PM Skerrit calls for caution as tropical wave affects Dominica

Streets of Roseau were flooded on Monday afternoon
Streets of Roseau were flooded on Monday afternoon

As the island continues to feel the effects of a tropical wave, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has urged the public to be cautious.

“We want to continue to advise our people to be prepared, and to be cautious, and to take note of the hazards in our respective communities,” he said, in an interview with Kairi FM, on Tuesday morning.

He pointed to “dramatic change in our climatic pattern our climatic conditions.”

On Monday, June 6, the Dominica Meteorological Services issued a Flood Warning, which was later upgraded to a flood watch. The Warning was issued at 5:00pm and remained in effect until 6:00am on June 7.

The Met Office said the tropical wave is still affecting the island.

Skerrit stated that the public must assume the responsibility of ensuring their own safety, particularly in case of flooding, due to heavy rainfall.

“We’ve been having rain for the past several days in Dominica and because of the nature of our soil and our terrain, you have challenges,” he explained. “And, this why we’re saying to people that the unblocking of ravines, the unblocking of drains, it is the responsibility of all of us—it’s not just the government that has the responsibility.”

The Prime Minister encouraged Dominicans to take note of advisories from the Office of Disaster Management (ODM), and to do everything possible to minimize the potential damage to persons and property.

He advised against complacency, and called for every individual to be vigilant during the Hurricane Season.

“We mustn’t be complacent. We have to take the advisory, the announcements, the presentations coming from the ODM very, very seriously… We have to be vigilant,” Skerrit articulated.

The Meteorological Office has warned that although the Flash Flood Warning for Dominica has been discontinued, a tropical wave is still affecting the island and persons in areas prone to flooding, landslides and falling rocks are advised to continue to be vigilant and to exercise caution.

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15 Comments

  1. patriotic
    June 7, 2016

    it seems that all you Dominicans specifically the UWPites out to get skerrit mad, but i have news for all you ‘sa pa kay twavay he is too intelligent and blessed for that….if he did’nt address or advice the nation on the weather condition and remind them to be careful and not be complacent, all of all you UWP ites would open all you crack and say all he concerned about is his bi-election and how he not concerned about Domincans well being!!!!now he show interest regardless of the election by advising his people on their safety, all you still saying is he eh worry about his fellow people is winning his bi-election that matters to him……well well well well ignorancy is a plague in this country now eh….The man don’t know how to please all you….stupid people. :-?

  2. USED TO BE LABOR
    June 7, 2016

    But what mister talking about nuh. Erika pass nothing done to protect lives and property from future storms. Roads not fixed, overhanging cliffs not cleared, gutters and roadsides full of bush and debris, some rivers still not dredged and skerrit coming and give advice?? Man go and do your work as a prime minister should so dominicans doh have to worry every time a shower of rain come down. People need to be able to sleep when it raining. Instead of fixing those bridges erika wash away you in roseau breaking down a bridge that doh have no problem, so you care about dominicans? No river wall not replaced, ravines still blocked, some roads just waiting for more rain to wash them down to the sea and you talking foolishness. Go educate yourself eh man, dominicans know you dont care!

  3. Truth be Told
    June 7, 2016

    Poor drainage and blocked gutters and manholes with rubbish in them especially around Roseau! Every little rain is a flood! Dominica has always had heavy rainfall so what has gone wrong? Poor road and gutter maintenance that was once the remit of the Dominica Public Works Garage! Why fix it if it is not broken? Well now it is really broken!

  4. ATKINSON
    June 7, 2016

    I am surprise “Dr Supremo” is not blaming Linton and the UWP operatives for the tropical wave
    .

  5. Delvin Castro
    June 7, 2016

    Skerrit increase custom service charge from 3% to 4%. Mista sneaky increasing taxes while smiling. 8-O

  6. Finally
    June 7, 2016

    who wants to hear this guy?

  7. June 7, 2016

    To hell with Skerrit. I don’t want to hear or see him. Dominica and the world would be better off without him

  8. Concern citizen
    June 7, 2016

    SKERRIT him self is worse than the TROPICAL WAVE he is just one of them, so pointless he talk the other one ILL

  9. %
    June 7, 2016

    Skerrit we want a Technology Center for Latin America and the Caribbean to be built in Dominica…Your bad leader!!!

  10. syncronize
    June 7, 2016

    is joke now man. You think Skerrit worry about us and weather threat. Skerrit more concerned about his nbi-election and his Denise wining. So shameful,

    • Face the Facts
      June 7, 2016

      That is ignorant and silly. Where does this comment come in?
      If it were another government what would you state?

  11. syncronize
    June 7, 2016

    talk as usual. just plenty talk. do you really care about us Skerrit. You’ve been playing politics with us since after Tropical Storm Erika. Catch yourself fella

    • Face the Facts
      June 7, 2016

      It is his right as PM in little Dominica to inform the people to be cautious. If he said nothing, you would be critical. Can’t please some of you, one way or the other..
      Praying is helpful instead of criticism.

  12. June 7, 2016

    send public servants home with that kinda weather PM

    • Jahchild
      June 7, 2016

      that is the culture that has been created hmmm

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