Minister of Public Works and Ports, Senator Miriam Blanchard said as the 2016 hurricane season approaches the government of Dominica is extremely concerned about the possibility of yet another weather system visiting the country’s shores.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day Caribbean Regional Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) held at the Fort Young Hotel on Monday, she pointed to Dominica’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
“As we approach the 2016 hurricane season, this government is extremely concerned about the possibility of yet another weather system coming to our shores,” she said. “We are cognisant about the vulnerability of Dominica to such events and we are pressing ahead using all available resources to mitigate the likely effects of the increase risks to some of our communities and infrastructure left behind by Tropical Storm Erika.”
She stated that accurate warning bulletins in a timely manner to the government and citizens is crucial for making informed decisions to protect lives and property.
She noted that significant progress has been made in reconstruction following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika in late August last year.
“I am however pleased to share with you today that since the passage of Tropical Storm Erika we have made significant progress in cleaning up our country and in restoring some measure of normalcy in the daily lives of our citizens and residents, while focusing on rebuilding and doing so better than we did in the past,” Blanchard said. “It is clear to us that it will take a considerable period of time to to return our island to pre-Erika state.”
“Minister of Public Works and Ports, Senator Miriam Blanchard said as the 2016 hurricane season approaches the government of Dominica is extremely concerned about the possibility of yet another weather system visiting the country’s shores.”
I wonder if my equilibrium is out of order, hence it has caused my vision to become warped, and distorted causing me not to understand what I read!
How can Miriam be the government minister of Public Works and Ports, and is also a Senator on the government side? this is a first, and only in Dominica as usual.
This Dominica so called government is not concerned about any hurricane, and the life of the people; their pretended concern is how much money will be donated to the country, and how much they will thief from it! I for one will not donate one dime to go into any so called minister pocket. We remember Erika, we remember, a group of Dominican women gave ten ($10,000.00) thousand dollars to a lady government minister, who has not yet…
who has not yet answered questions as to what has she done with the money, the group of people entrusted into her hands: was it utilized to her personal use?
If that’s the case that is stealing, and is not encouragement for any government, or individual learning of such corrupted, unethical, and inappropriate behavior to wish to donate any money to a country when there is a disaster, know that there are people who steals the donations rather than spending it for the purpose it was donated.
Here is the truth money was donated to repair damage Erika caused, more than half the damage infrastructure remains, nevertheless, millions of dollars are given away in a village to bribe and buy votes in a by-election!
LOL! Nothing done to the roads in Dominica since Erika! Oh except Bailey bridges forgot that! Government concerned? Where and when. This is too funny…………………………………………………………………..
Joke of this week!!
Science can now give us advance warning when a hurricane is coming.
We should stay home until it is over. If possible we ought to board up our windows. It is no time to be out driving for pleasure or business. Have extra water and food on hand. Lights will be out. Be careful with candles and lamps. Better to huddle together in the dark than risk a fire.
I read that 12 seniors perished in Erika. When we KNOW a storm is coming this should never happen! Please keep both your children and elderly family members with you and keep them close.
Seniors without families who are living alone must NOT be neglected. Please open your hearts and homes. Take them in until the storm is past. Or ask if you can come and stay with them during the ordeal.
Either way do not take “no” for an answer!
I have faced the very worst of storms in Canada, the Caribbean, and the Azores. I hope you see nothing that compares this season.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
at this time at the start of the hurricane season GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED smh my goodness! GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE READY to take on the hurricane season. The roads are compromised, bridges damaged, rivers still need to be dredged……. so much more. Lord Help Us. :
Clean up the judiciary.
the Lord hates a dishonest scale.
Not to do so is to turn away God’s protection
forewarned is forearmed
Thank you Dr. Fitzroy Armour
The leaders of any nation have the power to take the nation out from under God’s protection.
We need to be concerned about nations that are wallowing in corrupt politics, and nations where godly laws are not being enforced, and nations where justice is not been rendered in the courts.
We need to be concerned about nations where God is not honored in the schools; where the Bible is no longer read and the Lord’s prayer is not said in the classrooms.
We need to be concerned about nations that legalizes the recreational use of drugs.
We need to be concerned about the many nations world wide that have legalized same sex marriages.
These nations ARE taking themselves out from under God’s protection. When their cup of iniquity is full God WILL pour out His wrath.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Lady,you need a new pair of spectacles.There has been little or no progress to clear the Havoc of ERICA.Take away the efforts of the Trinidad and Jamaica Governments efforts and what has the Government of Dominica accomplished?.?
It would be of interest to have a full statement of the cash donations made to Dominica after ERICA
Girl shut up!!!! Have you taken a look at Dominica since Erika I don’t think so or you would not be speaking like a blind person.you all were given the opportunity to rehabilitate the country an instead all you busy trying to win a by elections and doing God knows what with the money donated and this is what that is coming from an educated mouth like yours. Lord have mercy on your tongue. I really think we have more crazy people out that in
ONE DAY Dominican eyes will be open ….I don’t know how long ,,,play like allu dum.wait till DA HIT ROCK BOTTOM
you doh mus be concerned? since erica only 3-5 little bridges you build and clear landslides. that is ALLL you have done to prepare the country. The berean school still hanging over the roseau river, roads stil collapsing. Be concerned. Bunch of idiots!.
This government has all reason to be concerned.
Everyone knows that the west bridge was not damaged during erica. De Chinese bridge was structurally compromised. EC loblack bridge operated like a 2 way bridge because the Chinese bridge was unpassable.
We lost bridges at boetica, pointe round, macoucherie, batalie……..but none a priority.
Imagine 3 bridges gone on the EO leblanc highway which leads to silver beach proposal, ross university, Portsmouth our 2nd town and cabrits and the proposed kempinski.
Seriously my pm appears to be seriously misguided and out of focus.
We are not out of the woods yet.
We will definitely get another rude awakening. …..my pm to ignorant and dishonest.
You have serious reasons to be concerned.
De west bridge in roseau still standing now we about to construct a 2 way $18 million bridge in its place whereas during erica bridges were washed away in macoucherie, batalie, pointe round and boetica.
Instead of replacing at least one of these damaged bridges de pm says de undamaged west bridge is de greatest emergency.
Roseau has 4 bridges.
Bath road bridge is 2 way
Chinese bridge is 2 way
EC loblack bridge is 2 lane leading into town. That same bridge operated as a 2 way bridge immediately after erica when the Chinese bridge was structurally cpmpromised and was flowing normally on the very west bridge that we are being convinced is an emergency.
We not out of the woods yet.
We have more blows to take.
People in these position do not have any knowledge of the subject matter. Persons are put into position because of who they know not because they have mastered the subject. What a shame for our country.
Floridian Diaspora and Francisco Etienne -Dods Telemaque, I always look forward in reading your comments. Thanks for always making my day and brining out the points with a great sense of humor.
Your government is extremely concerned,Ms Blanchard you should be telling us that your government is prepared for the upcoming hurricane season.What a shame when you have had all this time to plan ahead,knowing the 2016 season was coming up.Pity these incompetent administration.Because of the advent of global warming we have been warned since the turn of the century to expect more severe weather and you come up telling us that you are concerned.Heaven help deliver us from these inept people
Miss Blanchard, I do not know what “significant progress” you are talking about. I have made three ( 3 ) reports to DOWASCO already and despite that the community of Valley in Marigot still does NOT HAVE WATER. What are you talking about?
HOTEP!
Senator Blanchard, you are young in this political arena and i believe that you mean well. However, your statement don’t reflect the actions on the ground. Mitigating the problem is not creating a bypass or rebuilding a bridge/ road. We have to look at the source of the problem. We have an increased percentage of deforestation occurring along-side the river beds. This posses problems in many ways, eg. the roots which were keeping the soil together decays and can no longer do it job hence the soil is easily washed away. 2. The branches and other parts of the tree which are not useful remains in the river or on the bed. This creates water restrictions thus causing runoffs. 3. There are a number of derelict vehicles and other metal base debris placed on the river bed and at times they are placed directly in the river. These also cause runoffs. 4. There are also areas where the river path is decreased because land owners want to gain a few extra free feet of land.
They have to be worried,wash all of them away,too much corruption in the country.
“Government of Dominica is extremely concerned about the possibility of yet another weather system visiting the country’s shores.” The weather system appears to have taken on the characteristic of a tourist..
Words and meetings will not cut it, to say government is concerned is just highly hypocritical, look at the bells road where they just lined up empty drums painted in red & white, not one tractor was put in place to at least divert the water to the far side and to use the river rocks to give some protection to the eroding river bank where the road is being undermined, look at the morn laurent bridge, before the crossing was made accessible the tractor was moved and so is every other area where we suffered river damage, Don’t you think we cam remember how much aid pored in soon after the disaster, where has the money gone; is that the kind of preparedness you mischievous people talking about?
That’s why these river contracts at this time of year was a nincompoop idea.Or maybe a good way to misappropriate funds.Contracts could have waited till after the hurricane season.
“the government of Dominica is extremely concerned about the possibility of yet another weather system visiting the country’s shores.”
Which government she talking about? Didn’t they know we have an annual hurricane season every year? If they are sooooo concerned then what did they do as a sign that they knew the season was approaching and they took this measure in the event we are struck again? From Erika to now the only thing they have changed is the minister for public works, though it was because of an alleged sex scandal.
I personally don’t think they are concerned because it appears to me that they make money after a storm, as we see mocho money being spent in the Soufriere constituency and contracts to their friends, even in Barbados.
But they need to be worried this time as Maduro is in his own mess in Venezuela and would not be able to send houses and Gonzalve said this morning that general elections might be called anytime. Maybe he needs his blogodow bridges.
What about stopping the handout co-mess all you have going on down in Soufriere and save that money? Every cent counts. All I can see happening is another storm passing this hurricane season and pile up on the mess Erika left behind. All you moving too slow with everything. Stop lying and say big progress has been made when in fact nothing has been done, you set of lazy sewage product labor party septic tank nonsense
Madam minister, one would have expected to see lots of heavy duty vehicle n machines drenching the rivers n water ways in Roseau n around Dominica. Apparently, it’s the same old in Dominica…..
You guys are very much clueless about what running a country us about. Instead of trying desperately to win a by election why don’t you guys get it right. Ms Blanchard, who are you? What’s your engineering qualifications like…? You went to uwi or some other university…. Really want to know,, what’s your claim for fame… Besides being a Labour Party supporter….
If extremely concerned, then seriously do something about it. Enough pointless discussions.
i am betting that if dominica is hit by any bad weather, skerrit will not be here, de captain never there….
Significant in clean up yes ..Kudos to Dominicans there..Dominicans strong..
Tough tough Job ahead..hopefully the Gov’t can get serious and be transparent on moneys received from Donation post Erika..Lots of Dominicans still feel that enough hasn’t been done and no report on how the moneys received were spent.
Is now you are concerned? Big money you spent on celebration of building of a west bridge that is not urgent. What did you do to mend the road to Grandbay and beyond to Bagatelle? That is worse now than after Erica. Soon people will be cut off and nowhere along that coast is a safe place to board boats for rescue and all you can do is play politics? Cochonie, that’s all you can do.
Significant progress was made after Erika, she says. These people can lie. Lady, tell me where that progress is? I have not seen it but perhaps you can see better than me through your red tinted glasses. All these people can do is talk and selling us and everybody around them a good dose of BS.