The Ministry of Public Works wishes to inform the general public that the Anse De Mai Bridge has been partially compromised.
The ministry is currently carrying out an assessment of the situation to ascertain the works required in the interim.
The general public is advised of the closure of the bridge for all vehicles weighing more than five tonnes.
Vehicles weighing more than five tonnes should seek alternative routes.
The ministry apologizes for any inconvenience caused and reassures the public that it is working feverishly to restore full access through the bridge.
Keep getting angry about the weather and throwing words at people you do not know and casting innuendos.
Gracey, you lack the blessing and grace of God. Continue heaping burning coals on your head.
You, too, use different names. I have no time to scrutinize what names others use. You are an evil person. I do not know you and have no wish to know you.
If you were a nice person you would have respect for your fellow people. You would learn to communicate amicably but you do not possess those godly graces. Keep being mean and miserable which is the work of the devil and his influence on you.
Whoever it is you throw words at on this Website, find the real person who has harmed you. It may be with your bad manners, you deserved what you got and so you continue to be bitter, and accusing others of all your wrongdoing.
God is taking note. Your day is coming and soon enough.
Did hou have respect for others when you guys mistreated anf abused my Cousin in Canada?, did you?, Facts, justice, Truth Original, you are the one with bitterness towards those who are against corruption, deceit, discrimination, none Catholic etc, you are the one on DNO with all your criticism, playing Godly, saying who will go to Heaven and who will go to Hell, who will burn, you are the one wishing bad to those who are not condoning corruption etc.you need to check yourself madame ask your Maker forgiveness for what you Guys did to my cousin after staying with you guys for all them years in Canada before moving to Florida, Truth go figure it out, Stop playing Holy,the world is big, thanks to modern technology, the bad you wishing on others and myself I am returning it to you at your doorstep WG ok
It seems T.S Erika compromise all dem bridges on the island.
Dominica was a productive place
Many years gone by now
Dominique is a begging place
Please don’t ask my why.
To quote a young country man
Who boast about winning election
He is a disciple sent on a mission
But all them bridges falling down
Falling down falling down
All them bridges falling down
They spend 18 million on one
That really had nothing wrong
No repairs on the ones already gone
All them bridges falling down
Falling down falling down
All them bridges falling down
CBI money to save face
Pie in sky promise all over the place
Flushing and pit latrines beating race
But all them bridges falling down
Falling down falling down
All them bridges falling down ?????
If “HE” could keep spending millions upon millions; Go figure out how many millions “HE” have hiding for when “HE” lose de nex election. Yah man! De boy gat millions stash away.
Dominica now has bigger and heavier vehicles on the roads; But the gov-we-ment still have the horse and carriage mentality. Building hotels from east to west with no way of getting to them.
When people have no pride and ambition anything is accepted. It is shocking to me to look at that bit of concrete slab and recognized it as a ” Bridge.”
Even if it is not used for vehicular traffic, it should be secured with Guardrails, to prevent pedestrians from falling over the edge by accident, the same apply’s to vehicular traffic!
That piece of crap should be demolished and a real bridge should be immediately erected.
Are u expecting that its the duty of the P.M to inspect the bridge to decide when its due for repairs?, That’s not his portfolio, this should have been reported to him long ago for ramification. I know as a young man u have traverse that route from Wesley to Portsmouth, be it on foot and then vehicles when it became available . During these years, very little was done to that bridge.That bridge should have been repaired many years ago The CTO of the Ministry of works should make it his duty to inspect all these bridges, Hodges, WoodfordHill, Eden and the list goes on, which were built some moons ago, then to report of their findings to the authorities
“Are u expecting that its the duty of the P.M to inspect the bridge to decide when its due for repairs?, That’s not his portfolio,”(BEB).
King BEB, I am disappointed to read something that ignorant from you. If I did not know you, and know you are an intelligent person, I would have called an idiot!
Even I who bash Skerrit black behind everyday would not expect him to go out and inspect bridges, nevertheless, that should be the responsibility of the Public Works Department.The name of that department is changed, but there should be constant monitoring of the nation infrastructure.
Incompetence has failed our people once again. Can you imagine how many life’s can be lost in one day, if that thing gives way under a truck loaded with people or simply people walking on it! If that happens boy I would haunt Skerrit even to the day he die, and even into his grave!
Dear BEB. Just in case you do not know, the Prime Minister of any country is in fact the Minister of every ministry in his country, the buck stops with him, no matter where it starts. So although it is not his duty to inspect every bridge, the final disposition in any matter, in any ministry, is his. He therefore is entitled to any achievement or accomplishment of any governmental agency. He is also to be held responsible for any shortcomings of any governmental agency.
Be careful with your criticism. You must understand that this is a state of the art bridge by Dominica’s standard.
””apply’s” Francisco???????
Poverty of mindset, things defying logic….. Absolutely nothing is wrong with the new bridge in our city. The problem is how can Dominicans n the government put on such a big show as if the job is over, when in truth and in fact, there are loads of bridges n roads to be built? Case in point is the anse de mai bridge n the amount of Bailey bridges around Dominica. The government must not celebrate to early, when the truth is, the work has just begun. The opening of the bridge should be a simple ceremony n blessing n command Domincans to get back to work. The government must not give the people false hope. Another point of note is the nonsensical n inappropriate red colors for an opening of a national project. The bridge is not labor Bridge not Skerritt Bridge, it is the property of the commonwealth of Dominica. This whole classless n inappropriate behaviour can only be tolerated in Dominca. Is election season around the corner….? Skerritt is campaigning…
So if I want to go from Bense to Veille Case with a dumper load I must go all the way round?
Don’t complain, this is next level development. The government is saving money by doing away with preventative maintenance. This is the new logic, get use to it.
Yep. That’s the Dear Leader for you.
This is a good time for the village council to pay some attention to the trees hanging over the bridge thereby compromising the safety of everyone and creating so much darkness in the area.
Now is the time to talk to the relevant authorities whom I think will understand and see the logic.
Will anyone at the Village Council read this? You could contact the Village Council about that and inform the authority accordingly.
It has nothing to do with the village council; it has everything to do with Roosevelt Skerrit!
Partially compromised? Does that mean partially collapsed.From what I have seen at this bridge the structure has failed. But in our own world until the bridge collapses and people get hurt or killed then that is when it becomes a necessity. This bridge had not been touched by Sinatra who rebuilt the Portsmouth to Hatton Garden road so this bridge is very old.
If this government was serious about a productive economy such bridges and roads would have been priority. We are talking about the main link to the airport and primary agricultural belt. The replacement and upgrade of this bridge would cost about $3 milliin and done in 5 months.
You want de job Lang mama?
I’m laborer, not a laborite. Will help mix de motar.
Five months? More like a year. When is the last time that a local contractor finished a project on time?
Was it the Chinese that built that bridge? a little twelve foot bridge is being compromised let alone the same engineers had to build a bridge across the Roseau river lives would be lost
Yet another tremendous opportunity to construct a two-lane bridge with pedestrian sidewalks, illumination and road signs, to keep up with the times. “Get her done.”
Lol! Expect another bailey bridge. That’s keeping up with the times, that’s the labor way
Some people have good ideas and suggestions. You made a wise comment. Why not address it directly to the authorities? Some people have good ideas and suggestions.
We going to put the illumination at pont casse!!!!!
This sounds like a bad dream eh..$18M just spent on one(1) bridge and so many other bridges needing work..Some ppl say it’s incompetence and bad planning..but this may well be part of the one man Gov’t deliberate master plan to exalt himself among his followers and attempt to trace a legacy of false accomplishments.
No one pays attention to our aging infrastructure until such is the case. Skerat must GO!
Will the ministry please identify the alternative route motorists should use?
Please read, if your vehicle ways less than five tons (most private cars), the bridge may be used.
Yes! park your vehicles and cross over pan foot.
Canoeing from Anse De Mai to Calibishie
I noticed heavy Gaddarkhan dumper trucks and a low loader participating int he groundworks for the new bridge in Roseau. What struck me was that these vehicles were bearing French matriculation plates and driven by by persons not speaking English, or at least claiming not to speak or understand English. Is this foreign operator paying road tax for these vehicles and are they fully insured bearing in mind that locally registered vehicles must pass a technical ppolice inspection and produce valid insurance certificates before they are allowed on our roads. I cant’t help wondering if a truck with Dominican plates would be allowed to operate on public roads in Guadeloupe?
I know what you meant, but please do not say that vehicles in Dominica must pass a “Technical Police Inspection.” The only way to properly inspect a vehicle and certify it as road worthy, is to take that vehicle to a local mechanic who will remove all four tires, inspect rotors, brakes and measure tire tread, before certifying that vehicle. This is not done in Dominica. This system needs to change ASAP.
Antony, your observation is well made. I have always pondered where trucks (and trailers) are inspected to validate them for road access. There is no facility for that at the cursory inspection plot at the I.R. building. On the other hand, I have seen big commercial vehicles using our roads with a multitude of obvious defects and shortcomings such as threadbare tyres, no- or foreign countries’ licence plates, no – or inadequate lighting (particularly on trailers, that have no workable brake- or indication lights). Even fork lift trucks, without licence plates using the highway under the Canefield cliffs. Do the operators of such vehicles enjoy immunity under the rules and laws of Dominica? These are not facetious but serious questions.
I would add that such an inspection should be done by qualified automobile engineer, of which we have precious few in Dominica.
In addition to checking brakes and tyre depth (including hydraulic brake lines, rotors and pads) the steering linkage also needs to be checked. The over-width tyres that are often fitted to vehicles (especially buses) put a greater strain and hence wear, on the steering linkages.
Corrosion of key structural members is another area for concern.
I have found that some used vehicles imported from the Far East have been fitted with non-original wheels with a central bore that does not correctly mate with the axle hub. Thus, a considerable shear force is transmitted to the wheel bolts.
Years ago I recommended that the Public Works Garage be staffed and equipped for vehicle testing.
Roger you are right on point. I have been echoing the same sentiments about heavy duty trucks and tractors on the island. Back in the days, the mechanics at the Public Works Garage received constant training. Some of that training occurred at manufacturing plants such as Mack, Leyland and Ford. You forgot to add computerized systems and modules. Do we have qualified technical personnel to work on these heavy duty trucks? No we don’t. This is a higher level of thinking that we are discussing. The average Dominican is only concerned with a few sheets of plywood, some cheap cane rum and a Red T-Shirt. You do that and you tell them anything and they will believe you whole heartedly.
Yeah, keep spending the millions.
Vehicles weighing more than five tonnes should seek alternative routes
what is the ministry putting in place for these vehicles are the truck drivers to find their own route? All the millions from CBI money that has been going around in the town hall meetings. cant Anse de mai get some for the bridge.
I have no problem if the CBI money is used to genuinely used for development, but I have a problem when the money is given on a whim in town hall meetings to score cheap vote.
To my Prime Minister and Minister of Finance you are transparent in your dealings and infrastructure is put in place to develop and elevate the people that have been reduced to a begging; then you do not have to go to town hall meetings to score or buy votes
Please correct me if I am wrong, but in this instance I question using the word “partially” in conjunction with the word “compromised”.
Regardless of the extent of damage and the resulting weight restriction, the structure of bridge is nevertheless “compromised”. As Americans would say, “Period”!
As a fellow defender of correct English usage, what are your thoughts Titiwi?
Roger, in the immortal words of Sherlock Holmes:” Elementary dear Watson”. Saying the bridge is partially compromised is akin to saying that someone is partially pregnant when she is five months into carrying a life embryo!
Partially in Dominica means: It’s time for a new one, but I will not say so outright. Instead, I’m giving you a hint that your heavy duty vehicle might keel over and fall in a ditch. You can drive on the said bridge, but if you crash, that’s on you.
“Vehicles weighing more than five tonnes should seek alternative routes” ha ha! Know your geography:
If you are an over 5 ton vehicle you would have to go back to Portsmouth and up the west coast to Canefield and up Imperial Road to Pont Cassee then down Liverpool Highway and along the north coast to get to the other side of the bridge. Then if you are coming frrom Calibishie you have to do the whole thing in reverse!
Publish your news, but we who are on the road know that at least 10 tons of material travelling on that road all the time to get to the airport reconstruction. They using the bridge anyway!
Thanks, valley York bridge in layou is still under construction, I wonder why. Did not this bridge start before the one in Roseau? And the road from layou to pond case so bad not even donkeys…..
Vehicles weighing more than 5 tonnes must find an alternative route ,
yes wee, check your sat nav, it should show you where to go tan .
Anse De Mai bridge needs to be rebuilt with wider lanes for two-way traffic in order for it to cope with modern day traffic. NO REPAIRS.
I am not going to be self righteous and deny the fact that things sometimes go wrong even when one has done his or her best. However, this is not the case here. Our infrastructure here on this island has been neglected for far too long. There is a lifespan on these things and constant evaluation is necessary to guide the decision making process where they are concerned. I am happy that the government has recently talked about some of this but, we need action and in most cases, urgent action.
Hurricane season coming, I’m not saying the bridge in roseau wasnt good but it could have waited, with the money we could have at LEAST fix the bridge in macouhrieie (however it spelling) and two other bailey bridges but no. Funny thing is people will drive down from portsmouth and pass on those “excuses” for a bridge to celebrated the new one in town that was needed but not a priority. Did i mention hurricane season coming?
I hereby submit a name for the new Roseau bridge.
“THE IT DID NOT COST $18 MILLION BRIDGE”
I challenge the UWP to rebuild that Anse De Mai bridge. Your job is not only to oppose. Actually your job is NOT to oppose. Get to work and let the people of Dominica see that you are contributing to the development of your country if you guys are 99% patriot. Then you will get a chance to get into power. Workers, get to WORK. Good luck. So you see why there is no competition for Skerrit? Because the UWP party is running around playing politics and yapping on radio, with their leader always in court.
My gosh, you mean it has stupid people like this living in this day and age?
How can the UWP build the bridge when they have no access to state funds like Skerrit does?
If Skerrit was in opposition, we would not expect him to build any infrastructure since he also would not have access to funds on the magnitude to build a bridge.
Stop being an idiot man, geez…and I am not sure you are in Washington DC since people who live in such places are not as small minded as you. My gosh, I am deep shock.
lol… seems like you don’t know what “Patriot” means. If they are so patriot, let UWP put their money where there mouth is . You don’t need state funds to contribute to the development of your country if you are a real PATRIOT. The deep shock is your very existence…. lol
@Dorival John and the workers crew in here……You seem to forget ROSSIE DOUGLAS who made endless contribution and work hard to go out there before he was in power to help with the development of DOMINICA. Wake up and start being real patriots you workers people.
They have a lot of mouth. They should put their money where their mouth is and show Dominicans what they can do. It may be in their favor for the future.
Look Washington DC offer there for their. Talk about ignorance. The opposition build a bridge?. I feel sorry for these ignorant Laborites but I can’t help laugh.
Does this fool remember the Goodwill Park development and the Danny Luray.
Ithe is frightening when a fool does not know he or she is a fool
I know that the UWP team wants to get their hands into the public purse in order to pay all their court matters, they are not and will never be interested in Dominica and Dominicans
Dear Washington D.C,
If U are 100% patriot then give the UWP the CBI Passport to sell so the rest of the Bridges can be built with D/c Engineers and 100% Dominican workers
Things are not good in UR. country that’s why U are in the foreign, unambitious why do u want D/ca to remain under develop?
Yeah it coming in the mail.. wait for it.. you stupid fool. All workers people want is to put our hand in the public purse. But the people of Dominica is much smarter than that. You could see directly its in the public purse UWP want to just throw themselves in. Learn to plant a seed so you can reap a harvest.. get to work workers….lol
who is this moron?
Dominicans I have been inspecting bridges in the US for many years. I said that to say, when you see signs of failure showing on the surface of the deck the underside of the deck and possibly the superstructure (main support) is always worst than it looks on the surface-be careful. In the US bridges must undergo a routine inspection annually or biannually depending on classification. I know this is not done in Dominica. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.
And bridges still give way and collapse in the US too and elsewhere Sinkholes happen all the time also. People these things will happen from time to time, it is called wear and tear. I pray no one ever gets hurt and the Government can fix the bridges around the country and we follow the advice to use with caution.
We just have to remember and be mindful that every thing cannot be fixed at the same time unfortunately.
Give the man a chance. He is not the one who broke it.
but he is the one who broke down the West Bridge that did not require breaking down. So he have to fix this one and he can do that easily by using the profits from the 18 million dollars of the Roseau bridge.
You’ll be surprised to see how soon it will get fixed.
Will it be fixed before this Sunday the red rally day in Possie?
From a SEWO bridge that was not important to a partially compromised bridge on a major road within TWO DAYS? Gason God trying to teach us but we too damn blind to see and comprehend.
We suffering from Red Eye –
It was only Monday Skerrit was celebrating a new $18 million dollar bridge in Roseau and two days later a main bridge that connects the people all the way from Portsmouth to Penville to the airport, is compromised to the point it had to be closed. So people from Penville all the way to Portsmouth that want to go to the airport MUST drive to Layou if they want to go to the airport. You see how God exposes wrong? Come next week we will be hosting the 3rd test between Pakistan and the West Indies. In previous years when we had a test team playing in Dominica, we had to drive them through Portsmouth, which means on that same compromised bridge. So this year it’s a NO NO. Lord I hope it’s not raining so the Bells road will not be closed and the Pakistanis will not be forced to play the match at the airport.
Destroyed one in Roseau which was in good condition, and ignored those needing urgent reconstruction, adding insult to injuries, asking name to rename his $18 million dollars bridge, what a disgrace, shame on skerrit, the minister of public works and his entire cabinut, and the never see come see crazy red ants dressed in red fools
The bridge was in “good condition” when pictures of broken pavement (holes) in the walkway were being displayed on the internet.
I guess the bridge in Roseau would have become important or in urgent need of repair after it would have collapsed with about 10 vehicles and possibly killing or seriously injuring persons. Then if the bridges in the countryside were given priority it would then be said that the government should have focused on the Roseau bridge which has ten times more traffic than the one in Anse-de-Mai and should have been given priority. Emphasis would then be placed on the significant amount of damaged that the Roseau bridge sustained after Erica, with the retaining wall collapsing and almost wiping out a section of Pottersville. Or maybe we should have waited for the upcoming hurricane season to decide how critical the repair is after the old bridge is literally carried away down to the Chinese Friendship bridge and thus damaging two bridges. SMDH…there is no pleasing black people.
SMDH don’t be an idiot first of all the same engineers didn’t deem the West Bridge compromised whether partially or completely; secondly if it was so determined there would be four other bridges leading into and out of Roseau so restricting the use of the West bridge would not have been an issue. Our people must start thinking for themselves and stop allowing themselves to pass like nincompooks.
And some people wanted me to praise this inept DLP regime for construction of a bridge in Roseau that was obviously not a priority at this time? I do not give praises to evil men…Let me just reiterate my position on the construction of a bridge……….This is a basic piece of infrastructure that I expect any government anywhere on planet earth to have done…
Hope that our CBI money is again used to alleviate the plight of those who use this bridge at Asne De Mai.
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO!!!
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!!
SMH, such moronic response clearly highlighting pig ignorance!
Cannot please people boy…jah
Heavy rainfall and flooding would do it.
Rain, rain everywhere. We get our share’s worth of it. The saying, “When it rains it pours.”
Nearly every day it is raining in Toronto and elsewhere. Today was a relatively nice day. This winter, we got more rain than snow. Tomorrow, the weather forecast is rain. With that could be high winds.
When this occurs, those who are walking and have umbrellas, the wind turns them over and most times, that is the end of them. They are left out in the rain with no umbrellas. This could be annoying and embarrassing.
Mother Nature does not ask us if we want rain, how much and for how long. She simply rains on us wherever we may be, irrespective of our plans be it also a weekend picnic/ BBQ. She just does her thing, whether we like it or not. Too bad for us, eh.
In Canada, we say, “the farmers need the rain to grow the crops” but not too much of it as, “Too much of one thing is good for nothing.”
My boy you need help………….where is that coming in there. Please stay in Toronto
She need he, p, though in Canada some of them still singing for skerrit crumbs, not surprising, family member resided in Canada for over 40 plus years, where people do not dress in red and lineup for handouts, even those on welfare, are being employed through agencies etc.and whatever money they are receiving from their employer if I don’t add up to what they were receiving from Social Services they get the difference. This Justice, Facts, Truth, Original woman from Pointe Mitchell using all her aliases do have to sing for her supper, because her family after residing in Canada for all them years in the Chairman o……………….. supporting corruption, victimizing, dictatorship etc, I attended the townhall meeting in Pointe Mitchell, and listening to this guy talking I got sick to my stomach, more they have, more they want
Stay in your little corner with your small narrow mind. Some of you do not comprehend real English and try to learn something which is not in your country. In addition, to know that every country has such problems.
In the big countries, people do not have time to sit and consistently blame the government which will not help the situation. They have better things to do.
You criticize the government because a bridge/road is inoperable due to the weather.
You know very well the amount of rain which falls in D/ca. For once, try blaming it on the weather pattern, weather, rain and flooding.
As the words of a T & T calypsonian: “Look on the bright side for it’s the bright where we going.”
Be positive. There is nothing we can do about the weather. Yes! The weather forecast in Toronto is “Buckets of rain” also from today until Monday. There will be flooding in some areas as also residents’ basement. We will not blame the government if a bridge caves in.
On food stamp he be in Toronto
I guess he was reading some other article and wanted to comment but the comment he made does not pertain to this article
U R AN IDIOTTTTTTT
Same to you.
Getting angry because of the weather and what it has done?
I do not make myself miserable because of the weather or get angry with the government.
Learn to live in love peace and harmony. You are sadly lacking these godly virtues. Try not placing curses upon yourself also because of your disrespect.
You are such a jackass!
Padna, you forgot to take your meds this morning?
Either drugs, alcohol or just wako.
One just open , now another is close! As long as i know this bridge nothing has been done to it , not even when sentra was resurfacing the road.