Petite Savanne, Dubique residents to be permanently relocated

A section of Petite Savanne after Erika. Photo: GIS
A section of Petite Savanne after Erika. Photo: GIS

Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that plans have been set in motion to have residents of Petite Savanne permanently relocated due to the devastation in the community during the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

Residents of the community of Dubique will also be relocated, he stated.

He said at a press briefing on Tuesday evening that he met with the residents of Petite Savanne, who are now being housed at the Dominica Grammar School since they were evacuated from the community after the storm, on Tuesday afternoon and there is unanimity among them that they have to move.

“That was very helpful because because of a number of consideration people are not always prepared to leave where they have been for several generations,” he stated.

He said the residents realize that Petite Savanne is not a safe place and will not be a safe place any time in the future.

Skerrit said a number of potential sites have been identified for the relocation and cabinet has appointed a committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Lands to deal with the matter.

He noted that each site will be assessed with safety being key.

“The present and future safety and the vulnerable index of those sites must be given strong consideration,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that potential sites are also being looked at for the relocation and resettlement for the people of Dubique and once sites are agreed upon for the relocation of both communities, “the government will move expeditiously to commence the construction of homes.”

He said the relocation of the two communities is going to be a huge task and will not be a simple exercise since there are several families and households involved.

“You are talking about infrastructure one has to put in place, you are talking about facilities such as community centers, playing facilities, you are talking about health centers … there are a number of matters which we have to consider,” he said.

Skerrit revealed the government has solicited the help of the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and the University of the West Indies to give advice on some of the matters to be considered in the relocation exercise “and rolling out a plan for resettlement.”

He said the relocation is in the best interest of the residents of both communities because they will be in a much safer place.

He noted that there will be access to both communities after relocation and government will make arrangements to have item retrieved from them.

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40 Comments

  1. cowboyla
    September 9, 2015

    I am one who believe that they should not be evacuated, sounding silly but can u imagine pitit savanne have been existing for years and all of a sudden it looks unfit to live, we must understand that there are natural disasters,that can strike at anytime and anywhere so what we can do is chose the real dangerous areas and i am talking about petit savanne, but allow the people to live there lives where they have been livine for hundreds of years as for dubique longtime ago they should have been relocated, thats not a place for human beings to live

  2. JoJo
    September 9, 2015

    Knowing Roosevelt he must be tempted to relocate these people where they can influence the balance of power.In constituencies where it would be easier fro him to win in an election, especially because these people come for labour areas and will be dependent on the government for their future for some time to come. That is the way he will be thinking.

  3. But God
    September 9, 2015

    Why does this have to be so difficult? We are only talking about a handful of people here-not an entire country. Give each family an allowance to find a house comparable to the one they lived in before, in a village of their choosing. Dominica has a lot of free land in safe places. Now is the time to put it to use.

  4. jj
    September 9, 2015

    In times like these people still talking politics! Smmfh

  5. LAPLAINE - The new "La Petite Savanne-Plaine"
    September 9, 2015

    Pick any spot in LaPlaine – We have land to spare, the topography of the land is perfect “Totally Flat” – so they will never have to worry about landslides again, there are three rivers running through the village with lots of fertile soil for farming, LaPlaine is used to a culture of Bay Oil processing which is right down the alley of the Petite Savanne residents, we are not too far from their original beloved Petite Savanne, i’m quite sure that some of them already have relatives in the village, we have love..love…love…love for them, we embrace them and welcome them to LaPlaine in advance. We will call it LaPetite Savanne-Plaine.

    • The Real Facts
      September 9, 2015

      Did you say there are three rivers running through the village of LaPlaine? As flat as it is, this may be a major problem when rivers overflow their banks. Simply responding to what you stated.

  6. Propa
    September 9, 2015

    San Sauveur has fishing and has land for farming and has that same small village feel.

    Id put them there.

  7. alas
    September 9, 2015

    work for your money my brother!!!!!

  8. memoi
    September 9, 2015

    this is going to be rough for many of the people no matter where they go. I agree with moving the people but I do understand if there are many people who would not like to be relocated. That is going to be extremely difficult for some of them to handle and for the government as well. We are going to have some really hard decision to make.
    Sad Times In Dominica, Sad times.

    • But God
      September 9, 2015

      Sad times? Please! Free food, barrels coming in like rain, clothing and supplies coming in from multiple donors all over the world!

      Behind every disappointment is opportunity. Let us look at the opportunities Dominica has now been given and make good use of it. Someone who once lived in a bungalo shack now has the opportunity to get a good house – FOR FREE. Think about it!

  9. Big mouth
    September 9, 2015

    To speed up the process of relocation government should conduct a survey for vacant houses people may be willing to sell at reasonable prices. This would ensure that shelters are cleared faster while housing the people. Constructing homes will take a while and these people will want to get their life back together sooner rather than later.

    • unknown767
      September 9, 2015

      Love this suggestion!

  10. Francis Charles
    September 9, 2015

    The site should be presented to the people and let them have a vote.

  11. STEPHEN PAUL DELSOL
    September 9, 2015

    I agree with I AM PETITE SAVANNE!

  12. Rambo
    September 9, 2015

    Put them woodfordhill

    • concerned
      September 9, 2015

      It would be the worst decision ever to relocate Petite Savanne people to Woodfordhill seeing as to there were a group of young men from woodfordhill breaking into our homes as soon as our village was evacuated. They had no heart, care or concern for us. We had just lost everything we worked so hard for. And while it is not a reflection on the entire woodfordhill community, we would not feel safe living there. Because in our time of need some persons from tht community decided to steal from us. Police officers had to be sent back to guard the place and remaining homes. Three of these guys were caught on sea on a boat. Shame, shame, shame on you all. Thanks for the offer for being relocated to woodfordhill but no thanks. We can’t be around the same persons who stole from us when we were at our lowest.

    • September 9, 2015

      SELFISH!!!!!!!!

  13. tough but good decision
    September 9, 2015

    Happy to see relocation is the next move for these individuals. Petite savanne has experienced one too many detrimental occurrences after weather conditions. The safety and relocation of these individuals and their families are of dire importance, and we should all come together to ensure a speedy but successful transition for them. Petite Savanne and Dubique as well as Coulibistrie are all very lovely communities on the island and they produce such wonderful people it breaks my heart to see the terrible destruction they faced during TS Erika. However these communities are part of what makes Dominica the wonderful Commonwealth island it is. Hopefully relocation will not be criticized too negatively by civilians but seen as a necessary move in the development of the nation. WE ARE DOMINICA AND DOMINICA IS US. If we dont help in both actions and words to bring it back to what it was and even better then WE as a people have completely failed our beloved country. GOD BLESS THIS NATION!!

  14. Whats the best medicine?
    September 9, 2015

    We should look at the areas owned by our ministers and give the people, the displaced some of the lands we have obtained illegally.There are certain people who jumped ship movements like frongs from Blue to Red and purchase huge amount of crown lands in the Warner area for $1..0 /sq foot.
    any ideas of who comes to mind?
    This relocation business and loss of land has multiple elements.

  15. Whats the best medicine?
    September 9, 2015

    Well this is logical historical andmoreso educational.
    My dear parents always said to us we come empty handed & leave this earh the way we came.
    people own their lands in Pte savvane acres. my grand uncle hailedfrom there. so am extremely sympahetc to the loss of history to be lost. the Stills the vast pots where too loma was made just the village groove that made ti savanne ti-savanne.
    Lesson learned is that people kill 4 land others evade taxes to be paid on land even depriving rightful holders.
    Some buy it from money people even money gods and scheme the state and blame it on lawyer.

    • concerned
      September 9, 2015

      Is there a point to this comment cause i don’t get it. What is the significance between what happened and people who killed others for land, taxes or lawyers have to do with any of this? I’m confused :-?

  16. John Paul
    September 8, 2015

    Rise and Shine what’s on Your Mind!
    I thought Skeritt was running the Country all alone and He did not need any help “I just have to laugh when they talk about their taxes”

    • concerned
      September 9, 2015

      Now is really not the time for this type of petty nonsense John Paul. You all need to learn to put politics aside sometimes and focus on the situation at hand. He is doing the best he can given the current predicament. It’s obvious he was never running the country alone because look at the amount of assistance and relief that we’re receiving. If u have nothing good to say, say nothing at all. :-x

    • Mealone
      September 9, 2015

      John Paul, people like u should not comment if you have nothing constructive to say…heartless piece of worm. Haven’t you seen what destruction took place on the island for you to be making such comment? Come on now….there is a time and place for everything and now is certainly not the time for such comments . Have a conscience

  17. Shaka zulu
    September 8, 2015

    Dominica have enough place. Marigot, calibishi, woodfordhill Hampstead, and possi have enough land. These areas have low landslide, and volcanic risk and as part of largest parishes have more space. Guess we also have to work out constituency realignment cause if people are placed in one constituency that can tip the results of an election. Permanent displacement would mean the parl rep from that constituency will have little to no one to represent. There are two ways to go. One, incoperate in an established community or two, whole new community by itself. There are pluses and minuses in both and also not everyone will be pleased. Sooner done better. I suggest review of all legal ramifications before established. Some laws may have to be amended.

    • Shaka zulu
      September 9, 2015

      Furthermore there are a bunch of communities that have more primary school space than children.

    • concerned
      September 9, 2015

      This again has nothing to do with politics so please STOP trying to implement politics into this. Where we the people of Petite Savanne are being placed should have nothing to do with votes during election. All we need is a safe place to lay our heads and somewhere to call our own again

      • Shaka zulu
        September 9, 2015

        Sorry was not trying to make it political…. This tooo shall pass and everything will get to a new normal. Let’s not make decisions on emotions and not think of all future consequences. Had we been a forward thinking people we would plan our settlements better with effective regs. My heart bleeds for people who lost their lives and would hate to see it happen again because we did not learn. However we have to consider all things first, present and future. Life will get back to normal and as time passes we will get back to our old ways.

  18. Bonjour
    September 8, 2015

    How about Stowe Estate? Most people living there are from Petite Savanne. There’s lots of land that is not visible from the road.

  19. TAN
    September 8, 2015

    Stowe would be a good location for the people of Petite Savanne. THey can continue with their agriculture and fishing at Stowe..

  20. I am Petite Savanne
    September 8, 2015

    Here are my suggestions of possible sites to relocate Petite Savanne:
    1. Corona/Sylvania
    2. Warner
    3. Portsmouth
    4. The newly built housing scheme for those who are employed in town and do not intend on farming per se.

    Why? Petite Savanne is an agricultural and fishing community. They need to continue to practice these two means of livelihood.

    I disagree with suggestions of Bellevue Chopin and/or Morpo Grand Bay

    • What do U think Skerrit?
      September 9, 2015

      what about England & America ? most Ti savanne people have all their relatives in England & the USA. U wonder why this suggestion unlike those of I am pte Savanne.
      Look at Europe, hundreds of thousands are fleeing Asad in Syria. many Pte Savvane people would love to flee Skerrit etAl couple hundreds can be dusted in England and the US without any fear of terrorism or over populating they can plant & fish to their hearts desire..
      Infact the entire 60000 can be pored into the USA Haitan D/can Dominican republicans and all even Chinese D/cans.

      • who vex loss
        September 9, 2015

        lmao real loud nice one.RU advocating leave DA 2 skerrt et al? leave just him his potos even they would leave lol.So it would be him and say 200 goats and some of the so called dogs.

    • September 9, 2015

      Your suggestions tend to be leaning towards placing the residents in areas that are already villages or towns. What is been recommended is the relocation of the entire village where the people can continue to have there own identity. For example Point Round or we might have to sacrifice some of our protected lands for this project.

    • girly girly
      September 9, 2015

      Warner is a great place to live. :lol: Belles…Laplaine. Stowe? On top of Colihaut I know government has started to survey for a housing scheme.

    • Shay
      September 9, 2015

      Nice suggestions. I am happy to hear the people are being relocated. God is good. Dominica will be alright. And I do prefer petite savanne to be farming land. It’s too prone to landslides.

    • concerned
      September 9, 2015

      I strongly support your suggestion. Good one.

    • But God
      September 9, 2015

      Here are my suggestions:
      1. Let the people choose to live wherever they want!
      2. They can fish and farm almost anywhere on the island-let them pick a spot

  21. The Real Facts
    September 8, 2015

    Pleased to know they will be relocated. It is obviously sad and disappointing what occurred to them and, with the loss of family and friends. Overall relocation will be good for them, for their happiness and peace of mind.
    They will have new surroundings, homes, furnishings and will make new friends. With their experience they could be an asset in their new location and more progressive for them. At least, they will still be in Dominica.
    Setting aside their aches, pain and sorrow, this new location could be a blessing in disguise for all concerned.
    God has His plans for each one of us which we are unable to fathom. One day, all will be revealed to us, the whys and wherefores.
    Those of you who will be re-located, realize that it is absolutely important and necessary for your overall health and well-being. There is no doubt you will be happy in your new location and will make the most of it
    I wish them well and God’s blessing.

  22. Wa-a
    September 8, 2015

    From Petite Savanne to Grand Savanne.

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