Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

Twelve families in Chance, Portsmouth are now living more comfortable lives. On Thursday, 9th April, 2009, the families were presented with brand new homes compliments the Governments of Dominica and Venezuela.

Parliamentary Representative for the Portsmouth Constituency, Ian Douglas, explained the rationale for the provision of houses to the selected families.

“It saddened me when I moved around the constituency before. If we look at the people who will be getting the houses today, people like Mrs. Pascal knows what I am talking about. She is one of the people who literally, day after day, came to me in tears. When we see the kind of conditions that McDonald, affectionately known Mr. Mark, was living in and we see other person in and around the community and constituency, we know for a fact that it realistic. It is a real that they could not provide for themselves. As a result, the Government had a duty both legally and morally to step in to alleviate the plight of these persons.”

The contract value for the housing programme in Chance was 1.1 million dollars. According to Hon. Minister for Housing, Lands and Telecommunications, Reginald Austrie, this is just the beginning of efforts by the current administration to develop this northern community.

“We make no apologies for spending 1.1 million dollars on housing in Chance so far, because, there is another phase of the agreement to build another twenty (20) houses. We also have the Petro Casa houses and all thanks to the Ambassador who assisted us in negotiating some fifty (50) houses from Venezuela. It is a new technology and Chance will be the first area to receive about ten (10) of those houses right close to the super wood house building. We are also going to repair and renovate the super wood homes and all those homes will be made available for the people of Chance, Portsmouth and Glanvillia.”

The funding for the housing programme was provided by the Government of Venezuela. The Government and people of Dominica have benefited significantly from the thirty (30) years of diplomatic relations with the Government of Venezuela. In recent times, the Venezuelan Government has provided significant assistance particularly in the housing sector.

“The Housing Revolution Programme is a concrete initiative through ALBA funds in all of Dominica: St. Joseph, Carib Territory and Portsmouth among others. It is very important that the people themselves participate in the process of building the homes. The programme is a very good and excellent example of ALBA funds because the money is going to the benefit of the people to provide low interest loans and the provision of subsidised houses for the marginalised person as part of the Housing and Sanitisation and Renovation Programme.”

Friday’s handing over ceremony marked yet another milestone in ongoing efforts by the Roosevelt Skerrit led administration to improve the lives of residents of Chance and others in communities across the country.

However, the Prime Minister, in his speech, defiantly defended his administration’s decision to start the Housing Revolution Programme.

“They say we are giving handouts, but whatever word they want to call it as long as the people of Dominica are benefitting that is the most important thing for us and for the people of Dominica. Regardless of whatever names they call it, thirty-four (34) people are sleeping better tonight because of this Government and the decisions that we have taken.”

As part of Government’s Housing Revolution Programme, over five hundred and fifty-six (556) houses have been repaired at a cost of 2.8 million EC dollars and two hundred and twenty-one thousand East Caribbean dollars (XCD$221,000.00)has been spent to supply home owners with building materials. Over six hundred persons (600) have benefitted from the Home Renovation and Sanitation Programme.

At the start of the Housing Revolution Programme, approximately five thousand (5000) homes needed repairs. Thirty million dollars (XCD$30,000,000.00) was sourced from the Venezuelan Government to begin the programme. Housing Minister Austrie said that approximately two hundred million dollars (XCD$200,000,000.00) would be needed to repair all the houses which are currently in deplorable conditions across the country.

Recipients of the houses applauded the Governments of Dominica and Venezuela for coming to their assistance and were grateful for the good gesture. Some of the persons benefitting from the initiative were victims of the past earthquake in the north of the island in 2004.