The National Planning Emergency Planning Organization (NEPO), has said that there is no reason for Dominicans to stay away from work today as Tropical Storm Chantal approaches the island.
The 5am advisory today from the Dominica Met Office, indicated that the center of tropical storm Chantal was located near latitude 13.3N, longitude 58.4W or about 245 miles south east of Dominica. It said the storm is moving towards the west northwest near 26 mph and is expected to pass about 60 miles to the south of Dominica later today.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Dominica.
However, NEPO’s Donald Corriette, said on state-owned radio DBS Tuesday morning that there is no reason for people in Dominica not to go to work today.
A Technical Committee of the National Emergency Planning Organization met on Monday afternoon to assess plans and arrive at the decisions in advance of Tropical Storm Chantal. The Meeting was attended by officials of Private agencies, NGOs and Government. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit also attended the meeting which was chaired by the Chairman of NEPO, Charles Savarin.
The MET Office made a presentation to the meeting; giving an update on Tropical Storm Chantal. A warning remained in effect for Dominica and the Lesser Antilles. This meant that tropical storm conditions were expected somewhere within the warning area in this case within 24 to 36 hours.
Reports received from the Ministry of Public Works indicated that the Ministry has mobilized its technical and support staff and has deployed equipment in strategic location in anticipation of any eventuality. Meanwhile the utility companies DOWASCO and DOMLEC informed the meeting that they have ready contingency plans and procedures should the situation demand that they respond to any emergency.
The Ministry of Health and the Dominica Red Cross informed the meeting that the Ministry has put all plans in place for dealing with emergencies and as a precautionary measure has cancelled a number of outdoor clinics. The emergency service that is the Police and Fire also made a presentation to the meeting on their state of readiness while the Chief Personnel Officer indicated that surplus fuel and lubricants were being sourced for the adequate servicing of secondary power should that become necessary.
The meeting agreed that the MET office and the ODM would continue to monitor the storm throughout Monday night into Tuesday morning and will advise NEPO on the appropriate warnings to the general public for Tuesday July 9, 2013.
Chantal is expected to produce rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with maximum amounts of 6 inches possible. Storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by dangerous waves; a small craft warning remained in effect.
Residents are being advised to finalize all preparedness activities as they await Tropical Storm Chantal.
the reality is that nepo do not know for certain if the storms issac or Chantal would affect dominica… we need to get more qualified people there.to much politics for giving jobs, put the right people in the right job.
I monitor via the web every storm, and you or me as novicse can know for certain if the storm will affect dominica or certain areas in dominica.
because they came under pressure last year they made a dreadful decision. as for skerrit even though I don’t support him he takes his information from nepo and make a decision..
I almost got seriously injured or could have died in a bus yesterday after some men were cutting some bamboo to clear the road in springfield, a tree fell closely behind the bus. driving in that condition with all those fallen trees were to serious.. people should have stayed at home..
Really XXX…if you had monitored the storm as you said you did, why did you go out? Why didn’t you just stay home?
Maybe you do monitor the storm but you don’t know crap where it will affect or not because if you had you would certainly known that it would have been bad and you would not have been on a bus.
YOu talking kaka. lol
Work during the Tropical Storms, but Day Off for Cricket… Understood!
Remember some people did not get paid from there employers on that day of Issac when the pm said to stay home
boy oh boy. some of us Dominicans are really hard to please. the same happen last year, the river wasn’t dirty enough to bash the pm and nepo. the p.m should make us stay home to take care of our homes, but they still in rum shop, bashing the p.m and still on the road.
with 100 million spend pn west coast road, why do we still have to pass under cliff
The government should order everyone to take there computer home and work from home. no free time and I have to pay you for missing work. Work from home. Internet still working, electricity still running.. you sit watching soap opera and I have to pay you. They like too much free time in Dominica.
They like too much free time in Dominica? Does Mcdonald order you to take the dishes home to wash during a snow storm. Some of you up not true and full of yourselves for nothing. Dominicans that cause you to be a slave somewhere nah you want to pass your rage on people.
For some people it was…….for others it wasn’t.
Well,well, well……when the authorities need to say Stay home, they say Go to work and when they need to say Go to work, they say Stay home ! ! What leadership ! ! ! hahahahahahahahahaha ! …. Very Funny ! !
These people in strategic planning areas of this country are myopic and have no idea of what is “planning” and this only reflects how backward these people are. For God’s sake, how can one be advised to go to work in light of a storm watch for your country? Backward thinking, I am so sorry for my country.
PM and NEPO right not to say No Work because the
last time they were critised. Who want to go work go to work, who doesn’t want to go to work stay at their home
Can’t the workers decide if they really want to go to work or stay home where they feel safe? Is that option even opened to them? Man, this country is messed up with roro!
The PM and NEPO right not to say “NO WORK” because
the last time everybody critised. So who want to go to work, go work. who doesn’t want to go to work, do not go. All u will not say is PM that say.
Stay indoors people, it’s not worth it
Congratulations to Matt Peltier on Qfm for holding down the fort.You continue to amaze me.He was actually asking for volunteers to house people that could not make it Home.
You absolutely Rock in my book! stay safe Guys.
lsatest advisory. stay at work until 4:00 pm
well deary, chantal passing far from dominica so y’all can go to work. hope we do not experience excessive rainfall, flooding, landslides, seaswells so people can go about their daily lives normally…
cheers from me chantal
U Dominicans upset me sometimes. When TS Issac had pass and the PM “shut down” Dominica everybody was fast to call him all kind of names and say it was not called for when the man was only taking precaution.now he hasnt said anything about this storm allu vex. smh In a way I glad he didnt say nothing this time around.
are we trying to excuse a bad decision this year based on what happened LAST year? The way we think in this country!
My only concern is what happens to the people who work in town but live in areas like Fond St Jean, Laplaine, Penville etc. When weather conditions deteriorate, how do they get home? How do you cross Rosalie?
It’s not just about getting to work, it is also about getting back home in that inclement weather.
When the PM shut down the country for TS Isaac, what all you people say? See the comments under the link below.
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/pm-shuts-down-dominica/
So take it now…..I glad Skerrit did not say anything this time around.
Hahahahahaha
That is just the height of ignorance!!! If your house didn’t get hit by a storm last year, does that mean you ignore the warnings for this year, because people said you over prepared when you hunkered down? Some of you are so damn ignorant and political that you can’t even see how misguided you all are, in taking swipes. So many other things Skerrit gets criticised for, such as mismanagement of state assets and funds and he continues to do it with no regard. If that is how he is thinking, then he is a damn coward and clearly has demonstrated his inablity to lead with decisiveness.
If the likes of you are representatives of Skerrit’s mental state and thought process, then surely you all have no place in governance. I can see why some of you can go no further than Roseau and back in your domains, because in a global enviromnent saturated with intelligence and analytical thinkers some of you would simply be overwhelemed misfits.
Tell Skerrit I say, try Governor Christie style for once. As for you reading is fundamental, open up your mind to books, and information, learn how world leaders conduct state affairs amid trying situations. Imagine if Obama would cower in a corner because he is criticized.
You do realize that you’re saying that you’re glad that the government that’s placed here to serve and protect the people of Dominica did not act and in so doing have placed many Dominican’s lives in danger?
I agreed with Skerrit with the decisions made for Isaac. If he was a strong and just leader, he would have stood by his decision then and repeat it now with one of the simplest phrases that has a powerful impact: SAFETY FIRST.
There would have been much support behind that decision if he had stood his ground for what he believed in.
This is a comment made on this site when PM shut down the country for TS Issac
“Way papa more poverty how u expect people to get out of poverty if u don’t want them too work! For a Storm Geez Man!”
You really cannot please everybody. tell them stay home they mad, tell them go to work they mad. SMH
The responsibility of the government is to make the best and an informed decision. But then again square pegs in round holes are forever trying to fit.
Anonymous are you freaking kidding me? So because the government was criticized following the passage of Tropical Storm Isaac it is right for no action to be taken in reference to this impending storm? God forbid ( and I truly hope nothing does) an accident occurs who is too be blamed? In Dominica we accept every and anything and partisan politics seem to blind our eyes from the glaring truth.Truth is our government has poor proactive reasoning. Whether or not you were criticised prior to this job your job is to take all precautions necessary to prevent loss of life. This was a bad call and in future I hope that there isn’t a repetition of what occurred today.
I agree with you 100 percent. They wanted too cut the man neck.
your comment is a disgrace did hear you of tragedy people from south cant get home got stuck in bus stop no place to rest their and nepo and govt did not do anything for them some try and got stuck in the middle of storm because of landslides and stone fall i guess human life is not value in Dominica i advice you the govt taking precaution and safety regardless of the criticism and govt are too sensitive to critics show lack of leadership
How are they going to finalize preparation when they were advice to go to work? give me a break!is like there is no value on human lives
Residents are being advised to finalize all preparedness activities as they await Tropical Storm Chantal,and u asking me to go work ,how am i to perpare when am at work hmmmmmmmm
I knw rite
remember when nepo and government got a lot a blows for advising people to stay home. well take that now
Everything is upside down, inside out on island. When Dominicans should be at work for political mileage they get holidays. When the island is under threat of a TS they are told to come to work. Is either our officials are out of touch with the reality on the ground at this point in time, wicked or plain lacking foresight. Landslides all over the place, winds are picking up, the seas depending on where you are esp in the south already start raging, yet people are asked to show up for work? How will they get back home to their families? Is it really worth the risk? Then you have a set of people living out of Dominica with no idea or caring for what the reality on the ground is calling people lazy, and saying go to work.Barbados is on lock down and the storm is moving away from there, Dominica is under immediate threat and you all are asking people to go to work.
Dominica is not under DIRECT THREAT this is the age of technology so go on weatherchannel.com and see for your self…….
BTW Barbados and St. Lucia are under direct threat!!!!! The Storm is passing at least 60 miles east of Dominica hence the reason why PR and DR is under severe threat!!!
@Joe that’s the problem with some of you jack of all trades master of none! You turn meteorologist? Dominica isn’t under direct threat? So NEPO don’t know what they are speaking about? We on the ground watching the damage and feeling the impact don’t know what we’re seeing? Shut the hell up idiot about weather channel!
all of u all should shut up.when t/s issac came and the p/m advised everyone to stay home you all had a lot of things to say. u critized him. today, no advisory.now take what all u get
and when I’m ready to go home under all the rain all buses park hmmm this should be interesting
We want to build the country so go to work that how we can move forward if you live and work in the USA snow storm or not you drag your back side to work get out lazy the Government can’t do everything
Yea but the snow storm or not, the tall buildings don’t create landslides and heavy rivers dear! there’s a difference. Be sensitized .. SMDH
Rubbish. A snow storm response in New York, chicago or Utah is not the same as one in Atlanta or South Carolina. Alanta would shut down due to flurries. Now you want to compare people traveling on narrow roads with unprotected edges, no landslide protection, falling rocks, fallen electrical poles, roads with failing surfaces and road bases. It is what we have but protection of life is paramount. Traveling on the train from Long Island to Manhattan during a rain storm or hurricane is not like traveling from Roseau to Grandbay under similar circumstances.
(NEPO), has said that there is no reason for Dominicans to stay away from work today “as Tropical Storm Chantal approaches the island.”
go work that all u hear
A bunch of lazy people on that island always looking for a handout and always want a holiday.
ignorant is what u are. Have you even been to Dominica are u even in Dominica? With the floods, rock slides, landslides and all you would rather people go to work for what? Have you no consideration for the people who have to travel in these conditions? Where is your humanity you beast!
go work for what….u people are backward though
I bet mister living close to where he work otherwise he wouldn’t have made a senseless comment like that. You cannot be living Dominica and knowing the road conditions with flooding over bridges, the many cliff and landslide prone areas that people have to travel to work then making some comment like that. Not looking for excuses but I thought the well being of nationals meant more than that.
NEPO saying one thing the weather report on tv saying another thing. remember we have different types of workers there in the country . we have office workers and field workers so wha tare you saying????
Why not tell persons that has to travel long distances to get to work, to stay home. Especially areas prone to landslides and falling rocks. The companies go by your official statement to the various media houses therefore they would expect their staff to be present at work this morning. NEPO this is poor on your part. You need to identify the most vulnerable areas and ask these residents to stay home. Too often we get stuck in Roseau unable to go home. This should not be taken lightly, how am I to prepare if i’m at work? It is unfair.
this is totally irresponsible Nepo and govt to say that there is no reason not go work when there is a tropical storm approaching people are going to be caught in the middle of the storm
Gradi i remember last year when same Nepo advised Government to call off work because a TS was heading straight to us, but later moved away and everybody started criticising the Government because Roosevelt Skerrit announced that everyone stay indoors and call off school etc.
Today there is no school and the storm is not a direct hit like Barbados and St Lucia.
Damn if u do damn if u don’t!!!!
We will only get rain a condition we are use to so why go hm??
The Prime Minister needs to continue to stand his ground, criticism or not, the call is his to make based on advice from the relevant authorities – He should do what is in the best interest of citizens irrespective of what his critics may have to say. I only went to work today based on my location to work, there is no way I would leave my home today if it would take me half an hour driving to get to work.
Impressive planning. We have come along way since August 29, 1979!!
Now I applaud everyone who has worked on developing an emergency management plan to mitigate the risk of a disaster in Dominica. I am also thankful for the timely information provided. The only thing I have a problem with is our memory and learning from past mistakes. Although there were times when we were advised not to go to work nothing happened but this is a different case. The storm is RIGHT THERE! When Ophelia was approaching, we attended work and so many people were trapped heading back home in flood waters. For the safety of all Dominicans, please reconsider this. I am not in Dominica at present but I must have looked at every satellite image of the storm to know that it is not safe. Let the people prepare!!!
Precaution is better than cure. Better workers remain on the safe side than go to work, get stucked in different natural disasters such as landslides, over flow of rivers etc
what i have to go work for
God doesn’t give us more than we can bear. Stay safe my lovely people!!