OCTOBER 20th-Daily Updates from Dominica

The Physical Planning aspect of rebuilding was the focus of today’s news briefing from the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica. Officials Mr Lucien Blackmoore and Mr Kelvin Rolle from the Ministries of Housing , Land and Water Resource Management and Planning, Economic Development and Investment respectively, a well as independent consultant engineer Mr Anthony Burnette-Biscombe shared information which has become increasingly relevant in the wake of the unprecedented destruction caused by Hurricane Maria.

Addressing inconsistencies in building practices and the adverse effect of these irregularities, the failure to adhere to minimum building codes was one of the main factors outlined as contributing to the wide-spread destruction of building structures during the storm. According to the presenters, the unique combination of threats to the Caribbean region-hurricane as well earthquake activity- in addition to the quality of building materials available make it necessary to gather empirical data and review the process in order to move forward. However, Chief Physical Planner Mr Kelvin Rolle expressed confidence that, in any event, a properly built timber roof should withstand hurricane-force winds.

Members of the public are urged to go about repairing homes and building in the proper manner. Depending on the type of damage suffered, new plans and drawings may need to be submitted to the Planning Division.

For more information visit:

www.physicalplanning.gov.dm

Telephone #:

767-266-3751,  767-266- 3752,767-266-3771

Full video below:

 

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22 Comments

  1. High school teacher.
    October 22, 2017

    first thing first, the PM must go!

  2. Massacre
    October 22, 2017

    This hurricane was a sign to Dominican that they should get rid of Skerritt.

  3. Possie Direct
    October 22, 2017

    We refer to the Portsmouth beach hotel as the “Moroccan hotel” but it should be correctly referred to as the RSENAL hotel or if we want to flip the letters around to get a better English name we could say LARSEN hotel, or SENARL hotel, or RANSEL hotel, as long as these six letters of the alphabet are there. I personally like RANSEL hotel. Maybe we might want to suggest to the PM that he discusses with Alick to see if he legally register that name and if ok, maybe Mano could even use it to house regional cricketers when playing cricket at the Mang

  4. October 22, 2017

    A lot of verbiage pertaining to planning, planning for and to what? in light of the continuous natural disasters, like it or not, Dominica has become an unsustainable island. The nostalgia that is embedded within us, is no longer conducive. The future of young Dominicans are at stake, and the former slave island colony, is balancing into oblivion. I have said it before ,and will say again, the offer given by the Guyana Gov’t , should be grasped with both hands, Guyana’ economic upheavals plus access to the wider South American landscape, is a win win proposition that comes once in a lifetime, e.g Canada 1979. Dominicans wanting to stay on the island? it is up to them, but the younger ones seeing greener pastures, should depopulate . Why not a 30 or 40,0000 plus population? Bob.

  5. October 22, 2017

    F.E.D Telemaque….That is in the states…In Dominica and through out the Caribbean it’s a different story all together.When I was down there you heard the words building inspector…but it would appear to be in name only…other than that..every man do his own ting..
    On the topic of rebuilding…The Prime Minister said earlier this year that he had a plan to remodel Roseau so great that the other Caribbean Islands would envy it…well here is your opportunity sir…get it going and not only Roseau but Portsmouth, Marigot, and the country at large….I do not know how much cash that you have in the purse but what I do know is that the bill will be hefty….

  6. One Man
    October 21, 2017

    Dominica is not in a position now to talk about planning so I am not going to fall for Skerrit’s Friday bate or weekend bait and talk about what we are not ready to address as yet and really we will not be ready until there’s an honest government in place that is ready to unite us. So in the mean time I shall talk about what bothers me and what should be bothering the majority of us, who truly want to see Dominica heading in the right direction again. I want to talk about our passports in the hands of crooks and criminals and in the hands of politicians that we’re were sanctioned by the US for their corrupt deals, and when their US Visa was cancelled they have an open door in Dominica to come get our diplomatic passport, whether they are in Nigeria, Spain, Russian, North Korea, St. Kitts, Iran or wherever they are. This is wrong and is hurting our country, especially at a time like this when we need help from those same countries that placed section on them. One Man must stop it!

    • Daily Lies
      October 21, 2017

      @ one man you are so right on point. To strengthen your point we need to go back to October 7 article of the Jamaica observer to see how pm Harris and opposition leader Denzil Douglas, had their war of words and Dominica was the playing field used. Here is one paragraph from that article that has me burying my head in the sand as a Dominican : “Dr. Denzil Douglas is a citizen of another country other than St. Kitts and Nevis,” Harris said. “Douglas promotes the CBI of another country and undermines that of St. Kitts and Nevis. ” As we found out yesterday both pm Harris and Denzil Douglas did not care a bit about Dominica, and Roosevelt Skerrit who is paid to care for Dominica, cares more about his money and friends than he cares for Dominica . As it stands now both PM Harris and Mr. Douglas used Dominica to their advantage while Skerrit keeps using Dominica as his means to aquire his wealth and to hell with how Dominica is viewed. Now we are at our worse point and can’t get help

    • viewsexpressed
      October 23, 2017

      One Man. …We share your pain and concern and we need accountability, and not so called educated fools protecting and trying to defend and hid u8ndergrounbd the many corrupt practices of the inept PM and his corrupt Labour government.
      As you eloquently say: “So in the mean time I shall talk about what bothers me and what should be bothering the majority of us, who truly want to see Dominica heading in the right direction again…” We have to pursue that fight to get Skerrit of office Now ….and he takes with him his corrupt incompetent lack of vision so called Labour Government. Yes, and also, this on going hidden Bin Bobol, passport and now Hurricane relief corruption that our Hon Linton and his UWP credible team brought to light….”I want to talk about our passports in the hands of crooks and criminals and in the hands of politicians that we’re were sanctioned by the US for their corrupt deals, and when their US Visa was cancelled they have an open door in Dominica …”Well…

    • UDOHREADYET
      October 23, 2017

      This is the exact time that planning should be discussed because people are building!
      This is not your field nor responsibility nor are you accountable for the outcome of bad decisions so STFU!

    • UDOHREADYET
      October 23, 2017

      people are working hard to build the country and you are obsessed with political garbage!
      One observation everybody is aware of is that the people complaining the most are doing the least!

  7. It's My Damn Business
    October 21, 2017

    At a time when Dominica is in deep trouble and needs help, what I am hear Dominica saying to the world is, If you are corrupt and in trouble with the US and UN in particular, look to Dominica for help. Diezani Madueke was in trouble and she looked to Dominica and we came to her rescue. Aliereza was in trouble and he too looked to Dominica and he got his passport. Denzil Douglas was in trouble and he looked to Dominica and was helped speedily. Are you in trouble and need a diplomatic passport to hide? Look no further because Dominica will help. here is just one paragraph that will help prove this point: “It is said that Douglas was forced to look to Dominica for a travel document in 2015 when his St Kitts and Nevis diplomatic passport was withdrawn after losing the general election in February of that year and a renewal of his regular passport was inexplicably delayed, thus preventing him from travelling outside the country.” Bad thing is, we help you but we sink DA, who cares?

    • Me
      October 22, 2017

      Dominica, a safe haven for rogues and vagabonds. That’s what we have come to, that is “Dr” Skerrit’s legacy.

  8. Carrotop
    October 21, 2017

    Is it known to be called the green ghetto.

  9. Yo Yo
    October 21, 2017

    Building codes definitely have to be enforced but this will have little effect if the materials purchased at local suppliers are of inferior quality and are not subject to some form of quality control. I can give two examples of this concerning products bought from Astaphans. A packet of nails to tack two pieces of wood together, 1 bang on the nail head with a hammer snapped the nail into 2 pieces sending the pieces through the air as if launched from a nail gun, something as simple as speaker jack plugs which melt after a few hours of use potentially causing a fire. Who in Dominica has the capability if a fire had occurred to diagnose that the fire was caused by a substandard jack plug bought at a local store. All the building codes in the world will not compensate for unregulated inferior goods sold at brand named prices. Dare I say unregulated and inferior Chinese goods.

  10. viewsexpressed
    October 21, 2017

    Dominica needs an overhaul. Look at the state of Roseau, drive around Roseau and Dominica and the site of this place is becoming unbelievable. The PM is unbelievable, the ministers are incompetent and unbelievable, just like the Pm. The entire cabinet and this rotten corrupt Labour government is the worse we ave seen.
    Who is to blame? Well, this hopeless, little boy, inept, incompetent, visionless, elusive political PM called Skerrit.
    Skerrit must Go…..you are wasting the time of the people of this blessed nature isle, Isle of beauty and splendour, degraded to poverty and incompetence by the likes of Skerrit, Blackmore, Vince, St. Jean, The AG, and all the inexperience ministers sitting doing nothing and drawing on the poo resources of our island. We need to now who is benefiting from all this hefty CBI money?????? Questions…questions, we need answers. Skerrit and his Labour gang must Go. Bunch of no good

  11. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    October 20, 2017

    Stating peoples position, and titles is nothing more than garbage, and  nonsensical talk.; that has been Dominica’s problem for centuries, we talk too much without any substance to our rhetoric, only to solicit a feedback that Mr. So, and So, said or say; in making a good speech!

    We do not have time for that sort of bull in Dominica at this time. We know that Dominica is prone to hurricanes, and flooding, we should expect a tropical storm at any time of the year. Instead of talking baloney, to impress nobody besides those who try to see whose speech is better and longer, the nation should be dealing with a modern building code!

    We know that hurricanes are becoming much more intense, hence it should be advise to develop a code and enforced it  by ensuring that every structure should be built to accommodate winds to a magnitude of over three hundred miles per hour! In the event we lived my modern rules pertain to building architecture, perhaps Dominica would not be looking like a…

    • Shameless
      October 21, 2017

      Very well said FED. Could not have put it more bluntly.

      Assertive like Mama Maria! :twisted:

  12. Dr Clayton Shillingford
    October 20, 2017

    Interesting..What about action with persons..some privileged… who build without Planning Division permission..I see no mention of that.. I know of an individual in my Checkhall community who had no planning permission put up a structure that is regarded unsafe ..He has been taken to court twice and then no action..

    We seem very often to come to issues after the fact.. a symptom of incompetence.

    Quote from below

    “According to the presenters, the unique combination of threats to the Caribbean region-hurricane as well earthquake activity- in addition to the quality of building materials available make it necessary to gather empirical data and review the process in order to move forward”

    Was there anyone besides Burnette-Biscombe from the private business…construction and architectural industry present??

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      October 21, 2017

      “who build without Planning Division permission..I see no mention of that..”

      Doc, that is my argument, if there are building cods to follow, and they are ignored, when discovered, the owner, the violators  should be ordered to modify the structure to meet the code. Here is my situation. I bought a property in Los Angeles in 1982; without permission from the state, and without a building plan I decided to  do an addition.

      Thirty years past, five years ago someone reported me to the city of Los Angeles. Inspectors demanded to see an approved plan; which I did not have. Doc, I almost went to jail for that violation. Eventually the gave me tow options either have a plan drawn to code, or break down what I added, or return the house to the original plan. The same thing happened to me in Antigua in 1973; that should be the resolve in Dominica

    • Me
      October 21, 2017

      Isn’t Burnette Biscombe the guy who oversaw the construction of the Moroccan hotel?

  13. dissident
    October 20, 2017

    so who are de inspectors?
    who is really checking local construction and the adherence to established building codes??????
    who oversees construction on behalf of the physical planning and housing departments?
    that’s a serious statement against de engineers and building inspectors in government service.

    For years i hearing talk of a new housing revolution…….what you see is what you get!!!!!!!!
    after 17 years in office eh……….
    what a dreadful waste!
    look at de state of de physical planning building………as above so below eh!!!!!

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