Portsmouth clean up project to boost tourism, protect environment

On going work on one of the wreck sites

A project important to boost tourism and protect the environment while having a meaningful social impact.

That’s how Venezuelan Ambassador Carmen Martinez de Grijalva is describing an ongoing US$6-million project under which derelict vessels are being removed from the Portsmouth Bay Front.

The work being carried out under the “Site Specific Waste Disposal Agreement” between Venezuela and Dominica, is aimed at removing what the people of Portsmouth consider an eyesore that has been begging to be remedied for years now.

“The whole project  is for six boats, so far we have completed four of them, the upper part of the ships.  We still have two more (to deal with), one small one and one large, and the rest of the underwater section of the ships,” the project’s safety coordinator Johnny Allen told Dominica News Online.

He says the Venezuelan team working on the project expects it to be completed in the next two months.

That particular Portsmouth initiative kicked off on January 24 (2012).

Ambassador Martinez de Grijalva says the Portsmouth environment will be enhanced by the project that’s helping to clean up the bayfront and allow residents whose view of the sea was being obstructed by the grounded ships, to now have an undisturbed view.

Portsmouth MP Ian Douglas described the removal of the wrecks from the bayfront as a major achievement in the constituency.

He said “for years the citizens of Portsmouth have lamented the boats, the wrecks on the waterfront”.

According to the MP the first boat was washed ashore more than 30 years ago during Hurricane David, with others (big seafaring ships) also becoming grounded during successive hurricanes.

Other projects already done through the Venezuelan-funded initiative include the Cleaning up of the Jimmit Belfast Bay initiative where 20,000 tons of ferrous scrap metal was collected.

One of the wrecks to be removed

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32 Comments

  1. predator
    April 3, 2012

    That are very good job well don

  2. April 2, 2012

    Great job!!! But are we ready to emmediately build a serious back wall to protect streets and homes?

  3. memyselfandi
    April 1, 2012

    Are you guys kidding me only six boats it have more than dat there to clean up. Go see for yourself it had US10 million wher it go how now is six somefing fishy huhhhhhhhhhhhh. Tief

    • Wow
      April 3, 2012

      Aahhh sharrap.

      This is great news for Possie … chill man.

  4. Gypsy
    March 31, 2012

    Can we send all the wash up people in Dominica with these ships so the rest of Dominica can live in peace?

  5. van
    March 30, 2012

    Great job.

    The scrap metal must be worth something. Is this taken away by the Venezuelians? If not how is it disposed of?

  6. DA
    March 30, 2012

    LOOKS GOOD NOW THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BUILD A BEAUTIFUL BAYFRONT BY PUSHING BACK THE SEA FROM INDIAN RIVER TO THE FISHERIES AREA INCLUDING A BOODWALK.THAT WOULD CREATE A GREAT IMPRESSION ENTERING THE PORT FROM THE SEA.

    • Just saying
      March 30, 2012

      @DA, that is a great idea The government would how ever need part of the funding from you or other able Dominicans to make it reality.

    • Wow
      April 3, 2012

      They are doing that … they are making malecon from Jap fishery to the borough sq.

      Can’t you see that?

  7. Anonymous
    March 30, 2012

    ROL, they need to take all of that Layou and make beach with it.

  8. Way Out There
    March 30, 2012

    Great work. It only took us 35 years lol, but better late than never. This definitely helps the esthetics of the town of Portsmouth, but I hope they can utilize at least two of these wrecks for dive purposes and as a reef. The guest intetested in diving can stay at the new Moroccon funded hotel.

    • Anonymous
      April 1, 2012

      they are being cut. read

  9. :-)
    March 30, 2012

    The only thing that can boost our tourism is a decrease of CRIME on those tourists… alas, or else we won’t have a tourism industry.

    • oh please
      March 30, 2012

      good!

  10. shortboy
    March 30, 2012

    good jod!!

  11. Looking in
    March 30, 2012

    What you all need to clean up are those dam thieves!!! Then and only then will Tourism thrive.

  12. Michel bousselaire
    March 30, 2012

    Olla Venezuela, Gracias Venezuela, Arriba Venezuela !

  13. Rol
    March 30, 2012

    Boy I wish the gov’t could transform that shoreline like the one in st.marteen. A place to walk, sit and just enjoy the bay. Great job PM, we know Rome wasn’t build in a day…

  14. AP
    March 29, 2012

    Good job on removing these eyesores.

    On another note: What Portsmouth and other up-and-coming communities in Dominica need are municipal and building/development codes. Development seems to be so haphazard in this place it’s not funny. Get some of the unemployed/retired community planners in the US and let them come in to help shape the two cities we have and help other communities avoid the clumsiness of Roseau.

  15. Andrew
    March 29, 2012

    Good initiative, BUT as long as tourists continue to be robbed, it won’t boost tourism. There is an urgent need to curb the crime!

  16. labourite at heart
    March 29, 2012

    good work by all those involved in the process. Portsmouth is now breathing a sigh of relieve which has plagued its inhabitants for almost a generation. (Remember a generation is 35 years) Thanks to the venezuelan government and to the Skerrit admiistration. Kodossssssss!

  17. Marigotian
    March 29, 2012

    Good job skerro..nice i give you da one….Mind i am not your supporter!!

  18. Anonymous
    March 29, 2012

    Boost what Tourism?The one we are watching wash down the drain?SO are we going to watch them spend all this money on ‘improving’ the country for tourism, while tourists get robbed and mistreated on the island,and our so called leaders do nothing about it?If the government does nothing about the violent criminals then these projects are a waste.Another reason to spend money and put more in their pockets too.WHEN ARE WE REALLY GOING TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS VIOLENCE.WHEN ARE WE GOING TO RALLY.WHEN ARE WE GOING TO TELL THE POLICE

  19. Concern citizen
    March 29, 2012

    Finally, one of the Douglas’ are doing things for Portsmouth. Hallauella.

  20. hmmm
    March 29, 2012

    Hmmmm maybe now they should widen the roads there!

    But with all the crimes happening, there will be no increase in tourism.

  21. just saying.
    March 29, 2012

    why bother, tourist not coming soon, fear of being beaten, robbed, raped or killed.

  22. Ehdi
    March 29, 2012

    Well done to Mr Ian Douglas for working so hard to get this rectified.We need to follow Ian’s vision!

    • peeping
      March 30, 2012

      Ian? Do you mean Ashton Riviere? :mrgreen:

    • Reader
      March 30, 2012

      Could you share Ian’s vision so I could decided for myself whether I want to follow it or not?

      I’m glad that these vessels are finally being removed from the bay! Kudos to all involved.

  23. Good work
    March 29, 2012

    Saw the progress… very good work. Although, the boats used to remind me of history so I did not mind seeing them. But then I understand the fact that if they are not taken care of they will become rusty eyesores and rat haven.

  24. Satelite
    March 29, 2012

    Inspite of the this ship being washed ashore, I must admit that this photo at the botto of the page is absolutely beautiful. Such tranquility can be appreciated here.

    I’m going to save this photo in my achives as a photo of the day!

    • possie girl
      March 30, 2012

      i was saying the very same thing….beautiful indeed

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