This is a statement from Chief of the Carib Council, Garnette Joseph, pertaining to the status of the newly-constructed houses in the Kalinago Territory, and responding to recent statements that Minister Graneau made to Kairi FM. – Carib Council
Last week, I received a call from Kairi-FM asking me to comment on the status of the houses constructed in the Kalinago Territory with money received from the Venezuelan Government.
I found out after the fact that the Minister of Carib Affairs, Ashton Graneau, had responded to my statement. The nature and content of some of Mr. Graneau’s statement are particularly disturbing and seem to be founded upon a fundamental misunderstanding of the authority of the Council as it pertains to Reserve land. I, therefore, feel a response is necessary to clarify the record.
In his comments, Mr. Graneau repeatedly stated that the Carib Council seems to have misinterpreted its mandate regarding allocation of the houses. He also stated that the keys to the houses would be handed over to the Ministry of Carib Affairs – not the Council – and that the Council would have a role to play, but only after Carib Affairs received the keys and – it was implied – that only after a decision regarding allocation of the houses was made at the Ministry level.
First, Mr. Graneau’s suggestion that the Council has misinterpreted its mandate demonstrates, at best, a complete ignorance of the provisions of the Carib Act that vest the Council with “sole custody, management, and control” over Reserve lands, and at worst, represents an attempt by Carib Affairs to evade, undermine and disregard the statutory mandate granted to the Council.
Under the Carib Act, the Council, among other things, not only is mandated with “sole custody, management and control” of the land “for and on behalf of the residents of the Reserve,” but it has the right to settle disputes over the land and the property situated on that land, to levy taxes and charges on structures, and to allot lands or buildings. These rights and others similar in nature, indicate that the Council’s authority over the land extends to the property and structures erected on the land.
Therefore, any attempt by government to marginalize the Council’s role as it pertains to the houses, by completely excluding the Council from the consultation process regarding the criteria and manner in which houses will be allocated, violates the provisions of the Carib Act. The Council will not silently stand by and watch the government erode the Carib Act and the authority that the Act vests with the Council.
Second, despite the severe shortage of adequate housing in the Territory, Mr. Graneau stated that the houses have not yet been allocated because there are still some finishing touches that are being made to the houses, but that these should be complete, and the houses allocated, by Christmas.
The reality, however, is that the majority of houses, in fact, are complete, and have been for some time. And while a few houses may have minor work remaining, there is nothing preventing the allocation of houses to families on a rolling basis. People who have applied for the houses ask me all the time when the houses will be allocated and ask about the reason for the delay. The Council does not even know whether the Government has established the criteria for allocation of the houses, and suspects that this is the cause of the delay. But, even so, there are persons who were promised a house by the Government because they gave up their land for the construction of the houses – why have those persons not been given their houses yet? There is no reason to keep them waiting. So to suggest that the houses will be allocated sometime around Christmas is entirely unacceptable. I must ask, what is the delay? Why has this process not been expedited? And why the lack of transparency?
To date, neither the Ministry of Housing nor the Ministry of Carib Affairs has responded to the Council’s proposal regarding allocation of the houses – which was submitted on 17 May 2010. And repeated attempts by the Council to commence a dialogue with the Ministry of Carib Affairs and collaborate on a joint proposal to Cabinet have been obstructed by Carib Affairs.
Specifically, in early June, after having reviewed the Council’s proposal, Mr. Graneau agreed to meet with the Council to discuss the proposal and collaborate to present the Cabinet with a joint proposal submitted by Carib Affairs and the Carib Council. Despite this promise, Mr. Graneau never met with the Council to collaborate. Instead, on 12th August, 2010, at a meeting called by Carib Affairs with the Council and the heads of the Development Committees for the different hamlets in the Territory, the Council learned, for the first time, that Carib Affairs had submitted a competing proposal to the Ministry of Housing.
At that meeting, Mr. Graneau conceded that a copy of the Carib Affairs’ proposal was never provided to the Council and that the agreed-to collaboration between Carib Affairs and the Council never took place. However, Mr. Graneau asserted that such a collaboration could still occur, and agreed to provide a copy of the Carib Affairs’ proposal by 16 August, 2010, and to meet with the Council on 19 August, 2010. Again, despite this agreement, Carib Affairs and Mr. Graneau have not, to date, provided the Council with a copy of their competing proposal or met with the Council to discuss the houses.
Rather than working in concert with the Carib Council, the Ministry of Carib Affairs has chosen to compete with the Council, and I do not think that this approach by Carib Affairs is the most effective way to represent the Kalinago people.
Third, Mr. Graneau’s statement seems to suggest that the Carib Council must act and liaise with the Government only through the Ministry of Carib Affairs. Obviously, since the Carib Act, vesting authority with the Council, predates the creation of the Ministry of Carib Affairs, no such requirement exists at law. And I must ask, why is Mr. Graneau seeking to censor and curtail the Council’s ability to directly communicate with other government ministries when none of the other local governing bodies, meaning the village councils, are required to do the same? And why should the Council be limited to working and communicating through the Ministry of Carib Affairs when that entity has refused to share information, collaborate, communicate, and work in concert with the Council?
Ultimately, any decisions made regarding the houses must involve the participation of the Carib Council, and the Council urges Mr. Graneau and the Government to sit down with the Council at once to resolve these issues so that the Kalinago people can immediately receive their houses.
Thank you sir!!
@STAFFEE: Yes hungry for power because i don’t tolerate theives. i don’t tolerate party politics in the kalinago affaires. Now it is time for new blood in leadership for the carib territory cause it does not belong to the Auguiste, Fredericks and joseph. Every individual knows what is going within the territory. During the cheif campagne the present cheif said that it is because of cheif williams that’s why the New health facilitty is being kept locked, he also said that they would speedily open the kalinago FM station , said that williams can’t work with govt. now who is keeping things back? we need some with atleast a degree in managment to handle the affaires of the territory. If you are capable i’m there to support u. you need to find the short comings of our leaders before u say that someone is hungry for power. I am not hungry. if u are let me know so that i could stretch a hand to u. i will be more than happy to do so.
@My View:
Well said. Support you with, “one leader,chief & parl. to represent the Caribs!”
@Kharib:
Why are you all so hungry for power?
When elected, cann’t do a shit!
@concerned: sorry to disappoint you. I already have my house. I do not need any government to give me house my friend. I work for what i have and an very satisfied……go send your maypwee at who you see in the mirror.
@concerned:
Well; well; well.
What goes around comes around!
It is very unfortunate that the kalinago people have allowed themselves to fall at such low level, kalinago people are the original indigenousn people and they have the right of first claim, that is backed by the I L O CONVENTION 169 which is incorporated in the Dominica law, this right is further supported by the United Nations declaration, on the rights of the indigenous people, signed by the government of Dominica, they have the Carib Act #25/90, Chief Williams tried his best to educate them but you know what, they prefered the red shirt, the red flag, the big music, couple sheets of ply wood, and a few dollars more, Lets now go to the next level.
Well i thought Mr Joseph said he was going to have a much smoother relationship with central government, than the former chief and he was going to work hand in hand with the ministry of Carib affairs, i am appauled to see that you are fighting each other, WHAT’S WRONG?
@funnyface27:
you do not know what you are applauding, the past council’s plan was to make the houses available to the people at minamal cost not exceeding $20,000.00; this council with chief joseph want to make his own people pay for the houses over eighty thousand dollars for the houses, with a minimum deposit of ten thousand dollars, through the Marigot Credit Union, that is where the controversy started, forcing the government to come in, good governance chief!!!! you are all one and the same people, skerrit and graneau put you there.
@looking in from the outside:
but you wont get a house though boom boom fly
@Kalinago: we do have alot of coments but let’s stick to facks we are fighting in carib territory it’s all political people cannot come togeather cause their views are not the same on the pollitical spectrum and we forget what is the best interest of the people let’s stop and think a little what is best for for the carib territory not ine set of people let’s pull other brother and sister up our thinking needs to change as a people we the people need to show our displesure by the way things are being handled stop looking at people to do for us we have more educated persons in territory rite now but things seems to stay the same the problem is with us look at ourselves ask yourself how can i make this place better am i really trying my best you might not have land title but you have land on a saturday how many people from carib territory you see at the market plant the land people got to eat food must sell stop crying step up but me being from the territory my people is like crab in the bucket they don’t want you to do better if am not telling the truth spend a day up there.
lol….but what they complaining about?
Them fellas pass and put 2000 dollars in all bars for drinks whole day, whole night….
party done now?….reality start to kick in?
ah bordah zor…
no cement for community service…
no reduction in port charges…
solid waste need to stand on their own and doh depend on government…
no reduction in cost of living…
housing revolution on hault…
small business support unit still taking applications but cya make payments for applications made since March of 2009…..
and the Saga continues on the next level.
The carib people had an opportunity to vote for a Deputy PM instead they chose to vote for a junior
member of the DLP. They chose the crumbs instead of the whole. They must now work it out. Why should Skerrit give them the houses to distribute when the whole idea was to give the houses to DLP supporters. Skerrit is a realist.
THANK YOU I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR SO LONG……………..AND I WISH THEY HURRY
GIVE TITLES…. WELL SAID
Who discovered this piece of land, WAITIKUBULI? KALINAGO? Do the authorities have any respect for ‘The FIRST PEOPLES’ of this Country? A few politicians have just come on the scene, other persons in public and private Offices amassing huge assets in quick time though all kinds of controversial means. On the other hand 1/2 of the KALINAGO population are poor. Many are extremely poor. It is a common strategy now by Govt. to undermine Village Councils, Urban Councils, the Carib Council. None will be spared. The CARIB COUNCIL need to reflect on their history, continue to be resilient, take courage from the consistent struggles of their ancestors, make their voices resonate in all corners, and ensure that the Council’s mandate is not thrown aside. Do it for the good of KALINAGO. You will be rewarded ten fold. Show Graneau and others with deceitful actions they can never be KALINAGO’S Boss.
This is not a DLP issue/Skerrit issue, so you UWP goons on this board better understand this Carib situation before writing stupid comments.
I think the Carib Reserve governance is good in some respect I think their constitution needs to be tweaked. I think the people withing this community should have the power and independence to buy land and have tittle and deed to their property. That will improve their financial standing…they can take loans against their asset and invest.
In its present form I don’t think they can…correct me if I am wrong. This is the reason why year after year we have some Carib acting as Chief and Indian….call me insensitive, but thats how I have been seeing it from the time I became a Dominican so 30 plus years ago.
Unless they integrate into central government, these situations will occur and rear its ugly head year after year after year…and will happen regardless of which party is in power.
Kapiche
first of all, that reserve none sense should be abolished and give those people their certificate of title so they can build and take loans.. the reserve ideology will surely keep them in poverty and dependant on government or should i say skerrit….
@ my view well said. I see no reason for a Minister of Carib Affairs to begin with. According to the Carib Act the council and carib chief are voted to take care of the issues and needs of the carib people. This is just plain duplication of portfolios/authority. Is it a favour the government is doing to the carib people by having a carib affairs minister? In my opinion his services can be used somewhere else in the government service. How oftern do issues relating to the carib people come up anyway? 365 days a year?
@The Third Side:
some of all you dominicans too ignorant and racist. we have our issues let the chief handle them and ofcourse we should not abide under dominican laws but ours we were there first. lennox honeychurch will sell all you to slave masters.
@Concerned Citizen:
well said 100% supportive you not ignorant like the rest of the black dominicans that take our issues for theirselves thus bringing in racism. In this day and age we are one people
@Carib Power:
double power and representation is better but they just have to work hand in hand AND MR. GRANEAU should not bend his head for the government to advantage of us
This Carib Council can’t be trusted. It is this same Carib Chief who can’t account for thousands of poor people money In the Carib Territroy.
Is the statement of the Chief genuine????
Well Well Well people. Keep bashing each other on DNO
NO CARIB COUNCIL …….. NO CARIB ACT ………….. NO LAW ……. NO DOMINICA CONSTITUTION
…… will prevent “I” the government from giving the houses to those who don’t need it ………….
the Carib Chief can . . . GO TO HELL . . . ITS NONE OF HIS DAMN BUSINESS
Well said Garnet. But you see, the majority of carib people are gullible.They will not see through Ashton and his government.
Now i’m pleased to know what is going on because it is the same government that wanted Garnette to be elected for cheif instead of Mr williams because the government claimed that they could not work with MR Williams. Now that they have created a monster and can’t feed it it will now turn back against them. For persons who don’t know the fact. The houses within the carbterritory was first handed over to the carib council. The manner in which the carib council wanted to distribute the houses was not going down well so the government had to take it over. That is the price the council wanted the people to pay was not a reasonable. Also what they wanted to do is to give the house to the people at a certain price but in case of death the remaining family would have to again pay for the house. PURE RUBBISH by this council. there are alot of stories to this housing scheme and i think the media needs to investigate it before causing persons to be mislead by what the minister says and what the cheif say. I think this present cheif has no leadership traits and the kalinago people should start looking for someone that can represent them at the highest level. Please cheif If you have started saving for when u leave office save enough cause u will nevver be elected again. I’m going to compete against u this time
One love Kalinago peoples
In order for real development to occur in the Carib place, Council and Carib Affairs need to work with each other. But the overnite politician, Graneau and his Skerrite Govt. seemed to have a different agenda.
Technically, the houses will be given to only voters and supporters of the party!
Others wait and suffer still! What a life to live in Dca.
@Kalinago: @Kalinago:
Apparently kallinago, they rejected you on the council and you are just jealous.
Why didn’t you write an “easy” essay for him as you wrote!
I believe that all those niche groups in the Reserve is causing too much of confusion, the territory should have one leader and no other leader.
well said Best Interest, the carib people deserve better than this lil houses, am a support of the government and i dont like it at all how the government and the minister of carib are doing, the council should be the front in the this. the houses should be way better than that. am beginning 2 turn now. the way the government going they will fall.
@Fairplay:
They did not negotiate for the houses but it is their land. No one can just go into the Carib Terrirtory and do what they want without consulting with the Carib council. this rule is known for years, why is this government ignoring it. This is total disrespect. And instead of the Minister working with the Kalinago people he is working against them. Shame on you Mr. Minister, after those people voted you into office, that`s the payment they are receiving….
kalinago. essay is spelt ESSAY
As a member of the Kalinago Tribe, i have an issue and i would like it to be clarified:
First and foremost, a well written document Chief Joseph.
According to the Carib Act, the land is commonly owned.The council has the mandate over all of the land and the properties that are erected on this land. According to your statement in your first point, you said so. I agree totally as i have some knowledge of the Carib Act.
In your second point you went on to say that persons gave up “their land” for the construction of these houses and are yet to be given their houses by the Government.
My question is, was it the persons right to give up “their land” or was it the right of the council to do so? Who should have given the Government the right to construct these houses?
Mr Graneau my family, you need to educate yourself on the Carib Act and you need to work hand in hand with the Carib Council so as to make the Carib Reserve (Carib Territory) a better place for all concerned, and do not forget Concord (Tuna Village), over the river.
@The Third Side:
U ought to be damned shamed of yourself. It is Carib land. Check the history books. They have a right to say what goes on there. Some of us Dominicans are just so intolerant. Where u r probably sitting on a piece of land that you own. They do not. So give them what is theirs and shut the hell up.
problem is none of these fellars are Caribs or kalinagros but BATA caribs
well, what does the next head of Carib Affairs has to say to that? As the latest commodity of skerrit out of the territory, does she has anything to say about the financial facility? that “housing campaign” strategy was the result of the misappropriation of the Venezuelan fund intended for the financial facility. I truely thought she hard Chief Joseph in her corner and would shut him up after they helped in his campaign. well i must concede there is some integrity left in the council. stand up! chief, dont give up the fight. The next move is to make amendments to the carib Acts, it is truely deficient considering it was written by those outside and not with our intervention. Our kalinago lawyers on the scene to help with that. they got your back…
@Kalinago: the rejoicing which came with Joseph’s win meant something to the people, they had chosen him to be their voice and to utilize his mode of helping with development. The proposal was in an effort to ensure that the housing program would be ongoing and not simply that the Govt would give away the houses, it was meant to be sustainable in a sense so others who also needed homes would not rely on the govt but rather the council would have a part to play in helping others benefit. I would hardly consider that a move against the people.
Do we really need a Minister of Carib Affairs?
On January 4, 2009 Ashton Graneau was sworn in as the new “Minister of Carib Affairs.” This is the second time a minister has been sworn in that portfolio. This means that there was a minister for that past five years.
The question we have to ask ourselves is, does having a minister of Carib Affairs have any impact on the Carib people?
The history of the Caribs in Dominica is a long and distinguished one. Even before we were pushed to the small piece of land in Dominica now known as the Carib Territory, our ancestors populated the entire Lesser Antilles and fought against the Europeans so fiercely that we were termed ‘savages.’ If this struggle against foreign domination were being fought in modern times, we would be termed ‘terrorists’ instead.
After our monumental struggle against superior forces and technology the Caribs were given the present Carib Territory which H. Hesketh Bell, administrator of Dominica, described in report in 1902 as “of the poorest description and practically worthless.”
At the end of March 1978 the Carib Reserve Act came into operation. Although the act has been amended on many occasions one of its hallmarks is the political recognition of the office of the Carib Chief. The office existed before and Mr. Bell spoke about it in his report but he also pointed out, “politically the Caribs are of no account.”
Hence the Carib Reserve Act put the Caribs and the Office of the Carib Chief on the ‘political map.’
In addition the Carib Reserve Act pointed out that a “Carib Reserve Council” be formed which is “is a local government body consisting of the Chief as Chairperson and 6 other elected members.”
The Carib Reserve Council was given special powers and they are as follows:
1) holding, managing and controlling the lands of the Carib Reserve on behalf of the residents of the area;
2) collecting and spending for the benefit of the area of all monies which under the law may be raised for that purpose, and
3) providing for the good government and improvement of the area.
Furthermore the Council has the “power to impose licences, rates, dues and fees within the boundaries of the Carib territory in respect of matters pertaining to any by-law.”
Although the Carib Reserve Act gave specific powers to the Carib Chief and the Council, it also made it clear that the Carib Territory is by no means autonomous or be seen as a ‘state within a state’ as “no by-law made by the Carib Council goes into operation unless it is approved by Cabinet.”
Although the Act pointed out that “the Government of Dominica is responsible for the overall planning and development of the Carib Reserve,” it left intact the age old Office of the Carib Chief. The Act made it clear that the affairs of the Carib people should be left in the hands of the Carib Chief and his Council.
These days the Office of the Carib Chief is being relegated more and more to a ceremonial one, while the real power, the power with teeth is in the hands of the Parliamentary Representative (Parl Rep). And on many occasions, the Carib Chief and the Parl Rep are at political odds, much to the detriment of the Carib People and the development of the Carib Territory.
The Minister of Carib Affairs was a promise made to the Carib people by the Dominica Labor Party during the 2005 election campaign. The promise was fulfilled after the party won the election but five years later there is nothing tangible in the Carib Territory to show the effectiveness of such a minister. What can the Minister do differently from the Parl Rep or the Carib Chief remains an unanswered question.
Furthermore, ministries are not etched in stone and the next government could simply get rid of The Minister of Carib Affairs.
In my opinion, any government that wants to work in a more in-depth way with the Carib people should make maximum use of the mechanism already in place for the governance of the Carib Territory. Appointing a Minister of Carib Affairs or even having a Parl Rep directly contradicts the spirit of the Carib Reserve Act and flies in the face of the historical institution of the Office of the Carib Chief.
Furthermore legislation should be put in place that makes the Carib Chief the automatic Parl Rep of the Carib Territory no matter which party wins a general election. The Office of the Carib Chief should be non-partisan and no political party should interfere with it and its election.
The present arrangement of having a Carib Chief, a Parl Rep and Minister (which is also the Parl Rep) has confused and blurred the boundaries of leadership and no one knows who is in charge of what or who does what. In addition it has polarized the Carib people as different political parties vie for influence in their bid to present a Parl Rep. This is done at the expense of development in the Carib Territory
What we need in the Carib Territory is one clear, distinct and independent leader who is answerable only to the Carib people and whatever government in power, not a plethora of leaders, some of which have to answer to their parties before making any decision on the development of the Carib Territory.
@kalinago you sound like a true traitor.dosent matter what problems the concil have among them the carib act must be observed. carefull! wid that attitude ,your children if u have any might not know a carib territory. and never wash your dirty clothes in public. stupppppppppes
@ third side,its not skerit that gave THE CARIB people land,go read the histroy and stopped your racist / descriminative comment.EDUCATE YOUSELF BEFORE U BREATH HOT AIR. Garnet stand up or next thing skerit will take the land and give to outsiders. we are unique thats why its reseved
land.
@The Third Side: shut up silly u carib ple desrve better than that , Y is it our fellow country man who were brought in as slaves who we fought to help free from their slave masters can own land title and we who own this country cant and we we our land
Anywhere in the world throughout history minorities have always been taken for a ride. The blacks in the united states of America no exception. Laws have to be respected it is not a matter of our opinions. We have to be careful how statements are made and people we should read, read read read. I remember once in Barbados a friend of mines told me look around, i asked” what” he told me look at the the whites and look at the blacks. I told him i did not observe anything. He said every white person had a book, and not one black was observed with a book, except with ipods and cameras. We blacks need to educate ourselves before we say things get the facts right. The Carib people have their cause to fight let them deal with it, i commend their efforts. They are a deprived nation, poor please folks stop making fun of them and making ourselves look better because of our insecurity. Its like we are looking for a stone to step on to make ourselves look better. If we were in their positions we would have done the same. I do not believe in race because that is one of our problems if i do i also believe in evolution which means that blacks. whites. Caribs Indians etc came separately. You know what that ultimately means? that i can say as a black man that i am supreme and the rest are foolish or stupid. we came from God created in his image. To the Caribs as long as you have a law go by the books and deal with you issues. comments can be directed at me
[email protected]
welcome to the next level people of the Carib Territory (Dominicans)…
Thanks for clarifying Mr Joseph, say it as it is and let others understand the rules, protocol is pertinent in matters such as these. Local politics gets the better of some at the expense of others, it never dies out but regardless lets operate as we ought to.
Mr Graneau i think u should let the ppl do thier ting cuz is oneset of ppl that does benifit from anything in the carib territory, before i left dominica i use to here concil fightin with each other but never hear minister fighting with concil, Chief Joesph is by far the best chief in a while and when he speaks what ever he says make sense and i believe we the kalinago ppl should be represented by Cheif Garnet Joesph in stead of ASH TON
@The Third Side: Obviously u didnt get the intended message of the stmt. bloody ignorant Dominican
Have it ever occurred to anyone that the Carib Council is not the easiest set of individuals to work with? Does anyone have a clue on what the Carib Council proposal in regards to distribution of the houses stated? Don’t be fooled by a well written Easy. The Carib Council is not as righteous as this well written easy is trying to portray.
Wow! now aint that something. Since when the Ministry of Carib Affairs Affairs have such authority? Mr Carib chief you are doing a great job by responding to Mr. Graneau comments. Seems the power disease passing on to the parl rep. lol. Wosh look it. Let the coucil deal with the allocation of houses.
According to the Carib Chief and the Act which governs the Carib Council, the Government of the Land has little authority with how funds they negotiate on behalf of the Carib people should be disbursed.
The other village councils don’t have a specific Ministry deal with every issue they face. There is a National Ministry to oversea the all activities for the kalinago residents, should the Council over-ride the direction of the National Body. If so, then the council should be the one undertaking all negotions to ensure that the needs of the Kalinago residents are met.
According to the chief, he should have more rights and more control over all the affairs of the Kalingo people and that cannot be so.
@Fairplay: Hmmm. Really. Now that certainly changes a few things.
one day, i hope to be as clear and concise at this Carib Chief. Nothing can be misunderstood in this statement. This issue needs to be corrected. This gentleman is showing why he is the right man for the job. I applaud you sir.
Reserve, Carib land…does this Carib Chief want a separate Government…I think the “Caribs” are Dominicans and have to follow the laws of Dominca’s constitution first and then their stupid laws next.
This Carib nonsense (according to Lennox Linton) has to stop.
well written…
The Carib Council did not negotiate for these houses.
See what happened in Canefield Urban council elections? Well, that is exactly what is going to happen in the Carib Territory. It is called Skerrit Micro Management 101. The government of today has chosen to put its hand directly into every aspect of this country. Even councils which have been operating smoothly for decades are now under attack. I know the carib people are very resilient and they do not take things lying down. I hope they can fight a good fight. Mr. Graneau, shame on you. I can’t believe you would sell your people for politics. I hope they pay you well.
Well said sir!
sigh………..