A modernized library including a center for performing artists and a recording studio is a plan that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the government intends to bring to reality.
He told those gathered at the presentation of the Roseau Development Plan on Monday past, that not having a fully functional library is not something that he’s happy about.
“One of my greatest disappointments is that we did not get to build a modern library at the time that we should have built it,” he said.
According to the prime minister, it was the government’s initial intention to build a modern library during the construction of the State House and Dominica State College.
“I wanted to build something that even if you could not read and write you would want to go to the library and see what’s happening there,” he said.
But since that plan fell flat, PM Skerrit said his Dominica Labour Party government will instead “tie in now a centre for the performing arts and also to have a recording studio for the public”
According to him, there are a number of artistes in Dominica, people who write songs, those who can sing and do not have access to the facilities to bring out their natural talent.
He believes that the issue of a centre for performing arts in Dominica needs to be discussed.
“If we have an event at the Arawak House of Culture where will our people rehearse and practice? “We need to have designated facilities for these kinds of things,” Skerrit added.
He said as a progressive nation the presence or absence of a national library in Dominica must be addressed.
The public library located on Victoria Street was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and there have been plans by government to reconstruct the building.
That’s just playing with the emotion’s of the masses. They should repair the library immediately, no modern country can exists without a public library in these times.
That pie in the sky promises is simply that, so long the Marigot people await a hospital after this government maliciously destroyed what they had. So long he is promising an international airport. the sordid list just goes on. In the meanwhile those in power are enjoying a luxurious life whilst the rest of the country goes to hell in a handbasket.
He isn’t the only one who doesn’t understand the music scene in Dominica. I am all for the studio idea, the more the merrier. Please consider that no matter how many shiny glittering things thrown at it ie studios, recordings, it has to be addressed on the macro level, think big picture. Music programs promoted and implemented in schools along with visiting masters, tutors, workshops will potentially reap more significant benefits for our music to be better and sound better than all the shiny things thrown at it. But… whom does he consult with on these things? If it’s just a meet with a musician or two that just want to be able to record, hey you just gave a man a fish when you can teach a whole generation to fish and make them better…. Big picture.
Oh oh, I can’t believe this comment got a thumbs down, maybe from one of the gov’t scouts.
Lets be real, this is a great initiative but only if it is delivered. Honorable Skerrit, please give us an update on this that includes a timeframe for completion. Only then can we believe in it. Give us a time for completetion, so if it isn’t (like our airport), we can go back to this news post and jusdge you by it.
Oh he will do this one. Remember he got to make wifey look good…. . .or sleep on the couch.
Oh My God. Put a red pingpong ball nose, made in China on that man face and he is ready for the circus
A library and recording studio? Maybe he meant to say a library and museum. Why not have a Caribbean-focused library/museum so that we could generate more tourist activity in the country.
Skerrit is so haphazard about planning and development in Dominica… (except his escape plan) that whenever he thinks of something, he just blurts it out, esp when it sounds good to the illiterates listening to and following him. Oh yo yoyyyy!
There is no strategy or cohesiveness to this man’s plans and definitely no truth in this his empty ramblings. But Dominicans are seemingly fine with his lies. And with all his ministerial portfolios, he’ll be best able to carry out his sinister plans with little or no scrutiny. There is no accountability because not even the opposition has the energy to stand up to him. I’m sure you will see this library and recording/performing arts center make it to the next DLP manifesto. Just wait and see. What a shame shame dirty shame!
FOOLING the PEOPLE all of the time. Mark my words. the area where the Public Library is located will be given to the Nassief’s to expand fort Young hotel. Skerritt and his Cabal will make up an excuse for handing them the place. But frankly, Dominicans who have benefited from the use of that public Library do not care whether their children get the same or better opportunities for increasing their knowledge and socialising with others.
Too many Dominicans allow Skerritt to continue to FOOL them in broad daylight. Too much deceit. Where are the universities of Medicine that would replace Ross USM? How much money, how many countries and experts have Skerritt engaged to build the international airport? Where are the BILLIONS of DOLLARS that cannot be accounted for up to now? Who are those DODGY Ambassadors with our diplomatic passports? Where? where? where? Excuses, excuses, Lies, Lies, Lies. Dominicans wake up or feel the pains of corruption.
So i guess the area for the artist will be sound proof obviously, knowing the library should be a quiet place.
But what mahjee i hearing there nuh? The library is supposed to be a place of quiet. A place where people come to sit peacefully and read and do research. You want to put a recording studio there with it? I do not care if it is sound proof. you cannot mix the crowds of musicians and people looking to sit peacefully and read. awa dominicans? Where is the logic? where is the thoughtfulness? Once again you see his face? he himself know is absolute nonsense he talking.
But but but..some of all you really diesn’t think before ya’ll speak – how you expect a library and a recording studio to be separated by a simple brick wall. OBVIOUSLY provisions must be made accordingly.
45 days since the election and what has the government done? Nothing, look more empty promises, they haven’t even started on the promises they made last budget…
Well it’s about time.. I look forward to seeing this accomplished. The arts need a home.
Look at the face of this clown when he is b-sh…. the citizens of this country!!
A modernized multi-functional library is all well and good but what’s to happen to the historic library building, designed over a hundred years ago by Dominica’s then Administrator, Hesketh Bell and funded by Scottish born philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie.
Since the hurricane I am not aware of any attempt to protect the building from further deterioration.
Roger, the building which you refer to, may have served it’s purpose when it was built over a hundred years ago, but if we are to adopt a climate resilient code for all our public structures, this building in it’s current structure will not pass the test. For sentimental purposes maybe it can be renovated and used as a tourist information centre but in this day and age I am happy with the construction of a modern multipurpose structure to house our public library.
You forget it lasted well over a hundred years and survived many storms even the dreadful David in 1979. If we had maintained it properly I believe it would have withstood Maria better too. Anyway, it can still be restored with proper reinforcements. By all means have a modern library with computers and so on but safe that lovely old building. We could use it for something else like a proper museum and tourist reception centre for instance to tell our country’s history. That would be very educational. Tourists would like it and our own people too.
Eagle Eyed did you not think before you typed? This building survived a few great hurricanes, and only requires repairs. on the roof after Maria. it is still very usable and strong. Very resilient.
Roger, I agree with you that it should be preserved. Do you happen to know whether there’s been any estimate made of how much it would cost to restore the building?
Steve, I doubt that there’s been a condition survey or serious consideration given to restoration. However, I regard the library has one of our key historical buildings and up to Maria, one that had stood the test of time. I am all in favour of a new library but at the same time the Carnegie Library deserves to be restored. Under the guidance of a master carpenter, it’s restoration could serve as a training project for future craftsmen.
Perhaps the new library could be the subject of an architectural design competition.
Both are excellent ideas!
I like the idea of restoring the building to its former glory for historical purposes but it should be used, like the other persons are saying for tourism purposes – information center, tourist attraction etc. But we need a climate resilient building to protect the asset therein.
That old library was a gift from Carnegie to the people of Dominica. It is a historic part of our heritage, situated on a very attractive site and I remember it as an airy oasis of peace and quiet to either simply sit and enjoy a rest in the shade or broaden my mind reading some decent literature. I hope the P.M. is sincere in having it restored and not pull it down or have it replaced with some concrete thing of little merit. It is 2020 now and it has been derelict since Sept. 2017. It can not be lack of money that is holding us back.
Why don’t you act and stop talk? The people need more action and less chat. The many unfulfilled promises help nobody. Why don’t you Mr. Skerrit jump start the geothermal energy so that electricity could be cleaner and cheaper for all consumers. Why not construct the long promised international airport to significantly ease air travel to and from the country? Your words and your actions don’t match. Your integrity is in tatters.
Here we go again…
This Skerrit led DLP clearly has no idea what they are doing or what to do. The only reason they have remained afloat is because people like me and you (you know yourself) constantly criticize them. They are taking cues from us, so indirectly we are helping them. We are the ones guiding them. It is why they have managed to stay in office this long. I am stopping that today. Let them fly their kite, let them fly it high in the middle of a lightning storm. I will be watching and waiting over here, because I know, they will soon come crashing down.
It looks like DNO need to be value free when reporting , sounds like a woman who has a grudge against the Prime Minister. What the hoot you saying according to Him. Gross disrespect
ADMIN: ????
Mr. rime Minister, Sir nothing happens against God’s plans for us who are relying on His guidance. And that fact includes the work of Government for the economic and social development of the Nation.
So the plan for the intended Library may be that there was some form of initiative that was not in your first plan; you have go it now; just pay attention and follow your guide–you know who He is.
Liz, I swear on my mother’s grave that you are the personification of Satan. To associate God with Skerrit’s actions is a serious blasphemy. You are surely one of SATAN’S disciples.
Listen to him again. Promising the citizens of Dominica some more crumbs of his table. Most people in the worlds are getting rid of their oppressors – Dominica votes for them! What a sorry nation of lazy greedy people.
DeePaul,
his sheep hear his voice, and follow him. This scripture verse pertains to Jesus, but, laborites have gotten that mixed up. Priorities all screwed up!!
The idea of a state-of-the-art national library in the nation’s capital is a good idea; however, the current administration should consider setting up a network of less opulent and fully functional satellite libraries across the island to serve the outlying communities.
Each library should be equipped with publicly available internet service, workstations, fax and copiers.
Focus should be placed on youth literacy development through the availability of safe spaces where our children can read, research, learn and study in peace.
Each library should also allocate an area where group readings, literary presentations, plays, and “how to” symposiums can be held.
Maybe I am asking for too much!!!
All Skerrit can do is talk nonsense to distract people, especially when he knows his friends are being jailed one after the other. This time it is Donville Inniss, a for government Minister of Barbados, who I remember was in Dominica in 2013, addressing a DLP SKERRIT Meeting. Skerrit why are so many of your friends getting jailed for money laundering? I don’t know but mama always use to tell me this proverb” Birds of a feather flock together.”
I propose that a Juvenile Detention Center should come before the performing arts facility. It’s time we stop imprisoning young people with career criminals. Give the Juvenile offenders a true shot at rehabilitation and redemption.
It’s a good initiative but those 2 activities (center for performing arts and a public library) are 2 very conflicting activities, which would require some major creative think. i hope a local architect is given this opportunity to forge the identity of our cultural expressionism.
Centres like this already exist all over the world. Modern libraries are no longer for quiet reading. There are areas for toddler play and early learning, art and drama classes, music and media installations etc. With modern sound proofing materials this is no big deal, we have put men and satellites in space; surely we can build multi-purpose libraries.
Everybody know is Chinese that going to build that already just like everything eles i this country.
Exactly… If come to study I dont want to hear that koshone dem man singing in de next room
Did I just wake up from a 20 years dream?
Likethe art of the state clinic hospital mph boy people that don’t now better you can fool alas
Caption his face in the photo above: “Look I fooling these Labourites again and they don’t seem to realize dat”
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Anyways y’all, is this idea by mister really feasible or just madman ideology? A center for performing arts and recording studio contained somewhere in a modern library space?
Uummmmm, isn’t a library area supposed to be quiet? How will a recording studio and center for performing arts which will be filled with music, talking, sounds and noises be contained within a modern library space?
Will soundproof designs make this coexistence feasible?
LMAO This shows how Dominicans are so ignorant to how tings are around the world in actual countries. Most Libraries in the states, even those in most high schools have a recording studio, not just for recording music but also for dramas, podcasts, even voice overs for animations lol, soundproofing a room for such a reason is easy as pie. OMG your response is such an embarrassment.
The USA is not necessarily representative of the rest of the world.
Honestly speaking these cock and pullet ministers just look like good actors and actresses that just know how to talk. They are just not real and look lost and confused, just lying their way out of trouble.
@Cock & pullet – I agree with you. The ultimate con-job.