{"id":188277,"date":"2017-08-29T14:17:42","date_gmt":"2017-08-29T18:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=188277"},"modified":"2017-08-30T08:37:25","modified_gmt":"2017-08-30T12:37:25","slug":"petite-savanne-two-years-after-erika","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/news\/general\/petite-savanne-two-years-after-erika\/","title":{"rendered":"Petite Savanne two years after Erika"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
An abandoned house in Petite Savanne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two years after waters unleashed by Tropical Storm Erika caused wide spread death and destruction in Dominica and Petite Savanne, residents from that community say they are still struggling and are yet to recover from the effects of the storm.<\/p>\n

Petite Savanne was declared unsafe after the storm and residents were told to evacuate the area, however, some decided to stay. Dominica News Online (DNO) visited that community on August 27, 2017, and spent hours chatting with some of them.<\/p>\n

On arrival at the Catholic Church, which is abandoned, DNO\u2019s reporter had to drive down to an area called ‘Regis’ to see the first sign of life. It was an elderly man doing some weeding. He lost many relatives in the storm and broke down in tears, saying he did not want to speak about the dreadful events that unfolded two years ago.<\/p>\n

He directed DNO to other parts of the community where we met a family that was willing to speak.<\/p>\n

A gentleman, who did not want his name revealed, recalled the day Erika came.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt rained that day like it had never done or we had never experienced before. We sensed that something was going to happen because it never stopped,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He recounted that when day broke on August 27, he went outside and saw water rushing by and then he smelt diesel and realized that something disastrous had happened in the upper part of the village.<\/p>\n

He recalled using his dingy to help transport persons to the Dominica and Barbados coast guards which evacuated them from the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used my dingy to help move people,” he said.<\/p>\n

He noted that he left the community after the storm but has since returned.<\/p>\n

“It is rough, we left for a short period but I have returned. I am a farmer and a fisherman. I have to maintain my family and while we get a small change from the government that is just not enough to sustain us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to him, \u201cit is difficult to leave a place that you have been in love with all your life\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is why since the incident, most of our elderly have died and some members of the community have gone senile; we have good water and food etc, it has had a deep physiological effect on them,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

His wife, who was in the kitchen frying fish, said that although the community is 95 percent abandoned, she feels \u201cat home and comfortable in Petite Savanne.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is home\u2026I don\u2019t have to buy fish or vegetables, we have our garden and all is available but where we reside in Roseau, it\u2019s hard and hot, very uncomfortable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Seventy-one-year-old Auguiste “Pal” Phillip said he is not leaving the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not leaving my home for no one. I go in town to spend a few days with my wife but I returned,\u201d he noted. \u201cMy wife is sick; someone is taking care of her. The government gives us help but that is not enough so I have to survive. I do bay oil – I have a distillery; I have my animals and my house. I am going nowhere.”<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cI am here by the grace of God. From Galbar to Regis is safe and who are these people to say Petite Savanne is not safe to stay? These are all people who have lost faith and confidence in God. God pass, he do what he was supposed to do and take what he was supposed to take and leave what he wanted to as an example.”<\/p>\n

Phillip said he is putting his faith in God.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have faith and confidence in God, for he says that He will never leave and forsake me and I am depending on him,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n

He said that anyone who asks him to leave the area is not his friend since the place they are taking him is \u201cworst than Petite Savanne.”<\/p>\n

“I am not going anywhere,” he said defiantly.<\/p>\n

Helena Antoine lost five members of her family and wept as she recounted the death and devastation caused by Erika<\/p>\n

\u201cI lost five: my son, his wife and three children,” she stated as she sobbed. “Since morning I am crying. We lost 19 in Petite Savanne; they have been to Penville and had vigil – not a thing in Petite Savanne.”<\/p>\n

She said as a Catholic she is deeply hurt because the priest had agreed to come and have a praise and worship session but \u201che did not get the blessings of the Bishop.”<\/p>\n

“As a true Catholic, it\u2019s hurting. Oh God, why? I remember that day. I will never forget,\u201d she sobbed.<\/p>\n

Antoine said she was born in the community and is determined to stay there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI born in Petite Savannah, if I had stayed in town I would have come crazy. Trust me I can\u2019t take the events of Roseau we need help in Petite Savanne,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n

She said those she thought would have supported her during her trying times, have abandoned her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is rough, It is hard. They say Petite Savannah condemned and that is why the Bishop refused to allow the priest to come say Mass,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Urban Baron, who represented the community in Parliament for over a decade, said since the storm the population of Petite Savanne has grown to 60 from the original 27 people who had defied all and never left the community despite calls by the government to do so.<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine you have to buy breadfruit and the like in Roseau where you have it in Petite Savanne,” he stated when he was encountered by DNO coming from his garden. “I have no fear, death is everywhere.”<\/p>\n

He added, “If I own a house worth over $300,000 should I leave it and run?”<\/p>\n

He said that leaving the community should have\u00a0been an option for the people since some areas are safe.<\/p>\n

“Leaving should have been an option for people… Galbar and Regis are safe. They need to reconnect our water and electricity and allow the people to live their lives. It was a foolish decision by the government to close the road and disconnect the people; it is madness and must be immediately reviewed,\u201d Baron stated.<\/p>\n

Since the storm, many residents have been relocated to different areas. The government is now building a housing project for them in Bellevue Chopin and has promised that some will move in by January 2018.<\/p>\n