LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Tragedy awaiting to happen on Lalay Coco

An accident of Lalay Coco on Tuesday afternoon
An accident of Lalay Coco on Tuesday afternoon

Dear Editor,

May I use your news outlet to bring to the attention of the authorities of what has been taking place on a stretch of road between Loubiere and Castle Comfort called ‘Lalay Coco.’

In recent times, I have noticed that something that looks like motor vehicle repair has sprouted beside the road. Now, that area is being used to repair vehicles in the most unsightly manner.

Furthermore, I have seen with my own eyes vehicles being parked on the road itself to be repaired. On one occasion, a handmade sign was used to direct traffic. And on occasions vehicles are parked on the road at nights.

This is posing a serious danger to the driving public since that road serves the entire south of the island. I have seen many accidents in that area, with the latest on Tuesday (March 22) afternoon (see photo above). Thankfully no lives have been lost yet, but I foresee some kind of tragedy waiting to happen.

It must be noted that the area is a high-speed one and the danger is great if one is leaving from the Loubiere side because the area is just after a bend in the road.

Hence, I am calling on the police, the Planning Division and the Environmental Division to do something about this.

I am sure the Planning Division could not have given permission for a garage under a tree. The environment is seriously being compromised in that area with old vehicle parts and oils all over the place. It must also be realized that the area is turning into an eyesore and is a road that leads to a major tourist attraction, Champagne Reef. As the “Nature Island” we can do better than that.

So I am appealing to the authorities to do something about that area. Let’s not wait until people die in that area before something is done.

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37 Comments

  1. Shocked and Outraged Visitor
    April 14, 2016

    I have spent 3 weeks on the island and I am shocked by the total lack of solid waste management in most areas including the capital. The solid waste ranges from the white styrofoam containers from fast food place to entire carcasses of cars, vans, trucks and even larger vehicles abandoned in all the places including the otherwise beautiful roadside on EOL highway. Every little street in my community has all the colors of plastic bottles. Why do Dominicans so carelessly litter their island? Where is the so called Nature Island? May be in the interior where no one lives. I have seen plastic bottles littering even the Wai’tukubili trail.

    For a start, I suggest thath the authorities consider installing trash containers at every intersection in major cities. Also, the same is needed at designated bus stops.

    Millions of dollars are obtained from international aid orgainzations and spent in esoteric studies about the island. I wish there is one iintiative to clean up the entire…

  2. Erma carr
    March 24, 2016

    Common Mr Skerrit and Ministers do the right thing please.

    • Anonymous
      March 24, 2016

      stupppppppppppppppppppssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, where Skerrit coming in

  3. Titiwi
    March 24, 2016

    Only this week (DNO 21 March) the Director of Trade, Mathan Walter reported that Govt. received a grant from the CDB (Caribbean Development Bank) that will be used for consumer protection and “sensitization”.
    Will this also cover customers of unregulated road side repair shops, euphemistically referred to as “garages”?

  4. IamanIdiot
    March 24, 2016

    Funny thing you wrote about that tree/garage. Cause I was walking down there one day and I saw that “varman” tree hollowed out cause they seem to be burning stuff inside of it. and I was sooo sad. I thought, such a big nice tree giving you’ll some shade and you’ll using it for a furnice or whatever. Dont you expect it to die?

  5. truth
    March 23, 2016

    this is so true , most vehicles are parked on the side of the road taking the entire left lane , leaving traffic coming to town with a quick decision when having on coming traffic

  6. raw talk
    March 23, 2016

    them police need to stop huntin for weed and focus on more important issues….like is so much thing they doing…#localterm ,,,,sac sot

    • Tjebe Fort
      March 24, 2016

      Don’t divert garcon. They need to to both.

  7. Save Dominica
    March 23, 2016

    Lawlessness rampant in D/ca, which is symptomatic of a rouge Government.

    • Stupes
      March 24, 2016

      Part of the problem is that we fail to blame parents who don’t give enough attention to their children,but have them watch tons of television which the believe is an accurate portrayal of life in the US. Also, we blame the government and don’t see that our attitudes and need for ‘fast money’ is a problem. Stupes! Lawlessness is rampant because people choose lawlessness. The government cannot do everything. Let each Dominican play his or her part to uphold the law. Then, we shall see progress in this blessed land.

  8. Affa
    March 23, 2016

    Good job pointing this out John. But we are all skeptical of the same authorities that, by their inaction, ‘authorize’ the little rum shop across the street from the johns in Grand bay to erect a mega sound system outside their door, playing as loud as they can. Sometimes the same police are in there or passing by. Grossly disturbing the peace against the law with some of the loudest music the elderly in the area could be tortured by, including the John family. They all read DNO so I do hope this and the elderly in Grandbay get some attention from the loud stadium volume music. We waiting!

    • NRT
      March 26, 2016

      You speak for thousands of us that live close to these wicked people just selling a little rum or just bakes and acra with loud speakers and no respect for disturbing the peace nor law and order.

  9. Jaded
    March 23, 2016

    The ministry responsible for the environment should hire inspectors who would go all over DA looking for such environmental offenses. The inspector would take the issue back to his superiors and then a cease and desist letter would be sent to the offender. If the offender fails to correct his errant behavior he would be brought to court. Endangering the environment must be taken seriously! Our natural resources is pretty much all of our capital besides people.

    • LuClu
      March 24, 2016

      There are inspectors for that, they’re called environmental health officers. They’re not doing their job.

  10. Skyland
    March 23, 2016

    I think there should be speed bumbs in that area. drivers drive extremely fast there..I don’t like it. it’s frightening

  11. faceup
    March 23, 2016

    What! Enforce the law? Some police men are having their cars fixed there lol

  12. March 23, 2016

    What we need in Dominica is police officers from the other islands, an exchange system where policemen from Dominica aralso posted to the other islands. It is quite clear that our local policemen are unable or unwilling to enforce the law. They are so petrified of upsetting their friends/partner by carrying out their duty. It is quite pathetic to observe Dominican policemen on duty, totally unprofessional, high fiveing with their friends, standing at street cornerr talking and gossiping like ant ordinary joe public. How are we suppose to respect those individuals when clearly they show no respect for the uniform they wear. Dominica is becoming one gabbage dump, rubbish all over the place, We as are people are just to untidy and nasty. It is quit embarassing when my friends and family visit from overseas.

    • Affa
      March 23, 2016

      OECS exchange. Too much foot draging.

  13. Malgraysa
    March 23, 2016

    I hope the DDA are not paying them to promote Nature Island of the Caribbean. Malgraysa

  14. cameron
    March 23, 2016

    You could have not said it any better,Dominica has now laws.On my recent visit to Dominica i visited the village of St.Joseph,to my eyes i say a makeshift mechanic spot in the area called up the river,asked a young man how is this happening,Barrels of old oil being stored and sipping into the river.He said to me thats the parl rep boys that has the mechanisc shop their,i can see exactly why our people and our natural resources are being affected by these hazardous material waste.Dominica is doomed and we have many health outbreaks and disasters to follow. :cry:

    • AAGabriel
      March 23, 2016

      Wrong, they have laws but the police does not consider it their duty to enforce them. They have got better things to do with their time on duty.

  15. zandoli
    March 23, 2016

    Everyone keep complaining about things that need to be done in Dominica, but are being ignored.

    Has anyone stopped to wonder exactly what government employees do all day?

    All the things people complain about, go to improving the quality of life for the citizens, but it seems as if no one in government seem to notice or even care.

    The sad thing about this is, it does not cost much to make these improvements.

    In the city where I live, and I am sure most major metropolitan areas are the same, we have bylaw enforcement officers. When someone makes a complaint, there guys go out to investigate and issue a citation or warning as required. Why isn’t the same thing happening in Dominica.

    The police need not be involved in these sorts of things. But there should be officers who respond to those complaints, or drive around to see what need to be attended to.

    This is not rocket science. It is a matter of applying best practices.

    • John Paul
      March 23, 2016

      My Friend You are shooting too low ! You need to raise your barrel at those Diplomats that Mr. Skeritt has appointed all over the place and find out what benefits they are bringing to this Country or did they purchase those positions.That Mechanic is probably just trying to feed His Family.He can easily be made to not park on the road and tidy up His operation

    • Donkey Beach
      March 23, 2016

      Why do we undervalue the water, beach and river view??? In places like Barbados restaurants and clubs and hotels pay top dollar for seaside property. Instead, we put in mechanic shops and spray shops without wondering how we filter the waste before it goes into the sea!!! Things that make you go hmmmm. Head talk not reaching the foot!

      • Tjebe Fort
        March 23, 2016

        You are right Donkey Beach. That is another spot where trash is king. The nearest beach to town and the place full of garbage. Do these guys have planning permission to be there? That place doesn’t even smell good. What is holy Simeon saying about that because it is on his patch? Nature island, my foot!

    • Dominican
      March 23, 2016

      That’s just it! And the same government employees come here to complain while they sit on their laurels.

  16. queen
    March 23, 2016

    Very Good Article and I agree with everything you say. What makes it worse is that this seems to be a repair shop for Trucks and Caterpillars and coaster buses. The police need to do something before worse accidents happen,.

  17. sweet
    March 23, 2016

    Good job D. John. While we are on the topic, during rush hour traffic in the mornings it would be nice to have an officer ticketting those who break the northbound traffic line, and overtake stationary vehicles (even round the blind corner by the bread depot & Krazy Koconuts) to turn right and pass through the Rubis gas station. They do this at high speeds too. Very risky….another tragedy awaiting to happen

  18. oh Yes
    March 23, 2016

    A very proactive citizen. It takes people like you to foster positive development. Perhaps, the authorities in questions were waiting on us to speak. But why?

  19. wisewoman
    March 23, 2016

    The amount of car parts and oil that end up on the beach below Lalay Coco is disgusting. Aside from debris and garbage, we also found 2 dead dogs in plastic bags, old toilets, galvanize dumped there. This is an area where yachts put down anchor. (Tourism is Everybody’s Business, right?) Environmental Health officers need to pay more attention to this area and Traffic Dept. needs to install speed humps and speed limit signs along this stretch as well as in the village of Loubiere. The quarry gets speed humps, the bars in Pt. Michel have them, but the residents of Loubiere are left with dangerous roads and no one cares. We’ve been requesting these safety measures since 2007. Still nothing has been done. What a mess.

    • Donkey Beach
      March 23, 2016

      What about Donkey Beach at Canefield where they relocated vehicles spray shops and vehicle mechanics ? All the chemicals they use in Sanding and the fumes from spraying will NEVER NEVER get me to bathe on that beach again!!!

  20. me row row
    March 23, 2016

    Very good observation. I strongly agree.

  21. zandoli
    March 23, 2016

    Good Luck with that!

    In Dominica, people do what pleases them with little regard as to how it affects others. On top of that, there are all kinds of laws on the books and very few are being enforced.

    As with everything else, this one will fall on deaf ears.

  22. TRUSTED ONE
    March 23, 2016

    well said, these vehicles need to move ASAP,

  23. %
    March 23, 2016

    Good article.I ply the area on a daily basis,and I find it extremely strange and ridiculous that on this said stretch where drivers drive faster than in other areas, such an obstruction to the free flow of traffic exists…Traffic police also ply this route,but such is our AILING and MORIBUND society,…We are reactive not proactive……

  24. AAGabriel
    March 23, 2016

    Another prime example of laws not being enforced in Dominica. Everybody does what they want. The police is just watching and doing absolutely nothing.

  25. derp
    March 23, 2016

    I was driving there the other day I had to swerve to avoid hitting on of them on God knows

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