New apartments ready for six fire-hit Silver Lake families

Six families have been given keys to new apartments in Silver Lake, less than six months after a fire made them homeless.

In a ceremony on Friday, the minister for social services, family and gender affairs wished the occupants well for the future as she handed over keys to their homes.

“We just want to wish the recipients of this new apartment very well, thanks for their patience and their understanding because whatever we do, we do it in the interest of people,” said Catherine Daniel.

“Today you are here, sometimes in bad comes good and this is the good that’s happening out of the bad. Live in peace and love each other,” she said.

Eighteen families were affected by the fire on Boxing Day 2016, which the Dominica Fire and Ambulance Service concluded was caused by an electrical short circuit.

The remaining twelve families left without a home will have a permanent roof over there heads once a second apartment building is completed, with Daniel stating that they should be in their homes before the end of July 2017.

Emma Charles, whose family of five lost everything during the fire, expressed gratitude for her new home.

“I was a shop keeper, I just want to say I appreciate everything the government do [sic] for me today, my family and I appreciate it, thank you very much,” she said.

Another victim of the fire, Shirley Toussaint, said she had been looking forward to getting the keys.

“I was wishing for that day to come, what the Prime Minister do [sic] for me, I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.

“Thank you for everything.”