PM Skerrit warns against Petite Savanne resettlement

Houses in Petite Savanne after the passage of Erika. Photo by GIS
Houses in Petite Savanne after the passage of Erika. Photo by GIS

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has advised residents of Petite Savanne to avoid returning to that community permanently since the area is still deemed as unsafe.

Addressing a meeting recently with residents who were displaced following Tropical Storm Erika which severely damaged the island on August 27, he pleaded with them to pay attention to their safety.

“I am not only speaking to you as the leader of the country but someone who has had a very personal connection with Petite Savanne, and I understand the nostalgic, I understand the emotional attachment to the community,” he said. “Yes some grass may have grown back, so it’s looking safe in some places, yes you can get from one point to the other, but we have to all admit and agree that overall the community is not safe. These things do not have to wait for rain for the earth to move, it can move in dry time.”

He stated that although some residents may return to the area to during the daytime to harvest something, he thinks it is not a good idea to reside there permanently.

Skerrit gave his word that the government will pay rent for the displaced residents.

Petite Savanne was hit hard by Erika. After the storm, the area was deemed unsafe and the members of the community were evacuated.

In July 2016, the government signed a contract with Montreal Management Consultants Est (MMCE) for the building of houses for the resettlement of the people of Petite Savanne in Bellevue Chopin.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

43 Comments

  1. Mamizoo
    September 2, 2016

    The people should be allowed to return to their village. At this moment there are many houses untouched and are in perfectly safe areas.

  2. Slingshot
    September 1, 2016

    You can babble all you want, but your (st)uttered words are NOT the law of this land. Like it or lump it.

  3. Manmike
    September 1, 2016

    This is not an emotional issue. The accepted risk for construction and hurman habitation anywhere is something that is determined by through the application of science and engineering principles.

  4. Titiwi
    September 1, 2016

    I am really puzzled as to why Mr. Skerrit is so adamant that people should not return to their properties in Pt. Savane. Yes, there are dangers but if we are honest nowhere in Dominica is really safe from disasters, considering that the whole island is an active volcanic/seimic area.
    By all means caution them, but I would not stop them returning to their roots, birth of place and homes but stress that they do so at their own risk.
    They are not children and he is not their father, after all.

    • I am Petite Savanne Strong
      September 1, 2016

      Stupes….. Were you at the meeting? What you are suggesting, is the same thing he did at that meeting. He cautioned the people. When and where did he indicate that he was going to stop them from returning to Petite Savanne?
      smh

    • Roger Burnett
      September 1, 2016

      This map: http://www.physicalplanning.gov.dm/images/MAPComposite.pdf may help to get your point across to the naysayers.

  5. September 1, 2016

    Dominicans ask yourselves the question why is it the PM and the Housing minister is so hell bent on removing the folks of Petite Savanne from their village to some where else when the folks are saying they will move higher up in the village, and with other professionals who have the knowledge and can say base on their findings that proper measurements were not followed by the one man Government who masquerade as an engineer Are we to believe that the PM care about the people or just want that part of Dominica for his partners in China .
    So as far as PM, Financial minister, ,Engineer,, Architect all roll into one is concern Petite Savanne is no longer a village on the map of Dominica .

  6. viewsexpressed
    September 1, 2016

    “……..someone who has had a very personal connection with Petite Savanne…..” My foot. Man Skerrit , give us a break, taking vulnerable people for granted under circumstances of disaster, poverty that you and your corrupt government has created over the years and now trying to distract them by using the Hurricane to weigh yourself back in there to continue your handout mentality poverty. They will be poor forever under your governs corrupt hands. You have reduced the these people and Dominicans to beggars and suffering to make ends meet. Lies, promises, launching,, its the same ole rhetoric like a ole Krazy T speaker in a big ole house. Shame on you.
    Your day will come when you will run to the USA but Dominicans wil haunt you to account for the mess you have Dominica in.

    • Lemme go
      September 1, 2016

      I wonder whether you ever made a contribution towards helping the vulnerable. Seems to me you are the one on the run however.

  7. who that
    September 1, 2016

    leave the man alone
    they are dom / nicans

  8. Panama papers
    August 31, 2016

    Montreal Management Consultants Est. awarded contract, by the Skerritt DLP Gov’t, to build those houses related to the re-settlement of the Petite Savanne villagers. Why does Skerritt prefer foreign construction Companies to our own local Cos.

    Our construction workers have built roads, bridges, build communities, develop local Gov’t or village councils to manage their communities. 1 Year gone, Nothing. Whose fools are we? Yet we are seeing, national construction projects that our people themselves have done, could do successfully, yet the locals are side-lined. Skerritt, as Minister of Finance of DLP Gov’t, failed to get the $$$$ from foreign donor countries.
    How comes is MMCE that get contract to build, when is our passports they are selling. Who knew MMCE selling our passports? MMCE has no expertise, no history, re. construction. But once again, local construction cos. are left out, or getting the crumbs. Kick-backs, other cos. involve? Malicious.

  9. Mamizoo
    August 31, 2016

    I have been to petit savanne many times since Erika and in my opinion the people should be free to live in the area. If the only reason is that the earth move then 65% of Dominica is unsafe.
    I honestly think that there is gross overeaction. The government should insure that people rebuild in safe areas. Telling people that government will take care of the rent is simply not acceptable when many of these people were self sufficient and dont have 9 to 5.

    • anon
      September 6, 2016

      good point mamizoo they were self sufficient with no 9-5 so yea the rent is paid now what ?

  10. Tell the Facts
    August 31, 2016

    As PM he is informing and warning them. He does not want the property for himself or for any other. The area is not safe, period. Those who have sense should comprehend that without a doubt.
    After what occurred at Petite Savanne, who would dare want to build there, live and work there, much more to return there.
    They cannot say that they are not warned. If they refuse to pay heed, then proceed at your own risk. It would be something else if they venture there and the earth moved and cause another disaster. I, personally would never go there nor advise anyone to do so.
    As a reflex, I think the place is cursed. Leave it alone. Even though you have fond memories of it (anyone would), God has saved you from that horrible disaster and helped you to relocate elsewhere for your safety. Thank Him and appreciate where you are and your new homes and surroundings when everything is completed.
    Appreciate, too what the PM has done to provide a new location and homes.

  11. A Doubting Thomas In Solidarity
    August 31, 2016

    Are we for real? Some are criticizing the PM for cautioning the people? I bet if he had said everyone can move back to Petite Savanne, the same people would be criticizing him and would be saying he know the place is unsafe and how he does not care for the people of that community.

    PM most Dominicans have confidence in your leadership that is why we are happy you and the DLP are the ones we can trust to do what is right in managing the affairs of Dominica. Let the critics, criticize because we all know, they would not be able to do 1/4 of what this government has been able to do under similar conditions.

  12. Pure Possie
    August 31, 2016

    I don’t usually agree with Skerrit, but this time I tend to agree with him some, though not fully. I agree petite Savanne might be unsafe but after a year since Erika, has the PM brought in an expert to test the area? If yes, what was their finding and, can the Pm please make that report available? This is a legal thing and will have legal consequences. If Skerrit on his own decides the place is not safe and move the people to another area, then how does deal with those who still had loans? Are loans cancelled, paid off by the government Ins or, are the evacuees still held responsible? These are important questions because I am not going to pay bank for a house that I no longer own and the bank might want to push charges to get their money.
    My question is, shouldn’t the same be said of the EO Leblanc Highway which was weakened, compromised, and made very dangerous for motorists? That road he needs to close until repairs are done ,

    • anon
      September 6, 2016

      yea the loans and mortgages what about that .the people need to look deep down yes rent paid but what about all the other stuff talk about that now

  13. If you that Mountain Chicken Carpaud (Crapo) Mentality Sly Eye Sir Knight Indian doctor of nothing, Roosevelt Skerrit had any commonsense; you may have discovered the reason they may want to return to their former place of living?
    Because your mind is so warped, and your eye, are practically blind!

    Let me draw to your attention that the place you have chosen to relocate the victims, are no better than the devastated village they left. Skerrit take a good look at the present location: it is at the foot of a mountain, the place is sloppy geographically, on a mountain; the terrain is similar to Petite Savanne Water run-off from the houses are going to cause massive soil erosion, in a few years, there might be as much landslide caused by saturated soil, as we have in Petite Savanne, and history will repeat itself.

    And to say money is no problem; such are the rhetoric of a mad man! How come all of a sudden Dominica has become so rich that money is not a problem in Dominica?

  14. Arte El Labore
    August 31, 2016

    YA MAN All of you Workers supporters criticising the Prime minister Skerrit for saying that the place is not safe to go back to,But if it was to go wrong again you bastards two face parasites would all jump on his back shouting he should not have let them go there,sorry if i orffen any one i don’t take prisoners.

    • I told you already, I doh like you eh, you are a dog!

      Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhah!

      You are the devils son, one who deny God exists is a fool because God said in his words, a fool said in his heart there is no God!

      The heart of a person is their sprit, and not the pumps which pumps the blood, through ones body and is scientifically referred to as the human heart. Your sprit did not only think it, you spoke the your thoughts, exposing yourself to be a fool, and worst idiot alive.

      Nothing you write on DNO can impress me, for there is no truth in you, I don’t even believe Skerrit, though he is a Mountain Chicken would want your support. As far as we know he like to talk about praying, so there is some hope unlike you perhaps he believe in God!

    • Tjebe fort
      September 1, 2016

      Your name translates like “piece of work” and that is what you are my boy. I don’t know who is the bastard in this story but I have you know that I know my father and mother and they were married to each other when I was born. Put that bastard thing were it belongs.

      • Here are a few definitions of the word “bastard” which I doubt has anything to do with children born out of wedlock (born to unmarried couples). The term bastard implies something illegitimate, or something mixed, ill-conceived origin. For example one as the same coining idiot who is referring to people as bastards, is indeed herself/himself a bastard.

        Anything with abnormal shape, or irregular size of any kind similar to; however, inferior to or less typical than some standard; someone lacking genuineness, or authority, anything false can be termed bastard!

        All men (humans) are born equal there is no inferiority in humans; Dominica is the only place on earth children born out of wedlock illiterate people considers them bastard.

        Fortunately, I was present in the registry in Roseau when a guy went to retrieve his birth certificate describing himself to the clerk as a bastard because his parent were not marriage. The clerk ask him “where do you all get this thing.” So even…

      • Continue:

        So even in Dominica there is no legality in referring to children as bastards. That is a word which originates in England and has nothing to do with children born out of marriage. My biological father was not married to my mother; nevertheless, I am not a bastard since that word does associate with people who’s parent are not married!

        That guy who is calling people bastard mentality is beneath that of the illiterate peasants of the common era (CE).

  15. Roger Burnett
    August 31, 2016

    The Prime Minister may well be right, but the Composite Hazard Maps shown in the Second Draft of the National Physical Development Plan (dated August 2016) puts the greater part of the island south of Mahaut, including the city of Roseau and Bellevue Chopin, at risk from one hazard or another. This begs the question, where is safe!

    I understand that soon after Tropical Storm Eric a team of overseas consultants conducted a geological (?) survey of localities worst affected by the storm and in particular the area of Petite Savanne. Presumably the results of the survey will help to differentiate between land that will remain untenable and other areas that are relatively safe. However, I am told that we are still awaiting the team’s findings.

    • Looking for a doctorate
      August 31, 2016

      HELLO !
      My good friend Roger, how are you? I just briefly peruse the topic of the day and read your post too. heard -On the Block.
      Am a little pressed for time but I just want to introduce a debate for later. How safe is Geothermal energy was a topic remember the pros & cons re: possible distruction of Laudat etc?
      Now we have ,How safe is resettling or not resettling Pt Savanne residents.
      Let logic prevail.

      • Roger Burnett
        September 1, 2016

        I have no problem with debating the issue. However, the residents of Petite Savanne cannot sit around for ever while we debate to possibly no effect.

    • I will tell you where is safe!

      There is a place called Hempstead Estate, belonging to the Douglas’s that Estate belonged to the late father of the late former Prime Minister Roosevelt Rosie Douglas. There is enough land sitting there which can be utilized in the building of a new City larger than Portsmouth.

      That land should now be declared Public Domain, paid for, and use to relocate the people of Petite Savanne. There are lots of other place on the North of the country where the people could be relocated.

      • Guess who FET
        September 2, 2016

        There is a place called Hempstead Estate, belonging to the Douglas’s that Estate belonged to the late father of the late former Prime Minister Roosevelt Rosie Douglas. There is enough land sitting there which can be utilized in the building of a new City larger than Portsmouth
        ……………Joke but serious dimples dimples was one criterion used to make him P.M after his selection as best mascot for the Neo DLP,DFP infiltrates lol oh my finger !So the story goes.Who in the Douglas labour party has/had prominent dimples. It is logical to state as a Telemaque where in the north the Telemaques have land be it Wesley ,Marigot and other areas. who knows FET might be a Douglas too! hahahahahhah.

      • Continue:

        Now if I am to be associate with land in Marigot, where it pertains to Telemaque, I don’t know much, what I my cousin the late Insp. Wordsworth worth had more land there that could accommodate a village. I am related to the Alfred’s also, now there was a time when they and some Telemaque owned practically all of Marigot. My cousin Lois Robinson also from the Alfred Klan knows that part of the history better than I. Our late grandmothers who were sisters were born Alfred!

      • Friend de FET
        September 2, 2016

        Fet they deleted most of the logical sentences lol U and I know a thing or two. mow it makes no sense……………………….. missing a lot before their ………………………….

  16. Eyes Open
    August 31, 2016

    This man speaks like he is a father and he is speaking to his kids.

    • Arte El Labore
      August 31, 2016

      Eyes Open, are you that stupid? Or is it possible that thick head of yours only contains water, This man as you call Prime minister Skerrit is the leader of Dominica, if he says the place is not safe you and i have to respect that OK.

      • awa wi
        September 1, 2016

        By your logic if the pm says gramoxone is wine ou ka bwe sah no questions asked lol allyu not ez in dca na boi

    • Friend de FET
      September 2, 2016

      He is a father & more logical than Skerrit and cabinet could ever be.
      Those kids in Gov\’t need to be spoken down to and more ,like whooping( x2 daily until imprisoned) their behinds and more. unfortunately ur eyes are not open nor closed but in the sand. Biggest bird. Kids like U are sick.

      • Eyes Open
        September 2, 2016

        :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
        You guys need to travel, I don’t see that happening in the islands much less the bigger countries where i travel very often. Even Guadeloupe and Martinique just next door are so much more advanced societies. People are focused on production on development, the government’s role is facilitation of development, any government that is. Dominica sadly is going nowhere too much politics in society. People are gagged and with hands tied behind their backs go nowhere. Its just sad man. We can do so much more. We could compete with even St Lucia, who as left us way behind. Just sit in one of these islands and look at their news. It shows how far behind we are lagging. Everything we do on this island we have to see a parl rep, we have to see the Honorable PM. I respect him and his position. But we need independence. We have no independent bodies. If one speaks we are branded as UWP. Brainwashed society

      • Okay, I recognize you by this: “whooping( x2 daily.” You know that is one of the reasons I am relentless, slicing up these guys, I only wish they would get a clue and do what is right, for the benefit of all Dominicans, and the country!

        When I read where me Almost Nearly Cousin, that Mountain Chicken Roosevelt Skerrit said “money is no problem to utilize in the relocation of the people, I almost choke.

        That boy is mad, I do not know anybody as crazy as him; that boy, that Sukuyant should be in a asylum, because I believe he is actually fifty-one fifty (5150). I suppose you are familiar with that code; nevertheless, in America that is a code used in psychiatry practice to identify a seriously mentally ill person who is a danger to themselves and the public.

        That Mountain Chicken Carpaud (Crapo) Mentality Sly Eye Sir Knight Indian doctor of nothing ia a mad man oui! Hahahahahahahahahah!

  17. FORKIT
    August 31, 2016

    when the engineer skerrit say yes, the people cant say no… lol,. how can a prime minister just say the place is not fit to live without a proper report from qualified engineers…. this place is sick, parents get your children out, get them educated because we will go down as the most illiterate and ignorant people on this earth.

  18. cameron
    August 31, 2016

    King superior,and the poor bows to him,sad state in this country.

  19. Skerritr Agent
    August 31, 2016

    If I scare you to death you will not want to return to Petite Savanne , and that will make it easier for me to give your land to Chinese just as I gave foreigners 15 acres of land in the Portsmouth area, in the name of hotel. Carib reserve is next on the agenda because I just have to pay my debt to those mafias.

    This scare tactic reminds me of the evil report of Numbers :13:32-33. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
    And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

    Did Skerrit’s doctorate make him an authority to know where is safe or not safe? Has he brought any professional to examine the village and declare it unsafe?

  20. Reasoning
    August 31, 2016

    I don’t usually agree with prime mistake scarit; but I totally agree that this is not a place to reside permanently. Petite Savanne has never been a safe village based on the topography. And to make it worse,the people caused and brought some of the devastation on themselves by the way they managed their land. Trees cut on the hillside and slopes to plant bay trees which couldn’t hold the soil. I’m disappointed with the people of Petite Savanne for allowing themselves to be fooled by these rogues posing as government. To continue giving support to this illegal rogues posing as government is a disgrace on the people!!!

    • Dominican
      August 31, 2016

      You talking on both sides of your mouth.h

    • Me
      August 31, 2016

      Huh? 8-O

    • I
      September 1, 2016

      You are nothing short of being an ‘A’ hole! When and where did you see Petite Savanne people cut down trees to plant bay trees? FYI- bay tree roots intertwine in the soil and holds it together. Petite Savanne is soil on top of a rock. The soil got washed away (slides etc) and all you’ve gotten now is pure rock. To state that Petite Savanne people brought some of the devastation upon themselves….. I say “woe be on to you” Your turn will soon come.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available