A multi-million dollar project that officials say will transform the city of Roseau is scheduled to begin in late April or early May.
The Roseau River Promenade will be located between the West Bridge and the Dominica China Friendship Bridge.
“It will begin at the end of April to the beginning of May. The project will last about two years,” Senior Project Manager in the Ministry of Tourism, Danny Reid, told DNO.
Those whose livelihoods will be affected by the construction are some of the first persons being consulted by government officials.
Tourism officials met with bus drivers who operate between the west bridges on Monday.
They are also expected to meet with vendors on Tuesday and with land property and business owners on Wednesday.
Reid said government wanted to ensure that the construction of the Promenade includes the people.
“Over the next two days, we will be doing consultations with various stakeholders that we feel may be affected. We looked at the bus drivers today because we know that this is the hub where persons get on and off buses,” he said.
“We want to show them what the project looks like and show them how it is going,” he added.
He says many times projects are undertaken without the consultation of the people but this one is going to be different.
The tendering process for public bidding for the project opened Monday.
“We have broken down the tendering process in three packages. We will start off the project by the Northern Wall. That we hope to start by the last week in April this year, so we opened tenders today. It is opened to anyone who feels there are qualified. They can pick up the documents at the ministry and bid to undertake the project,” Reid said on Monday.
The project, which forms an integral part of the government’s redevelopment plan for the city of Roseau, is being funded by the government of Dominica and ALBA.
The proposal includes the development of facilities to be constructed along the banks of the Roseau River.
The facilities will include vending booths for food and beverage, landscaping and tree planting, a cantilevered board walk and a retaining wall.
An upscale restaurant and mini mall will also form part of the boardwalk feature.
Implementation will last over the next two years.
The exact cost is still being tabulated.
Sketches below show more of what the promenade will look like.
Thumbs up to the Government…..after these projects…focus on the village development
How long it will take to complete this project??? nevermind,
when is the next general election??????????? great idea, we will all benifit.long over due.
i have no problem with the pm.s an his doin all il want to no how could i get a job der
What about the BAYFRONT VENDORS?????Have they been forgotten. No shelter, no storage, no toilet facilities. It is also an eyesore and a hotel for vagrants in the night.hope something is done for the front of the town
I would like to congratulate the labour party government for the work they are doing.Dominicans have to many negative things to say,Thats our country,not mr skerrit own alone,Lets work together to build dominica it is a beauty and we all should be proud of our little island,We need something like that in roseau and the play ground for the children to have fun.I can’t wait to see it when they finish.
How easily Dominicans get distracted. Again, Skerrit throws a concrete project at you and everyone is happy
You still cant pay your bills. Your children still cant get a job. You have to run to Western Union every week to grab money from your family. You cant put gas in your car. You cant even take your woman out for a nice dinner. You have to go stand up in customs and heat to clear your barrell. The list goes on.
Anyway Skerrit knows his people eh? 2040 for real. He knows what he is saying.
Concrete projects bring jobs and business for vendors.
Hello. This is good news for our country and it will help enhance the look of the city. Now I hope they will put public bathrooms so we won’t have to go by the old market. I also hope they put a wall which would control the flow of the river into the sea.
Well sah, Roseau really changing. Just now I may not recognize it anymore. This is my birth place man and I am glad to see the development.
I hope there is more to come…
I like the idea. That will help to uplift the city limits….but on another note please give us all the information at hand. A project cannot be up for bid if the the final cost is still pending..
I like the project but just tell us the cost…stop witholding information.
what exactly do you think the bidders do? the bidders look at the project and set a price. then usually the lowest and most reliabable bidder gets the project.
good point but should also add that the people should be informed if its a loan or grant from Alba.
Besides its a good project and i do hope that the project include a car park over the river. Also preferences must be given to existing vendors to own the Booths ( remember who get the restaurant at the airport where the food is now more expensive and less tasty than before.)at minimal rental cost.
Well I am so happy that the Government is using the idea proposed by the diasporean, and I am sure others thought of it. Now I am so happy that there is an area of play for the children because Roseau need somewhere for its children to play. Yes it is time for us to put aside our egoes, for the betterment of Dominica.
I don,t get it, more they give the goverment licks more they perform. what a great team.
Why must everything and anything to do with infrastructure must come from the Skerrit labor Government.Remember years ago,Mr. Norris Prevost begged Government for the land of the old grammar school inorder to build a project which would include a mini mall etc. and was turned down.Remember,years ago Mr. Lugay of the UWP also begged Government for the land at PWD inorder to build a project to attract the tourists leaving the Port at Fond Cole, that would also assist the people of the Roseau North as regards to jobs, and was also turned down.Like I said, if a project doesn’t not come from the Labor Government,regardless to how important it is to the country, crapo smoke the opposition pipe.
This is Alba Funds…you need to know that…are you willing to accept this?
Years ago – who was in govt?
what stupidity you talking about BEG!, and what stupidity about a mini mall by Prevost! That embarrassment we have in the middle of the town that every Dominican shame to call a mall. I guess is the poor vision, future scope and ambition that lead to the denial. Beg for land! a joke that man, let me see if begging for a piece might work out too.
Very nice. Next a movie theater, please!
private sector can do movie theatre
Sounds good but not to sure it’s feasible the cost of getting new movies would be to high so the cost of entry would be exorbitant so unless we are willing to settle for older movies the private sector might stay away
Looking forward to walking along the boardwalk. This should serve not only as a tourist attraction, but for Dominicans who can enjoy the beauty of the river, some shopping, and local foods. Let’s hope the customer service will be top notch to make this a pleasant experience.
Hospital first my people.
you doe hear dey hospital project staarting soon. Just say great job!
This is great! When are they going to tackle the real issue of the Drug game? Newtown seems to be a hub for drug activity on all levels, are there plans to shut it down? I’m impressed with the “Task Force” but they need to start setting some examples! Come on, D/A is not the states where Obama have to jump through hoops to pass laws! The drug problem is the root of most of our problems on the island! We are improving the infrastructure, but we are not addressing our main downfall to our social problems.
I agree one hundred percent my brother !!i say fix the drug cancer in our society first cause the addicts will use that very spot for shelter to do there hit !!
The next step would be to get help for the vagrants roaming around the city. The number has increased over the years and it does not make a good impression for visitors, since many of them harass people in the streets. Every country has them, but we rely heavily on tourism as a small nation so this is an issue.
I agree with you. The authorities should turn the tables and start harrassing the paros, don’t give them any peace. Let’s see if the mayor is a man or not.
Some of these comments are zoo stupid I wish they were not posted, but since it’s a free country I guess we have no choice. Beautifying the country brings mother tourist to the country.
This is great news!!! They also need to cover up those gutters in the town as well. It does not look or smell good! Keep up the good work.
They tried that several years ago, under a different administration, but it was unsuccessful . Because Dominicans enjoy littering so much, the gutters constantly go blocked and they had to remove those heavy covers, sometimes several times a week, to unclog them. We need to change the mentality of our people for a better future. Open a sweety, throw the paper on the ground. Drink a malt, toss the bottle in the gutter. Eat a biscuit or bakes in a paper bag, throw the wrapper where you think no one will care. Put the darn thing in your pocket!!! I do it. I never throw things on the road, that’s what my parents taught me. We need to teach our youth to do better than the way most adults behave. A friend of mine came here, to USA, and saw the litter fine signs posted all over. She was afraid to throw her paper out the window and on the ground. I thought to myself that common sense should have put that fear in you all those years you littered Roseau.
Great job Mr. PM!!
Next venture, revamp the Dominican careless and lawless way of thinking.
I dont care who it was copied from. I think think that it is superb! Rather than “copy” the crime rate of other places let us copy the good so that life can be a bit better for all. I am away from home and look forward to coming home to something like that. Hats off to those behind it!
So many crack addicts through there desease lose there lively hood there, it would be better if the government use that money to build a rehab center for rum drinkers, crack heads, weed smokers etc. Yes they are Dominicans so help them with there sad life !!!
u are a job. u just can’t be pleased ever!
The truth is always bitter, just like the dislikes !!
A goverment working for the people, long live.
I cannot eat concrete
I will give you the cement instead, you make your own meals.
Well eat wall
Allez vouler ! lol Are u kidding me? Since when there is a shortage of food.Don’t ask what ur country can do for u but what u can do for ur country
What is the sum total spend on “infrastructure” so far under Skerrit? Because I am most confused as it seems to be in the hundreds of millions yet Dominicans broker than ever. Can someone explain how such a phenomenon occurs? I thought we would be enjoying all that money spent as thats the whole point of public sector investment yet everyone broke and facing bankruptcy.
So here we are with yet another multi-million dollar project which sounds nice but WHERE IS PRIVATE SECTOR EXPANSION? THE JOBS? All I am seeing is Government projects but very little, if any, private sector projects.
Where have all those hundreds of millions that make up our one billion dollar debt gone to?
Wow! how fantabulous! when this project is complete, Roseau will be the preiest city in the world. This project will cause every one in Roseau to be employed. It will generate billions of dollars of revenue for this country.
They stole that idea from a group of Dominicans whwwere seeking to do that as a private project. Wow
So how does a private group get state land do something for the public for free…
Was the Private Group going to invest in a multi-million dollar project, so that Dominicans can just walk around for free?
Who cares where they got the idea from we should be happy that something is being done to upgrade the place and not make it look like a dump
Which group of Dominicans? I’m very curious who that would be Anonymous. Perhaps you are confusing that with a proposed project for River Street?
next step to this project is to broaden it over the river and build a proper bus station for all buses that come into Roseau. So everybody have a safe shelter from the Sun and rain when they are waiting for the bus to their village. Depot One for Canefield, Depot 15 for Portsmouth and so on that would be a major upgrade. There’s hope
There are plans for that too I understand. Across from the China bridge, next to the Dowasco building, on the site of the old infirmary there will be a designated bus terminal serving all routes north of Roseau.
Won’t there be too small
well said
That sounds like a very good project. It is time that Roseau begins to look like a city and not a shanti town. Two things I would like to add however:1) The Roseau river should be dredged to accommodate boat traffic and 2) I would have liked to see the upper part of River Street along the river cleared and the promenade extended to the Windsor Park bridge.
china town start lol
A few years ago in my Sun newspaper column I suggested that something like this would be of great benefit to Roseau and I also included a River Festival each year. I took this from my visits to the Riverwalk Marketplace which is more like an enclosed long mall in New Orleans next to the Convention center which is loaded with 120 shops, restaurants and other things. It is also a 2 floor structure. The important thing of note is that much of the what is sold there has the New Orleans Creole and Cajun flavour, in particular the food. It is a major tourist attraction. Another thing is the Mississippi runs alongside the RiverWalk and is an awesome sight it is important that we pay attention to improving the state of the Roseau River as part of the project. Whatever we do we should make sure the promenade has a Waitikubuli flavour in its construction and its presentations. We too can make this a major tourist attraction and copy the good things from the Riverwalk marketplaces in the USA. Perhaps in time it can be up to the EC Loblack bridge.
Good idea sir, see you at the next meeting/public consultation. Mr Reid, please take note.
Talking about putting the cat before the horse. Consultation after the fact, know public input into the design. There’s sufficient restaurants and other around to support that location. Why not use the area for youth development, such as young artist, were the tourist can see young persons making craft for purchase. foreign exchange! Also,if you plan to disrupe the daily lives of the bus drivers, then why didn’t your plans include building a bus stop or shelter before this project starts, which would minimize displacement and congestion. The project is welcome, but it lacks forward thinking.
I fully agree and was thinking the same thing while reading the article. That’s not consultation – that’s informing. This is not meant to take away from the project in anyway. I just find it misleading to say that you are consulting after the fact; when the project is set to begin in a matter of weeks.
I would imagine you would want to put a cart before a horse in every sense of the phrase!!Lol
Nothing happens before its time,finally something will be done with the eyesore / ghetto area by the river,looking forward to sitting in a nice area to eat and shop.looks very nice.
Dominicans seem to get cauught up in hyperbole. Every primary school that they build is state of the art. Now this will “transform” Roseau.
This project is a good START, but it alone will not transform Roseau. Roseau has gone too far down so a lot needs to be done to transform the city. We need to refurbish a lot of the dilapidated houses in Roseau, they need to fix a lot of the sidewalks in the city, they need to find ways to plant a lot more trees in Roseau, they need hanging flower baskets around the city. These things will transform the city to make it more inviting.
Good start, but that by itself is not a transformation of Roseau.
We need to refurbish a lot of the dilapidated houses in Roseau…who is WE
I hope WE is not the taxpayers have to fix people houses…let’s not get this twisted.
Let us all remember that we have to be patient and take it one day at a time to achieve goals in the future… though i agree with you, that more can be done to transform Roseau,we must all understand that roam was not built in a day. So instead of “bagging” on the present developments of our country, let us appreciate what has already been done…..
And yes, it is an EXCELLENT project.
I noticed that some people have real trouble comprehending what they read. I was not “bagging” the project. I said it was not going to transform Roseau and that it was the start of a tranformation but more needs to be done to really transform the city, and I listed a bunch of things that should be done. Is that so difficult to comprehend?
You guys comment on what people write without first taking the time to understand what is written.
My concern is the negative impact it might have on the river… or should i say stream because the water level is so low.
Reminds me of the so called rivers of Saint Lucia. Let try to conserve will we modernize.
In another article when some were asking for hydro electricity I said there would be talk of destruction of the rivers. This is just a simple river promenade and here we go already. Much less if it was a dam. I agree we need to be conscious of how we develop but like I said before there will always be concerns.
you, others and I, can start but stop littering and start keeping it clean… that would make a big cosmetic difference
Great improvement, just employ as many dominicans as possible on the project…
more gifts from the chinese, but what are they really getting from us? water, land, economic control, citizenship hmmmmm…
we will find out when its to late.
dominica might become the next tibet
Sounds great, hope this will really transfrom this area of Roseau. That is what we need a facelift.
people get impressed by anything in this country. Everytime the PM is rocked by a big scandal, he feed you some project or idea on a spoon, and people say waw!!!, great PM, that’s a working govt. They have already forgotten their 1.5 %, the lies, theft, abuse of public office, the court cases, the insult on the constition etc, Secunia the BLVD is coming!!!!!. This is a sick set of people!!!
This will be a definite enhancement to the city of Roseau if done right. Let’s hope that the restaurant is along the four star category and the project can later be expanded to the area between the New and Old Bridge too.
That is good for the city. Next project should be proper sidewalks and drainage for the entire city. Great
Dredge the river so that the sea could flow about 200 meters up stream to allow boats to come in.
So what about the TITIRI?.????
Just hoping it’s modern and grand, and most importantly looks like the millions spent. we hear about development and millions then see a 2×4 like is that that looking like us and wonder what happen.
The negativity is oozing….I hope it makes you a better person
Yes it does, me dont trust these peeps anymore.
It will open a new face at that side in Roseau it sound wonderful,theirs a old house right by the garage when you crosss the bridge from portusville this house need too demolish it looks ugly their.we need investers in Dominica a huge parking lot needed in Roseau that could be a huge invrstment a small fee for parking will great the city is too congested in town business hours.
WOW!!!!! Can’t wait
DATS GREAT!!!DA REALLY NEED A UPGRADE BAD
Wait for UWP objections.
Don’t worry, Prevost will try to defend the paros’ turf……
The Paros not going nowhere don’t fool yourself. They just got free upgraded accommodation.
lol
Why do you have to make everything political? Why are you always trying to devide the country?
I must applaud this initiative. For too long we have had to contend with that ramshackle gathering of hovels passing for eating places and the mess and traffic confusion it creates. Gone will be the days to avoid Roseau like the plague, and in particular that area. This development will breathe some welcome fresh air into the life of the town, especiially in the evening and I can’t wait to stroll and sit down for nice meal along the river bank. Hopefully the stretch from the Loblack bridge to the stadium will also benefit from a similar facelift in time to come. It is badly needed. The process of consultations is equally welcome and I wish we would do that for all projects that affect the general public so that we can embrace such developments without rancour and claim that they are truly ours.
Unfortunately, the crucial design stage of this much-needed initiative appears to lack an understanding of the Caribbean vernacular and does no credit to Roseau’s architectural heritage.
hope it goes through and some of these old timers that say they have so called rubbish shops in the interior of roseau they need to go.lovely city but it needs a major face lift.great plan hope all goes well.
It could not happen soon enough. Roseau needs a face lift.
I congratulate the government for a wonderful initiative.
Sounds good. I really hope this will transform Roseau, and that tourists and locals alike will have a PROPER place to shop, cause all those little shops around Roseau are just like junk shops or corner shops suitable for villages rather.
Every project in Roseau transforms the city of Roseau … the only problem there is the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Boy, you really are a “wooden chicken”, coulbwa eating your brain! If you can not see changes, time to see your eye doctor.
So they should be negative just like you and do nothing.
At least some people are trying
Just cant wait ! cuz there is a mess presently
Brilliant idea,albeit stolen from some diasporians,
unfortunately no indication of any public conveniencies whch I am sure is an absolute necessity . (no poo poo ing by, or in de river no more.
Consideration should also be given to future construction of a car park spanning over the river to utilize valuabl;e space .
Of course the dredging od the river possible up to the windsor park would make an ideal minin marina .If the many boulders way up river were extracted this would slow the flow of the river during heavy rain and help eliminate erosion of the river sides . (many many birds could be killed with one stone here. planning planning and forsight is what is required .
Just so you know, sharing an idea for development is only good thing if it isn’t self serving.