An aggressive cleaning operation got underway on Sunday to restore safe access along the roadways as Dominica was impacted by a Trough system which generated heavy rainfall resulting in flash flooding, drain and stream overtopping as well as landslides and fallen rocks.
Acting Prime Minister Reginald Austrie made this announcement during an address to the nation on Sunday night.
“Based on the advice from the Office of Disaster Management the Ministry of Public Works was able to activate the disaster plan in which they prepositioned equipment at strategic locations for quick action when deemed safe,” he said.
He said the ministry had been on the ground reporting where needed, to ensure that roads remained passable and because of those interventions, all major roadways were accessible.
He indicated that according to reports from the Ministry of Public Works, while most waterways displayed significant water level rise, there were few cases of overtopping along the road.
“In some cases equipment operators had to wait for the flooding to subside before intervening,” Austrie stated.
The acting prime minister said that while no reports of any major landslides had been been received at the time, isolated rock falls and washed material along the roads were major inhibitors to traffic.
The Ministry of Public Works had advised that it had responded in some way, to all reported incidents in its four districts, Austrie said.
He revealed that in the Southern District, the main areas affected were the Sibouli Ravine in Pointe Michel which deposited silt and other debris on the highway while there were reports of flooding of the Pichelin crossing with heavy siltation.
“Fallen rocks and minor landslides were also reported along the Pointe Michel to Soufriere main road, Loubiere, Castle Comfort and Ravine Cocque,” Austrie stated.
He said the only incident of major concern in the south was the washing away of the access road at Castle Comfort which he said would be temporarily restored today.
In the western district, according to the acting prime minister, there were reports of flooding in St Joseph, Salisbury and Coulibistrie where a family had to be relocated and along the E.O Leblanc Highway, “there were pockets of rainfall and debris along the road surface.”
In the Northern District, there were reports of minor slides and rock falls in the Dos Dan area “with debris on the road surface in Hampstead due to flooding of the bypass.”
Austrie also said that a report from the Eastern District indicated that a tree had fallen in the Pont Cassé area and tree logs were clogging the upstream end of Sari Sari and the Rosalie Bridge.
And as more inclement weather threatens to affect the island on Tuesday and Wednesday, the acting PM’s plea to the public to remain on the alert for rising water and landslides retains its relevance.
“The Officer of Disaster Management is reminding the public to remain alert and be cautious as they go about activities…,” he advised. “Again I would like to make a special plea to all Dominicans to stay safe, refrain from non-essential travel and follow the Covid-19 protocols.”
I don’t know this “creature” called Lin clown. But oh my father!! This guy sickens me down to the anus. I wished he’d just go away into Oblivion. Wonder whether this creature has a real job. He’s definitely a distraction on this medium.
I wonder if DE DON KEY IBO France mind does tell him Skerrit and DE Labourites built Dominica after Maria?Everything Skerrit do in favour of DE Dominica,IBO,Views,%,RandyX,Bwa,Jonathan VEX.Bring in Clear Harbour,create NEP,give people free $250,000 and $300,000 houses and apartments they VEX.Yes We Care they VEX.Build stadium,Roseau,and Marigot hospitals,extend runway at DC airport,build E O Leblanc and N O Liverpool highways they VEX.ROSS university left Dominica,Covid-19 cases increase,hurricane destroy Dominica,Dominica on blacklist they HAPPY.
Skerrit has done a lot to decimate all the progress which was made before he got into his present position by default.
The progress of a country is mostly judged by the standard of living of the vast majority of residents.
Under Skerrit’s stewardship, the once thriving Middle Class has been completely decimated. Most public servants live from paycheck to paycheck. Take away one month’s salary and they go hungry.
Most Dominicans have it mightily difficult to pay theiir mortgages, rent, utility bills, buy school supplies and eat three meals per day. Their circumstances are dire. The social safety net is non-existent. Thousands of people have been reduced to begging for their survival. It’s insufferable.
All this happening while the heartless sadist basks in a $29 000 000 castle, paid for by poor taxpayers, feet up on his footrest, oblivious to the people’s agony. He has to be booted out for the current tide to change in the opposite direction.
Some observations are meaningful, suggestions valid, reasoning sound. Then people spoil it by adding their political diatribe.
Is this photo a picture of Roosevelt’s dwelling at Morne Daniel? I guess not. Honestly, must we present such ramshackle construction and garbage to our visitors. I’m sure we can do better.
@Pipo, you don’t like me and I don’t think I like you either, but your comment above is very true. We need to think carefully about how we are presenting our Dominica to visitors.
@LizforRobbin’Hood
A 77 old lady like you with your silly infantile talk about ‘you don’t like me and I don’t like you either’. Grow up!
This patchwork job won’t suffice. This is like mopping up the water on your bathroom floor every hour instead of fixing the leaky faucet.
Many find it convenient to blame the topography of the land for the frequent flooding and severe erosion of the soil. If the proper civil engineering is done, this widespread destruction and damage could drastically be reduced .
When one man stays in power too long, he becomes corrupt, dictatorial and bankrupt of ideas. Complacency , arrogance and apathy take root and the ordinary citizens suffer most as the country spirals downwards into the abyss.
A vile, foul-mouthed, unthinking gossip monger is presently running Dominica while his secretive, untrustworthy mentor is in Pakistan signing another bogus deal without a hint to Dominicans. This once again shows a wanton disregard and disrepect for Dominicans right to know about public business that could have a profound impact on their lives.
Mr. Austrie sounds more like a news reporter than an acting prime minister. He more or less listed the severely impacted areas of the country which were damaged. Couldn’t he give those who suffered damage to homes, properties, crops some assurance of assistance from the government in order to assuage their anxieties, suffering and grief? Nothing to give them hope going forward?
This totalitarian regime has proven itself to be wholly bereft of vision,empathy, charity and honesty.
Job well done Mr.Cassani Laville.You will be our next Prime Minister.When Earl Williams was Public Works minister,he built the Warner road with LABOUR from Salisbury.Where was Earl Bruno?