The devastating effects of Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 led to the displacement of most residents of Petite Savanne and the destruction of the road which linked the community to Delices. Following the disaster, the Government of Dominica gave the assurance that Petite Savanne residents would be relocated and the access route to Delices, and other Southeast communities would be re-established.
In the first phase, the resettlement of the Petite Savanne community in Bellevue Chopin was prioritized with the construction of 353 housing units funded under the Citizenship by Investment Programme, completed in 2019.
However, the Government of Dominica elected to delay the reconnection of Petite Savanne and Delices based on the advice of engineers that it was prudent to allow sufficient time for the affected areas to naturally stabilize and be monitored. Notwithstanding this delay, the Government stays true to its commitment to the people of the Petite Savanne and La Plaine constituencies, being fully aware of the inconveniences in transportation and access caused by the damaged road.
To reinforce Government’s commitment, Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, the respective parliamentary representatives, interest groups, and residents from both constituencies conducted a site visit on January 21, 2023, holding discussions with stakeholders to chart a way forward.
To date, several initiatives have been undertaken with the goal of reconnecting the communities, including road clearing costing $2.6 million and construction of the Bagatelle Bridge at a cost of $2.5 million.
The Parliamentary Representatives have recently expedited efforts to restore access, having conducted a site visit on March 19, 2024, accompanied by engineers and residents of both communities. A follow-up visit is scheduled for April 4, 2024, to finalize logistical and other matters. Thereafter, constituents will see mobilization for the reconstruction of the crossing to create vehicular access to and from Delices through Petite Savanne.
We thank the people of Petite Savanne and Delices for their patience and seek their cooperation in our ongoing efforts to address this matter.
Listen to the statement here:
After 9 years the government is late and the damage is continuing. Did you know children have to wake-up 4am and some return after 5pm and cannot take part in school extra curriculum activities. The children , our future, are being damaged.
Did you know over this period farmers have significant increase costs for materials and transportation due to lack of a bridge. Did you know that small businesses such as: car rentals ,b&bs, the backbone of the economy, have been destroyed with no tourists income in the SouthEast for 9 years.
The minister’s arguments for the delay do not ring true e.g time to settle. The long and arduous alternative route ,mourne delices, completely failed less than 1 year ago cutting off the SE and has continuous slides. it is a disaster waiting to happen. The delice petti savanne road has been cleared of overgrowth 3 times in 9 years and no slides.
Please start the bridge next month
Honorable
what happen to the link road between Roaslie and petitre soufriere , some years ago we took a walk starting from rosalie side to petitre soufriere and as far as i remembered 90% of road was already cut but the only obstruction we saw was some rock preventing work from progressing
is this project a dead caused or is there plans to ask some foreign engineers to assist with clearing the obstruction.
no offence intended PM ,but somebody has to tell you as it is.calmdown and don’t get angry.come on calm down. If that was ville case village that bridge would have been done long time .just talk the truth and tell them what date that bridge will be in place. Many thanks to the two Parl Reps involved.
no offence intended PM ,but somebody has to tell you as it is.calmdown and don’t get angry.come on calm down. If that was ville case village that bridge would have been done long time .just talk the truth and tell them what date that bridge will be in place. Many thanks to the two Parl Reps involved.
Just the idea is you talking and not the PM? Reassures me that 4th April 2024 is THE LAST you will hear from this man and this project. You just want to appear relevant. Padna all your doing is making-up the necessary number to ensure a majority win at elections. Like a pawn in a chess game nuh..! Apart from that you have NO SAY or ANY PURPOSE. Sorry, the ONLY purpose you have right now is to keep coming back to this article and dislike comments you don’t like lol
Stuppessss.
Man go find work to do.
26 lazy and greedy ministers being paid for garbling about things they have no say in, or can’t even improve.
Only Skerrit rule the roost.
Is that project earmarked for the Chinese?
Gardakhan?
Local manpower has done miracles that this government find impossible to match
blablabla bla blablabla.. bla bla
We appreciate you addressing this very important issue. Interestingly, there were nice (9) areas that were declared as Disaster Zones in (Ts Erika) 2015 and all areas has been made accessible to the public except for Delices-Petite Savanne Road. Ironically Morne Aux Delices, our only way OUT which is constantly sliding and left communties from Grand Fond to Delices Landlocked in November 2022, without no access to medical, electric, education, access to the city, etc has NOT been declared as a disaster zone.
While this a start from the government, lets don’t forget the importance and urgency for the reconnection. The rains are coming, and we need another way out! Our lives are at risk. Our SouthEast economy is dying! We have been waiting patiently for (9) nine years. When are you planning to install the vital bridge?
May I take this opportunity to invite you and your team to our Peace, Unity and Love(PUL) gathering on April 7th at 3PM in Delices for a commUnity discussion…
u and your kabals are just backwards thinkers….so long….u all lies just too much…skerrit have all you like kindergarten kids….foolishness
You remember the passage in Luke 21:38 that says,: So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
In the political realm when you start to hear our lazy parlreps start to talk about projects about to start by end of year everywhere in Dominica know election is coming by year end too.
After 20 years of lies, corruption, laziness, giving our jobs to foreigners including loans we have to pay back; when we hear of six schools to be built, international airport coming, roseau uplifting projects, though all we seeing is only movement of earth that raising dust, allergies, flu etc but not a block is raised anywhere, just know it’s election Gimmick and another Steal election plot is on the way before the year 2024 ends,while pm Skerrit is busy dragging election reform but with his mouth he is busy and ready for election reform. Boy how much more of this foolishness can we the people take?
This is how people speak when they are dishing out BS.
Notwithstanding what was said in that release, all the people want to know is, when will a bridge be constructed to bring normalcy to the lives of area residents.
I for one don’t believe a word coming from Skerrit. Never mind they said this was coming from the parl reps. No one besides Skerrit is allowed to make decisions in that cabinet. So you can attribute everything that was said to Skerrit.
He cannot convince me that a Bailey Bridge could not have been installed to alleviate the inconvenience caused by the washed out bridge. They were waiting for land to settle after 9 years? Try that on your supporters, not intelligent people.
Skerrit is the master of lies and BS.
@Zandoli
Very well said! These inordinate delays and failure to alleviate the ‘ordinary’ man’s inconveniences and suffering, clearly show the callous disregard for the well-being and safety of born and bred Dominicans.
In fact, there would be a new network of roads throughout the country to boost commerce and create thriving, economic activity.
Of course, this should be done in consultation with the residents in the affected areas. Ground up government is always more preferable than top down rulership. The present ruling party parl reps hardly visit their constituents. No proper representation should lead to no monetary compensation for these couch potatoes who are suffering from cognitive impairment.
DNO I can’t tell you guys what to do but I suggest, the people of Dominica are fed up with the Skerrit no news , fake news, make Skerrit look good news that you have been pushing as if to suggest that DNO is owned by Alibaba . So in the interest of your readers give us some real news like this one https://caribbeancricket.com/news/2024/04/04/11073, so that right thinking Dominicans can ask themselves how can little St Lucia through cpl cricket grow their 2023 economy by US $39 million dollars while in Dominica we have government ministers telling us the country has no money and everyone seems to be broke and to the point that what we have in place as government had to reject hosting World Cup cricket that’s even bigger than cpl cricket
Are you all pigs
are you looking for real attention that will matter?
De disrespect of you all to refuse to mention and highlight de continued efforts or residents themselves to clear their own road without government assistance.
Casani is a trained civil engineer
and he gave his word that de government was going to assist de villagers…………do you remember how long ago that was?
who is de CTO
where de minister of works
by now de government should have had a clear inventory of de information necessary for continuation of works………this is just a media event.
these words sound empty
Who voted for you Mr Defoe? NOBODY! Are you a parl rep by default? Yes that’s who you are!!
You are an absolute non entity in this road business. Skerrit is minister of everything. So stop puffing out hot air with your bla, bla, bla, bla, bla,….. Everything is done and controlled by your false God Skerrit, and it’s clear to all that Skerrit’s tardiness in the completion of the road, is solely because (WORKERS), UWP built it, so the showman cannot get praises for that.