LALIT and Tamarin and Riviere Noire Victory Meeting
13.11.2022
Sunday saw the final meeting of the Quatre Bornes and West Regional of LALIT and Asbestos housing dwellers’ victory lap, in a packed kiosk near the Riviere Noire Village Hall.
As in the previous meetings in the region, at Site La Ferme in Bambous and in Bel Ombre for Le Morne EDC, Case Noyale EDC, Riviere des Gallets EDC, Riambel EDC, as well as the housing estate at Bel Ombre, the victory of the over 20 year struggle was discussed in detail. All the major demands have been acceded to by the Government, and a budget for their implementation accorded. A Unit has been set up to organize the construction of new houses to replace the asbestos ones in the NHDC. Rent money will be paid, if necessary during construction, by the Government, as well notarial fees for anyone whose house is still not in the name of the head of household living there.
Present for this last gathering were representatives of households in Site EDC Tamarin and in Site EDC Riviere Noire, as well as LALIT representatives for the region, Ragini Kistnasamy and Lindsey Collen.
A lot of emphasis was, once again, put on the fact that this victory was through the shared vision, shared actions and persistence of the asbestos house dwellers and the LALIT regional committees doing the coordinating work. People agreed to inform any families not present of the developments, and each person took with them a leaflet outlining the main points in the victory: asbestos housing to be safely dismantled and removed by the Environment Ministry (at Government expense), and a new house of 49 square metres (a bit bigger than the existing house) to be built – also at Government expense, in addition to the aid for rent money where necessary, and for notary fees, where necessary. The Government aims to finish the replacement of the housing within 2 years, starting with the two housing estates with highest number of asbestos houses, Goodlands EDC and La Ferme Bambous EDC. The Government has agreed to co-ordinate with people via the CAB offices, to avoid the expense and time of each family going all the way to Ebene to keep in touch with the progress being made.
People were warned that no money need be paid to anyone, and to beware of opportunistic fraudsters who may appear.
At the end of the meeting, that was in high spirits – with memories being shared of demonstrations and petitions and gatherings over the years – and some present were keen to start coming to LALIT meetings in the area.
