Almost $1 million needed to complete Roseau Cathedral ceiling, says Vicar General

Despite ongoing renovations spanning the last decade, the Roseau Cathedral Project still requires close to $1 million to complete.

Vicar General and Dean of the Roseau Cathedral Father Nigel Karam gave a brief overview while addressing the closing of the Jubilee Year press conference, held recently.

In 2012, the Cathedral renovation project commenced with the initial goal of roof repair, however, seismic tests performed on the building indicated the need for more extensive work on its foundation, as they showed that the cathedral would not be able to withstand seismic activity. Evidence of leaks and termite infestation soon grew into the issue of asbestos, which hastened the desperate need for an overhaul.

“With regard to the progress of the Cathedral, as many people would know, since Palm Sunday this year, we have been using the cathedral regularly, every Sunday throughout the week,” he said. “ We moved from the hall where we were for many years,  and we are now in the cathedral. The cathedral is not completed, but we have made it  so that it is a  sacred space for worship.”

In terms of physical work on the Cathedral, he said the last significant project was the installation of hurricane shutters  around the building.

 “So it means that the building,  if there’s any emergency, can be secured. That was the major work that was done this year on the Cathedral,” Father Karam stated.

He continued, “The next major project is to seal the cathedral to put a ceiling in. The cathedral has its roof,  but there is no ceiling there.  And that has to be done.”

He added, “We’ve been raising funds for the last two, three years, to fund that project.  That project would require close to a million dollars to complete.  As you would imagine, the cathedral is a very wide and long building and therefore the materials that we use to seal it have to be quality, high quality material.”

Furthemore, Father Karam revealed that two major fundraising events this year were ‘the Jubilee Garden Party’ and ‘Flavours of the World Festival’.

“So we have been raising the necessary funds over the last few years with different events. Two major events this year were the Jubilee Garden Party and the Flavours of the World Festival that we had. And we just concluded a raffle as well,” he revealed.

He went on to add that generous donations were made possible by Mr. Emile Depooter, who gave a 65-inch television, through Mr. Andrew Peter on Hillsborough Street, who is a woodworker and donated a queen-size bed, and Mrs. Burnett, a skilled artist and teacher at Convent High School, who donated an original painting of St. Martin de Porres.

“Those were raffled at our recent Christmas dinner and the winners have been contacted. The person for the television already picked up their television.  And they were very happy to receive it,” Father Karam stated.

He thanked these donors for their contribution, as well as the other donors throughout the years who have continuously contributed to this project of the Roseau Cathedral renovation.