Skerrit Laments That People Are Not Grateful For Receiving Free Govt Houses

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has expressed his displeasure that people are not grateful for the free government houses they are given. He said beneficiaries have the wrong notion that the free government houses are their entitlements, when all the government is trying to do is to improve the social welfare of the people at no financial costs to them.

This government has done a lot for housing and assisting people with their housing. Housing is not an entitlement…it is because of the benevolence of the leadership of this country and of the government and of the Party that we have reached out to hundreds of families across Dominica. But people get a sense it’s an entitlement.

Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit: Prime Minister of Dominica

The prime minister noted that what the DLP administration has achieved in terms of housing revolution in Dominica had never been attempted or achieved by any previous governments on the island. He made it clear that neither the Freedom Party nor the UWP did half of what the DLP achieved when they were in power. He said the opposition parties never built any houses for anyone or even assisted with repairs when hurricanes struck.

I was a strong supporter of the Freedom Party; I was involved in the Freedom Party but I can’t tell you about one house built by the Freedom Party in my constituency in 15 years. Certainly, the United Workers Party did not build or fix a house in my constituency in the four and a half years they were in office. What we have done in housing in Dominica is extraordinary. We have caused a revolution in housing and improving people’s access to housing.

Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit: Prime Minister of Dominica

He pointed out that the comments people make or their laikadasical attitudes to the housing gifts is not encouraging and must be stopped. He said the government may impose additional conditions before anyone can qualify for free housing in the country, adding that this step will instil some discipline in potential beneficiaries of the houses.

Meanwhile, 64 families received keys to new homes in Grand Fond within the week. Parliamentary representative for the constituency, Gretta Roberts, said the beneficiaries were given 66 housing apartment units in two residential buildings having 33 apartment units each. Each building has (9) one-bedroom units, (20) two-bedroom units, and (4) three-bedroom units totaling 66 apartment units.

The Honourable Minister for Housing, Reginald Austrie, congratulated the recipients for their luck, adding the government must be appreciated for the housing gifts.

Have anyone of you in your lifetime ever received such an expensive gift, or do you expect in your lifetime to receive such a gift from anyone in this country or around the world? That is why it is going to be very important that you cherish and appreciate it for what it is.

Reginald Austrie: Minister for Housing

Other people in La Plaine, Delice, and San Sauveur will also be gifted with free housing before the end of the week.

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