A committee representing Glanvillia residents, who are occupying a piece of land in Portsmouth, met with a cabinet sub-committee on Thursday night in another twist in the ongoing land dispute in the area.
They also threw their support behind their member of parliament, Ian Douglas, who they say had no choice but to take their side on the matter.
“The parl rep is with us now…it’s not because he wants to be with us you know, he have to be with us,” Cherad Pierre-Louis, a resident, told a press conference after the meeting. “We have made it clear to him while he was overseas … he did not know what was coming for him …he had no choice from overseas to support the move and be with us. I know he will get a lot of pressure from the inside but Ian I can tell you tonight if they touch you, they touch Portsmouth and if they touch Portsmouth they touch Dominica.”
The cabinet sub-committee consisted of Alvin Bernard, Ambrose George, Collin McIntyre and Matthew Walters. The meeting was also attended by the mayor of Portsmouth, Cleve St. Jean, along with Douglas.
Kerry Prince, a member of the committee who attended the meeting, said it was “encouraging.” “Basically we brought to them the situation of what exists in Georgetown and we brought to them the plea and the cry of the people, even beyond the land situation,” she said. She said that the cabinet sub-committee was told in “no uncertain terms”, that the residents are not going to vacate the property “and right now government have to let us know what is their situation and where they stand in the matter.”
She stated the residents reminded the sub-committee that they “are a government of the people and they assured us they are a government of the people. So we expect great things in return,” she noted.
She said a plan was presented to the cabinet envoy that was developed for the area and they were impressed that “we were heading somewhere.”
Prince pointed out that the next step in the process is the presentation of a dossier to cabinet for consideration. It will consist of “a sub-division of both the northern and southern side of the property, our housing layout, along with all the names of the persons I have received who squatted and who (are) also interested in purchase of the land, along with the petitions of the people…”
She said the residents were assured that the dossier will be reviewed as soon as possible, probably after the completion of the budget debate, and they will again meet with the cabinet sub-committee.
Prince indicated that a protest motorcade planned for Sunday has been called off and the residents will meet instead “to do more serious planning.”
“We are heading somewhere and now we need everybody on board in actually assisting us in formulating a plan as to what we expect Promiseville to look like, what we expect Promiseville to be like,” she said.
Promiseville is the name that has been given to area being occupied by the residents.
Meanwhile Pierre-Louis is adamant that the residents deserve the land since they have always supported the Dominica Labour Party. “When everybody else ran away from Labour, Labour wasn’t even making sense as a party, the people of Glanvillia and Portsmouth stood up with Labour,” he said. “So if the prime minister has a job today is because of the Portsmouth people. We the people of Portsmouth deserve nothing less…”
The area in Georgetown consists of 21 acres of land which the government said has been earmarked for an industrial zone. However, residents of Glanvillia have occupied it, in a move which prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has described as illegal.
He said land was bought in Cotton Hill for the residents but they have made it clear that they have no intention of moving there.
Below is a video of a public meeting which took place yesterday concerning the land dispute. Please note that this is not the same meeting with the cabinet subcommittee.
Give them the land and see them fight each other for the best spots.
How stupid do you have to be to claim land that you have no legal authority to ?
we shall not be moved in promiseville
Stop your crap Glanvilia people you always start a statement by saying……am a Labourite you know so what you expect. They know you guys is the potato garden of labour so you cannot change as for Andrew mills he not going no where he just fronting.
Selling your vote and your Country for a piece of land?
All that confusion is expected when a geese lay a piece of land.
That is a ploy. Get people behind Ian again then Skerrit will agree. Posse people will vote labour again and Ian will look like a hero.
Too much comes. Posse people will vote labour doh matter what. They could put a donkey to run. Whatever! Bring on better news.
Can you imagine, the first real opposition faced by Skerrit as PM is from one of the strongest constituency within his own camp? Maybe God is watching and fed up with the all the corruption in Dominica. We must begin to question his leadership skills, but also the ability of the opposition to capitalize on the opportunity to finally make us Possie people see the light.
— Alas I am neutral. I just believe that change is good.
Glanvilla get on your knees like the truckers u will get some relief
why is it that everybody saying is our land?
So how come Skerit not in the meeting and is he that planning to relocate the people?
It’s interesting how labourites can be so insultive to their fellow labourites. Just to support ONE MAN, not even a party. ONE MAN
all of all you talking we will see who will go to jail is ,the skirret man all u think is u all that have to get talking sheet and all u have the pm doing wat he want you da people just wicked wicked but one day it will come in to light.
Glanvillia people will never get the support of the rest of the constituency like zicak and lagoon because they trust Ian Douglas. When you kick Ian to the curb you will get support, mark my work. And Cabral I like you because you are engaging the kids and the people of Possie but that Douglas legacy you all have in your head there forget it, one bad Douglas doesn’t deserve another, is not your friggin father estate, shate man.
Standing for your right does not mean you have to change political allegiance. However IAN DOUGLAS should not be trusted, he is a spineless crook even more crook than Skerrit. When the thirsty glanvillia people turn their back to drink water you will see how fast he will call Skierrit and laugh them, sot
DNO, you all are among the blind followers. You all cannot stand a comment which speaks truth. Deleting everything that does not sit well with you all. Pure shame.
I agree. These People could care less about the most pressing issues of their Country. All they see is a piece of land. Why then did they wait before this up-coming election to demand “THEIR LAND?” Their vote is up for sale. Very sad situation. Dominica will never improve with corrupt people and crooked politicians. Ports mouth people are saying, in-directly, “to hell with Dominica! just give us land.” In other words, “Give us Barrabas.”
It is not squating to take what government tell u they giving u over and over. It’s called making them deliver. If they don’t not just possie but Dominica in trouble
If Guess sold the land to the residents of Glanvilla, the Government has no right to want to take their land from them. Glanvilla people stand for your right.
Although, I must say that if the government is trying to bring investments in the area, well there must be changes for progress to take place. People may have to re-locate to different areas. That’s the price of progress, do not prevent development and progress which is for the future for the younger generations to come.
Portsmouth is so proud off you welcome to your development May ALLAH bless you all i love you.
people that support labour party is people dat like freeness and like to beg , posse people go and work for allu ting skerrit do right…
“I can tell you tonight if they touch you, they touch Portsmouth and if they touch Portsmouth they touch Dominica.” … No sa we aint in tht fight u all battle…. The guy one the mic the other day said “we born labourites we shall die labourites” .. UWP did for Portsmouth n what they did vote labour.. so what u all get just take!!!!
ou toe sort. portsmouth alone is dominica na
Look joke
Hello people.. I watching dat video there..kerry i admire yur spirit but please nit be fooled..Ian..Shem and Mano. Awa they up to someting..dat meeting was a soften up..skerrit go cuba and address cubans instead of coming glanvillia..he aen Ian an Mano to test d waters..we he comout cuba he will come wif plan B..buy kerry buy shem.. Try to buy sherad an andrew an any othe mouth pieces..then Ian will pretend to protest infront people…will drive away..then later will go on his phone witk
h skerrit and say. “we hush their mout comrade” dats how he did it in Layou an dats how he going to do it in glanvillia then when election is called he going to say” who supported yoi in your land dispute? Yours truely.. Cotton hill land is crown land..how was it purchased for housing eh? Who skerrit paid for ut..D Queen ogf England? Saquay kooyonere..labour will go baxk to powda..doh worry
Go and learn to spell and stop talk rubbish about who buy Shem. Fool!
BONDIEU!!!!!this is what we call “a huge chip on the shoulder”ALAS,I feel for you.
I admire ur spirit too kerry girl. Keep strong. Mpress
interesting you serious?which minister that loosing their seat there?you crazy
People of Glanvilla be aware of the Chinese and your land.They are only for themselves.I worked for a Chinese company for 23years and I experience what we are to them.eg my boss and I get in a dispute ,I was the one talking all the way,i asked the Chinese boss but you are not saying a word?He answered by saying, you talk talk talk talk , I listen .so who is the fool? YOU.They are taking the government Ministers as FOOLS.
well if you could have worked for them for 23yrs, they are not all that bad as you trying to make us believe
Zor sot….ah No Land No Vote. a lick of bull bud some of allu need. Glanvillia have de most uneducated set of people. IS NOT ALLU LAND, STOP MAKE PROBLEM FOR WHAT IS NOT ALL U OWN.
yes Ian laughing at them…he knows the land is probably already sold…probably already had owners….nno… no no to shantee towns…go build your huts somewhere else
They really say slavery was taking from the hand and put in the brain. Real dom in can people. Support party over country. Portsmouth people is one of the reason why dominica backward so. When are they going to realize that all that ian doing is a political strategy led by skerrit. Smh.
u is a J A…….?
As long as one doesn’t support your ideology they are fools who keeps DA backwards. I wonder what have you done to make DA better than run your mouth and criticize others who don’t share your opinions and beliefs?
you Glanvillia people need to wake up. there is no way the pm will let allu build shacks in that area. wake up!!!! if allu want land go and buy like every body else. the place done start to look like Jamaica
We will stand by IAN DOUGLAS and THE DLP whether UWP likes it or not.
All of a sudden the .. in the main opposition are in love with the people of Glandvillia. Mike and Rosie must be sharing a big joke on this deception and hypocrisy by the MARIGOT BU-WAY BRIGADE!!!!
a starving man often eats from the garbage. That’s all I will say your response.
you wish you were! lmbo
that is one idiotic comment… sean must be your family
This is democracy at work. The people is taking the Govt. to task and rightfully so, for the Govt. should be of the people for the people. I think both sides should discuss the situation and come to an understanding as to what is best for them but more so for Portsmouth/Glanvilla as a whole.
Last I checked Mike and Rosie were dead…NO?
Singing for their supper
squat you all want to squat bold face people….i am sure that everyone in the area are not in agreement with the squatters………….this CANNOT HAPPEN SKERRIT….YOU HEAR ME…THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN…..
DON’T ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO SQUAT ON THE LAND
i couldn’t mind if dominicans who could afford to buy the land to build a house was protesting for the land because they found out that it was not for sale but squatters want to protest??????? skerrit if you ever give in to these people then you are saying that everyone is entitled to any piece of land they want ….
Those who can afford have already given the politicians the money for the land already. The reason these people cannot buy the land is because your government has reduced the people to beggars. Did you consider that before you made a fool of yourself
Skerrit made them dependant. He can’t change that now. He giving them handouts everyday from the red clinic now he vex they want the land too. He should not be upset at all. That is the Labour party modus operandi
SO YOU PEOPLE have no money to BUY LAND…tell me …where are you people supposed to get the money to build a proper house??????
please wait on the government to build public assisted housing in cotten hill for you all…….stop turning this country into a slum
no no no…skerrit you wont lose if these people refuese to vote for you in the upcomming election….waht is going on…why are these people so bold……you mean i can just occupy any land i want to and DEMAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT GIVE IT TOO ME? HAVE THEM ARRESTED FOR THIS ILLEGAL ACT THEY ARE COMMITING
Oh lord this idiot Thiny is back. Never take time out to understand the issue but Thiny tongue is ready to roll. Open Thiny mouth and crap comes out uncontrolably
Come and arrest us na u think we does make joke lke the other villages.we are armed to the teeth soon and very soon we will attack the police
I am not prepared to take the Glanvillia people seriously because they are all saying that inspite of the wanton disrespect their blood is labor party red.If this is not about politics then state that you are entitled to the land because it willed to the peope and not because the people supported / supporting the Labor Party
As someone who stood with Mike and Rosie to restore the Labor Party I can say without doubt that Mike or Rosie would follow through and not back away from the fire fight as Ian did. Notice how he strategically placed himself in the audience. Mike or Rosie would have been more conspicuous. Ian took everything physical about Mike and Rosie (the looks) but the heart, balls and fortitude he left in the placenta.
I am now laughing cause this time Ian en say a word pa pa.
Mano , crazy , Reggie and others can now denigrate the people of Glanvillia because they have all ascended into glory land where like the crow they can fly over and dump on the very same peasants upon whose should they rose to glory.
In all of this I have the following questions- why it is that Mano is directing the Glanvillia people when Mano is just an ” advisor to the Prime Minister” – what qualifies him I don’t know. (2) Why did Skerrit send Mathew Walters, Bernard, Mc Intye and Ambrose – all dead beat if you ask me. The people have already made their point and we all know that Promisville was taken away not by the government but by a few hugs who think that Dominica belong to them
Delaying tactics…
After the PM gets this news he will come with some cash to put in you guys hands, give some turkey, some rum and galvanize and this will be over. DLP knows how to buy their folks cheap. Some cast to last 5 minutes, Rum to last 5 hours, galvanize to last 5 months and to suffer for 5yrs…Skerro will but them again. All Douglas have to do is sing again and its a DONE DEAL!!
You people are so disrespectful of others who supports another party. Remember Labour won 18 seats and UWP 3 in the last election. They had a majority votes making them the most popular party. In other to win UWP must convince Laborites or those who voted Labour to vote them. How do you expect to champagne and win these people vote for UWP when you are referring to them as such. No wonder why UWP cannot make progress with supporters like you all. You guys conduct are a hindrance to the party advancement.
“History repeats itself, first as a tragedy,second as a farce.” (Karl Marx)
In the mid 1980’s the late Michael Douglas, to antagonize the late Dame Eugenia, notoriously moved squatters in Portsmouth to Government land at Chance and dared the lady PM to remove them. At the time at Chance, there was no infrastructure, no electricity, no running water and no toilets. The late Mr. Douglas also vaunted that Glanvillia was his “Piess patat” or “potato field.” Fast forward about twenty five later and residents of Glanvillia Portsmouth occupy government land supported by the Michael Douglas’s heir Parl Rep. The “piess patat” is still yielding but if history repeats itself, the people of Portsmouth should get a Dinosaur.
Aye man am shivering at that Video,You Guys are even more professional than the Government in that gathering,continue the fight,stand up for your right.put your people first,,Good Job
“Prince indicated that a protest motorcade planned for Sunday has been called off and the residents will meet instead “to do more serious planning.”
Hahaha! They have not gotten anything yet but they called off their motorcade, they need to continue their protest action until they get resolution. They should know by now, they the committee only came to appease them to stop the uproar. Many Dominicans have already seen through this from day one and it looks like it is becoming a reality.
These people campaign so hard for labar and this is what they are getting Granvillier people it’s time for a change the clock is ticking
Is fool they fooled them, just like the people of Layou over the asphalt plant.
It’s not a love you have for Glanvillia people nuh.You just want to see them protesting against the Government just as all you would like to see the truckers protest too.Allu think God sleeping?
Why is this sub cabinet meeting made up of ministers who may not contend next general election or lose their seats. Hmmm.
A strategy well executed. The people of Glanvillia well trapped and fooled! Now, the support of the people for Ian Douglas has been secured and he will no doubt sing again, “We shall not be moved” once commanded by Skerrit.
so they deserve the land due to a political favour because of their support of the labour party? is that the gist of the article? smh
a promise is a comfort to a fool… moving on!