Cochrane residents plead for road project assistance

Photo at left shows the road before the project and photo at left shows as it is today
Photo at left shows the road before the project and photo at left shows as it is today

Residents of Cochrane are calling on government and other organizations to assist in completing a road project which they began in September 2013.

Loftus Durand, coordinator of the project, said some members of the community have teamed up and “dipped in their pockets” to repair the Zacolie Road which he said has been in a deplorable condition for too long.

“The residents of that area basically came together from September of last year and did a piece of road of about 400 feet,” he explained. “The road is not finished yet… we have about 500 feet to complete. The residents came together and put our hands in our pocket with little assistance from the government.”

He noted that the assistance from the government was not enough and is requesting more for the next phase of the project. He is also calling on business organizations and others to come aboard with assistance.

Durand told Dominica News Online that thus far residents have spent about $25,000 from their own pockets, however the overall cost of the project is about $100,000.

“We will definitely need some assistance to continue,” he said.

He said the residents intend to finish the project as long as assistance is available.

“The labor is being done by the villagers and me with considerable help from the prisoners,” Durand said. “It is not just the road that is being repaired but also DOWASCO is providing us with the necessary supply pipes, so as we are going along with the road we are laying down the pipes so that the people in the area can have a better water supply …DOMLEC as well has already changed two of the poles that needed changing and transferred some lines.”

A team will be put in place to maintain the road after it is completed, according to Durand.

He noted that the team will also try to extend that type of service to other areas of the community.

 

 

 

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28 Comments

  1. February 17, 2014

    Who ever you are’ you are talking B S

  2. Emile Zapatos
    February 16, 2014

    Let us not forget the big picture. Cockrane should be congratulated for their community efforts. They definitely need financial and tech assistance and the government and private organizations should respond. One can only hope that other communities will copy this attitude. This feeling of community relationship is very good

  3. on deployment.
    February 16, 2014

    good job Cochrane, help your self and don’t depends on that government lazy handout.

  4. Da.
    February 15, 2014

    sorry is would like to know

  5. Da.
    February 15, 2014

    Well since the gov`t is not willing to help. All we have to do is boy cut the election. I really would to know why the gov`t,is treating some villages so bad. We are all Dominica.

  6. REALLY
    February 15, 2014

    Okay, while it is true that the government has done all this, what does that have to do with the job of the Parliamentary Rep. That’s what all the other Parl. Rep did for the people in their constituency. Doc. Mac is seating there and talking about people not liking him so he not helping them. Isn’t the PM doing for people who do not like him. Maybe the PM should teach his fellow friends and colleagues some psychology. If you want the vote of the people you have to represent and stand up to help. This is not about you Mac, it is about the people who pay tax.

    Private road and all public people using the road, ask about it.

  7. true
    February 15, 2014

    for one way traffic

  8. help
    February 15, 2014

    We are all in this together. We are all Dominicans. These small villages contribute in the well being of our country. Some of these small villages soil are more productive than the west coast. I am from the west coast, but a lot of things these small villages could produce we cannot.

    Please Government, we are all in this together. Dominica belong to big and small villages alike. Please help them with the basic, “roads”. This is one of the reasons that the United States are powerful. They make sure there are roads, highways, byways to connect all parts of the nation to each other.

  9. Free Thinker
    February 14, 2014

    The efforts of the community must be applauded, I think they have done very well so far, it is time that the Parl. rep steps in to help……Dr Mac step up, the residents are helping themselves and not just depending on you for handouts. Do not take these people for granted!!

  10. Sentibon
    February 14, 2014

    Bla, bla, bla. Don’t you think that something had to be done in 15 years? Come on. The government of the day has to perform and show some type of progress.

  11. Sentibon
    February 14, 2014

    So proud of the people of Cockrane for taking the initiative to help themselves. Come on government help, help. Furthermore, just complete the project. Thank you very much.

  12. listener
    February 14, 2014

    The Government has committed itself to work on the main road. Lets see about that, because since last year for rabbit fest the yellow ribbon signifying a danger zone was placed in certain areas of the road leading to Cockrane,and up to today nothing has been done far less for a village road.

  13. Fondcole'
    February 14, 2014

    The way thing goes in Dominica today is , “take care of myself first,” It does do not matter how much it cost the nation’s purse.
    Dominicans, it is time to wake-up and take back your country.
    The moneys that were supposed to be spent on this road was spent on trips overseas and to buy land for family and friends.

  14. Mahaut
    February 14, 2014

    Once all the ministers have their big houses and some more , they don’t care about the common man.
    I could already feel the winds of change!!

  15. TF Grand Bay
    February 14, 2014

    If you are down and out at the bottom the only way is up and this is the positive. So there is hope for us in Dominica.
    I live in London and I have a choice to stay here or come back home. I yearn to come back home to contribute, I will be coming back home but we cannot go on like this as a nation. This status quo is unsustainable. Please vote, exercise your rights Dominicans.
    I am labour through and through but I love my country more than any one party. This labour party is not a party that I feel has the interest of the people at heart and I say we must take action by voting people.

  16. Change is a must
    February 14, 2014

    A little $100,000 they cannot spend on Cochrane while they are spending millions on roads in Grand Bay and Vielle Case/Penville…..Are some constituencies more deserving than otheres? My people wake up ….change is a must…not an option

  17. TF Grand Bay
    February 14, 2014
  18. i must speak
    February 14, 2014

    that is when the people are fedup of begging ministers to do what they are elected to do. they feel that something must be done so they choose to dip into their limited funds and help themselves and hopefully the gmt will feel bad and help.

    good going though

  19. Roseau.
    February 14, 2014

    Nice project.
    Lets make wider roads in Dominica.

  20. Cochrane
    February 14, 2014

    While the MP’s are getting Fat on Tax payers money , we the people have to pay tax and still put our hands in our pockets to fix our roads!
    What is this nation coming to noh?
    It is time to get this DLP out of office. Where is all the money Skerro talks about?

  21. February 14, 2014

    Why are the residents going into their pockets to build the road? Is it not the Government to build roads? Why start what cannot be finished? Roosevelt, you are tripping. Are you waiting to see who wins the election to complete all of the incomplete projects that you started? That is the wrong attitude.

    It is a shame to hear people begging for assistance, especially when the assistance is DESPERATELY needed.

    • OK
      February 14, 2014

      OK nothing wrong with the people helping themselves but the Government of the day should come in provide the rest of the material like a community day of service thing. The villagers are willing to work and make the village look better.

      • Sentibon
        February 14, 2014

        I agree.

  22. Canefield
    February 14, 2014

    This is a good initiative on the part of the people of Cochrane. However the very minister of Communications and works has not seen it fit to help those people who voted for his party. Sahme on Blackmore.
    Don’t worry too much my people, elections are close and this time we will show them who is Boss.!

    • Too Hard Too Long
      February 14, 2014

      Cochrane is in the Roseau Valley constituency. Our Parl Rep is Dr McIntyre.

    • Razor
      February 14, 2014

      Infrastructural works on land sold by private developers is NOT the responsibility of central government but that of the private developer.

      • Anonymous
        February 14, 2014

        Razor what u talking about? This area is still in the hands of the original owners. No land was sold by any private person.

    • Take Your Time
      February 14, 2014

      Blackmore is not the Parliamentary Representative for that area. Check your “facts” again and you will see who is.

      Blackmore has transformed river estate in under ten years – a place by the way that was not opened up by the government of Dominica but by private developers who sold agricultural land as residential land and did not put the quality of infrastructure required to give comfort to the residents there.

      This area now has paved roads, paved drains , and critical sections of the river course has retaining walls constructed for the very first time!!!!

      When one has to look at Dominica on a whole and the number of governments that has served Dominica before and after independence one has to ask the shameful question: what the H were these other administrations were doing to develop Dominica holistically?

      Freedom Party was in power for 15 years post independence and one can count on one hand the achievements of Miss Charles: Primary Health Care, Rural electrification, road narrowing projects , Bayfront rehabilitation , and Portsmouth Jetty.

      The other things done by Miss Charles were repairs to schools and bridges that once existed.

      One can argue that the UWP did much more in four and a half years than the Freedom Party did in fifteen years.

      Now from 2000 to 2013 and counting is the very first time that Dominica is seeing integrated development, holistic development and people centered development taking place.

      We see the Dominica State College that will be offering first degrees by 2015. By far the best people centered development Dominica has ever seen.

      There is a National Sports Stadium built and hosting many sporting ,cultural , and religious activities for both young and old alike. One is optimistic that with the state college Dominica will see better sports administrators and professional sports men and women engaging in sports as their carriers.

      Dominica does not as yet possess an International Airport but now has night landing that can cater for better flight connections.

      We see the advent of geothermal energy development.

      Squatter regularization programs is a first for Dominica.

      Small Business and entrepreneurship assistance

      National employment programs

      YES we Care Programs

      While the UWP started the sea wall in Point Mitchel and under the Canefield Cliff this DLP Administration and continued the Point Mitchel sea defense wall rehabilitated the Canefield Cliff Road comprehensively light up the Canefield Cliff and gave Soufriere a solid sea wall and well surfaced coastal road.

      So for the first time Dominica sees Public Sector Investment Programs literally transforming Dominica for the better.

      While the UWP is crying that Change is a must the DLP is stating that the Rate of meaningful change is far better under Skerrit and no one can doubt that.
      .

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