Plans are afoot for Petite Savanne evacuees to retrieve some of their belongings from their storm ravaged community in the south of the island, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said.
Over 500 residents were evacuated from the community, because it was deemed unsafe after the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, leaving most of their possessions behind.
Those evacuees are being housed in various private homes and the shelters including the Dominica Grammar School.
Skerrit stated that progress is underway to access the ravaged community, which remains cut off from the rest of Dominica.
“As we speak we are making progress in our forward march to access Petite Savanne and that is in an effort to see how we can facilitate a number of residents who have their properties, their movable properties there and they would like to get them out – how we can facilitate them in getting them out,” he said.
He said once access is established, “we will work with the residents in a coordinated, organized fashion to get them to have access to some of their movable belongings and property.”
The police have said they are maintaining a presence in the community to deter the stealing of properties left behind.
Oh my God,This can be very Horrible especially when memories of dead families are on their hearts i really dont think thats a good idea.
It is going to be a difficult task for the people of Petite Savanne to go back retrieve their belongings. I hope a counselling-team is in place for the traumatic process that will be taking place. i wish them the best in the relocation process. God bless Dominica. It will rise again.
This is not how it should be done.
Trusted professional rescuers and Government employees should be the ones retrieving, transporting and distributing the items to the Petite-Savanne flood victims based on a list collated from our brothers and sisters of Petite-Savanne.
Sending in these traumatised affected population of Petite Savanne back to the damaged zone is as bad a decision as sending Dr. Kenneth Darroux in a helicopter to Petite Savanne “not only as the Parl Rep but as a Medical Doctor to provide medical attention to his constituents”
We saw the results of this decision on Dr. Darroux who admitted on DBS Radio that he “broke down”. Let us not repeat the same old mistakes and do this in a professional manner.
Are you crazy,, sending other people to collect belongs. The people of Petite Savanne would not want that thank you very much.
From the time you start a sentence with this is how it should be done… ears and eyes close.
I feel for them, their emotional trauma on returning. We must expect their emotional reaction.
When they arrive at Petite Savanne, they will see and decide what they would like to retrieve. Probably not all their belongings are salvageable.
As difficult as we visualize it will be for them, they must return to retrieve what they can. They must pray for strength. Of course, they will have the support of others in the same situation and professionals who will accompany them. They will not be alone in this.
Most of all, God will be with them and surround them.
Their experience was not an easy one. I can imagine how touching and difficult it will be for them when they return to retrieve their belongings.
Petite Savanne people, pray to God for strength. He will see you through. You are in the prayers of Dominicans, near and far. God bless you and strengthen!
The words of a religious song come to my mind:
Through it all, through it all
Oh I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Through it all, through it all
Oh I’ve learned to depend upon His Love
Faith, hope and trust in God! He is with you and covering you under his mantle of love and compassion.
Brace yourself folks it’s going to be traumatizing
I hope that hey will be able to locate their stuff. The waters may have washed everything away. Not fun starting from square one again.
It’s gonna be tough for them to see their home and maybe be seeing it for the last time. And knowing that loved ones are there but they never got to see them to say goodbye.
Hold tight guys. God is love.
Yes it will be hard.
aye long I saying when they was going to make them pple go for their stuff … I am glad it’s being done… kudos to you PM.
Kudos for what? There is a country that needs to rebuild. This could be handled by the community development minister together with the Parliamentary Representative for the area but Mr. Skerrit things he controls all ministry
Depend on some negative people to spoil everything. Where is your love and compassion?
Everything will happen in time. Dominica got hurricane David and it recovered.
It is also your country. You must pray rather than look at it negatively and criticize.
People as you delay the progress. You are not giving it your encouragement and blessings. In so doing, you deny yourself God’s blessing and graces. One day you will pay for that.