International firm to prepare settlement plan for Petite Savanne residents

Petite Savanne was deemed unsafe after Erika
Petite Savanne was deemed unsafe after Erika

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has revealed that the government have engaged an international firm to prepare a settlement plan for Petite Savanne residents who were displaced after the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

The Prime Minister made that announcement while speaking as a guest on Kairi’s Heng Programme recently.

About 823 residents were evacuated from Petite Savanne after the storm since the area was deemed unsafe and presently some are being housed at Guest Houses and others reside with family members. It was recently revealed that the residents will be relocated to the Bellevue Chopin area.

“We have acquired the lands, we have done sub-divisions and what we have done is to engage an international firm to prepare a plan for us, a settlement plan,” Skerrit said. “What we want to do is not just put down houses – if it was to put down houses then we would have started constructing houses for the Petite Savanne people – but we want to ensure that we create a community. This is why we thought it was necessary to bring in people with that kind of expertise to review the plans that we already have.”

According to Skerrit, a tree count was done to protect the environment.

“We had to do a tree count because we are not going to be cutting down these trees indiscriminately,” he stated. “Trees which do not need to be cut and trees which we can save that are hundreds of years old we have to save, because we have to protect the environment, so all these things are being taken into consideration.”

He indicated that the issue of water, electricity, the connection of lines, playing facilities, businesses and community centre are also taken into consideration in the new Petite Savanne.

“Work is going on with speed, we have commitments for some of the houses and the government itself is prepared to make resources available to fill the gaps where gaps are recognized,” he said.

In September 2015, Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro symbolically hand over 300 ‘petrocasas’ to Dominica. And on Tuesday 20, October 2015 the first 50 arrived on the island.

The houses will be used to relocate residents of Dubique to an area in Grand Bay. The Prime Minister said some of the residents should move in by Easter.

“When I went there in January we had about 26 platforms constructed with several of them, the panels are up and we have started constructing the roof for those …some of them we started tiling” he explained. “What we are trying to push is to have some people moved in either before Easter or by Easter. We also have another 50 houses here in containers and I believe that the Venezuelans will sign a contract with a company out of Venezuela to build 100 homes.”

He stated further that government owns several pieces of land in an area between Colihaut and Bioche and will be constructing some houses there so that residents of Colihaut will also benefit.

Meantime; Parliamentary Representative for the Petite Savanne constituency, Dr. Kenneth Darroux said that government has made progress in addressing the needs of Dominicans affected by Erika.

“We as a government, we have not been asleep and we would have responded to the people needs in a very meaningful way and I think by and large the majority of the displaced people would appreciate the effort that the government has made to-date in addressing a lot of their needs,” he said on the radio program, ‘Focus on Government and Development.’

Dr. Darroux explained that he was in discussion with an individual recently and noted that, “People need to understand that the government really is not an insurance company in terms of compensating people for loss of anything.”

“This government has pride itself on its humanitarian characteristics and I think this is the Hallmark of this administration,” he stated.

 

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35 Comments

  1. Born here, but 4th. class citizen
    February 19, 2016

    How many times, Years, must Skerritt continue to disrespect, victimize his own people? Skerritt’s Gov’t has engaged an outside, foreign firm to prepare a settlement plan for the people of Petite Savanne, 7 months after Erika devastated the area and their lives?

    So none of our qualified, trained, Civil Servant, no private local individuals/firms could be engaged? Not one local engineer, planner, architect, trained personnel in the related field of Community Development
    overall.
    Surely, what is the reason for that stupidity of action, after all the loose talk of “let’s come together to build DA,”, “Let’s put all hands on deck, blah, blah, blah.”

    But, you see, transparency, accountability is like a thorn in the side of many. Therefore, deal with foreign firms come before engaging locals. Locals will know too much. The name of that firm, in the case presently, seem to be a Secret.

  2. Justice
    February 18, 2016

    So locals are incapable of providing that service? We will see about that on polling day.

  3. rainbow
    February 18, 2016

    But what is really wrong with the pm na? Somebody please help him.

  4. scared
    February 17, 2016

    Ask Darroux where is Bitcoin? It is unchristian, wicked, mischievous, to say the least, that the poor people of Petite Savanne should have to go through such ridicule, disrespect.. Passports sell though. $$$$S made, nothing for the poor people after Erika.

    Dominicans, you all are being side-lined, the workers in the Ministries are not trusted, since they are left on the tail-board. Their input and advice, move, must be partisan

    How could Skerritt and his DLP Gov’t seek outside people to look at re-settlement, when all now, the people should be settled and slowing coping with their new environment? In-perts are here, willing.
    The people are in dire need of settling down and to move on with their lives. But Poor people won’t believe the unfriendly, inhumane, immoral attitudes that persist. Even if my people are further impoverished, mental enslavement taking it’s toll on a people, willing to be like 4th. class citizens in their own land.

    Local Planners are here…

  5. truth
    February 17, 2016

    promise , a comfort to a fool, the bible speaks truth,
    skeritt , what is the name of the international firm, are you not tired of fooling your supporters,
    start the buildings just before the next election, you will catch them again

    • Mr lacille
      February 18, 2016

      what exactly are you saying that all Dominicans, and the thousands that voted for the DLP on 3 separate occasions are being fooled by public assistance given befor elections??? new flash!!! UWP did the same thing yet were booted out of office

      you must consider yourself the smartest man in Dominica, since in your view all Dominican are being fools because they take a different standpoint from yours,

  6. February 17, 2016

    IfSkerrit comes out to tell Dominicans the truth I would congratulate him. But I might as well be asking for the impossible.
    Here is the truth- thr government is flat broke.the Erika fund is depleted.Petro caribe money is no longer available for comess

  7. Crab and Manicou Hunter
    February 17, 2016

    I will believe it when the hospital finishes and we complete one hotel in Portsmouth.

    • Mr lacille
      February 18, 2016

      you all said the same thing about the stadium, the now OE Leblanc highway, the new Dominica State College soooo… nothing than can be done and will ever be done to satisfy the likes of people like you

      • black nobility
        February 18, 2016

        How much money those things bring to Dominica. Sut!!!!

  8. February 17, 2016

    Well look another set of lies. Did the prison guard ask him what location was purchased for resettlement.
    What is intriguing to me is that in a twinkle of an eye Skerrit and his cohorts went into the Cabrits Nat5 park and started cutting down trees and destroying the habitat. No consideration for the 100 year trees. All that mattered is they semblance of passport money all of a sudden becoming visible. But now that the people of Petit Savanne need to be relocated Skerrit is talking about 100 year trees.
    But Skerrit can keep getting away with his continuous deception and corruption because we Dominicans are “gegesh” and the media even “Gegesher”
    We need an international planner to do what? But Skerrit you told the media in Asia that you had already
    Built 470 houses. Forget that, maybe you meant 4.70 houses
    If you are building 50 Petro casas you need some sort of community planning and if Maduro had donated all the houses promised would you be telling us this lie…

  9. ????????
    February 17, 2016

    hmmmmm All of you negative people have nothing good to say. Shame on you all. no suggestions just negative talking all the time.

  10. %
    February 17, 2016

    You all must visit Bellevue, to hear what the concern of the villagers are…With all the land acquired for Petite Savanne relocation,i wonder where you all are sending the youthful population of the village..ITS A BREWING CONCERN!

  11. Rat Poison
    February 17, 2016

    Skerrit making the media pass like his little boys. I just cannot understand why they keep putting out Skerrit’s lies, propaganda and deception like that.

    I could understand them putting out the Penville meeting, where he spoke his usual nonsense because it was a public meeting. But when the man keeps hiding from the press, and always hiding behind Kairi talking his nonsense knowing no one can question him, sure does not deserve coverage.

    Hiding behind kairi he can talk about international firm knowing no one will push him to tell the nation the name of that international firm, their experience, cost and their physical address. How can he just on his own decide no one or firm in Dominica is qualified to develop the plan, seeing they know our terrain better than any one. Furthermore, I know Dominicans that are involved in the US doing that very same thing.

    The other thing is, has he engaged the people? Where exactly he wants them? Skerrit just lying to Dominicans and that…

  12. February 17, 2016

    when that skerrit speak I just close my ears promises and talk that is all it is international firm my foot just more talk

  13. February 17, 2016

    Everything Skerrit and his gang say, enter one ear and comes out the orther ear :-D :-D

  14. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 17, 2016

    “international firm to prepare a settlement plan for Petite Savanne residents”(Roosevelt Skerrit).

    I do not want to say that is ridiculous; nevertheless; I wonder if there are no Civil, and building Engineers in Dominica to design a settlement. Here is liar who this very week said on DNO Dominicans lack appreciation for opportunities in Dominica!

    This appears to be an opportunity for Dominica trained Civil Engineers, rather than an opportunity for a foreign firm. Skerrit is a pile of confusion talking out of both sides of his mouth. If you say Dominicans has no appreciation for some so called opportunities in Dominica, How come when there is potential for an opportunity, the liar engages outsiders to utilized that opportunity?

    That is madness, total madness in our country!

    • February 18, 2016

      Even if it turns out that no Dominican firm was in a position to do this job, then let’s hope that whatever agreement there is requires this international firm to hire locally to the maximum extent possible, including for managerial and professional roles as well as unskilled work.

  15. Ignoring our own
    February 17, 2016

    Immediately after the storm a resident with considerable international experience of re-settlement, offered his services free of charge to the government. The credentials that he was asked to submit were acknowledge but he has since heard nothing.

    This is yet another example of how we ignore the expertise of our own in preference to those from outside.

  16. Fed up wid hungry gut people and beggars
    February 17, 2016

    DNO what is the name of the international firm? Really DNO REALLY?

    You need proof whenever that PM speaks.. Do not be deceived.

    On another note the delay tactic by the PM is only admirable to fools…

  17. February 17, 2016

    I read the above statements by Mr. Skerrit and Mr. Darroux and I see a pattern , whenever the public is out raged with how the administration is conducting the business affairs of D’ica they come up with nonsensical talks, It’s been months since Erica passed and these people are just in limbo and they talk about humanitarian characteristics nature, are they real, does it have to be their families and friends living in D’ica to get service I wish they would stop disrespecting the people.
    And this administration keeps displaying an attitude of disbelief among the people because we do have qualified men and women they can heir to come up with plans so why are they turning to International Firms to do so, my people get involved speak out fight for your children and for Dominica , and that’s why are not making any progress

    • ????????
      February 17, 2016

      Patriot do you think that things have to be done in a vicky vicky manner? Don’t they have to test the area? to make sure that everything is done in order. You all are just and like to talk.

  18. Kim
    February 17, 2016

    So Skerrit what were the instructions to the contractor -re; political considerations- count etc?

  19. February 17, 2016

    what happens to the young up comeing people of belvue where are you going to put them or did you even think of that mr dr darroux

    • ????????
      February 17, 2016

      ??????????????????? common sense gone down the drain. Now you thinking of up coming young people and not of the now solution. Always looking for something to criticise … negative people. Nothing pleases them.

  20. Ma Moses
    February 17, 2016

    Who is this international company and what do the plans look like. We all are interested for the people of Petite Savane to be resetlled as soon as possible. Why all the secrecy all the time? The P.M. must realise he can not be a country all on his own.

  21. Floridian diaspora
    February 17, 2016

    I hope that our most righteous demi-god, Zeus, the immaculate, the great deceiver, the urban capitalist, the great tyrant, for the sake of putting an end to wasting tax payers $$$ leaves the office of finance and go work in the airport or aviation given the fact that his two favorite hobbies are passport checking and champagne sipping at 40,000 feet. Dominica is so broke and backward that if we were a nation where our lands were bordering with another country no one from the other side would even contemplate crossing that border as the grass would not have been greener on the other side. As a nation, our futures look bleak and salty. We have nothing to look forward to besides high blood pressure. We have lost our pride. Nothing to smile about. The island can be described as desolate at best. The ones we elected to serve us have went back on their word and is constantly looking to exploit us. Time to stop the hurt. Take a fogging machine and fog these mosquitoes out of office.

    • annette
      February 17, 2016

      just spreading your usual joy huh??

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 17, 2016

      Floridian Diaspora

      I didn’t think there was someone who could outdo Telemaque with nasty, hateful rhetoric but you take the cake. I hope that you are really in Florida because we can do without the likes of you in DA.

      We need people who speak against wrong for sure, particularly those who denounce it on both sides, so our children can have some ethical role models as they grow up but this competition in badmouthing which has gripped Dominica over the last few years is really becoming frightening.

      I am here and not desolate with you at all because we do have television sets here and view international news and when I see and hear what is happening in some places I keep saying how happy I am to be in little DA with all its weaknesses.

      So far, none of our citizens have been fed with lead-laden water as the people of Flint in the US. None of our NGO’s are harvesting body parts of aborted foetus’s for sale; we don’t have to pay road tolls every so many miles, etc. etc.

      • February 18, 2016

        But you are drinking florid water which is not good for you either

    • ????????
      February 17, 2016

      Really Floridian Diaspora! Why the hatred. Where is your input?? You have all the answers yet you so negative. Where is your contribution to the well being of a community? And mind you not tin stuff and clothes. We talking home building now. If you have nothing to contribute, you should desist from cursing the country and talking negative. I do not agree with all what is spoken by you. We rebuke in the Name of Jesus. Keep your thoughts negative to yourself. Stop shouting out from Florida. I know one guy in New York not doing anything with himself, doesnot have an apartment and moving from house to house and all he does is hatred talk on the PM of the country. You would swear is the PM that make him so… crying down the country and cannot even do something worthwhile for himself farless for his country. Hope you are a productive person in Florida and not just hating! Be blessed and time to do some introspection and ask you why I hate so. Jesus loves you.

      • Nonsense
        February 18, 2016

        You my dear ???????? have a lot of time to waste.

  22. mastiff
    February 17, 2016

    This is great news to hear! Let’s put some good internet in the area with a computer lab, install ample streetlights, add a couple attractive elements and call it a day.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 17, 2016

      ” Let’s put some good internet in the area with a computer lab”

      Some of us Dominicans are just stupid you know! That nonsense you wrote is hogwash!

      For your information; nobody in Dominica has any power over the Internet; the internet is a global network which connects millions of computers through a series of IP and search Engines connecting more than one (190) hundred ninety countries linked into exchanges of data.

      It is an electronic communicating network that connects computer facilities around the world. All you need to access the Internet is a phone line, a computer, and a pay a internet provider such as Cable & Wire or any other phone company to get you through to the Internet.

      What computer lab are you talking about unless you are going to have a research center in some place such as a college or university in the new village, or city! You all are not tired of the rest of the world laughing at you?

    • d-a born
      February 17, 2016

      Computer lab? They still have those?

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