Government is working to relocate residents occupying properties on the Roseau river bank which may be at risk during heavy rains.
Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore told GIS news on Monday that the area is prone to flooding and measures have already been taken to communicate with concerned residents to ensure their safety.
The Minister said a few people occupying the area between Ball of Joy and Rose Street, who have residential homes and commercial entities, have been alerted of possible relocation.
“We have to ensure that we move quickly to ensure that these persons are no longer occupying those properties because what this does is that it interferes with the river bed and narrows the river bed and as a consequence when you have flooding activities the river has a natural tendency to go towards the northern part of the side of the river,” he said.
The Minister said his Ministry will do all to ensure that the residents of the area are relocated to safer ground at the soonest possible time.
“We cannot compromise at any time the issue of public safety and to allow a few persons to disregard the rule of law. So we will be working in a very cordial way to ensure that this is done and to restore some degree of security and safety in that area,” he pointed out.
The Minister did not say when exactly the relocation will take place.
The Ministry of Public Works is ensuring those concerned that all efforts will be made to ensure that the transition is a smooth one.
I may be wrong, but I believe that the area targeted for the Roseau River Promenade Development is the south side of the river, not the north side.
I am glad that the residents are going to be relocated. During the 2007 hurricane I was renting an appartment at River Estate and the way I saw the river hitting against the river bank I was concern for the residents. After the hurricane one of the resident was bathing in the river naked and my young child until these day complains to me about it.
I AM A VERY PATRIOTIC DOMINICAN.
Years ago in the middle 1990’s I penned the caption
“I AM DOMINICA”
-*my original slogan*- and I planted a number plate with that phrase on my red and grey Diahatsu Jeep no.10
Some persons uttered “she crazy!what does she mean she is DOMINICA?” LOOK TODAY AT DISCOVER DOMINICA.
Good for you but what’s that got to do with the issue at hand?
Isn’t it cheaper to build a defensive river-wall instead of relocating business and residents?
i glad move dem out give all to de chinese dem nassiefs and dem astaphans
seeing this area is such a risk now, i hope gov’t not planning to put in the propsed promenade. don’t want anyone swept away when that river floods.
This so funny. These folks have lived there for decades and now its safety that concerns the govt. Why not be honest and say govt needs the land to redevelop it. I mean just be honest, people are not stupid…..SMH
Progress demands a heavy price be paid.If Dominica is to progress socially,economically and educationally, we the Dominican people must pay. We should be proud that the government of Dominica seeks to protect citizens from danger,whether or not they have other use for that area,all power to them.I have published years ago that the area on the River Bank is the most lucrative piece of real estate in Dominica,It needs to be modernized.
Teacher G, anything to enhance the aesthetics of Roseau is good but don’t you think that it is important that the government of a country should be honest with the people in all situations? Why should it be that only one set of people pay the price for development, while, another set use their positions of power and authority to get rich. This may turn out to be another scam by some persons to get their hands on prime property without paying.
Protecting citizen this is a joke, the government can only protect us and will only protect it’s citizens when they stop selling our birthrights and sovereignty to criminal all over the globe, until then there’s no such thing as protecting citizen that’s my opinion
This is very nonsensical statement….so let them squalor in the nonsense state they are in
Mr. Editor, some of us are lost as to the exact location the Minister is referring to. “between Ball of Joy and Rose Street?” Isn’t Rose Street in Goodwill?
Yes, it is but it also now directly connected to the opposite Roseau river bank by the new bridge (visible in the picture).
You are correct. Rose Street is in Goodwill. As I recall it commences near Upper Federation Drive and ends at Lower Federation Drive.
I have never heard of Ball of Joy. Is this a new name, be it a few years old? It must be some ‘Ball of Joy’.
i think the new road from goodwill is considered to be rose street
A ploy that… De minister and his cronies know what they already planning to do with the land… is only them paros that actually by the river that are at risk!!!!
Glad to see that some Dominicans are now seeing the big picture of what is really going on in this place. Sometime ago the same govt. said that the Roseau health centre was unsafe for humans, they removed the health centre and dispersed its clinics all over the place, then they turn around and gave the building to all saints university. So its a matter of history repeating itself
DNO, I think you should check your story and facts before printing or just repeating what the minister said, don’t you think? Make a feature of the news by giving those of us out of Dominica for some time, a sense of what exactly the story is telling us. I am a bit confused at the moment because I never realised that rose street was anywhere near the river. Which is the northern part of the side of the river? And is the ball of joy on that side of the river? Oh, and just to say that I am no journalist just making an observation or suggestion. In related news; ALBA funding to the tune of $4 million will facilitate the development of a proposed Roseau River Promenade.
Is this not the very same area earmarked for the “Roseau River Development Project”, the original plans for which, presented to Cabinet on 10 May 2011, by DSDI Ltd. (Dominicans for sustainable Development International Ltd.) a, a company headed by U.K. based Lawyer Creswell Larence?
This was extensively reported on by DNO in May of last year and, incidentally the same photo was used then. Nobody would argue that the present huddle of buildings and living quarters are a mess but to present the relocation of the residents now as merely in the interest of their safety is “spinning” the story a few turns too far.
I would like the minister to confirm whether or not the area will be redeveloped as per the plans submitted by the aforementioned company, once the the site has been cleared.
I must say I love DA. However, some areas scare me. Under the rocks, above the cliffs, close to the river, on the beach. Landslides, mudslides, skidding up the hill and down the hill to get to your house; God has been good to us. Dominicans are some brave people. I have not seen any place in the world as DA. God bless and protect us, but people please build wisely.
Oh, there are other places in the Caribbean as those. DA is not the only one.
I thought the same and agree they are brave. Where they reside is dangerous. However, this is where they are able to build. It is their home. When the weather is calm, under normal circumstances it must be a haven for them. Furthermore, they got accustomed of residing there.
The river has a way of overflowing unexpectedly even when it is not raining in the area. Imagine while they are sleeping and the river overflows and takes the houses and the occupants with it, out to sea and into the ocean.
While at school during the hurricane season when there were tidal waves, homes that were near the sea were damaged; some drifted out to sea. This affected all low-lying areas as Roseau, Bay Front. The sea water would trespass a few streets. Such is life in those countries as DA during bad weather.
Yes! They are fortunate. God is good that the worst did not happen to them.
Is not today them people living there all of a sudden they need to relocate! Nonsense I say…Dominica Government to backwards whether it was green, blue or red all of them man ju-ju…There shouldn’t even have a settlement to begin with!!! ahhhhhhh boi
mais zon sot eeeh
@ CommonEntrance
You need to re-write your common entrance examination.
It is never too late to have them move, ‘before it is too late’ and the worst happens.
All intelligent,progressive governments relocate citizens and venues when the need arises.Think back,look at the Financial Center and how that area was before it was built.
Now look at the WINDSOR PARK STADIUM. Among other benefits to DOMINICA, **TEST CRICKET**
Good Move “SIR”.
Big plans for the river bank….very convenient.
Why won’t we learn?
Over and over we are warned of the dangers in building our houses close to the river or sea. We have also seen the numerous disasters caused, yet, as soon as the hurricane season is over, there we go again, Pock, Pock, Pock building new houses or adding to the exising structure
@ Concern citizen
This is human nature. How quickly they forget and after a disaster.
and while you moving them, move those around the financial center and Stadium too… tell them something, but those are not sights to behold.
Hahaha The PM does probably shake his head when he look down below and see the man-hole that there! hahahaha
which side of the river is the northern side?
@ Anonymous
Oh boy/girl! You do not know that? Well, figure it out. Get a map of Dominica and study it.
people should build a certain distance from the river because the river overflows and takes a different route completely when it rains a lot…
.and besides people should be able to walk alongside the rivers or beaches without being in someones yard…and this is becoming impossible
@ tiny
You make me laugh. Worth laughing at.
I suppose the residents like to see company/ visitors taking a walk near their home and do not mind.
I do agree that the location is not safe. The government should never allow them to build so near to the river, for their safety.
people in Dominica build in river bed on on sea shore…one step form the beach sand and you in their home…building in dangerous areas under cliffs…..and the lists goes on
Safety has never been a priority in our development it seems
Just today I was thinking what a lovely stretch of beach that could have existed in Portsmouth if people had not decided to build on the beach from after the bridge.
good………….