The poor state of Roseau

Letters_20to_20Editor_380419663Dear Editor,

I did not help but notice your article on the pedestrian’s experience on a sidewalk on Kennedy Avenue recently.

Through the years, I have complained about the poor state of Roseau, which happens to be our capital and main place of business.

However, no one seems to be taking notice and instead the authorities appear to be placing emphasis on things that are not really important.

How can we attract visitors when our main town is in such a state? No wonder Dominica’s tourism sector was the only one in the Caribbean which saw negative growth in both cruise and stayover visitors in 2015.

A report by Canadian intern Andrew Hooke between September 2012 – March 2013 captured the state of Roseau, which can only be described as poor.

The study can be found on the Planning Division’s website, which means it was submitted to the government. It appears that it was totally ignored.

Below is a section of the study on Roseau:

Roseau was designed much before cars were widely used, therefore the streets are quite narrow. This is problematic because the streets are now being used in unintended ways. Initially the “streets” were simply the spaces between buildings, used for meeting spaces and traveling on foot. Now they are used predominately for cars.

The widespread use of personal vehicles is causing a lot of vehicular congestion within the city. Due to the width of the streets, the majority of streets in the city have been designated as one-way. The problem with this is that there are very few signs or markings to indicate correct driving direction. The one way streets also create issues with connectivity and traffic flow as cars often have to take an indirect route to get to where they are going.
This is not helped by the fact that streets are not labeled clearly and there are very few landmarks for orientation.

Although this system may work for people who have lived in the area for an extended period of time, it is extremely difficult for tourists or newcomers to navigate.

There are also conflicts between pedestrians and cars are there is often not room for both to pass comfortably.

Pedestrians are neglected in other ways as well. Sidewalk quality is very poor in many places around Roseau. Many are uneven, obstructed, used for parking, or too narrow to use. Pedestrians often find themselves jumping over open drains to walk through Roseau. The poor sidewalk quality
makes it near impossible for the elderly or the physically disabled to get around the city without a car.

Lighting is another issue for pedestrians traveling at night. The city is poorly lit, especially on lesser used streets. This may enhance opportunities for crime and leads to an increased perception that a place is dangerous. The darkness is also major issue because the uneven sidewalks and open drains are not always visible at night.

A third deterrent for pedestrians is the odor in Roseau. The open drains, piling of garbage on the streets and various industries within the city emit odors that are quite unpleasant to anyone walking through the city.

The full report can be found here: http://physicalplanning.gov.dm/images/RoseauReport.pdf

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

41 Comments

  1. George
    March 14, 2016

    What happened to that plan the Government had for Roseau just before the elections? Where is it?
    Was it ever going to happen, or was it yet another election tactic.

  2. I agree
    March 14, 2016

    I tend to agree with this. What bothers me is the amount of oil and grease in the drains coming from various Restaurants. Also the time it takes for rubbish to be cleared.

  3. A Doubting Thomas In Solidarity
    March 14, 2016

    Are we forgetting that all the Parl Reps are UWPites but one in the City of Roseau? What are they doing to help keep the City Clean? After all the fanfare they’ve given up?

    But seriously people, who is making Roseau not clean but you and I. That piece of tissue paper we throw on the street; the brown bag, that soft drink can or bottle; that take-out-container all these contribute to the city being dirty. And the men, yes the men who do not care to wait to get to a bathroom and uses the streets as one, that my people would cause the stench.

    Therefore if each of us stop doing what we do to make the city dirty and the government does the bigger work of sweeping and washing and repairing we would have a nice clean city. We must realize we are in this together. There is absolutely no reason for stench, the blame is all ours.

  4. %
    March 13, 2016

    In addition to odor from the open drains and garbage, certain areas in Roseau are smeeling pee pee!!!!The city needs more public convenience!!!!The sale of one passport can do that!Stop pocketing the money,while the country is going to hell.

  5. March 12, 2016

    During their US your UWP candidates highlighted that very concern, things we all see everyday in Roseau, we still turned around and said they were making Dominica look bad, when all pics from Roseau show the same dirty and unkempt environment, we did not listen and voted Labour. Well take what we take…labor…smh

  6. March 12, 2016

    EO Leblanc couldnt fix it, Mamo couldnt fix it,Eddison James couldnt fix it,Patrick John couldnt fix it. But hang on Skeritt should and could fix it

  7. smh
    March 12, 2016

    you all that complaining roseau this and that why you all doh forget goverment and do it on all you own..

  8. fruitful
    March 12, 2016

    You don’t only have to watch carefully so you don’t fall in a gutter but you have to look out for the big rats running across like they own the city. Roseau full of rats. Roseauis infested with rats. It should be called the city of rats. And government is just sitting there doing nothing. The people of Roseau especially Roseau central is always willing to clean up but the Government need to supply the materials. The financial centre and government headquarters is on one of the main streets in Roseau. It does not hurt the pm and mininster’s eye to see the state of Roseau. Pedestrians have to jump gutters, vehicles park on both side of the road.stop fooling people during election time to get vote.

  9. jason jackson
    March 11, 2016

    already we dont have side walk. the little we have we still have vendors using them. i dont want to pass under your umbrella. please clear the side walks of the vendors, so people can walk. create a vendors plaza somewhere. fix all side walks.

    traffic. you cannot have cars parked on both sides of a one way street. causing the one way street to be very narrow. one way streets if possible should have parking on only side of the road. which mean their should have more traffic enforcement taking place.

  10. %
    March 11, 2016

    I saw a picture of Roseau painted by the corrupt DLP just before election 2014, and shown to fools at Lagon.This would make Roseau the most beautiful city on earth….ALL THE FOOLS WERE CLAPPING!!! REST ASSURED THAT it will re surface just prior to another general election….

    • sassie
      March 12, 2016

      Watfch you! Not Roseau central people that were clapping. That is probably people who came for the meeting from other areas. We know that they don’t care about Roseau and was only staging. A performance. that is why Roseau Central people voted workers and continue to vote them. Government dont assist the peiple of Roseau not even the infrastructure. And if it for that reason they are not cleaning up their city, it falls on them, because Roseau is not only for Roseau people. It is a commercial centre used by the whole of Dominiuca, tourists \visitors. It time the government show some care to the people of Roseau. They can never win Roseau Central with the kind of disrespect they show to us. Dominica is ours. stop dividing us politically. Too much too long. I guess that beautiful plan for Roseau was shredded.

    • Original Mahaut Man
      March 12, 2016

      You are one of the fools because you are a Dominican and is Dominican that vote the DLP into power.

  11. real deal
    March 11, 2016

    Boy say it as it looks them man need to come out of power and give another party a chance and if the other party form d … take them out to but Dominica can’t be going down the drain like that and to some people it is all well and ok. What them man did with all that money that was coming in after Erica. Someone please help me with that.

  12. Dr.PM
    March 11, 2016

    You all do not have any patience. You all forgot that some computer wizard painted a beautiful picture of what roseau would look like just before the elections with car parks and so? You all forget I have the money already for the Roseau enhancement project? Take it easy on me nuh! I had to pay for my PhD! Look now nobody not even checking me and my doctorate because they busy talking about them nasty fellas ……… Stupes! Just wait! Wait my son might fix Roseau in 2040 OK. Thanks for understanding my sweet passive dumm-in-cans.

  13. kewl
    March 11, 2016

    That’s the second report there was one before which was scorching. The observers asked that Portsmouth be developed or like Montserrat build another city because Roseau will cost mucho dollars to fix. The irony is no move is being made,lies and more lies. I asked someone in government when you land in other OECS territories how do you feel? Castries,Kingstown,St. Georges,Basseterre,St.Johns, The Valley,Road Town, they all have some form of enhancements that’s welcomes you to their Capital but when you come over the Loblack bridge the odor is vilifying.What he said I’ll not repeat here. I was sitting in a vehicle waiting on Burtons to open and I had to get out and go walking ,the stench is punishing and told me in many words there is a plan. This country have plan upon plan sitting getting dust. We like it so,we free.

  14. March 11, 2016

    Roseau is a dump ,while it is not only the gov’t who is responsible but the owners of the building that are ruined ,,either broken down ,rusty or rotten..rubbish at certain corners, beggars on the increase because the country is improving backings,,,why when people cannot do a job they cannot walk away instead of sinking the place with every one else in it>enough is enough..

  15. Jaded
    March 11, 2016

    It is a disgrace that those very wide gutters in Roseau are still not covered so that a continuous sidewalk can be enjoyed by pedestrians. Also, I suggest underground parking to alleviate the traffic congestion. Above-ground parking can be an eye sore.

    • Me
      March 12, 2016

      Underground parking in Roseau is not feasible. The town sits on the flood plain of the Roseau river and ground water water pressure is a real threat for basement construction.

  16. Shameless
    March 11, 2016

    Thats what happens when the mayor put the wishes of the ruling party first instead of concentrating on the task at hand. Roseau is just the symptom of the diseases affecting our failed state :cry: :cry:

    Always assertive! :twisted:

  17. Tulip
    March 11, 2016

    I could not agree more. The town is an eyesore, the sidewalks have been in a deplorable state for decades. I gather that there is a clean up going on, but for how long. Personally Roseau is like a huge eyesore on the rest of the island. It is very sad that this is the first port of call for cruise visitors.

  18. smdh
    March 11, 2016

    They doh have money for that. they say all the money os to fix the country after Erica. In 5 month it will be a year since Erica pass and apart from the donated bailey bridges and the bypass in macoucherie, nothing has been done or notable worth. AID and AID $ gone to waste. no accountability. let the country rot or sell it. dominicans dont know what to do with it.

  19. enough is enough
    March 11, 2016

    all kids will remain on the left side of the side walk until there is, let say a dozen of them, and then the officer can stop the traffic for a very short time for them to cross the street. during that time parents can drop their children and so on and so on. does it seems to difficult to put in place ? do we need 1000000ec$ to put it in place? I don’t think so, we just need commonsense, do we have that?
    waiting on comments and remarks thanks.

  20. D/can to de Bone (F)
    March 11, 2016

    I will copy the report to the Prime minister am very disappointed that nothing in being done about Roseau

  21. D/can to de Bone (F)
    March 11, 2016

    Hope the mayor and the central government read this article No public knowledge have never been made of this report . Why? It a disgrace yo read that report and yet the government never act on it..

  22. enough is enough
    March 11, 2016

    we should also talk about the traffic congestion in Roseau on the morning. even if traffic congestion can be seen in every city in the world in the early time of the morning when everyone goes to work, I believe there will be some modification to do here to make it more fluid. one example that show that there is no planning in D/A… the new newtown school !! big school, plenty student and nothing was plan for the morning drop off. it is a huge mess every morning. of course every parents want to make sure their kids reach their school safe. they want to make sure they cross the street safe, but tell if each parent really need to block the entire traffic each time ?/ why a drop zone of 100 ft have done been design on the road ( from fortune entrance road to the pedestrian path, with signage the side walk, and a proper communication with all parents to tall them what to do on the morning. at least the officer standing there every morning will actually be useful. to help the kids to cros

  23. Bob
    March 11, 2016

    No she is just a supporter and defender of the government.

  24. CHRIS
    March 11, 2016

    This present Government …… They have no vision for this country, they are lazy, incompetent like hell. Yet they want to hold on to power. Things that should be given priority they put them on the back burner. Roseau is our main town and it should be given top PRIORITY. Minister Tonge get your act together or go back to your family business please.

  25. MAN KINDEDNESS
    March 11, 2016

    Traffic congestion can be solved by building multi story parking structures around the city hence NO PARKING IN THE CITY OF ROSEAU . BUS STOPS should be untouched as they bring consumers closer to the stores . Charge for parking by the minute to the hour and employ meter maids to monitor this exercise physically this will create jobs . These structure’s should also be equipped with security and vehicle washing facilities.

    All side walks should be wheel chair friendly and at least 3 – 4 ft wide .

    • Concern citizen
      March 11, 2016

      It is point less Dominicans open their mouth and speak, because those DONKEY HOLES like it so the country NICE

  26. dee
    March 11, 2016

    Am I the only one disturbed by this report ?
    well is not roro so comments are not forthcoming .
    Where are those to confirm, deny or challenge the contents of this damning report ?
    Of course it was well written as the contents are true to the last word .
    D a need help , real help .

  27. Living outside
    March 11, 2016

    Very well said. I have mentioned these points over and over. I live overseas and go back as iften as i can. My views have not changed anything… what are we waiting on? For the cruise ship people to speak about it for some action,? Why cant some of the CIP money be allocated to project like such?,, what is the CIP MONEY SPENT ON?,

  28. Concern Citizen
    March 11, 2016

    Our Minister’s and Technocrats travel year round all around the globe, yet still they cannot come up with a development plan for Roseau modelled after one of the many cities they are travelling to winning and dining on the poor tax payers of this country. Everyday is the same comment about Roseau especially when the tourist season is on. Roseau sucks and stinks what a shame.

    Where is the Phantom Barbados doctored Roseau Enhancement Project engineered by the famous Bajan H Henry the election campaign strategist. Nous bien sort an Dominique. The labourites were fooled just like the UWPites phantom 747 Boeing landing on a big screen in Pound.

  29. March 11, 2016

    Its shameful,This administration been in office 15years they should have done something about that,They only talk and no action,They dont have a clue how to invest to create jobs and develop the country,They have wasted sum of money,They only want to be in power they will waste money during election to be relected money that could have invest in the city,Folks i am so hangry to see our government pressing down our wonderful country,Our country could be one of the best in the caribbean if our government done the right things.

  30. Floridian diaspora
    March 11, 2016

    Welcome to Dominica, the envy of the world. We are proud Dominicans and everyone is jealous of us. We have money, elite jobs, luxurious cars which we got duty free, land, big houses, the works. You name it we got it. We are the role model for the rest of the world. People are lining up and are moving mountains to come to our shores but we’re not interested in sharing our RED supremacy. They want to sample our paradise. They all want to be like us. Unemployment rate is 0%. We could retire by age 30 and have enough money to last us the rest of our lives even though we lived to be 200 years old. Food is cheap, our roads are well paved, the cash flow is brilliant, oh boy, our future looking sweet as we are sucking sugar at will. Our P.M. and his flock of goats are transparent. Economic stability is present. Life couldn’t be better. There’s only one problem though, this dream world will never happen under Skeritt

    • Concern citizen
      March 11, 2016

      Sir / Mam u are so, so, right we are even sending remittances over seas for our relatives abroad and our economy is booming under those LABOR DONKEY HOLES

    • Leah Remy
      March 11, 2016

      Sounds like Utopia to me…where can I sign up? :lol: :lol:

  31. Peter Potter
    March 11, 2016

    There is one quick fix at least as far as vehicular congestion is concerned. If the police was to immediately enforce the annual road tax, that would have the following impact: increase of revenue in form of additional road tax, increase in revenue in form of additional fines, increase of vehicles being confiscated due to them being either not insured or taxed or both, increase of vehicles being confiscated due to not being road worthy.
    Result: more revenue to start with road works/sidewalk works and less vehicles in Roseau because the majority of them has been taken of the road. ENFORCE our laws! And make the place better for everyone to live in!

    • Titiwi
      March 12, 2016

      Peter, it has always puzzled me why there are so many vehicles driving around Dominica, not displaying a valid road tax sticker, which means they are probably not insured either. In 2016 it should be easy for the authorities to check who is up-to-date with their tax or not simply by checking the vehicle registration numbers on their data base, fine anyone who’s vehicle is found to be unlicenced and take them to court if they do not comply within a certain time with a threat of the bailiff impounding the offending vehicle. Surely that can not be too difficult to set organise?

  32. Me
    March 11, 2016

    Do we have a functioning mayor or is he just there for decorum and a free parking space?

    • common sense
      March 11, 2016

      Its a ‘She” and nothing has changed.

      • Me
        March 11, 2016

        Thanks for the correction. So in this case man & woman are equal, both totally inept and a waste of time.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available