Parliamentary Representative for the Laplaine Constituency, Petter Saint Jean, has said options are being explored restore access to the communities of Boetica and Delices, following the devastation that Tropical Storm Erika left on that side of the island.
The bridge at the Boetica Gorge, which connected the communities to the rest of the island, was washed away during the storm, cutting of vehicular access.
“Over the last six weeks we have sought to create some sort of access for the people,” Saint Jean said during a visit to the Gorge on Wednesday. “Of course admitably the access down on the Boetica Gorge has been significantly improved but at this point we still do not have vehicular access,”
He noted that the visit was to examine the options for creating access to the villages.
“This afternoon’s visit basically was to examine the options that are available to us…. the engineers have advised and are putting the information together and based on what we get from them, we will determine the most likely option to create access for the people of Delices and Boetica,” he remarked.
Saint Jean pointed out that as the Parliamentary Representative for the area his “overriding concern” is returning his constituency back to a state of normalcy “as far as their livelihood is concerned and that is hinged on providing them with access,” and reassured them that the government is “consumed with the whole issue of providing access to the people of Delices and Boetica.”
Meantime Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who was also part of the visit, said while a temporary pedestrian crossing has been placed over the Boetica Gorge, the long term goal is a permanent structure.
“There is some more engineering work or some analysis that has to be done and we are hoping that we can get this very soon so we can make a determination as to which option,” he said. “The approach we would like to take is to have a temporary approach and also a permanent structure. Because clearly the priority of the government is to cause there to be connection between Laplaine and Boetica and Delices.”
He said they are working to restore access in a timely manner.
“So obviously there will be different views from the locals as to what is the best approach to take but at the end of the day we have to go with what the professionals would advise us because one has to take into consideration the safety of road users,” the Prime Minister said.
Skerrit also informed that plans are afoot to install a better cable system in place for getting supplies to and from the villages.
“So we can upgrade what we have been using,” he said.
It appears to me that this is the most difficult bridge construction project to be undertaken in the history Dominica. No disrespect to our local engineers who more than likely have received thier training on the international platform, but I would go with the idea of the ‘ international architectural compitetion’ from the Olderman. And if done right might just be able to kill two birds with one stone. I hope the policy makers explore this avenue a bit before making a hasty desicion. I know the people need access but at the same time when spending that volume of money, might as well spend it properly.
Call in the Sappers of the British Royal Engineers, they would sort out this problem overnight.
to make it easier, instead pm and his guys standing their marking time they shoulda send an engineer to do an estimate for them while they sit their behinds in their office trying to find the money to get the project going…. what that pm think that by going to see people in the schools, going to dcp. going on road project, going on helicopter etc he doing something…. noooooooorrrrrr he wasting time… precious time….. he operating like is sell he selling something so he passing around advertising so people can say in time of disaster he pass we…. shate man
Three Charlatans standing at the edge of a gorge trying to decide how to cross. They are supposedly discussing options to cross, since they are all civil engineers par excellence. The yellow-shirt chief engineer probably said it like this, “Gentlemen, all the options are great but seeing that the Bailey Bridge option has failed, and the cash to construct a permanent bridge is not available, the cheaper option is to jump. Can you lead us Mr PM?”
I thought I saw on DNO the bridge was supposed to start building over 2 weeks ago. Oh what a tangled web we weave. When we practice to deceive
What expertise do the three POLITICIANS BRING TO SORT THIS PROBLEM?Answer none
Let the engineering expertise proceed with the project,make the finance available and get on with the job.
Stop all this talk of cost without any plans on the project.Typical Dominican BS
Well, what do I think?
1. Finish the temporary bypass, and in the same time,
2. organize international architectural competition for Boetica bridge with the jury best architects and civil engeniers specialista for bridges (1/2 year work). Please use for the organisation of such a competition somebody who knows how to do it.
3. organize it all with the best international marketing with the goal to place it on the list of most atractive bridges (the same time) and we have a bit more atractions in Dominica, (it means do it from the first moment as atraction),
4. build the bridge with international help.
These simple steps can help Dominica, Boetica, Laplaine … and people of Dominica. And will save some money.
If you need to know more, just write me
Hello and good evening my people. Well it look like the Prime Minister is standing on one side of the Gorge so am wondering how deep and wide is this Gorge. Now I think they should have the Chinesse build a tunnel instead of a bridge.
delice petite savanne road will be motorable once a heavy eequipment passes on it so what de hell is the reason why they not working on it
I pray God that they get real exrts to do tnis project.
This is serious and i hope they not just going to give the proje t tk a party supporter as they nomarlly do. Who knows nothing about construction.
Hopefully, they listen to the professionals. We know that good advice is often rejected in favor of quick fixes on the island. Four months sounds pretty ambitious for such a project. How can the Ministry of Communication and Works speak of a time frame to complete the project, while the analysis is being undertaken? This statment alone tells me all that I need to know about the process.
Where are Dominica’s engineers? Not one engineer can give a professional opinion instead of all that crap from a group of incompetent politicians who look more confused than a bat.
I don’t understand why a previous report came stating that the bridge will cost $1.1 million when they are still looking at options. Additionally, the article said it will be constructed in about 4 months – which I think is very extremely ambitious. This is a serious bridge. Typically, the best option in such gorge is an ‘arch bridge’, it the foundation permits. But this will be the most serious and complicated bridge design in Dominica, and experience matters. Construction may have to start on either side, forming a cantilever during construction, and meet in the middle. Safety is always critical, so do this right. The foundation soils/rock, needs to be explored before a final design is decided. I know Dominica may not have these equipment, but on such project, it is worth exploring the subsurface.
Correction $1.2 million
Hmm engineers, way papa.
The United States of America lands in the Bahamas less than 72 hours after the destruction of hurricane Joaquin with tons of disaster relief and millions in pledge by the US State Dept, but they love their pm
thats what we get for being ignorant ..
The US already give over $430,000 in assistance in one way or the other. What you all want them to do – come and sweep out the mud, stone and sand in all you yard? The US not owing all you, get that in all you heads.
But Ambra, You love Lennox; Why can’t we LOVE our PM? I don’t overstand you.
the US is there because they lost a ship off the coast of the Bahamas and are trying to be on par with the level of response (same day) that Dominica got from other Caribbean Islands. During hurricane David the fist ship to respond was a British ship… they docked after hours and hours of trying during the hurricane at the deep water habour. so your comment is foolish and unwarranted and as far as I can tell biased. that concept of the US feeding third world countries is BS… stop looking up at other nations and look to yourself. the CARIBBEAN countries came together this time around in historic and unprecedented manner.
By just looking at this pic they could at least put four 10 ft high utility poles to place cables so they would be elevated from the ground and not loop into gorge. It would make it easier and safer to cross. The only option is the best engineering option from the professionals.