Dominica: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has signed a contract for the construction of Colihaut River Defense Wall. He expressed that the federation is glad to seal the contract and anticipates that it will be completed in 90-Days.
Reportedly, Minister of Public Works Fidel Grant has announced that the construction of the Sea Defense Wall of $897,669.30 in Colihaut. The Minister made the disclosure during the signing ceremony of the contract for the project held at Colihaut on Friday. The project contract was awarded to a local contractor – Monison Roudette.
Considering this, PM Skerrit said that it is anticipated that once the weather holds up and all else is in order, the work will be completed within 90-Days. He also said that the river defense wall is more than brick and mortar.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit stated further that it is an investment for building resilience, protecting lives and protecting property along with people’s livelihoods. He said that in this Labour Party Administration they understand what it takes to be in this.
Skerrit continued and said that the people of Colihaut understand that the restoration of the defense wall will make them feel safe when it rains and the fear of their land and their home being washed away is no more exists now. He added that the residents will feel safe, secure and more confident when they will drive and sleep in their homes.
Dominica’s Prime Minister explained further that the work entails the preparation of the construction subsite including the river works, demolition of existing 70-meter long by 4.5 meter high wall and the construction of a new 70-meter long and 4.5-meter high reinforced concrete structure that will replace the damaged wall.
Minister Fidel Grant noted that the intervention will secure the embarkment and protect the village from future floods and risks related to it.
To this, Skerrit expressed that he knows they have completed many sections of the wall over the last years post-Hurricane Maria and they have recognized that in the last system, they compromised in the vicinity of Zetman Shop and decided to come here quickly to have this section done.
Skerrit mentioned that the government plans to work on the next phase of the area in Colihaut, in the vicinity of Zetman Shop which is complete now.
He added to his statement that they have decided to prioritize the sections which takes from the top of the community and comes down.
Prime Minister said that the government has been building the defense walls from most of the coastline mainly from Portsmouth to Capuchin. He added that as the sea is coming more and more into land they will also recognize that the rivers which never overflow on their banks, when it rains it affects the banks.
PM Skerrit further quoted that gone are the days when rain will fall for weeks in Dominica and all we will see is that the sea is brown, but now the moment rain falls there is flooding in Dominica as the result of climate change.