Grotto Home back in ‘begging stage’ Bellot says

More money is needed for the construction of the new Grotto Home
More money is needed for the construction of the new Grotto Home

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Grotto Home for the Homeless, Parry Bellot has said most of the funds that were available to assist in the construction of a new facility for its residents have been utilized.

“So we are still back in the begging stage…” he told Dominica News Online.

He said although steady work is being undertaken on the new site, located at Bellevue Rawle in Stockfarm, he stated it is “a bit slow.”

“Mostly we are restricted by the lack of funds. We have pretty much utilized most of what we have had…” he said.

According to Bellot, roughly $200,000 will be needed to have that facility completed, $70,000 from that amount for fencing alone.

“Sometimes we put in figures excluding other things, because again we are trying to get a minimal to be able to move,” he explained. “The estimate of the fencing alone is $70,000…and again not only for the safety of the residents, but even as security measures.”

He described the matter as a financial challenge.

“We are getting support but that’s not always at the time and as quickly as we would like,” Bellot noted.

Bellot noted that concentration is being placed on the facilities required so that the residents can move to the new location.

“We really want to get out of the other building which is a very old building,” he said.

To compound the problem it was realized that ‘serious work’ needed to be undertaken at the back of the new facility, according to Bellot. He stated the area would serve as a recreation space for residents but it is very steep.

“We cannot afford to have accidents,” he noted. “We do have to have some serious earth moving…”

In terms of work already done at the new facility, he said most of the bulbs have been installed and most of the water connections made.

Bellot stated that the National Authorizing Office of the EU has made a commitment to provide some cupboards, which will be used as lockers.

“They will be next to the beds of all our residents. We already have our beds and mattresses, but these lockers will come in very handy,” he noted.

If all goes according to plan, within the next few months the residents of the Grotto Home are expected to move into their new facility.

“It really depends on how fast the money can come in. We were certainly shooting to move before the hurricane season, clearly we have missed that deadline,” Bellot stated.

The private sector, the government of Dominica and the public have been generous in terms of contributions to the Grotto Home, he said.

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32 Comments

  1. Psalm 59
    June 6, 2015

    The man said that funds are needed, so if he put an account number on the counter of credit union or a bank, we the people can put what ever contribution we can, and he can do that on Monday coming, so some of us can donate something to the new Grotto. End of story

  2. June 6, 2015

    No matter what the critics say, Labourites take care of Labourites! The Grotto Home WILL receive the necessary funding and will be completed. This is the difference between Labour and the Uneducated Wicked People. We take care of our own.

    • 19794eva
      June 6, 2015

      what is your OWN????????? your life is not even your own Nebuchadnezzar!! I can’t stand to read crap like that…. boy allu people have to pray for jah not to deliver allu to allu enemies yer… be humble in gods sight because we are all dust….. just try and do good for ALLL mankind and give thanks dread….you who playing judge will be first in line on judgement day…

  3. sailsbury farmer
    June 5, 2015

    Put up a stone wall that will last forever give the money to local builders do not send it to miami to the cubans. Stop sending your money to miami to buy metal fence keep it home

  4. van
    June 5, 2015

    Why spend $70,000 on fencing when building of the homes have not been completed?

  5. NKRUMAH KWAME
    June 5, 2015

    This thing really gets to me. Another example of NO PLANNING and not poor planning. How come it is only NOW that Mr. Bellot REALIZES that the area set aside for recreation is steep and needs to be graded? In his position I would consider it a most serious indictment on my management style. Shame is merited here! :twisted: :twisted:
    HOTEP!

  6. TSB
    June 5, 2015

    If that’s the front of the building then I agree with a lot of you… that’s a real horrible design! However, from looking at the picture I would believe that the visible part is the back of the building as I can see smaller windows which indicate washrooms and washrooms are usually toward the back of such buildings. I’m wishing that the front has some kind of veranda so the elderly can relax in open space. Still the design is poor. But then again your design is as good as your funds. So maybe before negatively criticizing, we should all contribute at least one dollar. Every time you give you should feel like you are helping yourself because we never know what our tomorrow will bring.

  7. mandate 2 mismanage
    June 5, 2015

    Oh stop with this fake poor nonsense, Dominica is one of the wealthiest counties in the region! Here are some places to get the wealth:

    Ask President Savarin to take a pay cut. If he donates $20K of his salary per month, he’ll still have $10K monthly to play with. And he’s back to his regular salary in 10 short months!

    • Markie
      June 7, 2015

      Many persons keep mentioning a figure of EC$30.K as the president monthly salary. My suggestion is just check the government annual budgets for the office of the president and look and see the estimate for running the office of the president. What we should look at is the cost to the state for the presidency, basic salary, free accommodation, utilities, personal support staff and the salary is tax free.

  8. BooHoo
    June 4, 2015

    This clearly shows us your level of education to have such a huge shortfall in your budget. Only now you recognize that the back of the area is steep? Only now you know that fencing is needed and will cost $70,000. You need to spend more time managing the affairs of grotto than on the radio speaking nonsense politics. I have no idea why you are appealing to the public for funds. You could just request some from the $25 million. We all need the grotto to be a new, safer place for its residents and most of all we need proper management of its affairs.

  9. Deauditor
    June 4, 2015

    If the Grotto has no funds to complete this project where will the Board get the money to settle the court case due to start shortly. And, on this matter, why should Grotto be responsible when its board failed to check the facts and defamed its former employee on radio and television and are now attempting to pass the bill to the bankrupt grotto.

  10. correction
    June 4, 2015

    So the might Party that thought he could do better than the previous owner don’t know he has to do proper Bills of Quantities for a national project? Alas, thought at your age u wud know better. Is not a fowl house you all were building that u can go by your neighbour for couple pieces of wood to finish it.

    When Allu play Allu know so much in words, actions have a way of proving Allu dunce……

    • correction
      June 4, 2015

      I meant manager, instead of owner…..

  11. The Real Facts
    June 4, 2015

    We must be positive; not negative and critical of an important project as this.
    A lot is being done in D/ca which requires exorbitant sums of money. What are not required and ineffective are your criticisms.
    Some of you should fund-raise to assist in completing the Grotto Home. I do believe most D/cans will benefit from it.
    In time, other homes could be constructed in other parts of Dominica.

    • Markie
      June 7, 2015

      A suggestion for fund raising, Parry puts up a proposal to the prime minister and ask for a few passports for sale. This should generate sufficient funds to both complete the facility and operating expenses for a few years. The government sells passports for generating fund for its annual budgets, so the Grotto can be assisted in this manner.

  12. June 4, 2015

    But Parry Ur peeps dem just receive a 1.5 mil of the state money from passport sale you shouldn’t be begging for chicken feed to finish d grotto home. Smh

  13. alas
    June 4, 2015

    The facility really look like a prison.
    Not much thought went into design from sure.
    Begging time again.
    Never stops eh.
    De government thru Roosevelt skerrit admits poor record of project implementation.
    Parry you for real……go beg skerrit! !!!

  14. Shameless
    June 4, 2015

    Ok so you telling me after spending $30 Million on campaign, giving the bishop $250,000-00, Morgan Heritage $150,000.00, Donnie McCaulkin $250, 000.00, selling one passport through a Senior Counsel law firm for $1000000.00USD we cant find $200,000.00 ECC to put a roof over old people head? Granted some of them may have means but that is another story and can be dealt with through the legislative process.

    IF I WAS PARRY and Ainsworth Irish, I would tell Skerrit to show some compassion and use some tax payers money wisely there. But again he lost all three Roseau seats so crapaud smoke them old folks pipe because most likely the voted UWP even Parry and I-yoe “may” have voted DLP.

    Assertive, NOT Aggressive! :twisted:

    • joe
      June 4, 2015

      Stop embarrassing yourself your fool, our problem in Dominica is you the foolish ones who haven’t lived in Dominica for over 20 years loading up DNO Comment with bull crap!!!!!!

      Break down the $30M you so confidently claim was spent on the General Election of 2014!!!!!!!!!

      Just fyi the DLP spent just about the amount Lennox WELL-TO-DO friends with their big houses in England gave uwp to run their campaign!!!!!!!

  15. anonymous2
    June 4, 2015

    Welcome to the club of projects of exhausted funds. It hits a whole lot of us here. There is never enough money. and we are always just short of reaching the being livable line. I think that fencing is one thing that you might have to reconsider. Rocks to build barriers can be free, though the labor is hard.

  16. faceup
    June 4, 2015

    Have the government take of five bucks from every working person at the end of the month for one month, that will take care of funds that you need because its every bodies business in DA..

    • DollFace
      June 5, 2015

      Sweetheart, that cannot happen just so nuh.

      That would have to be an Act of Parliament first.

      If you think I’m joking just research what happened when the Stabilization Levy was foisted on Dominicans.

      Trouble you looking for nuh??

  17. Positively Dominican
    June 4, 2015

    The alleged EC$1.5 million (Dominica Passport sales), that was deposited by a civil servant at a bank Dominica could be utilised to assist with the construction of the Grotto Home.

    A Thought
    Dominica Passport Salesman

    • joe
      June 4, 2015

      well maybe the person will just give them the $200,000 then, what you think?? But again as you said ALLEGED!!!!

      • fantastic4
        June 5, 2015

        confiscate the money nuh and give to charity – where is the IPO – it is a civil servant did he declare it ? where is IRD did he had this source of revenue listed on his tax returns as a form of added income? I say take the 1.5 million give it to the grotto and to other deserving institutions and jail the civil servant.

  18. sailsbury farmer
    June 4, 2015

    The people in there who had jobs and own a home let them pay. After the British left we remain proffesional beggers , we can’t solve any of our problems without begging.

  19. Proud Dominican
    June 4, 2015

    Really Parry. But your cabal that have the millions we you forget or you playing dumb. go beg them thats peanuts for them

  20. zandoli
    June 4, 2015

    Let’s hope local donors can come through to assist with this project.

    But on another note: who the heck designed this facility? It looks like a prison.

  21. 19794eva
    June 4, 2015

    Tho I have been a strong critic of parry in the past, You have to give a man his due.. this is inspiring work parry…. not only this…but you have made transparent as possible the situation. Let us hope that you can get the support need to bring this project to fruition..standing ovation this time parry…

  22. grell
    June 4, 2015

    ask the superior leader of the country the money,from the sale of the passports he is selling in vietnam.

    • joe
      June 4, 2015

      Grell give us a name of the Vietnamese so we at the Grotto can contact them for assistance!!!!!! You people are SICK!!!!!!!!!

  23. suggestion
    June 4, 2015

    Crowdfunding. It works!

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