Gov’t spends millions to assist Erika victims; money not a problem for relocating Petite Savanne PM Skerrit assures

Petite Savanne was hit hard by Erika
Petite Savanne was hit hard by Erika

The government has spent in excess of $5-million to assist those who were affected by the passage of Tropical Storm Erika in August last year, officials have said.

At the same time Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has assured residents of storm-ravaged Petite Savanne that the government will find the money to make sure they are resettled comfortably.

Members of cabinet met with the residents of Petite Savanne on Monday evening and Chairperson of the Social Services and Welfare Subcommittee, Justina Charles said some 191 families were evacuated from the community when it was deemed unsafe after the passage of the storm.

Government met with residents of Petite Savanne on Monday
Government met with residents of Petite Savanne on Monday

She gave a break down of the finances spent by the government to assist the evacuees.

Charles said that over $698,000 was spent to accommodate them in guest houses.

Additionally, $700,000 was spent for renting private homes to accommodate them.

“Cabinet took a decision to provide rent and the decision was that we would pay a maximum of $1,000 per house,” she explained. “And so with all of the people that were displaced, we calculated at $1,00o. So we knew exactly how much we required and so we have from October (2015) to July (2016), we had people in various houses and every month the number would increase because we would encourage people to get their houses and make yourself as comfortable as possible.”

She pointed out that from October 2015 to July 2016, the government spent $778,370 just for renting private homes.

But that was not all, according to Charles, since the government spent over $1-million to feed the evacuees.

“While you were at the shelters, we still had to provide food at all of those shelters and for food at the shelter, before we began giving the displacement allowance, government spent $1,511,235 towards food at all of the guest houses,” she explained.

She added, “we can safely say that government has spent in excess of $5-million just to cushion the impact of the storm on all of those were affected.”

Meanwhile, Skerrit gave the assurance that money will not be an issue for resettling the residents at their new homes in Bellevue Chopin.

“Now I give you the assurances, as the Prime Minister of the country and the Minister of Finance that in respect to your resettlement money will never be the consideration,” he stated. “Whatever it will cost to resettle you and resettle you comfortably, this government with the grace of God will find the resources and make them available.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that the government has a biblical and Christian duty to help those in need.

“That is what as a society we should be doing,” he noted.

Petite Savanne was among the community which was hit hard by Tropical Storm Erika. After the storm, the area was deemed unsafe and the members of the community were evacuated.

In July 2016, the government signed a contract with Montreal Management Consultants Est (MMCE) for the building of houses for the resettlement of the people of Petite Savanne in Bellevue Chopin.

Aerial view of the new Petite Savanne to be located in Bellevue Chopin
Aerial view of the new Petite Savanne to be located in Bellevue Chopin

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17 Comments

  1. viewsexpressed
    September 1, 2016

    I am telling you the facts…..now Got to hell with your rubbish and your rotten PM. they are baaad and corrupt government. We are in poverty. The country is bad

  2. Tell the Facts
    August 31, 2016

    The first picture in this article indicates the extent of the damage done by TS Erika. My thought is, the place should be abandoned for good; no returning there. Be careful for those who brave it.
    The people of Petite Savanne suffered. Their comfortable surroundings completely destroyed. Those who escaped with their life were fortunate.
    Imagine losing your house, your belongings; all your prized possession and the inconvenience they have to withstand until the new homes are complete. This is what disasters could do.
    Note what recently occurred to central Italy. Such is life. We never know where and when a disaster will strike.
    If at all possible, God protect everyone from any more disasters.

  3. JUSTICE
    August 30, 2016

    :?: Looking at these people sitting in there, they look so passive it’s sad! They are probably just there present in body and lost otherwise with just their ears hearing nothing to understand,dictated by the rogues and thugs posing as government! They look like a people without a say in their own development, probably thinking that these are granting them a favor! All those who consider themselves educated from this village are no more empowered than those who are considered uneducated! A Canadian architect I once worked with once said to me that these people are not empowered at all! A bunch of sleeping people who does not know their rights is being led by an incompetent one eye blind rogue prime mistake! What a sad people who are doomed!!! :?:

    • Tell the Facts
      August 31, 2016

      I cannot believe some of you D/cans would make such ignorant and unbecoming comments. You are fortunate that you were not affected by TS Erika. The worst ones as you are usually the ones to remain.
      God is seeing and taking note. He is testing you. So far you have failed. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
      What type of a heartless, wicked person are you? Not a nice person at all; also a senseless one.
      What do you expect them to say and do? They have suffered enough from what occurred to them. They are anxious and also happy that they will eventually have a comfortable home to reside.
      The government is doing its utmost. What more do you think the government should do for them?
      Tell the Canadian architect to talk of his own (I assume the person is a male) and to help his own. This country has many poor people also sleeping on the streets, under bridges, etc., just as godless ones.
      You would do well to pray for everyone, wherever in the world and yourself.

  4. Tell the Facts
    August 30, 2016

    They ask for and want transparency. The government informs them and they criticize. Some people will never be pleased.
    I can comprehend the cost of relocating those who were displaced by TS Erika. The government is doing its utmost with whatever means. Be appreciative.

    • viewsexpressed
      September 1, 2016

      Man be quiet and go away. You are so and so……..you will never see the bigger picture……let alone the facts

  5. August 30, 2016

    when in your house you feel comfortable the hope is all is well with others ; the truth is we should look to see who else we can help and stop thinking all is well with others, the times were troubled and to their aid the gov. must come . the truth is telling us how much was spent did not truly say how it was done. still need to do more much more

    • Ossie
      August 31, 2016

      You must understand that government (people) will do whats in their best interest which is to stay enriched and stay in power. Theses sad residents will be continually under government influence control ensuring a solid base for votes. These never let a disaster go to waste and will exploit it to the fullest. Government is fundamentally corrupt, inefficient, and MANIPULATIVE.

  6. Frelance
    August 30, 2016

    why mister always trying to play on the minds of the less fortunate and who they keep dependent nuh. He just do his cocomacka to spend 18 million on a bridge that should never have taken priority over the people in need especially when we already have four other bridges we could have used. He spent 90,000 for a fake doctorate and on his arrival at Canefield he spent another 50K to welcome himself. For the ground breaking of the bridge he kept a sewo although we were in the middle of mourning the death of our first Chief Minister Frank Baron. He again had a sewo for the ground breaking of the so called New Hospital to be name Suosa cel – all that time people suffering from the impact from Erika not only from Petit Savanne but from the West Coast including people from Morne Wachet. After one year Morne Wachet is still without water but is sewo for the Baroness at President grounds and at the opening of a school in her name in Vielle Case. People are just allowed to be fooled.

  7. Shaka Zulu
    August 30, 2016

    Glad to know that the people got some help. However, since my trust of this government is in the negative territory i would like to see the records of who these rents were paid to and what sort of contracts were set up with the landlords. Afterall is government money so public has a right to know. i would like to know what was the process for selecting the private homes and guest houses and if anyone has moved out to permanent locations and rent payments stopped. I hope our media houses will be looking into these things. Sorry folks i do not trust anything or anybody associated with this current government.

  8. TS Erika
    August 30, 2016

    let them continue to bury their heads in the sand like ostriches. hope its not too late when you open your eyes and start thinking right for yourselves.

  9. Jane
    August 30, 2016

    any thinking Govt, having all those passport sales monies would have things under control much better.

    why did the dark regime kick off the 18 Million dollar project on the Roseau Bridge?

    Wasn’t the dark leader aware of the situation of the Petite Savanne ?

    Dominica and Dominicans will always be trapped fooled, unable to read into this dark leader he can play on the minds of many citizens….

    The Dark leader will always chaos in the island, as under his watch Dominica is the Poorest and slowest economy in the OECS……that points directly to dark leadership..

    • Tom
      August 30, 2016

      Jane, would the “darker leader” done things any better? Would he have been able to mobilize the level of support Dominica received within days following TS Erika? Would the in-experienced “darker leader” made things less chaotic? The “darker leader’s” greatest experience seem to be all about creating chaos……so tell me

      Jane, you seem to be trapped in your own ignorance, totally fooled by the “wisdom-less” “darker leader”

      • viewsexpressed
        September 1, 2016

        Chaos……let me remind you. he exposed the bin bobol and the fertilizer bobol…
        they lied and admitted when caught with their pants down and yet you and other hypocrites supporting this corrupt regime. these guys are rich while Dominicans continue to suffer.

  10. cameron
    August 30, 2016

    Who really cares how much was spent,this is waht is suppose to be done by government,Justina please you all are not doing favors for these people,government is set up for managing a country and safety,dont give a damn how much was spent,these people deserve this,

    • Hope
      August 30, 2016

      The ppl needs to know cause all they do is talk tell dem self

      • Tell the Facts
        August 30, 2016

        . . . And criticize. They are never pleased. Everything the government does and keep the people informed, they debase.

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