After being severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017, it is still unclear when the orginal Roseau Public Library will reopen.
Thus far, there appears to be no decisive plan on the part of officials concerning its restoration.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who was a special guest on the Creole HeartBeat Program hosted by Ambassador Leroy ‘Wadix’ Charles on Wednesday sought the public’s advice regarding what should be done to address the rebuilding of the facility.
“I would like people to advise me on what do we do with the library. Do you want us to repair or renovate the building as it is, and if that’s what you want it’s fine,” he said. “But I believe we should find a way of incorporating history with modernity.”
Skerrit described what he envisions for the renewed Public Library, adding that it should be a place where families would come to socialize.
“The structure would have been three or four floors with a basement for storage,” he stated. “One floor would be for the library, another floor where students can go and dance.”
He continued, “I wanted the library to be so attractive that if somebody is driving by and cannot read and write, they would want to go inside the library and pick up a book.”
Skerrit explained that initially the space between the neighboring Dominica Broadcasting Corporation (DBS) and the current library building was not sufficient and there were people who objected to having it demolished.
“That building was affected by hurricanes many times and my view about this was we could have demolished the building, but I would have saved all of the stone work, all of the wood in there and [used] it as part of the new building so that the history would have remained,” he noted.
He pointed out that the government had engineered a competition for the design, “but we still had objections to it.”
“As a matter of fact, there are some people who wrote to the United States Embassy and others saying that the government is going to demolish a building that has history,” Skerrit revealed.“So you always have that in Dominica where people write to international organizations and make all sorts of allegations and comments…”
The Prime Minister segued into his assertion that sometimes people seek consultation on an issue, not to solve it but to prevent its progress.
“And that is part of my frustration in the country as the Prime Minister. We spend too much time talking about things and consulting and at the end of the day we never get it done,” he remarked.
He further argued that this attitude has to be changed completely.
“I think it is matter for us to come together and understand what is good for us and what we want and how we can achieve it. But it cannot always be a situation where we are opposing everything that is good,” he said. “ This is not good for the country and it is not good for setting an example for our current and future generations.”
“When something is good we must say it’s good, when it is bad we must say it’s bad, and if you say it’s bad how can we make it good,” Skerrit added.
Previously located on Victoria Street, the Roseau Public Library dates back to the early 1900s. It was designed by a popular administrator, Mr. Hesketh Bell, and funded by a Scottish-born philanthropist, Mr. Andrew Carnegie. The library was formally opened on May 11, 1907, and continues to provide knowledge and education through the provision of books, digital media, periodicals, and programs.
The Roseau Public Library is currently housed on the first floor of 42 Kennedy Avenue (former Subway building), in Roseau.
The building should be restored too many memories and it’s also an antic of the past this library should be just nicely fixed
up painted and treated placing books of all kinds the ancient encyclopedias computers with photocopying machines etc and then open up so our young générations as a matter of fact everyone interested in reading and Learning can make use of it. A real cool spot well situated.
The library should be restored to its original beauty and stocked with interesting books. Young people should be encouraged to join a book club and visit the library regularly. Keep the environment calm and inspiring. A dance studio has no place in a library.
If we’re going to be honest with each other, libraries are on their way out, just like newspapers, magazines etc. Foot traffic in libraries are nothing like what they used to be because we now have all the information we need at our finger tips. Libraries are old school therefore we have to do things today that make sense. In 20 years or so, there will be no more libraries as we know them today and that’s why I believe it’s a fantastic idea to turn the current building into a multi purpose building.
Yes, it’s nice to say you have a library but what good is that if nobody uses it.
For a while now, cities all over the US have been shutting down libraries and laying off librarians so why would we today just want to build something that’s on its way out? Let’s think this thing through before building something that nobody will be interested in using.
This hot air balloon likes to twist and turn the stories and look for blame away from him.
Let’s see if he is serious this time about heritage, green spaces and inspiring spaces for young people.
Ah tired and sad
I suggest you leave government! GTFO!!!!!!
I suggest you leave government! GTFO!!!!!!
Wasn’t there feedback by citizens regarding the need for Electors reform? Neither the views of those pleading for Free and Fair elections, or the advice of the legal Luminary were taken
Flow decided to donate $200,000.00 to renovate the public library. To this day nothing. Many feel the space will be handed to….. for the extension of the hotel nearby.
It’s easy. It’s part of Dominica’s heritage so you restore it in the same manner Fort Shirley was restored, using Dr Honychurch to supervise. By the way, a library isn’t an entertainment venue Mr Prime Minister.
I agree, restore it back to how it was before. It shouldn’t take this long to rebuilt such a simple building. Also, people go to the library to read books, who on Earth goes to the library to dance?!? What a stupid idea. Imagine going to the library, trying to gain knowledge and wisdom & expecting to read in silence but you can’t focus because all you can hear is the floor thumping & people dancing to Bouyon music
What bouyon music are you talking about? The proposal is for a ‘dance studio’ for the performing arts and not a ‘dance hall’. Big difference in case you were not aware and thought it was a party hall.
We’ve been through this before.
My earlier DNO Commentaries say all I have to say.
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/homepage-carousel/commentary-the-new-library-an-alternative-approach/
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/letter-to-the-editor-before-its-too-late/
S.R. Ranganathan, a key figure in modern Library Science famously articulated the idea that the library is a growing organism that should evolve to meet the needs of the community it serves. In 2025, the Dear Leader of Dominica is of the opinion that the main public library in the nation’s capital should have “another floor where students can go and dance.” Is that how we have evolved?
This guy wants to solicit ideas from the public after eight years of doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to restore such an important facility. This was done previously. Many exceptional ideas and architectural drawings were given by the public a few years ago.
When a prime minister allows hospitals, health centers, main public library, schools, sole college to disintegrate to such a horrible state of disrepair, he shows a callous disregard for the welfare and well-being of the citizens.
Only in a sheep-like country can such an uncaring, amateurish, worthless ignoramus occupy the apex position of government.
Roosevelt you have done this country irreparable, generational harm by neglecting to make the necessary repairs to the Disease library and the DSC.
All this nonsensical gibberish by Skerrit concerning the library is clear evidence that he does not care and will not build or refurbish any library. How many times will this moron continue to fool you all? This happens when someone stays in office for too long, he just stutters nonsensicalities. It is sickening that someone like that can fool those who ought to know better.
My advice to you Skerrit is to use a ‘PATAN’ building next to the Credit Union in Roseau, and house the library there.
This humongous building should be at the service of ALL Dominicans.