Call made for action on construction in disaster prone areas

Lauture warned about building in areas prone to flooding

President of the Dominica Association of Architects, Claude Lauture, has called on the government and the Planning Division to prevent construction in areas that are prone to disasters.

He pointed out that Dominica is vulnerable to multiple disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and landslides, among others, and there is construction in areas such as hillsides, close to precipes and flood zones.

He gave the example of what happened in Checkhall Valley.

“The river was dredged because of what happened with (Tropical Storm) Erika and with (Hurricane) Maria the river got back to where it was before Erika, and even more, and destroyed more houses in that community,” he stated last week.

Lauture reported that some concrete retaining walls were built but they all fell because of the power of the water and  t the natural tendency of the river to reclaim its bed.

“So, therefore, Planning Division should make sure that no buildings should be allowed to be built in such zones because it is high risk as it can destroy a lot of lives,” he concluded.

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21 Comments

  1. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    December 13, 2017

    Unfortunately, this will not change. The same can be said about homes that are built literally on the street in Mahaut. Over the years, we never considered central planning, until disasters struck. I experienced Hurricane David in 79 and there were similar discussions after David. How much has changed since then? Not much. It will be business as usual.

  2. Tobby
    December 12, 2017

    well people build where their land is and in doing so if the government has to prevent people from building where their land is located, first these portions of land should not be sold to anyone and secondly if you request that gvnt should prevent, then government should give people land who cnt build in prone areas or if not you provide for them seeing that you came up with this idea.

    • Anonymous
      December 12, 2017

      My advice, go back to school Toby.

  3. Martin from Canada
    December 11, 2017

    This is a difficult issue that faces people around the world. People have built houses, offices, roads… in areas that are prone to disaster. And with a changing climate there will be areas previously not prone that are now (and in the future). As such, leaders need to discuss and decide based on the best science what to do. In many cases this will mean not allowing people to rebuild in the same places. In other cases the rebuilding could occur but with different uses (e.g. instead of a house build a soccer field). Adequate compensation must be given to those who can no longer use the land the way they wish (e.g. through government buy-outs).

    Have a peaceful day.

  4. Environmentalist
    December 11, 2017

    Great observation…The same can be said about Leopoldville Development , River Estate Development Castle Comfort Valley Development, and older settlements such as Colihaut, Coulibistrie, Pichelin,sections of Loubiere and Point Mitchel.
    ln fact the policy should be no development in river valley.
    That would be a giant step toward building resilience in the country.

    • Dominican
      December 12, 2017

      In the case of Colihaut I beg to differ. It is one of the oldest settlements in Dominica and we did not have those problems till we allowe Gaddarkhan to start his quarrying. It has been downhill ever since, an environmental disaster in my opinion.

    • Jean Coulibistrie
      December 12, 2017

      The same can be said about the Capital City Roseau. How are we also going to relocate every village because its only 10 percent of land in Dominica that is found to be safe.
      When we look at Coulibistrie, we have seen that the village has been safe for more than 100 year due to the stone walls that was constructed and although it has always been flooded but never like what happened after Erica and now Maria due to the fact the the climate is changing due to man made and natural activities.
      When we eventually relocate every village to these so called safe lands and future events occur, what next? Where will we relocate to and how long will we have to wait for that relocation like the people of Coulibistrie are doing?
      Coulibistrie was one of the few villages devastated from TS Erica and besides river dredging, noting else was done to mitigate future events like Hurricane Maria far less to get an official Government body to direct them as to the plans of the village. Coulibistrie…

  5. BMB
    December 11, 2017

    You’re NOT an Engineer. That is NOT your call to make.
    “……concrete retaining walls were built but they all fell because of the power of the water and the river wanted to take back its bed….”. What qualifies you to make such a conclusion?
    Who are the “Dominica Association of Architects” anyways?
    Never heard of y’all before. Another bunch of “know-it-alls” trying to cash-in on the rebuilding efforts I guess..!

    • really
      December 11, 2017

      boo.. nonsense talk . you not president of anything .. so your credibility is crap . Everyone knows rivers claim back the path they were . When you all sit down in america , please worry about paying trump his taxes

      • BMB
        December 12, 2017

        Then if that’s all the future holds for us that, ” Everyone knows rivers claim back the path they were”…… then let’s ALL board boats/planes and flee the country. EVERY community in Dominica boarders a river. So, if they all ‘claim’ back their paths what do you suggest we do? Flee to the hills like Jaco, Balla, Pharcelle and Congoree? This is simply an Engineering dilemma. The likes of which an ‘Architect’ is NOT QUALIFIED to resolve; boo..!

    • Yes I
      December 12, 2017

      It is clear that you dont know what you are talking about. The architects association has clearly been in existance and have observed nature’s tendancy. Stop your belching and listen to good advice. This can preserve more loss of lives. Stupes!!!

      • BMB
        December 12, 2017

        You’re right…! OBSERVED….! “…………….. Planning Division should make sure that NO BUILDINGS should be allowed to be built in such zones because it is high risk as it can destroy a lot of lives,” What happens to the EXISTING houses in those areas? Case in point Colihaut and Coulibistrie? Houses are ALREADY built there, now what? Relocate? To where? Relocate Pottersville to where? Kennedy Avenue and Hillsborough Street? The list goes on and on. Y’all should drop that simpleton mentality and face reality. Stupes!!!

    • Anonymous
      December 12, 2017

      Garçon, you don’t have to be an engineer to understand that. The evidence is there for all to see, no?

  6. J
    December 11, 2017

    Very good point sir but if you look well the government is the one leading the reconstruction
    In the disaster prone areas.take for example at coulihaut, which is a disaster zone, the government have covered the
    The school again instead of relocating it.

    • UKDominican
      December 12, 2017

      Good luck with that!

  7. Roger Burnett
    December 11, 2017

    The problem at Checkhall, is a direct result of the blunder that was made years ago at Antrim.

    The spoil that was dumped alongside the road from Red Gully has blocked the underground water courses thus causing the land to slide into the river. A dam is created and hence a wall of water hits Checkhall.

    At the end of the day is the folly of man rather than location.

    • Looking
      December 11, 2017

      I wonder if these folks, at checkhall, do have a legal case against the state.

    • Shameless
      December 11, 2017

      Ok but still it is a problem allowing people to build in the checkhall valley.” Man’s folly” has created the problem so now man has to save the masses from his bad work. Hence, the Government through the planing division has to STOP construction in the checkhall valley with immediate effect!

      Assertive like Hurricane Maria! :twisted:

      • Roger Burnett
        December 11, 2017

        Point taken, hence all the more reason why we should guard against destabilising land which, outside of major catastrophes, has remained stable for centuries.

        And where do we draw the line? The hazard map for Dominica indicates the Roseau Valley to be vulnerable to volcanic eruption.

  8. Truth Be Told
    December 11, 2017

    Very good starting point for a climate change resilient Dominica!

    • UKDominican
      December 12, 2017

      This makes. Skerrit’s talk of a climate resilient Dominica laughable. It is simple his latest catch phrase to wheedle money out of foreign donors’ pockets, which he wii then be in charge o “distributing”. The man is a con artist. Does he care that the whole of River Estate is at risk of flooding too for example? I would not be surprised if people living in places like that won’t be able to get insurance….if they could afford it in the first place.

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