New government-constructed homes could serve as hurricane shelters – PM Skerrit

A government-constructed house in Pointe Michel

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said the 5,000 new homes his government is committed to constructing for Dominicans after Maria could serve as hurricane shelters.

He said his government would like to minimize the number of people going to shelters during a hurricane.

“In the quest of the government to build 5000 homes, we would like for each of those homes, every one of those homes, to be a hurricane shelter,” he said. “Based on the construction method the quality of the construction, the use of the material, you can stay in your homes and see this hurricane through because we would like to minimize the number of us who have to go to hurricane shelters and the government is committed to building about 5,000 new homes to provide for our citizens in Dominica and we are well on our way.”

According to Skerrit the government has signed contracts for 1,000 homes and for over 600 apartment units.

He stated that the government is using additional resources to build homes for individuals and utilizing some funds from the Government of Venezuela to build several homes across Dominica.

“When we say we are building for greater resilience one has to understand what that really means in simple terms,” he said.

He pointed out that having an appreciation for the environment means, “having an appreciation for the risks and the hazards which the environment has and building and adapting in the manner that if these disasters were to visit us, we would be in a better position to withstand it and if we are impacted we would be in a better position we will be in a better position to recover from it much quickly.”

Furthermore Skerrit mentioned that his government started the process of resilience before the passing of Hurricane Maria.

“That is what we said to you when we designed the West Bridge in Roseau…,” he remarked. “If a storm like Erika were to come back to visit Dominica, the Roseau Bridge would be in a better place to withstand it and we saw this happen with Maria where not even the paint on the railings was washed away by the hurricane.”

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31 Comments

  1. July 23, 2018

    My my some of us are either ignorant or just wicked. If my house is hurricane proof it
    simply means that I do not need to go to a hurricane shelter but can stay in my house as it is safe to do so. For example my house withstood hurricane Maria so if there was another hurricane i would remain in my house and offer others who are vulnerable shelter in my house.

  2. AP George
    July 22, 2018

    Create dependency in the populace and you have supporters for life! How can a country that exports only US$20million, imports over US$200million afford to take care of all of the ‘freeness’ in the land. Where is the gov’t’s revenue coming from – does it cover all expenditures? Do the math: The government debt is around US441million (84% of GDP of US$545m) while revenues are only US$133million (23% of GDP). So we have about US$307million in debt…. and still giving away stuff like they going out of style!
    I wonder if these folks have even looked up the meaning of ‘resiliency’!

    • Neville
      July 24, 2018

      We only know the half what these guys have been up to. However, I’m sure we will find out soon and it will make very bad reading.

  3. Jonathan Y St Jean
    July 22, 2018

    Opposition leader Lennox Linton has trapped Skerritt lbw with a googly. After Lennox pointed out the shortsighted and irresponsible behavior of this government, which hasn’t given any serious consideration to hurricane shelters in the wake of TS Irma and hurricane Maria, Skerritt was shown to be incompetent and irresponsible. He reached for a comeback and he and his handlers could only come up with this “in the future” talk about homes to be built serving as hurricane shelters. Skerritt, we are in the midst of another hurricane season just 10 months following Maria. It’s blatantly obvious that there was no thought from Skerritt for safeguarding the most vulnerable citizens in their hour of despair, stress and heightened anxiety. He boastfully said that his house was being offered up as a hurricane shelter, yet when the list of shelters was published his house was not on that list. For a man who said leadership is serious business, he doesn’t take hurricane shelters seriously.

  4. Charlesworth Grannum
    July 22, 2018

    Those stupid UWP forgot to count the apartments too as dwelling homes. They think a lonely house can be one as well. If UWP cared about people’s living then their stupid Leader would’ve gone to get housing assistance especially for the people of Salisbury, Wesley and Marigot but Noooo he found himself in Colorado sniffing Marijuana Oil. A perfect opportunity to get the people on your side wasted and he and the rest of the team changing names on DNO making silly comments making people think that that Domimicans are fed up with the PM.

    What has UWP done to assist even its supporters after the storm since you claim that you know investors? The world and it’s investors and even the diaspora has turned it’s back against Lennox and his Goons for not delivering UP TO NOW. They remind me of Sanbalot in the Bible when Nehemiah was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Lazy *** Opposition needs to GO.

    • Neville
      July 23, 2018

      Listen man, if I was you I wouldn’t call everybody stupid. You know people in glass houses should not throw stones. Actually, reading through your comments you don’t appear to be the brightest spark. Perhaps you also studied at the same university in the Punjab just like your master and we all know what that means.

      • Man bites dogs
        July 23, 2018

        Listen man if I was you, Now who the hell talk like that in this day and age?? Well apart if you are a loser workers calamity supporter!!!!!

    • Matrix Reloaded
      July 24, 2018

      Ijust want to ask a few questions about the subject at hand when it comes to governance and rebuilding Dominica:
      1. What has the opposition done in an effort to rebuild this country?
      2. What have they done for their main constituencies & Dominica on a whole?
      3. Can anyone tell me what Mr. Linton has done thus far that will make me decide to vote for him in the future (I am politically Neutral & not affiliated with any parties I must admit).
      4. My granny house was desroyed by Hurrican Maria &the government assisted her with finance & building material to reconstruct her home, thus, making more of my financial resources available for myself to do my business, has the opposition through their support in the DIASPORA & other agencies acquired any resources to aid Dominicans? Hence, from a logical point of view Should I “bite the hand that feed me’?
      5. Is Mr. Linton capable of governing & handling the affairs of this country adequately & dont let his arrogance and ignorance…

      • RandyX
        July 24, 2018

        Fool, what can the opposition do?? They don’t have access to government funds. So, why are you asking stupid questions? Do you expect opposition politicians to pay out of their own pocket? They might do that if they were as wealthy as your PM.

  5. SENJOE POO POO RIVER
    July 21, 2018

    Watching from a far ………papa.

  6. OneMile
    July 21, 2018

    Allu Dominican need additional reading comprehension skills. Isn’t it obvious that a single family structure cannot serve as a traditional hurricane shelter?
    Allu have such resentment for the Dr you cling to every word just so you can criticize. The PM means hurricane proof. Where-in citizen living in run down shack will be provided these new homes, eliminating the need to go to a traditional shelter.
    Keep bossing their tail Dr.

    • RandyX
      July 23, 2018

      Listen to me, as the PM of Dominica speak we all have to assume he means what he SAYS. Otherwise we have to second guess all the time when he is speaking. Thinking about it, that’s what we have to do anyway because that’s what he is all about. Ahm, ahm, ahm…. maybe they don’t teach proper English in ahm, ahm, ahm… Punjab University?

      • Man bites dogs
        July 23, 2018

        RandyX You are an absolute idiot some of us have to think before talk, Not like Linton talk rubbish and then say sorry i missguided my stupid supporters.

  7. DA Fails
    July 21, 2018

    You cyanna use people homes as hurricane shelter zami, you give them a free house or not? Dat is why I doh like to take people ting in people hand because they like to come back and ask for it :lol: If them people want they’ll harbor their family or neighbors during a hurricane, the choice is theirs to make

  8. Neville
    July 21, 2018

    …and Skerrit keeps on throwing his supporters a few sweeties and they sing ‘hail Cesar’. Meanwhile he keeps cashing in with passport sales, skimming PetroCaribe and having a good look into the aid cookie jar. Apartments in New York are expensive and so are designer clothes. They can’t be financed by PM wages.

  9. Possie I from
    July 21, 2018

    This simply means it not your home. So what happens after a disaster and the people seeking shelter don’t have a home to return to. Do they stay in the “hurricane shelter” as one big happy family? Keep allu head buried in the sand still. Keep running for handouts!

  10. Tatiana Green
    July 21, 2018

    Alright then. The government just built some houses and none are hurricane resilient. Tarreau has no hurricane shelter and have to go Mahaut or elsewhere they can be accommodated. I believe one should be built in Tarreau.

    On another note, I hope the PM knows that the government is made up of both the ruling party and the opposition; as he seem to always want to take the credit for him and to a certain extent the labour party.

  11. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    July 21, 2018

    Any idiot looking at that architecture knows that the hang over will serve as a trap for hurricane wind! If that is one of Roosevelt rendition of a resilient building: ( a building that is indestructible) built to bend and return to it original shape without damage!

    I submit to Roosevelt the first 125 mile per hour wind or less to hit the propose crap; they all will be blown away; that we see in the the open hangover will serve to capture the wind: that is no different to wind getting under an umbrella, and ripping it out of the hand of the person holding it!

    That is very poor unreliable inferior construction!

    Our people simply talk garbage all the time; we never learn. What is the dimension in Square feet; that to me is just over a 16 X 12 or approximately 192 square feet, does it have an inside kitchen, and toilet facilities, walking cloths closet, and more than one Bedroom?

    • July 21, 2018

      You may have a point but lack decorum in your articulations. The usual al**f Son.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        July 21, 2018

        Keep fighting me for Ma John land!

        You all been fighting me for years, eating your hearts out; right now I am contributing to building a house on Ma John land for my sister Marie, whereas her children have her in Guadeloupe treating her like a dog! Ask Masshoo why he want to bring his mother back to Dominica and put her in poor-house?

        I took care of my mother and grandmother to the day they, and buried them. So, in any event earn Ma John land, and none of you will get it, if my sister die before me I will let Jocelyn, and Hansey have it, otherwise I would sell it all to prevent you whom I do not know form setting foot on Ma John mama land as some of you a hungry belly say!

        Some of you are my hungery necies and nephews ( but I doh know al-you eh!).

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

        Bastards work for money and buy land, no free lunch here!

    • Man bites dogs
      July 21, 2018

      Francisco it’s much better than the rented bolt hole you staying at in the U.S. and don’t forget to collect your food stamps on Monday morning bright and early also your teeth they are very brown because of poor diet, Take my advice it will help you to becomes a better person its not to late.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        July 21, 2018

        “Take my advice it will help you to becomes a better person its not to late.”

        Mr. Carnivore, read you statement in the quote and see if your word processor in you head did you justice this time; or if it exposed you as an idiot who cannot speak nor write English!

        I think it should read “help you to become a better person.” So, let me ask you because I do not know.

        How dunce are you boy?

        You see Mr. Carnivore; you  live in England, off the doll, when you are not in England standing in the welfare line, you use some of that doll to run back to Dominica, to kiss Roosevelt Skerrit behind until he feels sorry for you and give a handout to you.

        Without that you will stave from hunger  and die! You are a staving hungry dog, which yearns for the left overs I throw away daily. And that could be anything from stake to turkey, chicken, red-snapper, and even salt-fish! 

    • OneMile
      July 21, 2018

      I’ve never seen wind rip off a cement roof. Plus your fail to acknowledge that both sides of the balcony are hollowed out. So tell me where will the wind get trapped?
      I come back to teach allu.

  12. Ibo France
    July 20, 2018

    Firstly, are these homes truly climate resilient? Secondly, no private home should be used as a hurricane shelter. Ludicrous! Strong, sturdy hurricane shelters should be built in strategic locations around the island. This PM has never failed to amaze me with his bizarre utterances. He has an affinity with absurdities.

  13. Zandoli
    July 20, 2018

    How much talking is this man going to do. He is going on like the Energizer Bunny. Just a lot if useless talking.

  14. Roseau River
    July 20, 2018

    Toured a couple of these facilities back in May (I am based in the diaspora). Cozy and built to withstand hurricanes/storms. My only complaint would be instead of building the same plan for an entire block, govt should have 2-3 plans in order to give the area some character…otherwise, well done.

  15. Real!!!!
    July 20, 2018

    “He stated that the government is using additional resources to build homes for individuals and utilizing some funds from the Government of Venezuela to build several homes across Dominica.”

    Which funds, the funds the Venezuelan GOVT provided from the Petro Caribe debt forgiveness……LOLOL.

    That seems to be a clever way to try and cover the GOVT tracks for the funds from Venezuela that cannot be accounted for…from Petro Caribe arrangement.

    When will this country Dominica get Value for its Money from this GOVT.

  16. RandyX
    July 20, 2018

    Skerrit you sure about that? To me they look more like cardboard boxes… By the way I won’t hold my breath until I’ve seen the 5,000.

  17. %
    July 20, 2018

    Real foolishness.A dwelling house as a hurricane shelter? Does he listen to himself on the media after he speaks? This man is really shameless.Man use the people’s money and provide the communities with separate shelters.
    Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn
    This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party.

  18. Wrong is wrong
    July 20, 2018

    Stupes! Dominicans too zort gason

  19. Me
    July 20, 2018

    5,000 monotone houses like these? One big project, a housing project with all its attendant problems.

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