The final draft for a National Land Use Policy (NLUP) is ready to be presented to Cabinet for approval.
Associate and Senior Planner at Dillon Consulting Ltd in Canada, Rory Baksh, made the disclosure at a consultation for the (NLUP) at the Garraway Hotel on Monday.
“We are as of this morning, trying to make arrangements to present the NLUP to cabinet tomorrow, Tuesday May 20th,” he said. “However if we are able to find the opportunity to present it to cabinet, we will be requesting cabinet’s approval and if we are not able to get on the agenda, we will be approaching cabinet sometime in June with a request for them to approve the NLUP.”
In December of 2013, the Government of Dominica retained the firm Dillon Consulting Ltd to assist with the preparation of a national land use policy and subsequently, a physical development plan for the country.
Between January and May, stakeholders and members of the Physical Planning Division of the Ministry of The Environment, Fisheries and Physical Planning worked closely with the company to develop the first half of the NLUP.
Baksh said that he was pleased to announce that “subsequent to a round of stakeholder consultation in April, which built upon an initial stakeholder consultation in January, we are now at the point of the project of having a final draft of the (NLUP).”
He added that the NLUP is a significant milestone for Dominica and entailed good collaboration which reflects the values and perspectives of Dominicans.
“I think that if you go anywhere in the country and you sat down with someone over a cup of coffee in the morning, or a cold drink in the afternoon, and you talk to them about what is being proposed here, that we want a better future for our country, that we want our environment to continue to be protected in the ways that makes Dominica the nature isle and leverage our resources in a way that provides prosperity. These are the things that anyone anywhere in the country of any age and any background can agree to.”
Baksh that the NLUP is important as it collects the values of Dominicans and puts them in words that all use to guide a sustainable future for all.
The Canadian consultant said the land use policy speaks to issues such as development, infrastructure, making connections to communities among other topics which also include enhanced forests, natural environment and agricultural vitality.
How is it that these political administrators always seem to be allocating Monies for their buddies and Private industry officials to do Government work but cannot seem to allocate any Monies to rebuild Dominica’s Department of Public Works, which has been a in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect since so long,,,
Where is the Housing Policy the Government paid over $500,000.00 for in 2008.
Where is the National Export Policy?
Where is Export Dominica?
Another policy for the dust on the shelves.
They employ people to do study and dey sending people to canefield east
Great move.
Will the public have an opportunity to view these plans?
good Initiative. Would like to know how they have taken into consideration views of the general public as well as important other stakeholders such DAIC, Invest Dominica, industry professional organizations such as DAPE, etc etc
We have to move beyond politics when it comes to strategic planning and long term use of resources. Too often political parties let these plans sit on a shelf because it does not help them score enough political points