Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and members of the Ministerial subcommittee responsible for resettlement of those displaced by Tropical Storm Erika visited three resettlement sites on Friday, January 22nd.
At Center in Grand Bay, where the Dubique community will be resettled, six houses are almost ready and the foundations for about 10 more have been laid.
Prime Minster Skerrit says work is progressing fairly satisfactorily however there is need to quicken the pace.
“Our target is to move in no less than 20 families by Easter. Those homes will come fully finished to include toilets and cupboards. We are also looking to provide basic furniture like beds and appliances like stoves and fridges.”
The Prime Minister spoke about the terms and conditions of the arrangement.
“We will be mandating the Ministry of Agriculture to propagate those [fruit trees] and pass them on to the families so they can plant it themselves. We are talking about cherries, soursop, golden apple, avocado and so forth because we have o go back to the backyard garden concept.
“Another element of development which we will impose on the residents is mandatory landscaping -not only of the public spaces but their private homes. The Forestry Department will assist in the propagation of the planting material and the residents will be involved on a voluntary basis,” he said.
Hon. Prime Minister Skerrit also envisions a playing field and a community resource center which will serve as a disaster shelter.
Hon. Minister for Economic Development, Dr. Colin McIntyre is the Chairman of the Ministerial Subcommittee for Resettlement.
“We have impressed upon the contractor that we have to move the people. We would like to move them in a phased basis meaning that if we have a first 10, 20 or 29 completed, we would like to move them in.”
Parliamentary Representative for Petite Savanne Constituency, Dr Kenneth Darroux continues to express his gratitude for the patience demonstrated by his constituents and the show of support from his colleagues.
Meantime Government is moving ahead with the site for the resettlement of the Petite Savanne community.
Following the visit to Centre, Prime Minister Skerrit and his delegation made a stop at the site in Bellevue Chopin.
“Cabinet has given the green light for the compulsory acquisition of this estate. I have been informed that subdivision has begun on paper and estimates for roads and utilities are being prepared to advise Government accordingly.”
Prime Minister Skerrit and the Ministerial Subcommittee for resettlement also visited Plat Ma Pierre in Colihaut where the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) is constructing homes for residents of Colihaut and Coulibistrie who were affected by the storm.