Gov’t zeroing on new Petite Savanne location

View of Petite Savanne after Erika
View of Petite Savanne after Erika

Member of Parliament for the Petite Savanne constituency, Dr. Kenneth Darroux, has said that the government is zeroing on a location for displaced residents of that community and that location will be disclosed soon.

He made that announcement while speaking during the Kairi FM Heng program on Monday.

The Petite Savanne was one of the hardest hit areas during the passage of Tropical Storm Erika which severely affected Dominica on August 27. A number of lives in the community were also lost.

To date, 823 residents were evacuated from Petite Savanne after the area was deemed unsafe and are housed at various locations including guest houses, the Roseau Youth Centre, while others reside with other family members.

“We are zeroing on a particular location and the technical people, the surveyors and the engineers are doing what they have to do because you will also know that we had also promised the people that whatever area we are going to take them to would have to be safer than wherever they were….,” he said. “So all the studies has to be done in terms of the vulnerability of the new proposed location. I can safely say that we are zeroing in a particular location, so pretty soon we should be disclosing to the nation and the Petite Savanne people if all goes well.”

Meantime he revealed that work is rapidly progressing with the relocation of the Dubique community. Dubique was also deemed unsafe by the authorities after Erika.

“Just yesterday evening I visited the site we located them in an area in Grandbay called Centre, a really nice piece of real estate, and as you may be well aware from the beginning we always said that we think that this is a golden opportunity to really take Dubique people to the real next level,” Dr. Darroux stated.

According to him, Dubique has been on the lower round of the economic ladder for a while and “if there is one silver lining between this dark cloud of Tropical Storm Erika would be the fact that they will be now being relocated to a safer area, and of course, their standard of living would be much better after the relocation.”

He mentioned further that there are about five to six location foundations already laid out and two petrocasas are already in the construction phase. Venezuela has promised 300 petrocasas to Dominica after Erika. Some 50 of the units have already arrived on the island and a being constructed to house the displaced Dubique residents.

The residents are expected to move to their new homes by January/February 2016.

Ongoing construction for relocation of Dubique residents
Ongoing construction for relocation of Dubique residents

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11 Comments

  1. Too Hard Too Long
    November 25, 2015

    And is the government going to use the VAT and other tax monies to fund this “free housing” and relocation? I want to know because all I hear is taxes being levied on Dominicans and government loans being taken and no effect on economic prosperity because all the money is going into welfare, Yes we Care, Red clinic and other giveaway.

    I want to know how long we have to be going broke in order to pay to support other people.

  2. Floridian diaspora
    November 24, 2015

    Mr. Kenneth Darroux, minister of an unhealthy environment. More lies and empty promises. Giving the people more hot stones to hold. Letting them smell hope, then only to break their hearts after. I wouldn’t buy a word of it. Good things comes to those who wait, not to those who wait too long

  3. lami.
    November 24, 2015

    am hurting this aint nothing easy.

  4. November 24, 2015

    The next level??hope it entails that our brothers and sisters have true and complete facilities, such as Community or social Building, Health clinic, indoor toilets, ect, our brothers and sisters have endured a life time of set back, therefor bring back the milk and honey, and let true freedom reign.

    • Politburo
      November 24, 2015

      Well Brp you do not know the area so I forgive you.

      The area is just five minutes walk from the Grand Bay health facility, ten minutes walk from the Grand bay community center, primary school and secondary school. The Grand Bay police station is in the same location.

      The Dubic people could not ask for better.

    • smh
      November 25, 2015

      Well i would think that if the government is rebuilding a community the basic necessities will be provided, especially proper sanitary facilities. Re the Health Clinic, why can’t they go to the Grandbay Health Centre as they did before? I understand the request for a community centre or a social building. A playing field or basketball court could even be considered. If the families of Dubique stick together after this relocation and build the community together, it could grow to become one of the best communities as long as the necessary facilities are in place.

    • November 29, 2015

      KEEPING HOPE ALIVE THANK YOU

  5. Cool Callaloo
    November 24, 2015

    Just some questions. So what happen to the villagers house insurance money? Is this a short term solution? When they get these new houses, do they own them? Or are they expected to use their insurance money to rebuild?

    • MUDD
      November 25, 2015

      No Skerrit will give it to them, DIMWIT. People have to learn to stand on their own 2 feet in other to grow. Stop depending on Government.

    • smh
      November 25, 2015

      These houses were donated. I really don’t think that the government will charge these persons for these houses, especially as the standard of living in Dubique has not been very high, not to mention the emotional distress they endured.

    • True Dominican
      November 25, 2015

      Insurance money is to pay off the existing mortgage, if they want to re-build they would have to re apply to the for fresh accessment to be made providing they are the owners of the land given by government.

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