House of refuge meeting its objectives, according to PM Skerrit

Chances building at Jimmit

Eight months into its operations, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says CHANCES, a place of refuge for Dominican children,is meeting its objectives.

CHANCES opened in April and is housing more than ten children who have been abused.

The Prime Minister said he is confident that the facility will continue to excel in providing its services. “I really want to commend Ava Roach and the staff for the kind of personal care that they provide and the love and affection for the young people. It touches my heart when I learn about the affection of the love they provide. This is a major project for Dominica and the children. It touches my heart to learn about the afflictions on our young people and the question is why inflict these pains on our children because they are helpless,” he said.

Skerrit also called on parents who are able to adopt the children,to do so “so they don’t stay at the facility”.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.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. precious
    December 14, 2012

    Hello, Can someone help me find the address for this place in Jimmit? Please, thank you :)

    • Donnel
      June 15, 2014

      Hi!

      Did you get any response. I need the address and a contact number as well. Thanks…

  2. Waitukubuli
    January 4, 2012

    That’s great! To those with a negative eye, please, everything has its pros and cons, why focus so heavily on the negatives all the time? why do we seek for perfection in everything? This is only 9 months old and already people have so many negative things to say.

    Why can’t we instead provide support. If you have an idea that you think will help improve in anyway, why not reveal it to those in charge or just find out in what ways you can help. Donate goods, volunteer etc.

    Let us help our country, our children, tomorrow’s generation – let us stop complaining and criticizing- let’s be optimistic.

    God bless you all and this project.

  3. Hmp
    January 3, 2012

    Why arent there more children why isnt there this and isnt there that? People this is why….. salaries! Whos going to pay them? Skerrit there showing his stupid face for 10 children that are staying in a childrens home,taking credit for something as small as that…while there are how many more who need protection and a safe place to sleep, where there are mentally ill people roaming Roseau. Dont be blinded by the smoke ppl seriously. This is yet another place jobs can be created in Dominica and what do you have 2 or 3 people to take care of 10 kids and its such an accomplishment for our PM ha!
    Granted i am greatful for the childrens home.. but people dont sit there asking why and how comes if you already know dont be blinded by the smoke kay? Wise up DA

    • Independent
      January 5, 2012

      @Hmp – ever heard of charity work? How about you lay off the complaining and contribute some of your time to helping out this great venture, maybe then more abuse children can be helped. Everything is not always about dollars and cents. I’m tired of pessimistic people like you complaining and not contributing.

  4. DE CARIBBEAN CHANGE,
    January 3, 2012

    All dem guys like Fontaine, Lennox lINTON, Matt Peltier, and so on need to be living in CHANCES.

  5. patriot
    January 3, 2012

    JOB WELL DONE AVA

    HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND MAY THE GOOD LORD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK BEING DONE.

  6. star
    January 2, 2012

    thats a fantastic move from Dominica…its not easy to just pick up children and put them in a home for all the ppl saying that their shouldbe more than 10…and as for the children on the streets some of them have become very involved in stealing and all of that i know of a few cases where persons tried housing them and they stole to bring back the money and items to their parent/s….i think in time we will have alot more children…what is the staffing number like…i would really love to volunteer myself and come spend time with the kids and help in any way that i can.

  7. JUSTICE
    January 2, 2012

    They need to take that guy from portsmouth and place him in this house. He would do MUCH MUCH better off than in a dog house. We must look into it

  8. Jespen
    January 2, 2012

    Can we please prepare a room for the young man from Portsmouth???/

  9. C. bruce
    January 2, 2012

    WHY IS THIS GUY TALKING ON EVERY ISSUE ALL OF A SUDDEN

    • LawieBawie
      January 2, 2012

      When he is silent you people are angry, when he speaks you people are angry. Poor man. Do he is damned, don’t do and he is still damned!

    • %
      January 2, 2012

      That’s what dictators do. The other ministers have to ‘Shut Up’.

    • POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
      January 2, 2012

      Very fishy indeed. SOMETHING’S HAPPENING SOON!!! Preparing for snap elections!!

      No Voters ID…………..No Election!!!

      • t savanne/ grand bay
        January 3, 2012

        YOU ALL PPL DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY AGAIN…CHANCES have always been close to PM’s heart…and even though we decide to hold whatever election, WE ARE READY!!!!

    • Malatete
      January 2, 2012

      …don’t you smell an election??

    • January 3, 2012

      SKERRIT IS NOT AFRAID
      HE KNOWS THAT HE CAN COUNT ON HIS BAND OF EMPTY HEADED SIMPLETONS OUT THERE, TO SUPPORT HIM; PRETTY MUCH LIKE KIM JUN IL AND KIM JUN UN IN NORTH KOREA

  10. a f
    January 2, 2012

    Can the children be adopted into family in france? Or by any forgien national?

  11. Dominican overseas
    January 2, 2012

    Mother Teresa
    We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.

    Can I get more info. On adoption or how I can help.

  12. Layou
    January 2, 2012

    Think about this nice story. It says that they have 10 children there. From passing on the streets the place it appears to be much bigger and from the stories I am hearing, many children are refused and rejected. So while we celebrate the joy of this place, let us ask ourselves why are so many children still in endangered homes, still on the streets and still in need of a home. I salute the idea of the place but I am sure many will agree that other children can benefit from the existence of a second ” CHANCE”.

  13. Anonymous
    January 2, 2012

    hopefully Cutley Joseph is in CHANCES!

    • POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
      January 2, 2012

      Let’s wait and see. He deserves a better home. It was heart-breaking to see Curtley’s photo on Dominica News Online. I was in a total state of shock and disbelief!

  14. January 2, 2012

    Its a very good move,Congratulations to all including the Government involved.Next is to remove the paros of the strreets and give them a home.

    • Callie
      January 2, 2012

      But there are children who are parros in the street in Roseau so why aren’t they at Chances.

      • Malatete
        January 2, 2012

        The sad fact, but nonetheless real Callie, is that at Chance these kids are not able to beg, make some money, either for themselves or for the grown ups that “employ” them, more often than not their own parent(s).

  15. tiny
    January 2, 2012

    10 children? …this place shoud have been filled…I wonder what we term abuse in Dominica..these 10kids are probably abandoned kids …so this is probably just a home for abandoned kids ..because from what I know happening ih homes hmm..you guys need to seriously step up

    • 767
      January 2, 2012

      Maybe is 10 Labour children! LOL

    • t savanne/ grand bay
      January 3, 2012

      get the fact straight please!!!!!!!!

  16. Dominican
    January 2, 2012

    I worked as a counsellor with abused women and children in canada, and am very impresses and fool of joy that something is being done for the many kids that may need a save haven to turn to.

  17. Satelite
    January 2, 2012

    Hello, people, what about this young man at Portsmouth who is living in an outhouse with the dogs, We all remember him right. Could he be housed at that institution as well. Yes CURTLEY, it’s time to commence some discussions on his behlaf in order to get him adequately taken care of.

    • Callie
      January 2, 2012

      Curtley is currently at the Portsmouth hospital. Curious minds wants to know why.

    • mia
      January 2, 2012

      Though Curtley may have the mind of a child, he is not a child. Housing a man with little children would bring a whole other set of problems. Isn’t there a home for the mentally handicapped? I thought there was one in Goodwill.

  18. DDMC
    January 2, 2012

    o yes i would love to adopt 1 can i have the number to the facility

  19. Anonymous
    January 2, 2012

    such a big house and only ten children living there?

    • Think
      January 2, 2012

      That does not mean there is only 10 room. AT present only ten are there

      • Callie
        January 2, 2012

        I heard that there are close to 40 rooms.

      • 767
        January 2, 2012

        To THINK:
        Anonyous did not say is 10 rooms in the building! THINK and READ before you comment.

    • Layou
      January 2, 2012

      very very interesting question. I want to know why so many more children are not living there when they are in need.

  20. POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
    January 2, 2012

    I hope this is truly a safe haven for these vulnerable children.

    I hope their carers are honest and give them the caring love of parents.

    I hope there are NO paedophile amongst the ‘so-called’ carers.

    I hope these children are not silently being abused at this institution.

    CONCERNED
    I hope it is not a vicious cycle for these vulnerable children.

  21. N. George
    January 2, 2012

    You know this article shows the type of people we Dominicans are. Here is a positive story reflecting on the actions of something good being done in Dominica, and from the time this story was posted on Sunday to today Monday, not one comment acknowledging the positivity. It is sad that we are only interested in the negativity, and will not support something good that is being done for the kids who are abused in Dominica. I am from Tete Morne but I dont live in Dominica. This is one of my news sources for what’s going on in Dominica. I don’t usually comment on stories because I don’t want to get caught up in all the bickering that’s going on.

    I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the operation of the Chances program in Dominica. Too often we see children getting abused in Dominica and we turn the other chick because it is like a norm in these parts. The children are the future of the country, and it is about time that we have a program to help those in need. We should never be afraid to speak up on abuse because believe it or not, it affects the future of our country. Once again congrates to everyone involved with the Chances program, and I hope the Chances program last.

    • Callie
      January 2, 2012

      What is Chance really about? Who is able to go there and why?

      • t savanne/ grand bay
        January 3, 2012

        the name is CHANCES…it is a TEMPORARY home for children who are at risk, abused, neglected, abandoned…age ranges from birth to eighteen…one can only stay there for up to six months…

        CHANCES is not a dumping ground where parents decide they can just dump their children when they want to go free up…there are criteria for placement there which can be explained to y’all by just calling the welfare division…

        lets stop the habit of jumping to conclusions about what we think is the answer to burning questions and instead seek to get the FACTS…

        once again,CHANCES is a temporary home and should not be used as an excuse to get rid of your children…

    • hope
      January 2, 2012

      …there are many children to be rescued but we have to start somewhere, and i am so happy that this project is on stream.

      I applaud all those whose insight and vision have made this project what it is, and I will when the time comes make my contribution to this place, because for me, this is one of the most commendable projects ever implemented on the island.

      May God bless and strengthen it overseers as they seek to make the world a better place for some of our little one. Thank you from my heart.

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