Employees at the Grotto Home for the Homeless say that they are all at their wit’s end and are now requesting that their full five-month outstanding salary be paid immediately to prevent serious disruption of service at the facility.
Several staff members of the home located in Bellevue Rawle home, which houses 40 destitute people, claim that for the past five months, despite providing their services, they have not been paid at the end of each month.
This week, the employees decided to execute “phase one” of their protest action by leaving the residents unattended for two nights, which elicited a lot of public attention.
Such actions resulted in management paying the staff, yesterday, January 26, for only two months which they say is not enough.
“It’s been months and all we’ve been getting is excuses as to why they can’t pay us. We want a full salary, not half, not piece, but our full salary and we are hoping that the Prime Minister or the heads of the Grotto home can give us what is owed to us,” one irate staff stated.
Another one added, “We all have our personal commitments, and when we’re not paid our money it sets us back.”
Although it is alleged that the employer has pledged to pay the entire sum at the end of February, staff members warn that they will not work for another month without payment.
“Everyone is leaving the workplace because they don’t want to pay,” Dominica News Online (DNO) was told.
“We had about 15 employees, now it’s down to six.”
Several attempts have been made over the past week to contact the president of the Grotto Home, Ainsworth Irish, as well as other members of management, but they have either refused to comment or have not taken the call.
However, a source associated with the board indicated that there is “turmoil” at the Grotto Home, particularly among the board members who have not held an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in nearly a decade.
The individual who wished to remain anonymous claimed that there is no accountability or transparency at institutions, especially concerning their resources, making it impossible to scrape together the roughly $10,000 required to pay the
salaries of the staff.
“I’m not sure where this money is going to come from, “ stated one board member, “as far as I know we don’t have the money to pay them.”
The Grotto Home for the Homeless has relied on a $65,000 annual grant from the government along with a monthly “pauper’s allowance of $5400, small contributions from individuals, and an annual grant of $25,000 from the Beverly Foundation. But as the effects of economic reality set in, individual donations—including those from the government—have decreased, DNO was informed.
This situation has occurred at the institution more than three times in the past two years, the most recent instance being when the Government of Dominica failed to pay the Grotto home its pauper’s grant, which is used to pay
staff salaries as well as the cost of medication and groceries.
According to what is known, efforts are being made to have the government take over the management of the nearly 50-year-old home, which is primarily supported by donations from members of the public, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the government’s pauper’s allowance.
My girlfriend was right in her statement when she said “you all will suck salt.” Honestly, I don’t see any righteous and honest living by Dominicans to warrant a better way of life. Skeritt is the Pharaoh for Dominica to punish them for their ungratefulness to the Creator. Dominicans live a life of disrespect, disregard for his fellowmen, dishonesty, and they are similar to the people who lived in Noah’s day. Greedy, jealousy, wickedly, selfish, liars, encroachers on other people’s property, revelers with an animalistic nature and attitude. You only get what you worth. The government with all its ministers tread the same path. So don’t expect Skeritt to do any better. Dominicans are paying for their sins like the curse of France. Dominica has become a shameful place overflowing with Sin which is condoned by the head Boss. A crash landing is inevitable.
Less than 2 months ago you went to a polling station and voted for a man who at the time hadn’t paid you for 3 months and counting. Now you complaining?
All you not seeing all you is a set of sackway sot???
Corruption is a way of live in Dominica nowadays. It raises is ugly head even in places like that, where the basic idea should be charity. 20 years ago I predicted this. It’s a contagious disease that will eventually kill our country. The only winners: Skerrit, his Ministers and the Cabal.
Every government has a sacred responsibility to give pristine care to the elderly folks who have fallen on tough times in the sunset years of their lives. To flippantly pass this sacred duty to members of the public is frankly criminal.
Look at Roosevelt a man of extraordinary means. Yet, despite assuring the citizens of Dominica that he would relieve the tax payers of the monthly $74 000 rent by exiting the present palatial residence by 2022, he continues to sodomize the treasury.
I’m in full support of the employees at the Grotto Home but I commiserate with the hapless, aging residents at the home.
Roosevelt, the universe does not carry debts. It always returns to you what you gave it. Karma is real. One day, Roosevelt, one day.
This is very sad state when the vulnerable in our society are being treated like this. First the Respite center in Portsmouth which was funded by the CDB shut down and now grotto. All these organizations were managed by Irish. Where is our compassion. It is time that people stop sitting on boards just for their personal gains. How can you say you care for people and that is how you treat them?
They should deduct the money from the 64K rent payment every month, and give it to the workers who haven’t been paid for 5 months.
Beverly Foundation? Awa we you all are behind by ten years or more.All the staff who received their checks yesterday were very happy. No one said any derogatory comments so where you are getting your info info ifrom is an act of wickedness and malicious intent.
OMG!!! This is really heart wrenching..So why cant the government step in? So much squandamania of our money resources to buy votes? Why are the elderlies, many of whom were taken to polling stations to vote for this satanic DLP regime, getting that treatment?
Skerrit give up to the Grotto the monthly EC$64000.00 you are getting from our tax money.
Skerrit, your wicked soul, reduce this bloated 24 members cabinet!
Skerrit your compulsive LIAR stop asking for an increase in your own salary…For doing what!!!
Man step in and ensure that the elderlies live a life of dignity during their twilight years…Where are our passport and VAT money? Only government that has gotten so much money, but the country is retrogressing to the stone age!!!
Meme Foolish statement.
The grotto home is an institution run by a board of Directors.
Why don’t you people get knowledge before making foolish statements?
Just keep repeating like a parrot whatever others say even with no facts. Why only because of hatred?
The government take over? Pure madness
As those destitute people go without and the staff has not been paid in months, and the government failed to meet its monthly obligations, I wonder if Skerrit has seen it fit to reduce his $26,000 per month allowance? I get the feeling he has lost touch of the needs of the common man in Dominica.
Remind me again, what is the President Charles Saverin salary? And how much are we paying monthly for the Prime Minister to continue to live in this mystery mansion on top of his and his wife minister’s salaries? Zor sort en Dominique sa la! From our President and First Lady, and or Prime Minister Royal Family with love!