Dominica has been promised a gift from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the form of financing for the reconstruction of the west coast road as well as assistance in the area of resettlement for displaced communities after Tropical Storm Erika, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said.
Skerrit’s remarks were made at a press conference on last week.
He said discussions were held with the Government of China and the Ambassador here in Dominica and assistance was promised in these two areas in response to the storm.
“One, the Chinese government has indicated that its commitment to financing the reconstruction of the West Coast Road and that would include the bridges and that would include the failures we’ve seen, the landslides which have undermined the roads and a number of other interventions that will mitigate against the occurrence of this coming up,” the Prime Minister said.
He continued, “The Chinese government has also indicated its commitment to assist with the resettlement of those displaced and those that had to leave their homes for one reason or the other and who had to abandon their homes for one reason or the other.”
The communities of Petite Savanne and Dubique had to be evacuated and other communities such as Coulibistrie were severely impacted by the passage of the storm and there were calls to have some families who were situated too close to the river bed to be relocated to safer areas.
The evacuees are being housed in temporary shelters awaiting a more permanent arrangement and Skerrit said the assistance will come in form of grants.
“This is a grant; it’s not a loan, it’s a grant, it’s a gift to us in response to the storm,” the Prime Minister said, adding that this is a “major commitment of assistance” from the PRC and the country is grateful.
“We are very grateful to the government and people of China for this pledge of commitment to us. And this is good news for us, so all Dominicans we should be thankful and grateful to the Chinese government,” he said.
The PRC has already donated over US$ 500,000 in humanitarian and emergency aid since the storm on August 27th 2015.
A promise is a comfort to a fool dot dot dot
Hello and good evening my people. Well just looking at the bridge really saddens me because I can’t understand how can any Government regardless of party affiliation could approved the construction contract for this bridge. The concrete foundation should have started all the way up where the white truck is then they should have at lease a thirty feet long wall on the river bank to prevent the water from eroding the foundation. Looking at the bridge it look like it was attached to the road by two pieces of steel re-bar so how they expect this to withstand a storm much less a hurricane with significant flooding.
Hello and good morning my people. Where are the Construction Engineers our Government paid for their education through scholarships. The bridges are to low and the bed of the Rivers must be dredge. I came home and saw the new bridge they build by the new market and I could clearly see it is two low. We can’t keep suffering infrastructure damage and expect the rest of the world to keep giving us money to replace the same poorly constructed roads bad bridges.
FINANCE……People FINANCE. This is not a gift – it is a LOAN probably at 500% interest. By the time the deal is done they will own the entire West Coast.
Whenever China gives you a loan you can never finish repaying them. Just ask AMERICA. Then they show up and own the prime property in the nation and you are their slave for life. Read the article again. “Finance”. Chinese folks never gave and will never give anything to anyone. Only a fool would believe in a gift from China.
To: True to DA.
Hello and good afternoon my people. Well I think you are describing the Jews so just look at the Asthaphans. Do you know where they are from and what they own in our sweet Dominica. If you don’t believe me just look at America where any business or property of value are owned by them.
I do not understand something, Chinese is giving Dominica all these ” gifts”, where they getting all that money for a poor country to be giving so many “GIFTS” to Dominica… I am asking because every time i read on DNO about the PM and the Chinese government giving Dominica Gifts. hhmmm somebody please explain to me, if we know what a git is, there is no promise I will give you something back, so what is really going on…
Poor country? Are you referring to China? China is the leading global economy, don’t fool yourself! You had better do your homework on this one and do some type of research before belching bubbles on social media. Fummy, such ignorance and arrogance on your part!
Now it is crystal clear that if thorough assessment of the state of the west coast road was done before the resurfacing and a comprehensive development plan was drawn up and implemented we may have escaped the majority of this major setback.
Some of these failures on that road could have been predicted by any layman / novice with an eye for construction or even drivers who frequently used the road.
The time and resources wasted should amount to at least 5years back ?
Excellent!
Thank you, the Peoples Republic of China.
Why isn’t the government paving the bypass roads, it’s rough on our vehicles in Dominica…..
There we go again
The critics that all they sit on their back side and criticise
Mrs Bannis tell them again
STAND ASIDE
Maybe the Chinese are going to build a railway from Portsmouth to Roseau so Mrs. Bannis can have her train? But on a serious note folks, I believe the Chinese have no choice as a fully functioning road is needed to fulfil their long term plan for a deep water base in Portsmouth. We don’t have the money, so they will have to do it themselves.
Meant- God is talking to us
What is God saying? so you hear God? Oh, sorry no one understands God – the reason this country is so doomed!!! God does not hear allu, because he is a ghost.
This is why bad things happening in Dominica, there are too many ungrateful, and evil people in this country. God is talking about us, but we just glorifying the devil. The opposition party please understand something, the people of Dominica rejected you less than one year ago, please let the government do the people business.
Thank you to the Chinese Government. Dominica needs all the help we can get and this is some major help; we appreciate your coming to our aid in our time of need, with such a generous gift. Thank you Mr. PM you are a God blessed man. May God Bless the Government and People of Dominica and May God Bless the Government and people of China.
\”And this is good news for us, so all Dominicans we should be thankful and grateful to the Chinese government,” he said.\”(Roosevelt Skerrit).
Skerrit that is good for you personally, and not Dominica in general!
Simple question for you Mr. Mountain Chicken Crapo Mentality: who built the Coast Road in the first place? Tell me it is not the Chines, who lent you money without you see the money visually going into the peoples treasury, they came to Dominica even with their laborers, and their own food.
They spent not one dime in our economy.
There is something known as substandard work; and the work the Chines do even in their own country, and what we now see in Dominica is a very good sample of substandard work! Who built it, fix it!
The road was not built by the Chinese the road was rehabilitaed by the Chinese.So get your facts right and stop your petty politics.
I hope is not NG Lap Seng that gave him that indication and he telling us is the Chinese. You remember in 2013 he went to China and sign MOU for US$300K for the three pillar project, which has yet to manifest, and later gave the impression that it was from China until the local ambassador had to clear the air and told us it was NOT from the Chinese government but a Chinese private firm? I guess on his baby trip to NY he maybe visited his friend NG and Lapsing must have given him that briefcase of money the FBI met him with.
But Skerro is so scared that he depalaying and we should not take him seriously. He so afraid cause he knows his time to reunite with his friend NG Lap seng is soon approaching and might very well be his Christmas gift.
That Skerrit / China bridge looking like a damaged ship in the ocean.
I trying to believe Skerrit but I must admit I have a had time believing anything he says. Over the years the he has demonstrated to us that he and truth are bitter enemies, and from the time he opens his mouth, you can see BIG LIE written on his face.
In one breath he telling us the Chinese government has indicated commitment to assist but in the same breath he telling us “This is a grant; it’s not a loan, it’s a grant, it’s a gift to us in response to the storm.”
In other for me to believe him I would have to see the letter of commitment from the Chinese or hear the it from the Chinese embassy. In fact I hope the Chinese embassy will not have to come and clear the air on this like they did with that US $300K Skerrit signed https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/chinese-embassy-clarifies-us300-m-deal/.
This is the same brother that talked about 574 house built post erika
As soon as they build the bridge, first rainfall and there it goes. Mr PM don’t you see the disasters that
are happening in China everyday?. Poor building construction. Please Skerrit go down on your knees and beg the Canadians, the British the Americans for help, you are always begging anyway, this wont be new to you.
I see some real salacious comments but can’t blame ppl when there has been so much disappointment..However for what it’s worth If things come through..Thanks to the PRC for considering Dominica.
China is a true friend to Dominica thanks to our Supreme Leader, the right and honourable Prime Minister and his friendliness with the Chinese Government. This goes to show that our Supreme Leader is loved and respected anywhere he goes. It is rare to have a leader of a small Island-Nation command that level of respect and adoration in the International Community. However, our precious Supreme Leader is no ordinary leader. As an ordained Knight of the Roman Catholic Church he is revered as a Saint, a living Icon and Legend that will remain in the pages of history many many years from now. Labourites just hope that more people here at home will recognize and acknowledge the greatness of this man and choose to stand on the right side of history while there is still time to do so. Dr. Roosevelt M. Skerrit IS Dominica!!! When anyone in the outside world thinks of Dominica they think of one man…guess who…
If you did only know how stupid you sounding when someone else reads your overly descriptive comments about this pathetic P.M Who you think you impressing with all those descriptions? Must be yourself. But you right about one thing correctly. You said when anyone in the outside think of Dominica, they think of one man. Tell me something, you think that is right? When people from the U.S think of places like Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad, you think is their P.M. alone they thinking about? No! They does be thinking of a well put together paradise destination package where they can have an enjoyable experience and go home and brag about it; instead of a island with a one man THOUGHT like you said, where the island haven’t got anything going for it apart from its natural beauty. An island that is being spearheaded by a big headed, self-centered, delusional, prick. He so great that he making his kids in the U.S. but in time of need, the U.S don’t know him. Boy that is…
You either suck at being sarcastic, or you are plain crazy! I am leaning more towards sarcasm, though
To: Labour of Love.
Hello and good evening my people. Well I don’t vote or reside in my sweet Dominica but I will always visit. Now can you please tell me in what major does our Prime Minister have a Doctorate Degree in. I read your post while relaxing at home in NYC and it really made me laugh but I wonder if I should feel sad or just cry because am having a hard time understanding the mentality of some of our people.
The key word there is Finance. The Chinese government will “Finance” ..as in a loan?
Thank you PRC for coming to the aid of Dominica. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
May God who knows, sees and hears all things, whom nothing is hidden from and who loves a cheerful giver, bless you, your endeavors and also your nationals!
cameron people like u are ungreatful say thank u
Skerrit just fell short of saying the Chinese gave him cheap work and they need to do it over.
Another technical word used by Skerrit that I am not comfortable with is \”Indicated\”, “One, the Chinese government has \’indicated\’ that its commitment to financing the reconstruction. But in the first paragraph DNO refers to it as a promised gift.
DNO, INDICATION is a willingness to do something and most times that willingness is based on certain conditions. So according to Skerrit, Chinese ONLY showed willingness. It is DNO that told us Chinese PROMISED us a gift.
The question here is, under what conditions the Chinese indicated willingness to reconstruct the west coast road and a commitment to assist with the resettlement of those displaced and those that had to leave their homes? That Skerrit told us nothing about. In other words, what are they asking for in return? We know it a grant and not a loan according to Skerrit. But under what terms Skerrit? Is it something…
First of all DNO, you need to clarify something here because according to your headline \”China Promised to \’Repair\’ west Coast Road\”. However, according to the PM it\’s not repair but \”Reconstruction\” of the West Coast Road. Although these words are close in meaning, in the immediate sense, REPAIR means to fix damaged areas; whereas RECONSTRUCTION implies a doing over with the view of correcting the errors of the original work.
That\’s important because Skerrit was an English teacher and we cannot allow him to just use words to get us excited when he knows it\’s something different.
If Chinese promised to repair the damages then we would expect them to rebuild the fallen bridges and redo the damaged areas. But listening to Skerrit, he is indirectly acknowledging the Chinese gave him cheap work that were exposed by Erika and that would include the failures we’ve seen, the landslides which have undermined the roads and a number of other interventions that…
they mad mn… they build it and they wash away, they still want to come n build it again?!
While I greatly appreciate this from China, I have to say that this is all Skeritt and his house of poppets worth; HANDOUTS. Their favorite hobby is to beg and collect. Sing for their super, then hope to get fed. Again, thank you China, but I will never give any credit to Skeritt and his poppets for any handouts. Time for them man to do some real work and stop playing the waiting and receiving game.
well with the good relationship the PM boast of with China, honestly I find it took a little while before the decided to do it. My only problem with that is that we have been getting things from China left, right and center and we still do not know what we are giving them or what the are getting from us. After all a country is not just going to give things like that no matter how rich they are.
Not bad at all, Mr PM. Now can you get somebody to put a airport under the Christmas tree for us please!? I trying to make a turn for de val and is a strong tie getting down there.
the M.O.U that skerrit have with china is the C.O.T of Dominica we are sold to china lock stock and barrel, to the Chinese.
alas!! allot of young men were hoping to be employed in the road projects, but i guess that won’t happen.
Great if we are getting help. I do have a question….how is the money sent by Dominicans and others all over the world being used? Will it be used towards t he roads and bridges or to helping victims personally. i want to help victims personally and would like to be put in contact with an independent charity. Can anyone give info?
Where I thank the Chinese government, I believe they insured the road unknowing to the government and got insurance money and decided to come in and repair it.
De PM continues to take us for joke!
I would appreciate if de Chinese ambassador could make a statement alongside de PM. That would give it credibility! I don’t believe that this is a grant from China
Less than 5 years ago de Chinese railroad company did de E O LeBlanc highway and the project has proven itself to be money down the drain!
3 bridges went down during Erika!
De friendship bridge is not standing at 100% either!
I thought China had more skills and technology!
They must do de job over!!!!!!
In de first place if de ministry of works had inspectors on de road they should have inspected every bridge along de west coast!
I am quite certain nothing of that sort was done!
Again i will look out for inspectors and technicians on de road!
After de $500,000 China will repair our road.
We need better design and technology!
Oh yes is a grant. We will have to take what we get! !
ok thanks china, mr pm since the road to your villas will be fixed twice in five years can you now fix ours in warner, jimmit,and layou. or you can ask the Vietnamese to assist it repairing ours.
lol
Really? This is no way to request help and hope to obtain it and immediately at that. Your words are rude and disrespectful.
You want immediate action? Be diplomatic; not sarcastic. There is a loving, humble and respectful manner, all rolled in one, to request for assistance and repairs for your area. It is obvious you have not yet learned that and how to communicate in order to obtain your requests. It also depicts lack of etiquette – good manners.
Some people do not know how to speak and address issues and authority. Is it because you do not have what it takes? Then learn it.
an M.O.U for a C.O.T
Thank you China…God Bless
Buddha Bless You
We are sick of you talking, too much talk, too much lies, just do what need to be done, be a man the people are tired of your lies, empty promises while you live in riches.
Do you not want to be informed? If you were not it would be another story with you and critique and comment.
Your comment is rubbish. Are u a political boom boom fly.
Another set of waste,Skerrit CHINES CANNOT BUILD OUR BRIDGES FOR LONG TERM,GET THE FRENCH,AMERICAN OR DUTCH,CHINESE STRUCTURES ARE A WASTE OF TOME,YOUR JUST STUPID SKERRIT,DNO NO NEED TO PUBLISH DOMINICA IS GOOING FURTHER BACK.
cameron will you foot the bill?? STOP BEING UNFRATEFUL AND LET US ALL THANK CHINA after 3. 1,2,3 THANK YOU CHINA!!!!!!!!
Sure as hell the Dominican’s can’t help themselves. And even more sure, helping Dominica won’t get any gratitude.
Why cant you guys build it yourselves or you forgot that Dominica doesn\’t have any money? Any help that we received should be welcomed. Stop criticizing and help in the process. Dominicans like you who bring the country down. Always complaining and not doing anything to help
I wonder, what can you do? Many talkers and few doers, if none at all. Always criticizing with no suggestions, not even feasible and concrete ones.
Who can build against nature? French, american. What happened in new Orleans?
China has been building new cities and towns and they have stood up to the test of time.You haters will always be the same,you cannot change,I wonder what your post would have been if China hed said they could not help if by some miracle the opposition had won the election.Oh, i do not think they would have stayed,they would have run away already!!