Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

On the 26th of January, 2009, Government Officials and residents of the Carib Territory gathered at the Sineku Resource Center to witness the official launching of a historic landmark project, the Carib Territory Community Capacity Building Project. The project itself has been in the making for over ten (10) years and dates back to 1997 when the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica requested moneys from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to fund a water project for the Carib Territory.

However, given the number of issues affecting the area, the CDB recommended that a comprehensive development plan be undertaken. In 1998, the consulting firm of Co-Water International Cooperated of Canada was contracted to undertake the study which identified the interventions that could be carried out. The project was first submitted to the CDB for funding in 2005; however, given Dominica’s fiscal conditions at the time, it was deferred until mid 2007. It was resubmitted in December of 2007 and was approved by the bank.

According to John Fontaine, Project Coordinator of the CTCCPBP, the project signals a new beginning in the lives of the Kalinago people and represents a paradigm shift from ‘brick and mortar’ interventions. The CTCCPBP is geared at strengthening the knowledge base of leaders, institutions and organisations within the territory. He further described the project as something that will lead to increased economic activity in the Carib Territory.

Dr. Charles J. Corbette, Development Officer in the Ministry of Carib Affairs, gave an overview of the project. According to him, the project is jointly funded by the CDB and the Government of Dominica to the tune of 3.2 million US dollars (USD$3 200 000) or 8.6 million East Caribbean dollars (XCD$8 600 000) of which 2.486 million US dollars (USD$ 2 486 000) comes as a loan from CDB with a grant of two hundred and fifty-nine thousand US dollars (USD$259 000) from its special fund resources. Over 1.6 million East Caribbean dollars (XCD$1 600 000) comes as counterpart funding from the Government of Dominica. The loan is payable in thirty (30) years inclusive of a ten (10) year grace period at a fix interest rate of 2.5% (two point five percent) per annum.

The project has been designed with a high level of flexibility in order to respond effectively to the needs of the Kalinago people with sensitivity to the cultural aspects of the Territory and it tends to address the following issues:

1. Inadequate managerial and institutional capacity in the Territory to plan, manage, coordinate and monitor development programmes.
2. Fragmented nature of development in the Territory.
3. The vulnerability of houses in the territory to hurricanes and other natural disasters.
4. Limited income generating opportunities.

Dr. Corbette went on to say that there are major benefits to be derived from the project inclusive of poverty reduction.

“The major benefits of the project are as follows: reduction in poverty through improved access to physical, social and economic resources; improved agricultural output; increased net tourist expenditure and increased in employment and income.”

The project will comprise of the following sub projects and components:

1. Institutional strengthening aimed at improving the capacity of the Carib Council and key agencies of the Territory to efficiently manage, coordinate and monitor development programmes and projects. It will also assist the management of the Kalinago Barana Aute in the implementation of its business plan.
2. The elaboration of a local area plan to strengthen sustainable development initiatives.
3. The construction of a new road, that is, from the Salybia Church to the Kalinago Barana Aute, formerly the Carib Model Village, as well as the much anticipated link road from Horse Back Ridge to Concord.
4. Rehabilitation of the existing road from the office of the Carib Council to Horse Back Ridge.
5. The establishment of an enterprise and cultural development facility to support and implement projects that related directly to the provisions of services to small and micro enterprises as well as shared facilities that will enhance household income. The assets financed by this facility will be under the management of the Carib Council.
6. The training in house retrofitting where small contractors, artisans and residents will be trained in hurricane resistant techniques.

Measures have been put in place to ensure that residents and the Carib Council play an active role in the implementation of the project.

“To ensure that residents and the Carib Council actively participate in the implementation of the projects, a project steering committee has been established shared by the Ministry of Carib Affairs with the Carib Chief or his representative as co chair. Other members of the project steering committee include various Government Ministries and other stake holders. This committee has been established to provide policy direction and implementation oversight. Additionally, a project implementation unit headed by the project coordinator and comprising of an accountant, Mr. Anton Laville, a committee liaison officer, Mrs. Gweneth Frederick and engineer, Mr. Vivian Trotter. These persons have been selected to undertake the day to day management of the project activities.”

The project will be executed by the Ministry of Carib Affairs on behalf of the Government of Dominica over the next three (3) years. This project is expected to have a positive social impact on the Kalinago community and is consistent with the overall principles enshrined in the declaration on Human Rights of Indigenous people which was adopted by the United Nations in 2007. It will also provide increased business opportunities under various sectors including agro industries, fisheries, culture industries, tourism and arts and craft.

Information and communication training programmes at the two community resource centers to be constructed under the programme will allow members of the community to develop skills that will equip them for new jobs. The construction of the road is expected to bring short term employment for persons in the area as labour for the project will be sourced locally.

Parliamentary Representative for the Salybia Constituency, Hon. Kelly Graneau, thanked the Caribbean Development Bank, the Government of Dominica, and former Carib Chief, Garnette Joseph for their efforts in seeing the project to fruituition. He singled out Mr. Joseph for his hard work that he placed into seeing this project through.

In the meanwhile, Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, spoke of Government’s continued efforts in assisting the Kalinago people and pointed out numerous projects being undertaken in the Carib Territory.

“For its part, the Government of Dominica has made its own interventions in the Carib Territory and to the Kalinago people.

In the field of education, increased opportunities have been made available for students attending secondary schools and institutions of higher learning both here and overseas.

In September 2008, a brand new school bus was presented to the Carib Council to transport high school students.

Presently the Government of Dominica, with the financial assistance of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is undertaking the construction of a new primary school at Salybia to accommodate students in that catchment.

Even as I speak, major improvements are being made to the existing water system. This involves the construction of a new intake on the Crapaud Hall River, a 45,000 gallon storage tank at Bataka, as well as a new supply line to the existing storage tank at Gaulette River. Once completed, residents of the Carib Territory and Atkinson will have access to a better and more reliable water supply.

Presently, the forty one (41) houses which I referred to earlier are nearing completion and soon needy families from the various hamlets will have access to improved housing conditions, all part of the National Housing Revolution Programme financed in large part by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in collaboration with your Government.

Again, with the assistance of our friends from the People’s Republic of China, an additional forty (40) houses will be built in the Carib Territory at an estimated cost of US$1.4 million.”

More of the Prime Minister’s speech is available here.

The primary objective of the programme is to enhance the capability of residents and institutions in the Carib Territory; to plan and manage development interventions and to provide and to provide basic infrastructure and support systems for income generation. This will provide an enabling environment for investment in small and micro enterprises.