Minister for Housing and Urban Development Melissa Poponne-Skerrit has revealed that a total of 240 homes are currently being constructed under the Government’s Housing Recovery Project.
She made the disclosure during a handing over ceremony of keys to 21 families in Scotts Head on Monday.
“I want to remind everyone today that these homes were built with funds from the [Citizenship By Investment] CBI Programme and it’s not just here, we have many other housing sites under construction across Dominica, all funded by the CBI Programme,” she said. “About 240 units are under construction.”
Just last week, the government handed over 16 homes to several families of Eggleston.
“And I want to say that it doesn’t end here,” Poponne-Skerrit stated.
Furthermore, she said more Dominicans from various communities on the island are set to benefit from the Government’s Housing Recovery Project.
The areas include: Woodford Hill, Canefield, Penville, Paix Bouche, Vieille Case, Trafalgar, Pointe Michel, Dubique, and Grand Bay.
“Your turn is coming very soon,” Poponne-Skerrit revealed. “Before the end of the year.”
She continued, “In Pointe Michel, we have about 18 new homes, and we have an additional 7 homes under the Housing Recovery Project, which is ready to be handed over to the people of your constituency.”
Additionally, she stated that a total of 91 homes island-wide are ready to be handed over under the same Housing Recovery Project.
i was waiting to hear her say is she and her husband dat pay for de houses
Boy I had one bad dream eh
I wake up in time
Dear Prime Minister Skerrit,
I wish to express a concern shared by many citizens regarding our reliance on the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program as a primary revenue source. While the CBI has significantly benefited Dominica over the past decade, generating over a billion dollars for housing and infrastructure, many of us believe it is not a sustainable long-term solution.
After years of the CBI program, it’s crucial to ask: what are the plans for transitioning Dominica to a more diversified economy? What strategies are in place to create sustainable jobs for our young and middle-aged citizens? While housing is vital, addressing this area alone falls short of our broader development goals.
I recently heard Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s remarks on CBI programs, emphasizing that Barbados will never sell its citizenship. Her perspective is worth considering. I encourage you to engage with her and other CARICOM leaders to explore alternative revenue strategies that do not rely on citizenship sales.
Respectfully,
Concerned Citizen
Yes i CBI money flowing like water… no mention of the world bank funds for housing? Anyway hold all the receipts for the court..
Boss, “World Bank funds” come in different forms…loan, grant, part loan. With regards to our “World Bank funds” housing for Dominica, Dominica (yes, you and I, a.k.a CBI money) pays up to 50% of the cost of these houses, directly and indirectly. Get this through your thick skull.
And get this too: The only reason the World Bank is gifting or loaning us money is because they have confidence in the leadership of Rossevelt Skerrit. Go ask de sticky Finger of the UWPwee if you don’t believe me.
Dear Miss Popot
You lied, lied, and lied about government funding a housing project that was in fact funded by the World Bank. Give me half a good reason to believe you. I wonder if you even know what is going on with the CBI.
@ Commentator, you can start by educating yourself, there is a housing program that is financed by the world Bank. However, the housing projects at Georgetown, Cotton Hill, Castle Bruce, Morne Jaune/Riviera Cyrique, Bellevue, Jimmit, Roseau (next to the Grammar School), Giraudel, Scotts Head, Grandbay and some others are all financed by the CBI.
@ Malick, how is the birthright of Dominicans been exploited could you explain. Or is your statement just sour grapes. Nothing tangible you say?! Hotels, health centers, hospitals, university training for students, stipend to those 65 and over who do not qualify for social security, the yes we care program that caters for the elderly persons that have been neglected, extention of the Douglas Charles Airport, support for the geothermal project, the aerial tram which will soon be completed, the ongoing construction of the Marina in Portsmouth and the International Airport at Wesley. These are all tangible projects that can be seen and touched. I did not even mention the housing program.
It’s always a curiosity when politicians forget their own records as though a promise spoken becomes null once the echo dies. One such curiosity arose with the PM. To call his statement astounding would be to understate the matter, for it wasn’t an idle critic on a street corner who said it; but a Minister of government, indeed the PM.
Mrs Skerrit, could you lovingly ask your husband to account for the CBI monies so I can laugh at Mr Linton??? Please don’t let me die before I get my final laugh. I beg, beseach, implore you.
He promised more than 2,555 days ago and still has not deliverd. Thank you very much.
Go read the Budget Address and accompanying details on the Estimates for 2025 2026. All the information that you need regarding the use of CBI money is there in black and white, readily available on the website of the Ministry of Finance. Have a look. Be warned, though, you will not be happy at what you will find.
Thank you for reminding those who wish to forget that this housing initiative is fully Dominican-owned and driven.
I don’t understand how people find this model is sustainable? How can any nation continue to exploit the birthright of its citizens like this for so long.
This is mind boggling
By now there should have been a few factories that is sustaining employing Dominicans across the board. There is nothing tangible to show for this exploitation.
@ Malick, how is the birthright of Dominicans been exploited could you explain. Or is your statement just sour grapes. Nothing tangible you say?! Hotels, health centers, hospitals, university training for students, stipend to those 65 and over who do not qualify for social security, the yes we care program that caters for the elderly persons that have been neglected, extention of the Douglas Charles Airport, support for the geothermal project, the aerial tram which will soon be completed, the ongoing construction of the Marina in Portsmouth and the International Airport at Wesley. These are all tangible projects that can be seen and touched. I did not even mention the housing program.
So you just build homes? and people have to come and ask for a home? How about the people who want to earn a decent wage, why can’t we get proper jobs, or a factory or things to create oppurtunities in the couuntry. Too many idle young men turning to drugs, give us work, not just hand out.
Yah so where the rest of the money going then ?
How much money passing under the table into ministers hands to give the locals a little contract ?
Why is it always the same builders that getting the contracts ? And they always hand in hand with there park reps
Why can’t that money be used to build infrastructure on the island like the roads. Water and so on.
When are we gonna stop paying ur rent for u in the big house u all said was for only 6 months ?
When are you gonna close the candy shop u have in the apartments by the river grammar school area and have your security detail picking up stuff on the port for u and dropping it there ?
WHEN IS THAT STORE YOU HAVE IN TOWN GOING TO SHUT DOWN ? NOBODY EVER IN THERE BUT IT ALWAYS MAKING A BIG PROFIT
The people are only temporary dwellers in these houses built and paid with them one from teams of their parents” patrimony.
These impoverished Dominicans will live in a better house but are still dispossessed. What’s the real reason for depriving the occupants of ownership? The answer is to make them everlastingly indebted to the habitual Liar (Roosevelt).
Melissa neither you nor your lying husband are doing Dominicans a favour. You are doing your job, and doing it very, very badly at that. Am i supposed to clap? Where is the accounting of the CBI funds Skerrit had to present to Honourable Linton? If we had a proper government that was not corrupt, how many more houses would have been built?
In summary Melissa, talk foolishnes to your fools, not to me.
Have you ever thought of building houses where the red benches are located?
MEME
MEME ease up on my good friend Melissa, remember she is not too bright. Trump is the biggest liar on earth. Melissa and Roosevelt the greatest Lying couple on the planet.
It’s nothing to be proud of – selling passports to fund projects. This government has been in power long enough to have created proper industrial and service sectors. Instead, it relies on overseas grants, private individuals building hotels and tourist services with their own money, and the unlimited sale of Dominica passports – now more sold than the actual population of the island. CBI is a solution for a lazy government to fund construction projects which in turn facilitate financial corruption.
Very insightful comments! This is no novice administration, twenty plus straight years at the helm of government. Yet, relying exclusively on the sale of passports, grants, alms and pity for development and sustainability. The lives of the inhabitants would be in serious if the sale of passports flops or the Chinese for whatever reason(s) decide to discontinue their assistance. SMDH thinking about it.
200 homes built selling our birth rite without no input ,discussion or transparency,my bad,for a second there I thought we lived in a democracy,silly me