Prospective site for relocation of Good Hope and Petite Soufriere residents identified, assessments still required says PM

Government has identified land in the Castle Bruce area for the resettlement of residents of Good Hope and Petite Soufriere.

This was according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit who was addressing a press conference recently.

On Sunday, November 6, 2022, major landslides occurred in the northeast of the island due to a Trough System which left one man dead and some residents injured. Roads were also made impassable as a result of debris from the slides, and homes, as well as infrastructure, were also greatly impacted.

“Last year I appointed a committee of senior public officers to assist with the preparatory work for the relocation of the residents of Petite Soufriere and Good Hope and part of their mandate was to identify possible sites or locations for resettlement,” Prime Minister Skerrit said. “To find several acres of land can be a challenge with all things considered. Luckily we were able to identify a potential site where there [are] about 27 acres of land in a place called John’s Hill in Castle Bruce.”

The Prime Minister said he visited the site along with the Minister for Housing, and the Parliamentary Representative for Castle Bruce, as well as the Chief Surveyor, Marcus Lestrade, and the Chief Physical Planner, Miss Naomi Dorival.

“And the advice coming from the Chief Physical Planner and the Chief Surveyor is that this site appears to be a possible site for the relocation,” he stated. “They are now conducting an environmental impact assessment because there are a number of variables one has to take into consideration before making a final determination on the lands.”

Furthermore, Skerrit announced that the 27 acres of land are privately owned so the government has to go through the process of acquisition.

“So far the number of families that we would have to relocate is 58 families we have to build homes for,” he revealed. “And of course, there are associated amenities and infrastructure one has to put in, so it’s not just homes…there are some supporting services we would have to provide, which includes shops so that people livelihood can continue from Petite Soufriere and Good Hope.”

He added, “We are pushing very hard.”

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16 Comments

  1. Takethat
    January 24, 2023

    You all commenters and bloggers are no different than Skeritt. You only talk without actions – won’t even come out to a demonstration which would put more pressure on Skeritt when the outside world sees and hears what’s happening in Dominica. There’s a beam in your eyes which you refuse to see and acknowledge. But your coward self won’t hesitate to sit on your but and play intelligent with your light words to get thumbs up while your country is going down by the day. You all are a bunch of hypocrites and cowards. And that’s why you people are continuing to get whipped by Skeritt and influential people with local and big businesses in Dominica. Suck your salt and don’t complain. I grew up hearing this parable which in every way is true. “STICKS AND STONES CAN BREAK MY BONES; BUT WORDS CAN DO ME NO HARM.” So keep on doing what you’ve been doing for the past 22 years and you will get the same damn results as you deserve. I just let go a “Lo quashah” for you BLOGGERS. Shame on you

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 6
    • Putin
      January 24, 2023

      “You only talk without actions – won’t even come out to a demonstration which would put more pressure on Skeritt when the outside world sees and hears what’s happening in Dominica.”

      So because people do not agree with your warped way of seeing the world they are automatically “cowards?” Did you vote on December 6, 2023?

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 2 Thumb down 18
  2. Satan is a liar
    January 22, 2023

    Everything Satan says is lie so I don’t even listen to the liar

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 32 Thumb down 3
  3. Conscious
    January 21, 2023

    It is easier for the prime minister to ask residence instead of finding was to improve their area to accomadte the financial way of life. These people living is based on agriculture. How are they leaving and travel to good hope to work. Most of these people live around their farm lands.

    Are you going to make them handicap therefore dependent on the red clinic because ther means of living has been taken from them.

    Just asking

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 3
    • Beta
      January 23, 2023

      No, he needs to ‘give’ the new flat which is going to be constructed by MMC and paid for by missing CBI money. He will get a cut from MMC, rumoured to be part owned by him anyway, and Haiden profits as well. So that the reason these apartments have to be constructed. For the benefit of all, or let’s say for the benefit of the CM, Haiden and some Labour recipients.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 3
  4. Lagahoo
    January 21, 2023

    Interesting. It seems like soon all Dominicans will be resettled and relocated into public housing schemes. You resettling people from Petite Soufriere and Good Hope but San Sauveur lies midway between these two communities and there is no plan for them…Good work Doctor

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 3
    • Bwa-Banday
      January 23, 2023

      These politicians don’t think!

      After speaking with a friend with some knowledge of the area, I hasten to ask the PM; What about opening the longggggggg (before Skerro time) promised road from the area of lyviere-veeyo (spelling?) through New Fond Land and then to San Sauveur via Fye? The people of Good Hope and Pte. Soufriere would have access to lands owned by both government and San Sauveur Estate (can be purchased) thus able to continue their fishing trade via the San Sauveur Bay. San Sauveur would remain intact.

      They will also be able to continue working the lands they grew up with/ around (Bwa Migo, Wahnanee, Deux Bwanche etc) especially in Pte. Soufriere where Bay Leaf production is still very prevalent and rewarding. You see, a place that may not be 100% suitable for human dwelling does not have to be completely abandoned in the name of votes. We are about to repeat the same mistakes we made in Pte. Savanne. Ask folks like Magel Durand for guidance on that route.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3
    • January 24, 2023

      Why don’t you give each settler $200,000.00 so they can build their own home since you got all that money hiding? Your big f….

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 1 Thumb down 19
      • Moisha
        January 27, 2023

        I know YOU would love that, greedy CM supporter.

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  5. dissident
    January 21, 2023

    Will this eliminate the 22 years yet unfulfilled promise of a link road from petite soufriere to Rosalie?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 3
  6. Mr dominica
    January 21, 2023

    Admin could you have the prime minister explain the statement he made at the meeting last week about the heavy equipment on sea hoping to be in Dominica next month ? He said a place is being prepared at woodfordhill bay for landing as the roads are too narrow and bridges not strong enough for the heavy equipment and storage space is being made in a savanna in roseau .He did mention the name of the savanna which I can’t Remember but last I heard the airport will be built near to my house in Wesley

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
  7. JAH KAL
    January 21, 2023

    This guy is really a con artist see the expression on his face bro you cannot fool people again , they seeing right through you. karma.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
  8. Ahbebeh.
    January 21, 2023

    What are you really trying to say nuh?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
  9. Me
    January 21, 2023

    It is called social and political gerrymandering Roger, a communist tool under the guise of democracy.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 4
  10. Lawyer
    January 21, 2023

    Skerrit is under massive pressure from somewhere otherwise he wouldn’t try to appease so many Dominicans. I mean it’s all empty promises at the end of the day but at the moment he is more active in this department than usual. Something is brewing!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 3
  11. Roger Burnett
    January 20, 2023

    The resettlement of communities is not as simple as that. Relocation one thing but resettelment is a different matter.

    Individuals can relocate and resettle of their own accord. Thousands of Dominicans have done that in their search for a perceived better life elsewhere in the world. But even at a distance of thousands of miles they cannot emotionally detach themselves from their roots. Throughout the world all attempts to forcibly resettle entire communities have failed.

    You can’t uproot a tree that has been growing for hundreds of years and expect it to thrive in a different environment. Communities are all the more sensitive. Those accustomed to yard space cannot fare well in an apartment block, regardless of all mod. cons.

    It is not climate change that has destabilised the land but flawed development in one form or another. As with Petite Savanne, surveys have indicated that much of the land remains stable.

    The same could be true for Good Hope and Petite Soufriere.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 4

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