The old, abandoned Public Library building located on Victoria Street in Roseau, is once again on fire.
Photos and videos circulating on social media show the building engulfed by the blaze which started earlier this evening.
Dominica News Online (DNO) understands that the Fire and Emergency Department responded and the fire was quickly put out.
We have not yet been able to make contact with the appropriate authorities, but comments from some eyewitnesses suggest that arson may be involved.
This is the fourth fire that has occurred over the past year at the old library building which was completely deroofed by the unrelenting winds of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Three of those fires happened last year, within a period of four months.
After the Roseau Public Library met its hurricane-inflicted demise four years ago, the service was relocated to a building on the corner of Kennedy avenue and Independence Street in Roseau.
Dominica’s Society for History Architectural Preservation and Enhancement (SHAPE) has been on a campaign to preserve and restore the damaged building on Victoria Street.
SHAPE revealed in an article published on DNO in December 2020, that a petition which formed part of their campaign had, up to that point, generated 5000 signatures and while the organization welcomed the support of the public for the cause, SHAPE said it was concerned that the government had failed to express a “similar commitment and sense of urgency.”
However, the group reported that Roseau MP Melissa Skerrit stated at a meeting with some members of the SHAPE board, that there were proposals for a three-storey building to house a library on the ground floor, a music studio on the first floor and a dance studio on the top floor.
The Roseau Public Library was built in 1906, and designed by the then administrator, Sir Hesketh Bell, whose sketches show that originally it was to have been a two-storey building.
“Its charm and importance lies in not just its function but also in its location, on the edge of the sea, in the heart of Dominica’s historic quarter,” SHAPE stated in its December 2020 article and noted ” to allow this beautiful building to fall into further disrepair – only to be demolished – may seem to some like willful neglect.”
We will follow this story and bring more information when it becomes available.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try try and try again”…
When a country producing the likes of ‘ kid on the block’ , man bite dogs and others the question that comes to mind is, do we need library at this time? These brainless guys don’t read and therefore we should just play cartoons for them
Its use is not intended for Dominicans who reside overseas but primarily for locals and visitors, who are interested to nurture their mind and broaden their knowledge and even those we do not want to read can marvel at its architecture.
We should take pride in our heritage.
It is highly unlikely that this and the previous library fires were spontaneous. Whoever struck the matches or flicked the lighters were clear about their intentions.
After the first fire event, the Government should have completely demolished the building and repurposed the property into a state of the art student learning and study center as well as a “pay for use” compushare copy and fax center.
It is very sad and a doggone shame that such a historic and iconic building which holds such fond memories for a lot of Dominicans has come to this.
I agree with your first and third paragraphs.
But not your that the building should have been completely demolished, as stated in your second paragraph.
Roger, point taken. My reasoning was predicated on the fact that the fire damaged building lacked structural integrity. There was a good opportunity after the first fire to construct a modern, multi-purpose climate resistant public service structure. The same opportunity exists today. Sometimes it is best to start from scratch to avoid putting “new wine into old skins”.
I accept your reasoning and I appreciate your response..
My reservation in terms of a modern, multi-purpose climate resistant structure is the the appalling aesthetics of the alien architecture that Dominica has been subjected to in recent years.
Since this isn’t the first fire set to what’s left of the labrary, where are the incompetent police to investigate the matter, considering that Fort Young Hotel and the State House are just an arm’s length from the library. What we have in Dominca calling police is not it. That can’t be a police force when it doesn’t do the basic work expected of it, to investigate the criminal burning of government property.
Following the passage of hurricane Maria the Baronmess came to Dominca with her sister and pronounced that she was going to secure funds to convert the damaged public library into some pie-in-the-sky structure. This was a grand case of nepotism if you ask me that the Baronmess couldn’t find any other more competent person to assist with the work which was undertaken then. Today we are paying $64,000 per month for Skerritt to satisfy his bourgeois taste for the expensive things in life at the expense of taxpayers in an impoverished country. This selfish man doesn’t care about the education of the children or he would have rebuilt the only public library in the country. Only recently the State college staff and students went on strike to protest the deplorable conditions. On top of that the labrary building is an eyesore in the heart of Roseau and next to the Presidential palace which cost $27 million. There must be a sinister motive why it hasn’t been repaired. So shameful
The old public library should have been turned into a museum for Dominican history and a new modern library constructed near-by. Yours truly the minister of finance AKA prime minister has millions in passport sales money that can be used for that en devour. A priority should have been established to re-roof the old historic library after the hurricane to prevent further damage to this historic building.
THEY will try and do every and anything to bring down Skerrit and his Government.
Looking and waiting to read THEIR comments.
What do you think about the abandonment of this historic and significant educational edifice? That is the crucial question.
You are so highly intoxicated with the red, mind altering, DLP concocted punch that the only thing that is important to you is to offer up some asinine defence of your satanic idol.
Seriously, you need a brain transplant to be of some use to humanity.
Kid you seem to know who committed this act.
Who is that person called “They”?. Why cant you report “They” to the police?
Who the cap fits, let You/Them wear it.
You are the right candidate Kid since you are a madcap already.
Well I guess the prediction made in Ma Boyds Kitchen News a few months ago came true. It is now being alleged that once the building is burnt the land can now be donated to a high profile Dcan who has shown immense interest in developing the land it seats on. Dca is now a BIG TIME racketeering country.
What’s interesting is the fact that before the Fort Young was a hotel years ago; they used to post a guard there because if it’s historical significance. Today in these modern times we couldn’t protect the Library a historical building. We need to do better as leaders in this country.
I remember going to that library as a child and when there was a security guard. The modern day generation does not care about history only their cell phone, lap top and Facebook.
This is not a fair statement. The “modern day generation” would seem to implicate the youth.
It is not the youth who have the power to determine what happens to this building. Speak to the authorities, the owner or owners, they are the ones responsible here with the powers to do something.
Are Dominicans a peculiar breed of people? It’s conspicuously obvious that they are
. Only in Dominica would a people remain stoically indifferent while one man fatally neglected the country’s premier library; allowed the Margot Hospital and many health centres to rot to ruins and many other public edifices to become mold, insect and rodent infested.
Most of the local news media (DNO prominently included), the lawyers, influential business persons, the unions, teachers, public servants stay astonishingly silent paralysed by fear.
Dominicans, you stand to gain nothing by cowardice. Nothing good comes without sacrifice. Wake up and grab the bull by the horns. Toss it into oblivion and begin a new and rejuvinating chapter.
Regrettable that such a landmark was left to deteriorate. It’s a blasted Shame
What a travesty! If it’s arson, I hope the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Hi Steve, nice to see you back on line, hope all is well I been wondering if you OK!
Well, if this building is so easy to set ablaze, maybe it is time to pull the plug on it and demolish it from a health and safety perspective. Mellissa’s idea of a modern more attractive and safer building should be given the go-ahead ASAP, else someone might just end up losing their life. Maybe a local artist can be commissioned to paint a mural of the old library building on the walls of the new one in order to preserve the historical aspect of the site. I will always cherish all the time i spent at this building reading and researching as a child, student and even as an adult.
They are so impatient, these blue bums, that they have decided to play the role of arsonists once again. Good things come to those who wait. Patience is virtue. Lennox Linton’s insatiable thirst to become the next PM of Dominica has created all this destruction in this beautiful, unspoiled island of ours. What a shame!
You have boasted that you are an university graduate. You degree, if true, whatever area it may be, is worth $0.00.
You are umbilically attached to Skerrit and depend on him for sustenance. Just like an embryo depends on its mother for life.
Your reasoning is twisted like a rope. Sad waste of a brain. You should have it surgically removed for experimentation purposes.
It is sad to say that we are both umbilically attached to our master. You are to Lennox as I am to Skerrit and we both depend on them for sustenance in order to survive and pump sh.. on DNO every blessed God-given day. The degrees I have if my memory serves me right were bought at Macy’s men’s department for $2.00 each. Can I buy u one?
You are trying your hand at comedy but you have failed spectacularly. You have claimed that you have more degrees than a thermometer. From your writings I know you need medical attention. You are afflicted with frequent and serious bouts of hallucination.
The wrong building is ablaze. But let’s see who’s going to buy this property. And by the way, who set ablaze the old Registry? Hmmmm….Some dem crooks and thieves must be burning in hell while their seeds may still be amongst us. A leopard cannot change its spots. God bless Dominica.
The history of the funding of the Dominica Public Library by Andrew Carnegie. Do Dominicans know that one of the most famous philanthropists the world has known, Andrew Carnegie, the same man who gave Manhattan, New York City its concert venue bearing his name, Carnegie Hall, also funded this Dominica Public Library in Roseau? What a shameful, backward primitive and uncivilised people we are to let this gem burn and go to ruins just as we did the Jean Rhys House! Where is our historian Dr. Lennox Honychurch to call out the Government of Dominica on the destruction of Dominica’s historical cultural assets and tourists attractions? Is he only good at presenting plans for international airports? This is wicked and wickedness to the people and country of Dominica by the Government of Dominica!
History of Library funding http://dlis.gov.dm/library-services/roseau-public-library/history
Andrew Carnegie https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/History/Carnegie-Hall-Icons/Andrew-Carnegie
Shame…
The burning of the Dominica Public Library is a perfect sign of the kind of country that we have become under this Labour Party Government with its illusions of grandeur but no substance and no class!
This is very sad. That building was a core component of what’s left of Roseau’s historical identity and as such, irreplaceable.
What is all this sadness about? This is an old building with no restrooms for library users that needs to be demolished and a modern state of the art building built at the same site with a section for kids, ages 5 to 12, equipped with restrooms for men and women and a conference room. Just as Eagle-Eyed said, we can commission an artist to paint a mural of the old library building on the walls of the new one to preserve the historical aspect of the site. That old library building once housed the studios of WIBS in Dominica with Jeff Charles at the console. Be patient, my people, that new modern library will come. TOU PWASA PACA FE JOUR OVERT.
If anything has to be torn down, let it be the next door DBS building, which has little historical significance and is totally without architectural merit.
That’s the fifth fire….that’s just an anology of how tings will be soon….those who want the Roseau library land knows something… and Melissa is an empty head in position…she dam lie….how long not long…how long? Not long
This may be deliberate. On my way home yesterday after 5pm travelling south, I saw a tall slim guy opening the galvanize hoarding. What struck me was that he had 2 red canisters in his hand. The type used to inflate helium balloons. He looked a bid dishevelled so the cannisters stood. Did someone give him an arson job? Is there a plan to destroy our Heritage? With so much money in the country ,why was the Old Library building left to decay.
And what about other government buildings such as the old Planning Building and Goodwill Secondary School. Is there a sinister plan to build hotels on all these prime state lands? This is not farfetched. We all know what has happened to the site of Public Works. Greed has taken over Dominica while our citizens remain mute. This is a sad state of affairs. Soon we will not recognize our own country.
ADMIN: Have you contacted the authorities with this information?
Someone is trying hard. I wonder how much money sousey sel raised fot the library flrom donors.
Good. That debate is settled. On now to a modern library
It is sad that such an iconic building, a reservoir of information was not restored to glory post Hurricane Maria . Now it has finally met its demise.
Public libraries are still very relevant today. Reading hard copy books is still the best form of reading. What polish does to a shoe reading does to the mind.
Just like the proverbial London Bridge, too many things in Dominica are falling down. A public library is essential. This one should now be rebuild expeditiously with modern and advanced technological devices..
I’ve come to the conclusion that this ruling regime is anti-educational. It refused to repair and equip the public libraitry; it allowed the DSC to languish in a very serious state of disrepair; it has put the future of the students studying overseas in serious jeopardy by refusing to pay their tuition. What a naughty, myopic regime.
After 4 fires, it’s safe to assume that investigations, if there were any, has resulted in nothing. Looking at the bigger picture, 4 unsolved fires in a building right across the street from the State House speaks volumes about the lack of surveillance in that area. It’s only a matter of time.
Arson or alleged arson of any kind should be condemned, whether it’s the home of GON EMMANUEL (deceased) or the remains of the PUBLIC LIBRARY. Was liar Skerrit really a teacher???. If the liar was, this man is WICKED, GREEDY and DEVILISH to the core…Can one imagine what EC$64000.00 worth of work each month would do towards a new library? This building has helped and nourished the minds of myriad of Dominicans, but when one is driven by greed, pompousity, vindictiveness, wickedness, showmanship and lies, the country ends up the loser.The “VOWAS” only pays lip service to education. Four years after hurricane Maria, absolutely no movement to begin work on this eyesore? Skerrit’s (the liar) education policy is, if you get a scholarship, you must vote for me, even if i abandon you afterwards.This liar and his leadership is a serious curse to this country! Its all about me, myself and i…