Acting Prime Minister, Dr. Colin McIntyre, has said that a new housing project for Roseau will transform the capital into a modern city that is resilient.
On Monday it was announced that Montreal Management Consultants Est (MMCE) will be taking on two new housing projects on the island, one in Roseau and the other in Picard.
The one in Roseau will be called the Roseau City Square and will be located close to the Financial Center in an area commonly known as “Pound.” It will contain a total of 100 residential units and more than 50 retails outlets, officials said.
“Those of us who know Roseau, who are familiar with Roseau, we would like to see something much better in the perimeters of the Financial Center and the ministerial building because this happens to be a very important part of Roseau,” McIntyre said at the launch of the projects.
He stated that he is very happy to see “something nice” coming to Roseau in terms of its beauty, durability and face.
“Pound will lend to a serious development in Roseau to include all your business shops, to empower people in that area, to work with people in that area who for years they have been in shacks and it has been an ugly sight in terms of Roseau,” he stated. “So I am very happy to be here today to launch this two major projects. As acting prime minister, it is the government’s policy and the policy of our prime minister in terms of the vision and what is being articulated internationally and globally to build a modern city that is resilient.”
Meanwhile, Project Manager for MMCE, Chris Timmins, stated that the project in Roseau will be a challenge because it is a “constrained site” which requires special consideration.
He said the project will take into consideration the capital’s history saying, “we don’t want to turn our back on Roseau’s history.”
“We, therefore, have come up with a plan to do four separate blocks,” he explained, adding the blocks will contain buildings that are three storeys high.
“They are 84 two-bedroom units, 16 three-bedroom units, and 54 ground floor retail units,” he stated. “There will be packing within the central plaza area.”
He said the units will be steel-framed with reinforced concrete outer shell and reinforced concrete roofs “with an architectural roof over the top which provides the correct architectural integrity for the area.”
Timmins pointed out that the units are going to be “very modern” and climate resilient.
“When you see the drawings for this which will be released, you will see we have taken cognizance of the historical influences, so it will tie in the existing Roseau architecture as well as using the best of modern architecture and it will also provide an architecturally important building opposite the cricket stadium…” he stated.
DNO should be value free because it’s news reporting sucks. This type of News reporting is used to paint a false picture on Government endeavours and to make UWP look innocent hence it should be named UWP NEWS ONLINE.
We heard that gobbledegook before!
We first heard that when the puppet master the modern day Ali Baba, your leader said he was going to take Dominica to the next level; Just before the last election, he said ” I am going to transform Roseau, and Dominica.” The puppet leader even printed in online newspapers artist renditions in drawing which he claim that the rest of the Caribbean will use as a model to develop their country?
I feel sorry for people like you who only have a mouth to talk nonsense, without any action; How can Skerrit claim that the rest of the Caribbean will use his model to develop their island when they are all more developed economically, and architecturally!
The infrastructure of the rest of the Caribbean are far more developed than Dominica!
Stop talking rubbish, Dominica is doomed under you Roosevelt, and the rest of the labor party!
DNO, Please look in your archives and find the article in which Julius Timothy promised to transform Roseau into the premiere city of the Eastern Caribbean, that was September 2009. From then to now we have had several promises from various government officials, including the prime minster, about what will be done to change, transform, improve Roseau. Nothing has been done.
ADMIN: This article is not available in our archives but can be found at another Dominican website: http://www.sakafete.com/2009/09/15/minister-for-urban-renewal-hon-julius-timothy-outlines-governments-grand-vision-for-roseau/
Admin, I posted that link, but i wanted you to try to find the article on your site. Thanks for looking.
ADMIN: You are welcome, thank you for pointing out that you already posted that link.
Each event in Dominica sends Dominica back to the drawing board to ensure resilience in building. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
http://www.sakafete.com/2009/09/15/minister-for-urban-renewal-hon-julius-timothy-outlines-governments-grand-vision-for-roseau/
We continue to hear about empty promises. See what Julius Timothy promised for ROSEAU since September 2009, I, along with all Dominicans, am still waiting. Aren’t we tired of being fooled?
You should know by now that a promise is the stock in trade of politicians and confidence tricksters. They are guarantees to fools and the gullible.
They are not only guarantees to fools and the gullible but also to all these Labour supporters. Oops sorry, they fall under these 2 categories anyway.
What does the country benefit from these housing projects. Let us take a look at the Elmshall apartments, people with good jobs occupy these apartments yet still they pay nothing, NO RENT, ZERO. Skerrit building apartments for his people and the country is getting nothing in return for it. Stupes
The Roseau river should be dammed in the Elmshall area for flood control, the new lake could be used for hydroelectric power, building a wall along the river all the way to the sea will not solve the Roseau river flood problem. A freshwater lake formed by the dam could also be used for recreation, main drawback, the residents of Elmshall would have to be re-located as well as getting financing.
John, yes and no. When we get floods like Erika and Maria that lake would also overflow, with disastrous results. Besides, what would you do with the existing housing at Elmshall?
This is insane, but; the Chinese might just finance it. Of course, when the dam fails due to lack of maintenance and poor construction; it will solve the Roseau flood problem once and for all, by eliminating Roseau.
You don;t have a plan, you have no idea what is going to be built but you are saying this project is going to transform Roseau? we waiting for you in de valley. you can never win again!
More drink to drink from the boys of skiroooo
This project I’m afraid is not for the poor…….it hard to take this government seriously when we don’t even have adequate traffic lights in Roseau, no highway speed limits , no money to fund a real police force, etc. etc. …..I need something to drink…
Real Truth, pass me the bottle too nah SMH
Mr Mcintyre,
Don’t you think that Roseau should be secured with a river wall as well, from Under Power to the river mouth, so that the capital is not flooded again in June 2018 onwards. Actually, maybe the wall should start higher up at Bath Estate, on either side of the river, to secure buildings already built there.
Maybe you can make the buildings in Pong, with Solar Electricity as well, to make it cheaper to live in. How are you going to decide fairly and impartially who should live there?
We must give the DLP credit for showing some leadership, whether good or bad. It cannot be easy. Mr Skerrit has been on the job from the night of the hurricane. I do not believe that he has had a week end off. Well done Sir- regardless of the politics. I appreciated your dancing as well on 03/11/2017.
We must let bygones, be bygones. Attacking Mr Linton is not good form. You must rise above all that. You have a country to lead. Forgive and forget. Life is too short.
This news item offers a lot to digest in one go.
I look forward to seeing the “drawings” in the hope that they will be more than an “artist’s rendition”.
This spells disaster. not enough room for 100 units, much less for 50 commercial. Inless is nonsense they want to build for people.
great idea… i think it should be 5 floors with an elevator.. we need to get used to the concept of building higher… we dont have room to build wide.
That’s true. Let’s get some building apartments. If we can’t build outwards, we build upwards.
Don’t you mean apartment buildings? Seems even govt.supporters have things back to front.
You understood what I meant right? Jeez..
Guess this does not apply to Charles Savarin’s home then, the state house?
While this is a great idea it should be put on the back burner. International airport, hotels, access (feeder) roads to open agricultural lands, food and fish production, factories (shells ) for light industries should be our priorities. A partnership between the public sector and the private sector for production, export and tourism is a must. (remember Fort Young Hotel Co). Sustainable job creation with labour intensive programmes is a must in order to build the economy now.
Great thinking.
Why does Mrs Daniels ( Minister) use her cash differently. Import chicks, lambs, piglets, etc and give each family say 10 chicks, 2 piglets, 2 sheep. In 6 months the country will be self sufficient in eggs and meat. We have a lot of rubble and wood and old galvanise, these can be converted into penns. let the young people learn to build with worn out tools, and be thrifty. Maybe Mr Skerrit should ask people to straighten Galvanise and place it back on roofs, clinching the nails underneath, to make a stronger tie.
R A Mitchell
Just do it right. Please, please, please see this project to fruition. There is also the problem of preventive maintenance in Dominica. Things are shinny and clean when new, but given a few years they are left to fall apart. This should not be about party.
Sounds wonderful, I pray that God will give me the opportunity to see the beauty of DA with all the great project. Who knows I can come back to my beautiful country.
Keep on dreaming Jacinta. It is Roosevelt Skerrit who is in charge…..unfortunately.
Wow a lot of talk again. Let’s see in a few years time what came out of all the fancy talk… I hazard a guess – absolutely nothing!
Why so negative?
Why so negative? It is Skerrit of course. No peace, harmony or truth with that man around.
And we will get peace and harmony with Linton? Please spare me the nonsense.
Great Idea!
Just be careful they are given to responsible working people/families.
Be very careful that we are not clustering the unemploys and criminals together.
The result = GHETTO! The evidence is all over the place in N. America.
And the last thing you want for Roseau!
Otherwise, it could be a great Housing Model going forward.
I have similar misgivings. Who is going to be housed in the redeveloped pound if it are not those who live there already? The current residents can not be said to be the most affluent in Roseau. Is the government going to relocate them to make room for a different socio-economic class of Dominicans, who have more spending power and who can afford the rents and services? I presume the government will not allow residents to live there for free because if they do they will only create another ghetto next doors to themselves. I hope government makes its intentions clear in this regard, not least in the interest of those souls, who live in pound today.
Great news.. Real development happening! Building better… Meanwhile, Linton and his party can’t even raise 15,000 USD to save his political career, much less help Dominica..
Nonsensical comment. The resources of a government in power with access to foreign loans, grants, plus national tax revenues cannot be compared to the resources of an individual or a political party. Governmental resources are incomparable greater.
@ YoungMusician…… Can you say this quickly a couple of times? ” O-WHA-TIRE-SYE-AM!”
By now you get the drift…..SMH!
Assertive like Mama Eugenia!
The only music you are hearing are Skerrit’s Pan pipes.