This is the house that Skerrit built. The modest house with a construction cost of EC$400,000.00 (four hundred thousand dollars) according to Skerrit’s statement to the nation on August 12, 2007.
.First, listen to the audio file below - then, don’t blink! this is not a test, the images below are of the real thing..
Audio of Skerrit’s August 12, 2007 Statement
.
An EC $400,000.00 dollar house?
3 Bedrooms? Maybe he meant to say 3 Stories!
He did not publish the plans….. so we are here to help… Take a Look…
The Mansion View - CLICK TO ENLARGE
The Grand Palace Entrance - CLICK To ENLARGE
Note the Basement Level - CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE -
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
IF THIS HOUSE COST EC$400,000,I AM PREFERED TO BUY THIS HOUSE CASH FOR EC$940,000.00
This is a very beautifully achitecturally designed house. However the house is pretty small on very sloping land. What makes the house look decent is the large porch surrounding it.
As an engineer I would estimate the cost of constructing this house to be between EC$390,000 to EC$460,000. The house is pretty yes but the actual living area is rather small with large open porches.
The basement was as a result of the sloping nature of the land. It must have cost quite a bit in escavation to get the additional basement,
I appreciated your honesty…
where u get your engineering degree boss? not from UWI or any other reputable school i would imagine…either that or you skipped the cost on real estimation. And lets talk about finishing touches! dont use that vague term "CONSTRUCTING" . A house is complete when u can live in it!
PS. One can see that the basement is about 50% of the floor space, and was put in after escavation. It may not have been part of the original plan. Therefore the house is not that extravagant as one would like to believe.
Chavez
mr lennox
“chavez” comments semm very fair and coming from a knowlegable person. Why do you not accept this and on your programme try to give the impression that the house is instead of the approx $400,000 is more like a $2,000,0000 dollar house!!??!! Have you seen the House? I have. it is obviously bigger than average, (esp. in the neigbouhood)but nothing spectacular, certainly nothing above what a $7,000 salary could afford. Let’s be fair!
read the evaluators comments on cost to construct – to cost to build is different from the value upon completion…as a banker this cost to build looks about correct…and I am blue…thought it was a real mansion
Chavez, as an engineer I think you are hopeless!
I am a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and I will give a rough estimate as follows:
From the pics online the house seem to be approximately 60 x 60. There are two upper floors and a basement. The basement might be about 30 x 30. As such, the building measures approximately 5,700 sq. ft. (identical to what was designed for Castle Comfort).
Approximate Construction Cost is 5,700 x 300= $1,710,000.00
I HAVE SINCE LEARNT THAT SKERRIT RECEIVED APPROVALS FOR A 9,900 SQ. FT. HOME. AS SUCH, THE COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY EC$2,970,000.00
Trevor, as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor you are just as hopeless. The house is all porch. The living space is small. Go figure…
chavez are we looking at the same house.
Krispin you would pay $940,000 including all the land? I was referring to the actual construction of the house. Compared to the size of houses built by ordinary public servants, this house is a dwarth. Go to Gimmit #3, Morne Daniel, Bo Bois, Union Estate, Copt Hall.
Is there a swimming pool, or grass lawn. Because a house is esthetically beautiful based on architectural design does not mean it costs a lot to build. I will emphasize that this house does not cost E$500,000 in actual construction. ie material and labour.
Chavez
“Objective” Not because someone come here to post their comments and state that they are an engineer that Mr Lennox has to as you put it “accept this”. I could come here and post the exact same comments that Chavez posted and you could say I am a knowledgeable person to? or that would make me an expert to?? and then LL would have to accept my comments to? Please….Chavez opinion are just that….opinions..but he is entitled to that.. but not to his own facts ( as LL would say)….read Tossy comments for the facts… and I know them to be the facts! That is what we have to go on! and we dont need a knowledgeable person read those facts.. Lets be fair! ( as you put it)
Trevor Johnson, I strongly believe you wrong on this one.
When you come down to Dominica, Drive up to Grand Bay and ckeck Pierre Charles deceased house. Very much bigger than this house and it did not cost Ec$400,000 to construct. On your way down just below Belview Chopin look up towards Bo Bois and you will see a “school” the house of the Khimmo Astaphan. If Skerrit house cost EC1,700,000 Then Khimmo’s house would cost $6,500,000.
Again Trevor it seems to me that your personnal hatred for Skerrit will cause you to abandon your professionalism and objectivity in this matter.
I will repeat that this house does not cost EC$500,000 to construct. I make this fair comment as someone directly involved in the construction business.
Chavez I strongly believe you are the one who is wrong on this issue NOT Trevor. First of all I’m speaking as a professional engineer.
Anytime one is attempting to find out the value of property whether it is the cost of the actual property or of the actual cost of construction, Trevor has hit the nail on the head. It’s basic estimates.
You don’t just go around and look at a house and say it’s worth $1000 or $1,000 000 base on how it looks ie big or small. You should know that and don’t disgrace the profession.
The technicality of where the price will inflate further is based on terrain. The extent of cut or fill the individual has to do. Then you just throw in the contingency sum…….ect…..
Modest I concur with your assessment, to me by far your assessment is the most objective,commonsense,conscious one in regards to this post.
Chavez, once someone wants to question my professional ability the first thing I ask is what is the price of a 6″ block in Dominica? Do you know?
Now, what is the cost per square foot for the construction of the average home in Dominica? Certainly not less than EC$250, right? Now, what is the gross floor area of the house? Earlier I posted that from the pic it would be approximately 5,700 sq.ft. but I have since been advised that approval was obtained for a 9,900 sq. ft. home.
Now, I have commented on the size of the house and the average building cost of homes in Dominica to come up with an average construction cost. What did you use to come up with yours? What about the assumptions I have made would make you come to a conclusion that they are based on my hatred for Skerrit?
I doh care what Khimo’s house costs. We are discussing the $400K that Skerrit said his home would cost approximately two years ago. Now, why is a $400K house still being built after two years? One million dollar square feet commercial structures are being built in Trini in 24 months!
Modest, in fact you don’t have to throw in no contingency sums for terrain and quality of finishes. All you have to do is start from the basis average cost per sq. ft. and then you make adjustments for location, terrain, foundations (based on soil conditions) and quality. I have used a very basic cost of $300 for my estimate. Chvaez cannot dispute that.
I don’t think he is being a disgrace to the profession because that’s why I am a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and he is the Engineer. I am the one who has to control the client’s money and instruct him to change de damn design!! LOL LOL LOL!
Ok nicely put Mr. Trevor…LOL….
It would be interesting to hear what Chavez has to say about your analysis… I’m waiting…..LOL
Trevor and Modest et al
Let us assume you are correct the construction cost is $1,710,000 which Skerrit could not afford based on his legal income, You have an obligation to the citizens of Dominica. Put you money where your mouth is. TAKE THE MATTER TO THE INTEGRITY COMMISSION. Give them some work to do since they are being paid lots of money.
IF you are so sure you are correct, this would be a test case for the integrity commission.
I built my house, 1 story with a concrete roof measuring 24 X 36 in the middle of Portsmouth with no basement, 8 years ago for $120,000.00. I saved money on labour by doing a lot of the work by myself with help from friends. Normally it would have cost around $150,000.00. This Mansion easily costs in excess of 1 million.
I am really hoping that Chavez is right, because I think I know a deal when I see one. I am willing to pay the same amount plus an inflation adjustment of 4% per annum for the 2yrs (~EC435K) if Chavez, through his expertise and contacts can deliver a house like this for me. Do we have a deal? Let me know and we can start doing the paper work. This is not a political statement but a genuine business proposition.
I came on here to read some Dominican news; only to find out that it was a Labour party/ Skerritt bashing site. What a waste
Hi Set.
This blog will report and comment on matters of governance of Dominica regardless of who is in power. Its goal is to let the people of Dominica know what is really going on in the governance of Dominica. As we all know there is currently one party in power with one leader – Labor Party and Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit. In view of this one would have to expect and accept that the majority of the issues being dealt with here will obviously have to deal with who is in the drivers seat. However, expect to find commentaries and report on matters of importants to the people of Dominica from all angles… The best place to find news about Dominica is at DominicaNewsOnline.com. One question I have for you.. If you think this blog is Bashing Skerrit or the Labor Party… how would you define GIS and Kairi FM?
All Skerrit has to do now, is to show us how he was able to build such a monument for so little money. I want to build a house like that for the same price. Please Mr. PM show us how you did it. If the PM could teach his citizens to do like him our country would be so much more prosperous.
I followed instructions by listening to the audio first. Oh Skerrit, Skerrit, WHAT A TANGLED WEB YOU WEAVED WHEN FIRST YOU PRACTICED TO DECIEVE.
Chavez sounds like my friends Cucum, Simeon and Mervin
Any inside pics of this rather beautiful piece of architecture? I suspects journalist can only go so far uh….. It would be interesting to see the internal features of this wonder.
Congratulations PM and Comrade Skerrit, I respect you for wanting the best, who doesn’t? You go for it the sky is the limit my friend.
chalo for roseau,what do you think, a man can build this after working for ten years.how are you feeling what a nice house $400.000, eh?
I do not live in Dominica and do not know what labour cost is like, but I recently did the renovations on my parents house in Dominica and it costs over $100,000 and my own home cost about $400,000 to build. It is not impossible for the PM to have saved on labour costs etc. through his personal contacts, which would reduce his cost. The basement is also unfinished which may mean that it is just block work and nothing else. Still yet, I would be very surprised if this house cost under $500,000.
Come on people. Look at that house. It's all porch. Minus the porch and what do you have? A shack! I would be surpriced if this house cost more than 500k. It's all open space. So all you experts out there please keep in mind that the square footage you are talking about is not living space. Go back and do your math.
lol yessa !!! thats a guest house not a dwelling house and 400,000 he lye and go tell him a young person say that
but all you have to do is build a house too,doh stay there and get jealous of the man house
give the yong man [not a chance]some chances.my people are we really dominics or domies.
I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND AS A YOUNG PERSON PLANNING TO BUILD MY HOUSE, MY DEAR PM WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL US HOW U GOT THIS MANSION BUILT FOR SO LITTLE MONEY PLEASE TELL US CAUSE I AM SURE THERE ARE DOMINICANS WHO WOULD LOVE TO BUILD SUCH AN EXTRAVAGANT DWELLING HOME FOR $400,000.00
after 5 years teaching with nothing to show for it and 4 years as a minister also with nothing to show for it, all of a sudden 4 years as priminister hundred thousand dollar vehicles and 400,000 dollar house. PM tell me how you did it i would love to do it too. all things under the sun will come to pass one day and i do hope that when your time as PM come to pass you will beable to atleast tell us where the money came from in such a short space of time to have amassed so much wealth. we are really dominicans. Dummies in a can. and to add to ur big house PM the vat for the poor of 15% and the 149% on vehicles in customs while the reach gets consessions and duty free, but one day the Dummies will turn smarties and ur time shall pass.
well well Julian Prevo and Doreen Paul had a box for their house and the labour government ment put their house ontheir manefesto saying they were corrupt. I know for a fact Julian Prevo wife have beeb working as a little girl in the post office and Julian had his profession before politics and Doreen Paul house was just as a local malawee with her family living in the first floor which is the basement. and greedy labour party desperate to get in government use these assets of this individual as a show room of coruption .Well mr skerrit you really make it on the dominican people . Wealth wealth is al you concern about . I need to build a ply wood house for my mother tell me how to do it.
mr skerritt shame on you if u can recall quite vividly u criticize mr julien prevost house even having it in 2000 election and now u are contradicting yourself by building a 2.5 million dollar house and incidenterly having the same roofing materials as the lawyer who claim to make a mistake in the land deal evading 51.000 dollars and coming like nicodemus at night to pay i suspect after the election when labour loose skeritt and his band of law breakers will take a jail meanwhile the clock of time continue to tick . time will tell.
i am genuinely uncertain of whether this man is honest or not-i just don't know. if his is then good but if he is not then he still has to leave with him self.
This milliom dollar property which PM is showing , is only one of his homes in villecase and one of the several beautiful properties he owns in the americas .
skerett knows how to milk the system roll your dice skerroo one day day it will cark the investigation lies ahead only God in heaven knows
Tat is the house they making an issue out of there nuh? It have so many Dominicans living in their big mansion and al you want to pres the PM for his house? It en that big, nice design and all but not that big. Any person with knowledge in architechture and landscapping can give a justifiable estimate of the house and 400,000 doesn't seem too far fetched for this house.
Well
I would advise you to read the facts and the law againts being In
posession of unaccounted property before you comment. Dominica is a
country laws and all of us have to follow the law.. Educate yourself
before you speak.
wow, beautiful home, great architectural design. It is not so huge but I suspect the interior is
sophisticated . Does the PM plan to get married and have a live-in helper because I really need
a job ASAP to pay some more of the high taxes he is going to instal after he wins the next
election. God help us! By the way I don't think that house cost 400,000 don't use that PSYCH
on us Mr. PM. NOT ALL OF US IN DOMINICA ARE DUMMIES! I hope they teach you a
lesson once and for all.
What the heck …..I cannot believe that this is the house u guys are going on and going on about…man I am sure there r more important things to talk about..Personaly the house is not all that…I have seen more beautiful and bigger houses in Dominica…this house might be value alot but to build it I dont think it cost 6 figures …come on people..we not looking at wht the value is we looking at how much it cost to build it..so stop making those foolish coments.think of it if all the materials was ordered outside of the country with no Duty on it…we looking at nothing…people stop being jealous n do something constructive to try and build yourself in your country…
well that and the buildings i cant believe he has attained so much and ppl that working all dere lives leaving in plywood house but he have VILLAS coming up also MR DOMINICAN. what do u have ?
Chavez I am a disgusted by your comment. The unfinished landscape is undoublty past a $100K . Is the unfinished landscape part of your total estimate? . If it is then you are telling us that the building cost $280K. I have not seen the house and I don't know the actual square footage however from what Chavez is saying each level is roughly $60 K not withstanding the cost to construct the building foundation.
By looking at the photos I estimated I estimated windo and door sizes and the spacing between these elements and I confident that each floor is no less that 2200 sq ft per floor – 3 floors. This building alone is no less that 1.3 million dollars , the landscaping complete will bring another modest estimate of $150K.
We at honesdominica know for a fact that the construction cost alone
is 1.2 million based on the conservative figures in the emails of the
Guyanese consultant Supriya Singh. We also know that the interior
decorating is about 700K. Do that math
What is so grand or mansion about this house? The manner in which this house was described i'm rather disappointed to see its just an ordinary house for a PM. My family is young and middle class and our house is definitely bigger than this house and it did not cost over $500,000.00 to build. This is a new era, get off this old mentality and give our young PM a break.
Trevor Johnson I am an experienced engineer and I had not seen your estimate I came up with very simillar values. A modest estimate brought 1.5 million.
Not even if i have all my rumyal friends come over to help me that house costing that little. A 3 level house wee. Thats a mil easy.
this house looks like a simple house. i do not like the look of it on this picture.
Dominicans are mourning about the size of this house? Gosh, this is standand size in other islands. Nice one Mr. PM
Trecia.. It would be best if u get the fact first before u comment..
This site has laid it out nicely for ur consumption. The size is not
the issue.. Its the lie about its cost.. We now know that it cost
1.2mil to build and 700k for interior design. The pm said he is
building a modest 400K to hose Becuase of the high cost we now know
of The prime minister could not have built this house on his 5000
dollars salary at the time. The question is who's cash is this?
Comments?
I am LMAO off. Is this the fuss? In other islands this is the average home of a middle class couple. But to come back to the point. When a child is born, we send them to school and plead with them that education is a must to suceed . Education leads to a better job and all the trimmings of a comfortable life. I think Mr Skerrit is one of these kids.
Mr Skerrit has not gone out like other leaders in region. I have lived in Antigua OMG God the Byrds house is twice of this , St Kitts the ex PM home is in Bird rock the house has a tennis court etc, Anguilla I don't even need to mention that one, Montserrat ex CM John Osbourne' homes is an estate just to make a description, and St Maarten you have to value his property in USD
From the pics I CANNOT see a GUEST HOUSE , MAID's QUARTERS nor can I see a SECURITY BOOTH. A Mansion tends to have a lot of GARDEN SPACE, this is YARD. This is by no means a MANSION. The PM has a HOUSE. By all means is his being MODEST with his wallet.
I do not do drugs or any illegal activity and my house is about EC$300,00.00 so the PM can have for my part aEC500,00.00 house. And for those of you who think that this is beyound you, it is possible for you to achieve with a little ambition. Good Luck
Only time will tell and the truth shall be out one day nothing stays in the dark forever, just remember that so my people leave skerrit alone his time is coming to beg the people of dominica forgiveness for what he did to them, and then he will turn on all his families , cabinet members,and friends for not telling him what he is doing is wrong and now look where he ends up in the RAT HOLE LIKE SADAM,oh by the way did you all remember the storie about the guy that was in prison and ask for his MOM when she came in he told her come a little closer i have something to tell you when she got closer he bite piece of her ears off and told her if you was giving me wrong when i wrong or say to me dont do that it is not good i wouldn't be in here today for the rest of my life, And i know skerrit have to say that espercially to his friends and familes who just want him in power at any course GOD HEL US ALL
Do you know how difficult it is to manage the affairs of a country. So are we all saying that it is only the headaches and worries that look like the PM. Do you we want the PM to tun out like the freedom ministers uunder the leadership of MAMO. The PM deserves even better than what he has and frankly price should not be an issue.
By any means necessary! Beg, borrow or steal!
Very Nice Very Nice I am Now Studying to be Dominica’s Second Female Prime Minister and i would like a Little advice from Mr. Skerrit sould i start buying my blocks now cause by the time i arrive in parliament i want all my 21 brothers and sisters to have a house like urs including some oversea do they teach theft in school and wats the highest degree Masters IN THIVERY
People please open your eyes and minds.
The POINT here is about the LIE the PM told us about the estimated cost of his home. Ofcourse he is entitled to a home as big as he wants or as expensive as his pocket can reach.