A town hall meeting held at the Salybia School, facilitated by the management of DOWASCO (Dominica Water and Sewerage Company), provided a platform for residents of the Kalinago Territory, Atkinson, and Antrizle to receive updates on the water rehabilitation project underway in their communities.
Mr. Bernard Etinoffe, the Manager of DOWASCO, commenced the meeting with a comprehensive overview of the project’s progress and the challenges encountered. He emphasized the significant costs involved in executing the project, particularly in areas with high elevations. Notably, the replacement of all pipes in the ‘Crapaud Hall’ area incurred a substantial expense exceeding five hundred thousand dollars. Since the project’s initiation last year, approximately forty-five thousand dollars have already been allocated towards pipe replacement. Despite the hurdles faced, Mr. Etinoffe expressed optimism about completing the project within the next five to six months.
The latter part of the meeting saw Mr. Etinoffe appealing to residents for cooperation and support in addressing a pressing issue—the outstanding debt of over 1.9 million dollars owed to DOWASCO by the Kalinago people. He underscored the necessity of these funds for sustaining the company’s operations and improving the water system. However, he acknowledged the challenges faced by the Kalinago community in adapting to utility bill payments, a concept previously unfamiliar to them.
Traditionally accustomed to sourcing water from natural springs and ravines, the transition to metered water consumption presents a paradigm shift requiring time and education. The introduction of indoor plumbing without adequate awareness of water conservation further exacerbates the issue, leading to unexpectedly high bills that many residents find difficult to afford amidst prevailing poverty and financial constraints.
Despite the financial strain, Mr. Etinoffe assured residents of DOWASCO’s willingness to collaborate and devise feasible payment plans to alleviate the burden. The company remains committed to providing uninterrupted access to water while exploring mutually beneficial solutions through transparent negotiation processes.
change the name of Dominica to Wai’tu kubuli and see how much sense this makes.
Mark, on another subject you drew to my attention that Dominica, has plenty of money, and you reference me to approximately 40,000 motor vehicles on the island to convince me.
So, I asks you; how come if there is a source of employment, generating so much wealth in the country how come a handful of Carib Indians owe so much on their utility bills?
The population of the Carib Indians (Kalinago) is approximately three thousand people; so if we do this: 1,900,000.00/3,000.00 = 633.33.
So, in reality we are talking about a mega amount of $633.33 each Kalinago owes
How long are they owing that amount? Mark, some people who are Roosevelt yard fouls benefit from the sale of passports money; if one can kiss Roosevelt but, they benefit from his corruption financially.
Nevertheless, examples as this exposes the fact that there are no bed of roses in the country, people are suffering, the Indians can’t pay their bills, because they do not have any source of income!
I came to write my piece, but I see y’all already got this. Safe Carnival everyone
Not Louis Hill, the biggest Kalinago in the Territory after Cozier and the Chief, that is the Chairman of the Board at Dowasco?
Electricity and Internet/TV I can understand. But in MY opinion, I don’t believe the legitimate residents in the Kalinago Territory should be made to pay for water. Work with DOMLEC in a way to collect a $5 monthly service fee on DOWASCO’s behalf. Note: I stress on the ‘MY’ before opinion eh.
Did you re-read this before posting?
Huh?! Ah yes, it is really Carnival season, DNO. People cannot think straight.
@Peeping Tom
Of course it’s carnival season. Reasons why you are shamelessly out. You can pay all your utilities, and still have a large chunk in reserve. So you like it so. You certainly dont care a dam who cannot pay.
It’s carnival season.
Why shouldn’t they pay for water?
You, see that is; if not one of Dominicas major problem!
Everybody like to get everything for free, free housing, free food, free utilities; forget about work, all we have to do is bow to the (god)Roosevelt Skerrit, and he will provide.
Every nation, functioning nation on the planet, survives on the the taxes people pay, be it the two most important which are property and income tax.
In addition people pay taxes on everything they buy, luxury tax on the very expensive cars to yacht, and everything money buys!
For that is the reason there must be jobs creation, and employment; no job opportunities means there will forever be people in Dominica buried in poverty unable to function as normal people all because no job opportunity.
There are no free lunch in no other country on the planet: only in Dominica Roosevelt gives people the reason to believe they are entitled to a life of everything free!
Other areas and communities will soon be owing this amount or more.
The entire nation is broke, except about 2 or 3% of passport sellers and their friends.
Thats how Skerrit’s Chi-Chi leadership of lies, deceit and deception has wrecked havoc in the country.
d government giving free houses to live in and d same government must pay their water and light bills for them….who should you go to jesus…go and pray….no u must come to Jesus skerrit….what a clown….kalinagos should not pay….let d PM pay it….this man is setting a very terrible precidence….begg and u will get….and then just vote for me…..
Are you jealous and angry that you do not qualify for a “free house?” I mean, when the French man gives our brethren in Gwada hundreds of Euros each month for breeding and for occupying space on Earth even though all they do each day is sit and smoke, you say Gwada is sweet. You say “De French taking care of dere people.” Yet, when my Government decades to help out Dominicans in need you wickedly call them “beggers?”
Huh! Really? And they cutting man water elsewhere if you a month in arrears?
Ah-con-dee Blueblue on Matt, on another note:
Dawsco is owned in whole by the government and so the Kalinagos should not pay no patat water bill. For what? Thats our/ their country with 365 rivers. Dowasco should be charging a “service fee” that is reasonable ($5.00??) just for delivering the water. Plus the government has created a environment of mendicancy in the territory so Cozier better ask his Pappie (SOS) to transfer the money to Dowasco on behalf of the original people of the land.
If election was coming the water bills would have already been paid but nooooo its not election time so my people on their own. In the first place why did it have to get to one million before a community consultation? Fire Ettinoff! Anyway, everybody BROOKES so Dowasco on their own. If Dowasco just cut one person water up there look out because it will be dee-fay!
“However, he acknowledged the challenges faced by the Kalinago community in adapting to utility bill payments, a concept previously unfamiliar to them.”
Garcon, is NOOOOWWWW people switch to utility bill payment? you get a service… you pay for it.. This should have been explained to the people of the territory beforehand…. now ya’ll want to come and look for 2M… Strupes… people cannot afford to buy a bottle of rum but ya’ll asking for 2M 🙃
Firstly, over what period are they owing this total of 1.9M dollars that would be very important to disclose.
Water is a basic necessity and if folks in the Kalinago territory owes this huge amount to DAWSCO, it is not because they don’t want to pay. What I think is they don’t have the financial ability to pay which is a clear reflection of the poor economical environment in the country.
So I believe the more pertinent discussion is with the GOVT in charge of the country.
They don’t owe anything first of all Waitukubuli is theirs and the government should be paying for all utilities in the territory
That’s bullcrap. Waitukubuli might be theirs but DOMINICA is for all of us. There is no longer any “Waitukubuli”, it doesn’t exist on any political map. They have no claim to the country.
They already getting free land and all kind of government hand outs on taxpayers back and now they should get free utility too? The water exists in the country but it costs money to build pipes, pump water and pay workers to maintain the system. The rivers and springs and whatever they got their water from still exists.
It sounds more to me like these people have a problem managing resources
“They already getting free land and all kind of government hand outs on taxpayers back and now they should get free utility too?”
Well-said!!
your name really suit you.
thé whole country belonged to thé people before it was stolen brother.
name thé “all kind of hand outs” them people getting.Please éducate me.
now thé président of Dominique is kalinago,Cosier is kalinago and plus théy have a chief all to thé benefit of your laboo party.
sée? Everything is being stolen from thé people.
We know…….We liké it so!
Ah wa, not with our jumbie money. Remember, Skerrit money is “jumbie money so, doh take it!” You guys are a special kind of pathetic.
The first Kalinago President surely has the means to pay this. Corruption is catching up with the CM fast.
The economy is presently in the dog house. Most of the Kalinago residents are dirt poor because of the lack of jobs. These people are so broke that they can’t even pay attention.
What is the newly installed president doing for her people? Where is the advocacy on their behalf? Water is life. We should provide some sort of relief for the poorest of the poor.
The millions that have been spent monthly on the rented palace for Roosevelt and family state-sponsored champagne lifestyle should be used to cover the water bills for most of these desperately impoverished Kalinago people.
Pictures say a thousand words. check out the minister. See the level of attention. Many people don’t realize that non verbal communication relays more information than verbal communication. I can tell this guy could care less about what is being discussed. His attention is elsewhere.
first thing I observed, and I was livid…
it does go to show, he don’t give a rats behind.
total disrespect to the people who elected him.
these politicians do not give a %#$@&!# about anyone but themselves and their pockets.
Blessed Assurance 🙌 😇 🙏
“approximately forty-five thousand dollars have already been allocated towards pipe replacement.” Hello! Be transparent and give the exact figures. How you embark on such a “meeting” driving all the way from Roseau without the evidence and proof of the amount you stated. Approximately could be half or three quarters of what you are projecting. Go back home and do your homework and come again.