Permit me some space on your website to respond to a press release from the Parliamentary Representative for Roseau Central Hon. Norris Prevost and by extension the Opposition United Workers Party.
The release in the form of an article on your website entitled “Government must stop destroying Roseau and its heritage- Prevost” evoked some uncontrollable laughter on my part. Not because it was funny or written with any humorous connotations, but it can only best be described as a joke.
In the year 2011 when countless infrastructural development projects are ongoing in Dominica, it is alarming that a politician and a former Tourism Minister mind you, could put forward such a inane argument. Hon. Prevost has denounced every single construction project undertaken in the city by the Labour Party administration. To him they add no “architectural value to the beautiful city of Roseau”. While I agree that Roseau is a beautiful city, I think that the Parl. Rep is not very practical with his findings.
I have no idea what should be architecturally amazing about a bridge. In particular when most bridges if not all are far less that 100 meters long. I see no reason why a government in Dominica and by extension the Caribbean should spend millions of dollars designing and constructing “pretty” bridges. While the bridge should not be an eyesore, I think first and foremost it should be constructed to serve its purpose, getting pedestrians and motorist across rivers and our valleys. Primarily bridges are not considered beautiful during the day time. It is at night with proper lighting (even the older ones) could look pleasurable to the eye. We are by no means oil rich countries who can afford to construct fancy and pretty bridges. If government were to spend money doing such a thing, Hon. Prevost would be the first to maypuisez and criticize the government.
Nine years after the construction of the financial centre (and two attempts by his party to get offices in there), I cannot understand how is now Hon. Prevost find the building is ugly. I am not sure what his definition of ugly is but the financial centre is by no means ugly. What authority does the Member for Roseau have in claiming structures are of “horrible architectural design”?
Now while Hon. Prevost runs havoc on the architectural design of government projects, he tries to back up his argument by comparing them to private sector buildings in the city, in particular the Garroway Hotel. While the Garroway Hotel is not the worst looking building in Roseau it is by no means the best looking either. To describe it as “pleasing and aesthetic architecture” is a bit farfetched and silly. He makes a point though in commending the restoration of colonial type structures in the capital.
History is a very unforgiving teacher. In this regard let me remind Hon. Prevost that it was under his tenure as Minister for Tourism, Ports and Employment, that this country was subjected to the single most wicked, ugly and disgusting project in the history of Dominica. The Bay Front Fountain. Costing more than a quarter million dollars, and working for an estimated two weeks, the fountain has to be the ugliest thing ever built both in the private and public sector. This monstrosity, built where tourist should be welcomed should be what Hon. Prevost is disgusted with.
Finally, Hon. Prevost, if you cannot say something good about the stadium I suggest you say nothing at all. International sports writers and cricket commentators have all described the stadium as being in the top two most beautiful in the world. They have praised the stadium not only for it ambiance but it uniqueness, where you can look up into the Roseau Valley and turn around and look at a cruise ship in port. Not only that, you will recall Hon. Prevost the circus tent type design which the UWP had for the stadium. It would have been embarrassing to construct this mess of a stadium in Roseau.
My advice to the honorable gentleman is to first seek advice from others before he goes about criticizing the government. I understand it pains him to see so many projects taking place under this administration but calling them ugly is just another cry for help, by a gentle who seems to have exhausted all his ideas.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the management and staff of Dominica News Online and its parent companies.
waypapa….an island divided…..no body agrees with anything….where is DOMINICA during all that agruing?
WAY PAPA ,TITRE HAS A HORSE MANURE CERTIFICATE.I HAVE ONE TOO,I BOUGHT AT CHINA TOWN IN CANADA.
De press secretary position still available nah? Well if it is Daryl ask for it….because you doing the job anyway…just make it official…and most importantly…GET PAID!!!
DNO: Why don’t you have the time stamped on every article and comment? It helps me, as a reader, to quickly find the replies I have not read. The comments are in chronological order; so they are easily found, but the replies are all over the place. When I leave my computer at a certain time, I know where to pick up when I return. Just a thought. Most blogs have it.
Highly educated guys doesn’t have a plan,First Roseau needs proper grainage,sidewalks and remove these old galvanise,bulldose all these old houses.From there Roseau will look like a town,
So if you guys are NOW so much behind seeing beautiful architectural designs in Roseau, why wage war against the State Palace, then????? Just my two pence.
Mr Titre do you really have a Bsc….Mr Prevost seem intelligent than you…You were obviously upset with Mr Prevost intelligence, so you wanted to expose your ignorance.Mr Prevost did not criticize the stadium, he was simply asking for more facilities..Isn’t that fair? Is it because the Bay Front Fountain was ugly according to you, that he should “shut Up”…Your Bsc must not make you look and sound stupid sir…TRY TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM MR PREVOST SIR..HE IS EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT !!!!!
Apparently by your standards… and I really wonder what that is!
I beg to differ, I know Mr Prevost for many years and I would not say he is EXTREMELY intelligent in my opinion. He may hold degrees but that does not make you a critical thinker.
That Daryl Titre is a piece of work. Where did he learn that a bridge is only aesthetically pleasing when lit at night?
Daryl, you should get out of you little coocoon and see a bit of the world.
And he said Roseau is a beautiful city? Have you not seen other cities in the other Caribbean islands? I know you want to be politiclly correct, but I think you should be honest.
While aesthetics is important, practicality is just as important. The Hanover/Elliott Street bridge is still under construction. While it’s too early to complain about its looks, I must say that the idea of the bridge was quite appropriate.
Regarding sporting facilities in Roseau, Tim, Tim promised over one year ago that the old Dominica Grammar School grounds will be transformed into a sporting facility for Roseau Central. We’re still waiting for this transformation from Cabinet.
I am pleased with the infrastructural developments on the island. Imagine if some of these bold moves were made fifteen years ago. Dominica would be much further ahead by now.
In the end, I believe that there is adequate space for a balanced approach to Roseau, i.e., preservation and new construction as needed.
I read the article in the news about Prevost comment and also the response. I must say in this narative view, that there is room for improvement on both sides, while Mr Prevost comments is a little out of reality, we can aggree that we need to employ more achitects that he has suggested so that it would give him a voice in the landscape of the kind of structures he would like to see. Having ssiad that the goverment loop on design can always be improved upon, so maybe there is a need to demonstrate that Dominica’s local architects can become more creative.
Mr. Prevost seems to have conveniently forgotten that the financial center was actually a UWP brainchild . DLP simply bought it to fruition. speak of the proverbial memoir poule
I just do not understand why people who are supposed to be intelligent show their lack thereof. Mr. Titre took the time to mention he has a BSc. We did not ask in what so I will let that slip. I have a question though; Mr. Titre what is the duty of a defense attorney? It can be compared to an opposition politician. They both do their duties although controversial. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am sorry Mr. Prevost’s eye is not as sharp as yours. I do not support everything he says, but I think in a land which still has free speech, he is allowed to voice his opinion without BSc’s like you trying to silence him. By the way, we still have free speech in Dominica.
So Mr Titre isn’t entitled to his opinion too? So anybody who goes against atything said by a blue politician should be cricified, YET accolades should be for those who bring the wrath of God on Skerrit and his supporters? Well, well, I really don’t want to be here if you blues get into power again since it would be like the inquisition all over again. And you dare speak of democracy!!!!!!
This has nothing to do with red or blue. Mr. Titre most definitely did not need Mr. Prevost for him to have an opinion. This is my point. He can make his own observations. FYI, I am not blue, I am not red, I am just a Dominican living out of island but keeping an eye on what is happening in my country. Please remind me of where I mentioned democracy in my comment?
MR PREVOST must have forgotten the ugly water fountain his UWP party put on the bayfront in the beautiful city of Roseau…which is the ugliest I have seen thus far…Prevost u live in a glass house dont throw stones..take your issues to parliament not on DNO..lazy bunch of no real idea for development set of men allu be.
IS THE PREVOST CENIMALL A GOOD LOOKING BUILDING
we should ignore everything the opposition says unless it is said in parliament, so lets wait until the decide to attend.
Did he build it?
Mr. Titre when was the last time you took a leisurely stroll on the bayfront to see the deterioration of the pavement and the general lack of maintenance. Where are the garbage bins on the bayfront? this is what our cruise tourists see first. With a BSc take some time and walk around. Have you noticed the condition of the rails on the E.C. Loblack bridge? its very hard to notice if you are driving rather than walking. No doubt the Chinese bridge will look pretty at night next to the colorful KFC and Save-A-Lot..No doubt. We will have to move all dem haitian so de rest of dem Nassief can finish their investment ting. De chinese have theirs waiting. Mr. titre have you seen the UWI wall on a dry day when volume of water in the river is at its lowest? As some see it this beautiful nature island of ours is ready and ripe for the picking. The 3 gorges river dam in China is failing. Residents below that water source are experiencing the worst drought seen in decades. Recently i saw flood waters sweeping away a huge bridge and part of a highway in China.
Dominica is ripe and ready for the picking….all fruits ripe…come and get it while its hot.
Didn’t you also see the failing levees and the flooding in all the states through which the Mississippi River flows? We should not rejoice when mother nature causes havoc and suffering to other people. That reflects narrow-mindedness. You can’t even seperate politics from disaster!!!
Aren’t you also aware that the world’s longest bridge recently opened in China? FYI: China has a population of 1.3 billion people. That’s about 1/5 or 20% of world population. That’s over 4 times the population of the United States. China leads the USA in high-speed rail and will soon be the #1 economy in the world. Need I say anymore? Oh yes: the USA owes China trillions.
Daryl you start singing for yur supper wee. so long u go china yu cannot footy comeback, now you showing BSc,where it? come and show it, let us know yu truly finished and have a BSc and leave politicians fight there battle you hear……….
Attack the message full force. Focus a bit less on the messenger.
I think you should have given that message to this messenger responding to Prevost. Who is he/she to say who is capable of doing ‘x’ and ‘y’ or is able or unable to teach at harvard or SMA…..common…be objective.
There are beautiful buildings in Roseau, and if not taken seriously,,,,they will soon be wipped out.
This is a poorly written letter with no sustance at all. The big joke is when Daryl V Titre BSc indicated that a bridge is pleasurable to the eye when lit and looked at nights. You certainly do not know how to appreciate architecture, Mr. BSc!!!!!!
both of you have good points.so the wisest man in dominica The Most Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit will use both of your points to develope Dominica.So there is no need to force and fight.
PREVOST IS CORRECT IN HIS STATEMENT AND WE SHOULD ALL SUPPORTR HIM.
ROSEAU IS STILL NOT AT A LEVEL THAT IS ATTRACTIVE TO TOURIST AND VISITORS.
IN SPORTING FACILITIES, THE YOUNG BOYS OF ROSEAU HAVE NOWHERE TO PLAY FOOTBALL, CRIKET OR BASKET-BALL.BACK IN THE DAY WE HAD A PLACE TO PRACTICE.
DLP IS KILLING DOMININCA, SLOWLY.
Ummm so why when the honorable Mr Prevost was in office he didn’t see the need to splurge on architechture in Roseau? All the ideas he has now… did they only now occur to him? And like someone mentioned earlier, why complain about the state palace and its grand architecture? Real design costs real money… I obviously agree with his call for better design but it should not come in the form of criticizm because he had that very opportunity to do something about it and didn’t quite make use of that…
The old Dominica Grammar School will soon be demolished making way for a sporting complex in the vicinity. Everything takes time, money, and hard effort, then, it pays out. The UWP in Dominica is enough to make the late John Compton of St Lucia turn in his grave.
Oh yes the fountain. Boy and the money they paid for that!
Again, Prevost is nothing but a washout. People of Roseau ought to be ashamed of themselves to have someone like Prevost representing them. Talk about Prevost can teach at Harvard University; are you joking? I would not even want Prevost to teach at the SMA far less Harvard. What can he teach? Crap? Prevost is just another mamaguyer in Roseau looking to oppose everything.
There is money to be made in maintaining the the architectural integrity of Roseau, it translates into tourist dollars.In certain communities in the USA Bugger King and McDonald’s are forced to design there stores in order to aesthetics of those communities. Putting politics aside, the man has a point.