Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit has said his government will approve EC$20 million for to continue to assist residents with roof and home repairs.
“This government has approved thus far with its own resources, about EC$50 million and an additional EC$20 million will be approved by the Minister of Finance today, to continue to assist residents with their reroofing,” he said.
Skerrit said the government has also taken a decision and is hoping to sign that agreement with the Government Housing Loan Board and the AID Bank to make $5 million available to each of these institutions to on lend to public and private sector citizens at 2 percent, with a maximum borrowing of $50,000, to assist them with fixing their homes.
He added that over $17 million of building materials were procured and are being distributed to homeowners to assist with reconstruction.
“We have gotten some help from the People’s Republic of China for re-roofing and there are many NGO’s here in Dominica who are also assisting,” the Prime stated.
Meantime, he said because of the lack of tradesmen in Dominica, the government has recruited construction teams from different islands.
“We have had capacity constraints, not having sufficient tradesmen in the country, because roofs require certain technical competences, We have recruited construction teams from St Lucia, from Barbados, from Trinidad and Tobago who are on island assisting in a commercial way with the reroofing efforts,” he explained.
Skerrit added, “We are hoping by next week, I have been told to receive the technicians from the Republic of Cuba to assist us further.”
To approve hmmmmm hurricane season is one month
My problem is with Skerrit’s style of leadership. Everything for Dominica must originate with him. There is no rational discussions with any other party, no consensus, no opportunity given for contending ideas to compete, no consultations. Every donation, every handing over ceremony, he must be in the fore front solely for the optics. He alone decides what is best for the country. He has handcuffed himself to the advice of his most deplorable Senior Counsel. No wonder the country’s problems of poverty, vagrancy, joblessness, indebtedness, mendicancy and hopelessness are mushrooming out of control.
That’s one thing I do not like as well. He should delegate. After all the country has so many ministries. Let the ministers take on leadership.
Talk talk talk!
This sounds good news but is it really the truth. So much money has been promised and much more pledged. Not to mention how much has been borrowed and yet little seems to have been done. So sad!
I am a home owner without insurance and without ceilings and roof.
I have tried to get quotes for the work to be done and have tried to get contractors to make good the damaged caused by Maria. No quotes, no contractors, no supplies, no roof, no ceilings and no interest.
Before we know it the hurricanes will be with us again causing more damage whilst the government talks again about being climate resistant. Talk talk talk!
Ng Lap Seng received a four year jail sentence in New York last week. The company one keeps……..!
Tortola government is giving home owner help these are people that the hurricane damaged their homes and can’t afford to rebuild there’s a form they fill out and government go from there stop the none sense people, there are people who can’t afford to rebuild I’m not part of it because I’m not from Tortola stop making everything about poloitics man
I would like to know how Dominicans just seating there on their hands and allowing these ministers to dictate every part of their daily lives. If they say is 2 ply wood and 3 galvanize plus $500 they giving all you , people just staying there taking these guys nonsense.
It is time Dominican wake up to save themselves.
Foolishness, money for the boys,no one is asking,where is those millions of materials which russia sent to us?this 20 million is for elections, the amoint of materials we got, and they have it packed up all ppver , playing politics,why are these guys abusing Dominica’s money so bad?and we live like we do not care,Why, Why lord, Why
Frankly given the record of this government, I don’t hold much hope this money will be spent based on need. An election is nearing and it would not surprise me that it will be used as a tool to advance the position of the DLP.
We’ve waited this long can’t we just wait another 7 months? Or maybe …November?
20 million? is that all? Over 100 million has been donated from other countries. Who is going to get the rest of the money. The rest of the money needs to be accounted for.
Pm stop the gift give loan with one percent interest to pay back all u doing is encouraging laziness
Damages are real. In St. Marten even after months of financial aid to residents they will be receiving grants to continue with rebuilding efforts, we are not alone post disaster is very difficult to juggle.
The government should not repair nor install any home owner roof if they have their own funds in the bank to do so. The government should also do a complete analysis on every home owner to find out if they have received any insurance money for property damage. There is a lot these funds to do if directed where needed most. These funds falling in the wrong hands will be a disaster. These funds should not be handed out to village councils. If that happens, it will be a big mistake. Dominicans are a bunch of lazy people with disgraceful behaviors thinking everything should be given to them free.
Totally agree with you Lenpro, the people will not benefit from any of this. I am a home owner, I am not insured, I am not seeking a handout. I have funds to replace the roof and ceilings but I have tried to get quotes, materials and contractors but there seems to be no interest in hard work. What can I do?
Wayne you a license professional roofer who understands the new roof codes recently implemented. If you want your roof properly installed, tap into Ace engineering they will be able to recommend one of Dominica’s best roofers.
You are both wrong. Disasterso like this can wipe out not only ‘money in the hands of the public’ (Econ 101) but also these personal savings you are referring to, creating yet another disaster in the economy long-term – worse than the looting problem.
It seems like everything and everybody is government, D/ca can’t afford to build homes for everybody
Skerrit can…! Most of it on borrowed money and future generations will have to pay the bill. Socialism a la Skerrit or who votes for me is being looked after by the government.
Why should i go to the AID bank for a loan to rebuild when there is free money being spread all over? If you give one you should give all. Everybody should just benefit from all social programs. Let Dominica be named the land of free gifts. Happiest place in the world.
Skerrit continues to destroy the image of Dominicans both here and aboad. To hear PM say “We have had capacity constraints, not having sufficient tradesmen in the country, because roofs require certain technical competences”We have recruited construction teams from St Lucia, from Barbados, from Trinidad and Tobago”, Cuba & China is very embarrassing because indirectly PM is saying Dominicans cannot build. This is the same PM that didn’t want Dominicans residing in the BVI and St. Martin to come down after hurricane destroyed those Islands, a week before Maria and his reason was because Dominicans experienced David and therefore would be able to help build back BVI and St. Marteen. So Pm they not good enough to help build Dominica? Also PM, I know a contractor from your own constituency who built a total of 21 houses and several galvanize roofs through out the north and not one of his buildings or roofs got touched by Maria. Yet you will not employ him because you feel he is a UWP.
I hope the people who really need it really get it.
Wishful thinking!
With what Maria did to Dominica I am trying my best to take what Skerrit says with a pound of salt, just to give the PM a chance to do what is right for DA. Unfortunately he only seems bent on playing politics while the country seems to be sinking deeper in utter darkness. PM says his government has so far approved EC$50 million and is about to approve another $20 million to assist with reroofing. The question is, when was that EC$50 million approved and, where exactly the reroofing took place? As I drive around I see many blue taps all over and the few that were able to repair did so from their insurance money. Another question I have is, what he means by not “having sufficient tradesmen in the country”, but at the same time is saying is “because roofs require certain technical competences.” Skerrit just say flat out that #1, you destroyed the work ethics of the country with ur NEP and 2. You hired laborites with NO skills in your housing revolution & Maria exposed you and them
OK, you said because roofs require certain technical competences, which we don’t have in Dominica and as a result you had to get some from other islands. Sounds fair but 1. Did you check the competences of those you are importing? 2. Did you try to bring down Dominicans from around the world that are competent builders and would not put a burden on the government for hosing and feeding them? 3. You also said some from Chinese are coming. Are they competent? Before Maria Chinese contractors built their own dwelling homes between the Colihaut and Coulibistrie highway, just before Lion Mouth. But those building were completely destroyed by Maria. Competences? 4. You went to Grandbay last week to start to launch your election campaign and there you said you will be building 62 brand new homes and 11 local contractors were had already been contracted. Are they not Dominicans? Are they competent? All competent DA contractors are employed or are you saying is ONLY laborites u want? Boy
Will financial help be for “red” and “blue” and other, or just “red” roofs? Please clarify…….. Thanks.
We all know the answer to that question. But what I want to know: are all those red roof going to be ‘climate resistant’?
Yes I, The real truth is, This is a damn good question. Is anyone in Domininca and in the diaspora still supports and believe in Skerrit and his rogue Labour government.?????
They, he and his corrupt regime have poisoned the poor people in need to be blinded by so called handouts and patronising techniques to lure our people in need towards him as a good father. This is an abuse of states fuds and the position that he hols and also other ministers who support, promote, and engineer this corrupt abusive system.
Go and find out don’t be lazy