Roseau, Dominica – Wednesday, July 16, 2014 – Prime Minister and Minister for Finance the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit has approved a further one hundred and twenty thousand dollars to go towards the construction of the new Grotto Home for the Homeless at Bellevue Rawle. Prime Minister Skerrit made the announcement when he delivered the feature address at the Annual General Meeting of Community Hostels Inc. (Grotto Home for the Homeless), on Monday, July 14, 2014 at the Fort Young Hote
Prime Minister Skerrit stated that the government is totally committed to partnering as part of government’s responsibility to care for the less fortunate in society. This is clearly demonstrated with the number of social programmes which the Dominica Labour Party administration has focussed on over the years. Prime Minister Skerrit applauded the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the Grotto Home for the Homeless for a job well done.
“I really want to commend the Grotto Home because you have done an exceptional job in caring for the less fortunate, and exceptional job. The Management, leadership and the staff because it is not easy to deal with the residents, it is a huge challenge but because of their intrinsic love for service and service to mankind they are there working and labouring,” Prime Minister Skerrit stated.
The Prime Minister also announced a direct subvention of thirty thousand dollars annually for the next five years to meet the operating cost of the Grotto Home for the Homeless.
“I know that you receive a subvention plus public assistance in the region of about $30,000 thereabout. I have been also told that you have a budget shortfall of about $30,000 annually. I am giving a commitment here today that we will provide you with an additional $30,000 for the next five years so that you would not have any difficulty in meeting your operating cost from time to time but, of course, the math can be worked out between my staff and your staff. So we are committing as from this year to you the additional $30, 000,” Prime Minister Skerrit stated.
President of the Board of Directors of the Grotto Home for the Homeless Superintendent Ainsworth Irish welcomed the funds. Superintendent Irish stated that the funds will go a long way in ensuring that residents of the home receive the proper care and attention needed.
