Dear Editor,
As a concerned citizen it appears counter productive that while the island struggles to attract tourist, here we have several truck loads dumping loose soil into the sea next to Champagne and the soufriere scott’s head marine reserve. By dumping this soil all week long the water visibility in the marine reserve has been terrible and will continue to be for the next 4-8 months. This in effect is destroying a major component of the tourism sector.
You may recall that DNO reported that Champagne was considered to be one of the top snorkeling sites in the Caribbean.
Thanks kindly,
Dr. Fitzroy W. Armour
-Dominica’s 1st dive instructor (PADI specialty instructor since 1989) and pioneer of both the Whale watching (awarded by IFAW and DHTA) and Diving industries.
-Discovered and mapped most of the dive sites in Dominica including Champagne (previously called ‘Glo Sho’ or hot spring.) After taking Simone Melchior Cousteau diving there, she returned to the surface she said “Ahh Champagne! Champagne!”
-DAN referral Physician.
-Entrepreneur/ developer Picard Beach Cottage Resort.
Has anyone ever been sued and fined for illegal dumping in Dominica? What are the environmental heatlh people doing?
The same thing I saying all the time this government is not serious about tourism I remember a couple months ago someone poured poison in the river distroying the wildlife we contacted the members of government about it and nothing was done alas por Dominique .
SAD
just take a ride along the sea road and see what is being done to our coast line. it is not only the dumping of mud, dirt, etc. people are working on trucks and cars and where do you all think that filthy oil goes ??? nature island my foot.
Peeping Tom, the soil comes from a government project so the government is responsible. As part of the planning process waste disposal should have been given proper consideration. So tell me what is foolish about my post.
Nothing else than nonsense !
Anything goes in Dominica! This country is increasingly becoming forsaken!
OMG this is horrible! We really don’t have a tourism mindset in this country. Why would someone think of destroying such a beautiful site in that way? And what about the people who fish there? What effect will this have on them?…we need a mental cleansing in DA!
They could have utilized that same soil and throw it in one of those “falez” going up to Cochrane. So long the road eating up on that side and Mr. McIntyre yet to do anything. At least if they throw the earth there, it could bind after some time.
And when heavy rain comes all that waste is washing down on people’s property in River Estate. Think!!!
omg… we really do not understand the value of our fragile ecotourism product… we want to have our cake but still eat it, just like we say build up the destination and more tourist will come. We say no to international airport, no to brand name hotel chains, no to gaminig (casino gambling) no… no… no… but want to be competitive as a tourist destination… the handful of responses to Dr. Fitzroy Armour observations shows the high level and lack of interest in the country’s tourism
AND WHAT ABOUT CARIB SAND AND STONE?
They are killing the people of Loubiere and sorroundings by minning at nights. That way they don’t water down the dust. Two (2) persons have became sick from working there. No saftey gears are provided to the workers. In the beginning they would sweep the road and water down the place, lately they do not do that.
Wicked french people and our government sits by quietly.
We want help.
This French minning Cie is there doing work in technical an savety conditions which are strictly forbiden in France. How what is not safe in Martinique ou Guadeloupe could it be the regular way to work in Dominica.Dust, land slide,hazards have no boundaries.
It could be interesting to revisit the contract after having read the frenh rules or seurity in that industry
Bousselaire, you should know by now that rules, regulations and laws don’t mean a damn thing if they are not enforced. If the leader of a country categorically states that the laws of mortals do not apply to him what do you expect his unsderlings to do? You simply do whatever you want until you either get stopped or “persuade” those in authority to turn a blind eye.
As Dr. Armour would tell you, there is no cure for silicosis. What’s more, if people are found to be suffering with this debilitating disease beause of mining activities the chance for redress would be practically zero. Yet, many of our people insist on calling this progress. Up to the next level!!
It looks like the environmental department does not see itself being part and parcel of the tourism industry.
Since the road was cut along the west coast about 40 years ago, siltation has been a major problem there. All one needs to do is do some snorkeling along the coast between Grand Savanne and Coulibistrie so see how dead the sea is in that area. I have done it and the area is like a desert – all sand. This is in stark contrast to how it used to be 40 years ago. All the coral in the ares is gone – DEAD. You would think they would learn something by now.
Because of the callous anti-environmental culture of those at the top, those below have little choice but to follow suit in destroying Dominican for short term gain.
To prove this point most of these anti environmentalist are going to give thumbs down.
This has been a problem for years. The material is dumped on the edge and one day a buldozer will come along and push it all into the sea. The tide will do the rest to ensure siltation along the coat, coral and down to Champagne and beyond into the Marine reserve. I called the Fisheries department about the recent upsurge in dumping and passed on messages, not sure they reached the relevent head of department. STOP THE DUMPING PLEASE. The ocean is not a huge garbage bin.
This is despicable!!! Who gave them permission to do that. This truck drivers need to be educated. The Mister in charge should put a stop to this immediately. This, by no means, will enhance our tourism product.
This is just unbelievable!! How can we ever move forward when this BS happens???? SMH
This Is an easy matter to fix just find the proper place to dump the dirt! the minister in charge of this will fix this man!!
Like seriously!!! So who gave them permission to dump their dirt there? That is so wrong! What the hell is happening in this country!!!!!
Sigh! Dominicans, we are our own enemies.
Who are the we you speak of? The authorities are responsible for this due to their lack of planning and foresight. The contractors resposible for generating the waste should have been told where to dispose of it, so if they were not told who do you blame.
The “authorities”, Papa Dom? Do the authorities live in our heads? DO we need the “authorities” to tell us that we should not stand in front a moving vehicle, that we should not drink poison, that we should not do this or we should do that? Whatever happened to commonsense, Papa Dom? Did the “authorities” buy it all up? Did the “authorities” ask the drivers to dump the dirt there? When we move around the island and we see people ignore the “do not dump” signs do you still expect the “authorities” to miraculously get the anonymous Dominicans to somehow get it through their thick impenetrable skulls that dumping in certain areas is detrimental to our heritage, our water, our food, our lives, etc?
Keep depending on “the authorities”, Papa Dom. Let’s see how far we get as a nation. I hope by now you see the folly in your post. You have reinforced my comment, Dominicans are the ones destroying Dominica.
I dont understand which eye a blind man can peep with yer Honestly….. either eye a blind man peep with he will still see absolutely nothing.
Thanks for the enlightenment Dr. Armour
This is just Very poor business practice and management with regards to public and envirnmental relations and accontability. This is Economic insanity.
Thans for the enlightenment Dr. Armour
Tis jusVery poor business practice with regards to public and envirnmental relations and accontability.This is Economic insanity.
These people who are responsible for this is JOKING???? to tell me you are destroying these beautiful sites, by this continuous negligence…waypapa….
Another aspect is the high level of black smoke coming of buses. Even tour buses are release lots of carbon monoxide right in the faces of our people and guests. Very body thinks this is ok. People coming Dominica for what have Ben said about it and so they come for the experience.
Today I witnessed 3 huge buses, one behind the other, going up the hill from Fond Cani, each belching a set of black smoke. I wonder which “authority” should tell these selfish drivers they are polluting the environment and should be off the road until they get their buses fixed. We ALL have a part to play in keeping our Nature Isle pristine. It is not the job solely of the “authority” to do so.
This is what happens when high import duties and taxes encopurage people to import cast-offs from other countries. Who coined that phrase “nature island”? It is rapidly becoming a sick joke.
awful.
this is crazy,you guys are destroying the coral reefs,fishermen are going to suffer.
Anyway eh!! Sometimes I really wonder if people just don’t care or if people just so totally unaware of the effect of their actions. Why would someone dump soil right into Champagne!?! Where is the logic?
People too like the easy way out in Dominica.
I would like to know what is going on myself. There is a way we function in Dominica – a no common sense way. I hope there is some common sense to this as I’d rather be proven wrong than right.
it was time someone talk
That’s disgusting what they are doing…. I love that beach