West coast residents to get storm relief

Flooding in Massacre during the passage of Tropical Storm Ophelia last year

Over one hundred residents along Dominica’s west coast affected by a tropical storm in 2011 will receive relief from next week.

On September 28th 2011 Tropical Storm Ophelia did not pass directly over Dominica.

However it generated severe rainfall over the island affecting infrastructure and damaging personal belongings.

Public works Minister Rayburn Blackmore says over $511,000 from the government of Morocco will be disbursed next week.

“Well you heard from the prime minister and myself that the government would have done everything possible to bring some relief to the number of families in the various areas who really experienced tremendous losses,” Blackmoore told reporters.

“It’s not possible to meet the total loss that persons suffered and the prime minister was able to use his good self and his good office to really mobilize the required resources from the government of Morocco to assist and bring some relief to the people of Massacre, Mahaut, St Joseph, Campbell, Canefield and other parts of this country,” he said.

“A number of people lost everything that they had – beds, stoves, just name it- and we had of course, taken some steps before to assist, first of all, the school students in the various areas and I want to commend the effort of the ministry of education”.

Blackmoore said “as the member of parliament for the area (I express) my profound gratitude to the prime minister and the government of Dominica and the government and the people of Morocco for really assisting us and by making some money available to bring some relief to the people of Mahaut, Massacre, Canefield and of course St Joseph and Campbell”.

He described the $511,000 sum as really significant “in terms of the required amount infrastructural restoration. We had said that we were looking for something like $30 million”.

The minister indicated that disbursement of funds is expected to commence on Tuesday.

“There will be a process and the ministry of finance has been very proactive in that regard putting the requisite systems in place in order to facilitate the persons who have suffered losses and the ministry of community development also”.

“Persons who were affected would have known themselves because the necessary assessment was done and would have to go to, first of all the ministry of community development… and they will pick up  a letter then they use that letter to go to the National Bank and to get the monies,” he said.

Minister Blackmoore said the government wants the relief initiative carried out in a “civilized” manner.

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10 Comments

  1. True Mahaut
    March 5, 2012

    Let’s thank the PM & the Parl. Rep. for their loyalty to us especially in this time of ‘Giving & Careing for each other.”

  2. nel
    March 3, 2012

    Thank u lord

  3. March 3, 2012

    RED CLINIC AGAIN,WOW.

    ADMIN: Please people cut down on the all caps. Please read our disclaimer on all caps.

  4. tiny
    March 2, 2012

    buh how that article surface just when people start complaining about health care for mental disability individuals in Dominica?

    • tiny
      March 2, 2012

      oops for the mentally disabled or the individuals with mental disability

    • ?????????????
      March 2, 2012

      Tiny behave yourself and stop mixing matters. You surely know that the Government was addressing assisting the affected persons so why talk about something that just surfaced today or yesterday. Sometimes we do talk too much or is it we want to in the forefront speaking and will look forward so we what we can talk about. Are you saying that the Government should not assist those affected by the Floods? Come on we should comment wisely!

      • tiny
        March 3, 2012

        ok sorry…i was wrong to post this comment….i’m not afraid to admit it when i make a mistake or misjudgement

  5. Toosense
    March 2, 2012

    It’s such a relief to know that some people will get something to begin rebuilding their lives. Thanks to the PM and the Government of Dominica and Morocco. May God continue to pour his blessings on you all.

  6. Queen
    March 2, 2012

    Ok, Mahaut is waiting!

  7. domjersey
    March 2, 2012

    thank you all for caring

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