Skerritt have its pro and cons in the diaspora, where it seems, his greatest opposition emanates. If there should be a snap election, what are the possibilities of having the same DLP holding the seat of administration? some in the diaspora will never live in Dominica again, only to come back and show off themselves, as i said, the Web can be a dangerous Island.

    • Jonathan Y St Jean
      October 5, 2018

      Bob, the web to you will be a dangerous island because you want to criticize others and take issue with the fact that they criticize labour. Seems you want a totalitarian country where one can’t criticize the government without danger to their lives and their loved ones. If not then what’s your point?

    • Jonathan Y St Jean
      October 5, 2018

      Bob, you make mention of anti Skerritt sentiment and opposition in the diaspora, are you serious? Answer this, why the hell does Skerritt want to continue paying for diaspora people to come back home and vote by the plane loads? Also why is it that instead of Skerritt re-registered Dominicans at home he wants to set up offices overseas where the diaspora reside to commence his phony re-registering of electors. Get your head examined and your facts right. You are entitled to your opinion but you can’t keep making up facts as you go along because there is only one fact which is the truth.

      • Gary
        October 6, 2018

        You should be the last person to accuse someone of making up facts, wow. You constantly express opinions based on your perceptions and assumptions as though they are facts, it’s your daily mantra of nonsense. Is The PM really continuing to pay people in the diaspora to come back home and vote by the “planeloads” if this is a fact prove it. Why make up such foolish statements. As to your accusations regarding The PM re-registering Dominicans at home and wants to set up offices overseas where the diaspora reside to commence his phony re-registering of electors, is ludicrous, is this a fact. Do you have evidence to support such statement, so long to you for writing perpetual nonsense in the name of facts.

  6. Bring back the kidnapped parrots
    October 5, 2018

    Were these buildings built to hurricane resistant standards? Metal straps holding the rafters on the roof etc. The buildings look pretty but will they withstand high winds.

    • WeNiceMan
      October 6, 2018

      Well they survived Maria. So some might say this was the ultimate test.

      But the roof is actually concrete. The red metal sheets are all aesthetics.

  7. no name no warrant
    October 5, 2018

    see where d car park… in de road… hope that will change..

  8. Ready Freddy
    October 5, 2018

    What about Coulibistre, they are not counting,

  9. Paul Rossnof
    October 5, 2018

    I would like to ask Skerrit how this project was funded and for him to make public the accounts for this project. Furthermore I would like to know what criteria will be used when it comes to the allocation of these units to the future tenants. Finally I would like to know how much rent the new tenants are expected to pay per month and who will be the recipient of said rent payments.

    • Gary
      October 7, 2018

      If you were genuinely honest and not driven by your political partisan beliefs you would not ask such questions, you are just being malicious and dishonest. The funding for such project was made public to the people of Dominica, but it’s not you in your interest to know instead you have your silly preconceived beliefs and assumptions which feed and fuel your political partisan beliefs. If you took your time to read you would know who the future tenants would be, isn’t it a resettlement project, do I have to tell you what resettlement means. Your preconceived thoughts and beliefs do not affect The Government plans from providing housing to People in the aftermath of a disaster.

  10. Trevor James
    October 5, 2018

    Great work PM. This is the best resettlement ever done in the world.

    • RandyX
      October 5, 2018

      I rest my case! I’m speechless… Only in Dominica can one buy a vote for a few coins and a couple of empty promises. Even worth, they believe these lies every 5 years without fail.

    • Me
      October 5, 2018

      What do you know about the world when obviously you have not travelled beyond the confines of Dominica. Or could. It be that your comment is nothing but sarcasm?

    • dee
      October 7, 2018

      Trevor
      only one question i need to ask ,
      where is all the water from this settlement going to flow ?
      nobody seems to be concerned about that .
      Pichelin look out .

  11. grap
    October 5, 2018

    Progress ……long overdue project. PM should be expressing a sigh …and apologizing to the Ti Savanne people for this long long long delay….and tell them better late than never.

  12. Eggleston brother
    October 5, 2018

    Well done PM
    While they criticising you working
    It takes a strong leader to lead sixty thousand people
    You truly have been call
    Thanks for your leadership
    May God bless you and your cabinet

    • Me
      October 6, 2018

      May I suggest you stay in Eggleston, out of harm’s way.

  13. Riddle me dis Batman
    October 4, 2018

    Buildings need maintenance throughout the life span of the unit. I just wanted to know what is the plan for maintenance of these units and the overall structure. Roofing, paint, replacement windows etc…are the tenants going to contribute towards long term maintenance or that will be further provided for by the government. Remember what happened to all the socialist regimes who tried these types of schemes. Those countries have all failed with the exception of China but then again China is really a capitalist country with a few powerful people running things.

  14. St. Joe
    October 4, 2018

    Mr. Skerroo , when are you going to build the 3 bridges on the west coast ? We all know that you are very vindictive and as such you don’t want to build the one in Machosriee , but the 2 others are in areas your party won! Are you just doing a collective punishment? or is it because you know you are going to loose these seats?
    Skerrit will go down in history as the worst P.M ever in the Caribbean.

  15. Massacre
    October 4, 2018

    Too little too late. A dollar short and a day late. As the election is coming closer , Skerrro is pulling all cats & birds out of his hat. After 18 years is this all you have to show for it?
    Why don’t you tell us the terms of the agreement in the MOU with the Chinese ?
    We want to know how many Dominicans have ran away due to unemployment under your regime.
    How many factories and industries you met in office and how many have disappeared under your reign ?
    What is the unemployment rate in Dominica.
    Where does DLP get so much money to hire planes to bring people down to Dominica to vote and pay parliamentarians to run for elections?
    After elections , why do you abandon all the promises you made , without respect to the populace?
    You are such an empty jacket I can go on and on but I will give it to you next time. you incompetent man.

  16. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    October 4, 2018

    Artists rendition or the real thing?

    And if they are real, how come we do not see a pathway, or driveway leading to any of the houses?

    • Gary
      October 7, 2018

      I’m finally convinced you need help. Do you know what an Artist rendition is. Did you read the bottom of the image displayed, it’s written, A section of the project. Photo: DBS Radio. Why would you ask if this is an artists rendition when it clearly says it’s a Photo, wow. As to the real thing, you can deny it and try to wish it away, or you can accept it. You writing such nonsense wanting it to be a different making does not change the reality of The Petite Savanne Resettlement Project, located at Bellevue Chopin. One more thing, why do you have to see driveways leading to the houses to know they are real, is it only driveways to the houses that can make it real to you, what’s wrong with your other faculties are they diminishing, seems so, very sad.

  17. Dominican
    October 4, 2018

    These dwellings look pretty but I am concerned. Domlec may be reluctant to connect them to their net if they can not be sure the residents can afford their bills. I presume that the majority of them will be displaced families from Petit Savane, most of whom were rendered job less and without financial reserves. Their dwellings will also have to be furnished, supplied with water and cooking facilities. They do not appear to be suitable for cooking by charcoal. I really hope the government has detailed plans for these unfortunate people to have the means to fully enjoy their new homes. May be I have missed it but nowhere have I seen details of any such plans by the authorities.

  18. KID ON THE BLOCK
    October 4, 2018

    WPites, Open open up your eyes. More to come! Isn’t that beautiful? Who else than Skerrit and Labor…
    More votes for SKERRO.. RIGHT % !? Ibo you smiling, you like that,eh!

  19. October 4, 2018

    Try as I may, I cannot conceive how an alien housing estate planted with bay leaf can “bring back the whole nostalgic feeling of Petite Savanne”.

    • Titiwi
      October 5, 2018

      Roger, also, bay leaf is typically processed in stills, near to streams with constant running water. I do not see that at Bellevue’s elevation.

      • October 5, 2018

        Not only that Titiwi. The nostalgia will surely relate to sitting in peace on your own doorstep, overlooking your own yard and watching your chickens feed and crops grow. The nostalgia will be for your own village with neighbours at hand but not living cheek by jowl.

        Had the funds invested in foreigners to great the Bellvue Chopin housing estate been made available to the people of Petite Savanne to restore their own village, before now they would have been sitting pretty. Remember, Petite Savanne came through Hurricane Maria, virtually unscathed.

        I have a great admiration for the villagers of Petite Savanne that tenaciously stayed on their home ground. That is resilience in its truest form and deserves recognition.

  20. Alibaba & his Forty Thieves
    October 4, 2018

    I don’t believe anything Alibaba says. All Alibaba interested in is ways he and his teeths can steal

    • Gary
      October 7, 2018

      It is not about Alibaba, go to Bellevue Chopin and talk to the people. Alibaba ( The PM) will not be there forever but the People of Bellevue Chopin will have homes after what they went through. Your political partisan beliefs have made you insensitive to other people needs in a time of disaster, very sad indeed, where is your humanity.

  21. Ras
    October 4, 2018

    DNO’s reporters could have gone up to Bellevue Chopin, taken photos of the ongoing development there and reported to Dominicans at home and in the diaspora on the impressive facilities being constructed there. Instead DNO had to tell us that “PM Skerrit reports progress in the petite Savanne development project”

    • Neville
      October 5, 2018

      What for?? To listen to Skerrits propaganda?

      • Gary
        October 7, 2018

        Someone is making a suggestion and that’s what you are saying, wow, it just shows what politics has done to your mind.

    • %
      October 5, 2018

      Why is DNO that have to help Skerrit lie to the people?I thought DLP had a cabinet of 18 MISLEADERS.
      Skerrit Must Go
      Skerrit Must Go
      Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now

      • Gary
        October 7, 2018

        Have you read the above story, where is the lie
        coming from The PM. Instead of wasting your time sitting behind a computer why don’t you go to Bellevue Chopin. You know it’s more dangerous to lie to yourself than to suggest someone is laying to you, keep your fantasy alive believe what you want to believe.

    • Your auntie brother
      October 6, 2018

      Ras, are you telling us this picture is fake and not of the development then? Chupes man.

  22. %
    October 4, 2018

    The insane bad example of a leader is at it again ..Call the election nah! Your walking on the ground with parl reps has no effect now. You are a grown man with an ugly head now..Get ready for you defeat,which you well deserve,as a terrible example and leader .On a scale of 1-10 with 10 as the highest,I would guage your miserable and disgraceful tenure as PM a 1,( one)…Laziest PM we have had The one who had billions to make Dominica a beacon,but no one know where the money has evaporated .Has the preponderance of it ($$$$$) gone abroad? Lazy!!You can have Dominica in gold.You are unmasked,and the electorate will unceremoniously kick you out soon.
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now

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