LETTER TO THE EDITOR: A blatant uglification of Dominica

uglification

I pass by the EOL highway a few times a week and noticed an existing advertising sign located about one mile North of Jimmit between Jimmit and Tarou on the Northbound side of the highway. This sign advertised an insurance company.

Yesterday, I noticed that this sign is replaced by a new sign advertising Total Oil, a local business.

I have the following issues to point out:

1. This sign on the roadside is at a high point on the EOL highway and obstructs the picturesque view of the Caribbean Ocean.

2. The signs are for inappropriate products for most people.

3. Worst of all, the previous sign was taken down and was left nearby to pollute the pristine land adjoining the Caribbean Sea.

I have attached the above photo showing the offending situation.

I observe that –

1. This is a serious violation of the Environmental Protection laws and should be punished to the highest level provided by the law.

2. If the sign is not authorized by the highway administration, even if it is on private land, it should be immediately taken down and all the advertisers warned to refrain from doing this at any such location.

3. Legislation should be created if absent and strictly enforced immediately if it exists to keep the highway and public properties bring used for such blatant commercial purpose at the expense of the environment.

By the way, in the last few weeks your website had quoted that the manager for the Solid Waste Management Corp. had sought new legislation to punish polluters. I would like to point out that legislation already exists since 1990 (http://www.dswmc.dm/index.php/legislation?download=2:litter-act-1990) and the DSWMC already has the powers to remove abandoned vehicles and yet there are dozens of abandoned vehicles lining the Caribbean Sea along the EOL highway. What is worse, new automobile repair shops are operating on the highway and doubtlessly pollute the Caribbean Sea.

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30 Comments

  1. Artist
    May 24, 2016

    Whoever wrote this article about this sign have absolutely no idear what he is saying. I was the one who painted this sign and had erected along with the owner of the oil business company. No insurance sign was ever removed. We provide all the materials to erect this sign. This is an untrue and malicious statement in this editorial. Get your act together sir.

    • Dominican
      May 25, 2016

      You would say that, wouldn’t you? You got paid for that job and accepted the money gladly I guess. So how can you present even a balanced point of view? I happen to think that sign is out of place, no matter who painted it or how “artistic” it mat be and I’m sure a lot of people concur with me.

    • Anonymous
      June 15, 2016

      OK, I was misinformed and jumped to the conclusion that the sign was a replacement and not a new sign.
      I stand corrected for the erroneous conclusion.

      But if you are truly an artist, you would agree that the sign does not belong there, private land or not, and spoil the view of the ocean and the landscape.

      Even worse is another piece of art in the vicinity that advertises a Sewage pumping business painted on some concrete object which is part of the highway.

  2. Domnichen
    May 24, 2016

    Is this sign on Private property or Government land ??? To me that is the important question

  3. Anonymous
    May 24, 2016

    there are two things I dont particularly like about my fellow country men. They are untidy, leaving mess and bits and pieces all over the place, even around their own houses. Secondly they are noisy, blasting people out of their sleep with loud music till the early morning hours. That is so inconsiderate and rude. Noise can make people aggressive and ill and is a pollution. When people come to Nature Island they do not want untidy mess and noise disturbing the peace, so a lot of them will not come back. If you think that is negative, remember people do have a choice.

  4. Affa
    May 23, 2016

    The sign isn’t a big issue, not obstructing anything noticeable. Other points well taken, but have you noticed the disrespect they have given to the Noise Abatement law, neighbors punish neighbors using loud music with impunity where police and government do nothing to help elderly and suffering neighbors?

    • Anonymous
      May 25, 2016

      Yes I have noticed. the loud music daily where people live helplessly cannot go unnoticed.

  5. Africo
    May 23, 2016

    Large billboards are banned in Barbados and several other Caribbean states due to the defacing of the landscape in relation to tourism. Small signs indicating directions to businesses or small adverts related to upkeep of roundabouts etc are allowed. But alas we in Dominica have not reached there yet. We still think that defacing the landscape with billboards is “Development”.

    • Kingdom Connections
      May 24, 2016

      Really???? you have not travelled yet and that is not a big sign.

  6. Mildred Xavier
    May 23, 2016

    Subject to correction, I think Planning Division gives permission to put up signs/billboards along our road sides.

  7. Reasoning
    May 23, 2016

    I am in total support and agreement with you on this issue.Those responsible need to take serious action against these indiscriminate activities.This island has laws on paper, people are given jobs and responsibility but fail to perform their duties effectively.Then again,even those in authority who are supposed to uphold the laws,are the first to break them in this island.I’ll never forget driving towards St.Joseph with a police vehicle ahead of us and coming from the police vehicle was a plastic disposable cup thrown by one of its occupants.This is Dominica for you!!!

    • smh
      May 24, 2016

      so what i the law in this case?

      • Me
        May 25, 2016

        That depends on the mood of Roosevelt Skerrit on the day.

  8. May 23, 2016

    I say to the writer of this article who ever you may be, that you are knocking your head against a brick wall. So many pertinent laws and almost nil in enforcement. you are talking about sign boards and abandon vehicles, what about noise pollution which is a health hazard , what about garbage / trash which is so unsightly and yet we seems not to be disturb by it. Hold your breath and wait and see if any body will ask you what you are selling. Another issue is the very tall grass that grows along the roads all over the island obstructing both drivers and pedestrians also detracting from the ambiance of the natural beauty of the landscape . It would seem that eyesore and nastiness is beautiful to us. Some people may be laughing at us when we boast that Dominica is the nature Island of the Caribbean .

    • John Paul
      May 23, 2016

      What about corrupt Politicians who are polluting the Halls of Justice and the seats in Parliament? Should there be better laws to remove them instead of they getting shielded by their Party ?

  9. May 23, 2016

    If this is on private land as you suggested it should be taken off, I cannot see why if someone is advertising on their land what gives the gov’t the right to remove it,except if there is a lack of visibility for traffic ,it is not advertising something gross for example pornography or indecent language.When ever publicity boards are placed on gov’t land ,gov’t should get paid either monthly or yearly for using the land ,because by doing so it generates more income both for the gov’t and the board owner.Ever vehicle has a number in the engine area,each time a vehicle is sold,there should be a history of this vehicle in gov’t’s office in order to follow up on this vehicle because vehicles are also used for criminal purposes and every disposal should be done in a correct manner and be kept away from any source of water.The gov’t should give the public a distance to place publicity boards in public areas or if they wish to make it illegal so be it
    .

    • Anonymous
      May 24, 2016

      That is the trouble with you all thinking you can do whatever you like with the land you own without consideration for the environment or your neighbours property. That is why houses get built in a shabby style and in places that are not suitable and when things go wrong you all holler for government to help you. Well I blame government too because they do not enforce regulations and standards in the first place. Dominica is a backward mess.

  10. Entertainment
    May 23, 2016

    uhhhh okkk sooo why not do something about it than posting it here why not send a letter why not go to the office :wink:

  11. Dominican
    May 23, 2016

    I couldn’t agree more. Did you know that people wanting to put up advertisng signs in public places need govt. permission? They are already the blight of U.S. interstates but we certainly do not need this ugliness in a place we like to call Nature Island.
    PS. re abandoned cars, there is an old London cab that has been sitting abandoned in central Roseau for more than two years. I the mayor blind to this or, does Her Worship have more important things to do?

  12. King
    May 23, 2016

    Francisco you have too much time on your hands

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      May 24, 2016

      I would hope that you are not referring to Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque, unless you wish to draw me into battle, and if so be the case, I would advised the author of this crap need to find a job, rather than concerning himself/herself with such nonsocial points one to wherever he stopped.

      As for the one who spoke about the United States, and blight, do to signs, thats more than exaggeration, even more so a lie. Advertising signs then they are erected are high overhead, higher than twenty feet, they have to be much higher than the street traffic signal lights, one will see them in a distance, however the only problematic ones are those which over illuminated, if the lights are too bright, some people in the immediate soundings may complain: Its not as if people put themselves out to complain about advertising Billboards!

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        May 24, 2016

        “blight, do to signs, thats more than exaggeration, even more so a lie. Advertising signs then they are erected are high ”

        “Blight due to signs”

        “Advertising are erected high than the streets traffic lights.”

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      May 24, 2016

      To conclude this King, as far as I know I am the only Francisco submitting comments on DNO, be reminded I submitted nothing regarding this article, in that respect, I suspect you are probably inebriated, or perhaps you are crazy!

      Give me one good reason why you have suggested I have too much time. I am not a slave, I educated myself which put me in a position to retire at 47 years old, and can take care of myself financially for the rest of my life.

      And mind you I never thief anything from anybody in my life like some politicians in Dominica: Hahahahahahahahahhahahhahahahahah!

      So I am at liberty to use my time anyway I deem fit, I do not have to report to you nor strike a time clock for anybody you see. And I am not looking over my shoulder for the FBI; like a certain man oui!

  13. febrese
    May 23, 2016

    so bro what you are saying is that the people who put up the TOTAL sign are the people who took down the insurance sign just to erect the total sign?.. i find this extremely disturbing . also untrue and you seem to have nothing to do with your time.

  14. smh
    May 23, 2016

    1. the sign only obstructs you if you choose to stand directly in front of it.
    2. because the sign is of a product which YOU feel isnt to your liking you need to understand capitalism, where whoever owns the company or the rights to be its merchant most likely PAID their $$$ to have their product advertised.
    i observe that:

    Your opinion is simply that, yours. There is no highway commission, if so our highways would be kept up to standard. also the only infraction caused here is that they didnt remove the old sign. Yes they could have done a better job, but if the sign is on public land, you cannot tell me what to do with it. by LAW.

    • smh
      May 23, 2016

      Sorry, “if the sign is on PRIVATE land, you cannot .. .

      • Me
        May 24, 2016

        You are wrong! Go and check the law.

  15. John Doe
    May 23, 2016

    lmfao. Dominica has no law…. what you talking about lmfao hahahahahahahahahaha you making issue about a road side sign… like it really doesnt have more important things going on,….

    • syncronize
      May 24, 2016

      Dominica is a lawless country, nothing is adhered to in this place. For that matter you can talk and talk and if they feel you are talking from the mouth of the opposition, worse yet. So good luck my friend. Hope they listen and hope change comes. Change has been knocking Dominica doors for so long and nobody cares. CHANGE MUST COME, CHANGE WILL COME

      • Kingdom Connections
        May 24, 2016

        Even though change come , you cannot change the minds of the people. So stop with that political slogan which makes no sense., Change must start with you.

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