Roseau, Dominica – September 15, 2009………The Roosevelt Skerrit-led Labour Party Administration has outlined in detail its vision to transform the city of Roseau into the premier Capital City of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
At a Town Hall Meeting of the Cabinet in Roseau on Wednesday evening, Minister for Economic Development and Urban Renewal, Hon. Julius Timothy, outlined the various aspects of Government’s vision to transform Dominica’s capital city, Roseau and make life easier for the city’s residents.
- The Government’s policy of squatter regularisation, selling government land at $1 per square foot has benefited scores of families in Gutter, Yam Piece, Tarish Pit and Fond Cole. These persons are now able to access capital from banks and credit unions armed with certificates of title for their land.
- New National Sports Stadium largely financed by a grant from the Government of the People’s Republic of China at a cost of EC$40 million has added another landmark to the capital city.
- Construction of new Dominica Grammar School, financed by the Chinese Government is well underway with the completion of the first two phases.
- The construction of a two-lane road on the St. Aroment Back Road, part of the EC$22 million Roseau Road Reinstatement project is progressing well.
- The building of housing units and the construction of a new road in Belle Vue Rawl is advanced.
- The construction of the UWI River Wall protection at a cost of $4 million.
- Work is continuing on the Botanic Gardens wall restoration project.
- As part of the West Coast Road project, a new bridge will be constructed from the end of Hanover Street – ending at Eliot Avenue in Pottersville.
- The redevelopment of the Dominica State College, a new State House, the rehabilitation of major streets in Roseau and housing development will be financed through a soft loan of US$40 million from the Chinese Government.
- The rehabilitation of the Princess Margaret Hospital using grant funds from China.
- Architectural drawings and other studies are advanced for the construction of a new Hall of Justice on High Street in Roseau to house the Magistrates’ court, High Court and Registry.
- Government also plans to build a new cruise ship berth and cruise village at the Woodbridge Bay Port.
The Minister also spoke of Government’s intention to extend the Cruise Ship Berth platform in Roseau so as to ease the present traffic congestion which affects the city when a ship is in port.
Moves are also being made to reinstate the French Quarter of Roseau including the construction of sidewalks and the reorganisation of streets and redevelop the ‘ruins’ as a commercial building. Plans are also afoot to convert the DEXIA building for the benefit of artisans and vendors.
The transformation of the Botanic Gardens and the Roseau River Bank are also part of the Government’s plans for a new look capital city.
Minister Timothy pledged that Government would work with the Dominica Football Association (DFA) to make the Goal 2 project a reality. The Government also plans to upgrade a number of sporting facilities in the Roseau area, including the Pottersville Savannah and the Lindo Park.
A new football field and new sporting facilities for basketball, netball, volley ball and lawn tennis will be constructed at the back of the Sports Stadium, on the site the old Dominica Grammar School was situated.
In his address, Hon. Timothy, who is spearheading the whole urban renewal thrust stated that that the Labour Party Government appreciates the importance of the capital city to Dominica’s development and underlined the Government’s commitment to transform Roseau into the premier capital city of the OECS.
“The capital city is the pulse of the nation; it is our gateway to the world, it is a key reception point for international relations and the centre of administration of Dominica. It has taken this Government to make urban renewal a priority. So people of Roseau, I want you all to realise that this Government, we are for real; we care for Roseau. We love our capital city. We will do everything possible to make sure Roseau is the premier city, the number one city in the OECS,” Hon. Julius Timothy concluded.
