Roseau, Dominica – April 4, 2024
Hon. Jullan Defoe, Parliamentary Representative for the Petite Savanne Constituency, and Hon. Cassandra Williams, Parliamentary Representative for the Laplaine Constituency, have reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reconstructing the link road between Petite Savanne and Delices, which was devastated by Tropical Storm Erika in 2015.
The aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika resulted in the displacement of many residents of Petite Savanne and the destruction of vital infrastructure, including the road connecting the community to Delices and other Southeast communities.
Following the disaster, the Government of Dominica pledged to relocate Petite Savanne residents and restore the access route to Delices. The first phase of this initiative prioritized the resettlement of the Petite Savanne community to Bellevue Chopin, with the construction of 353 housing units funded under the Citizenship by Investment Programme, completed in 2019.
Despite delays in reconnecting Petite Savanne and Delices based on engineering advice to allow for natural stabilization and monitoring, the government remains steadfast in its commitment to the affected communities, recognizing the transportation challenges caused by the damaged road.
To reinforce this commitment, Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, along with parliamentary representatives, interest groups, and residents from both constituencies, conducted a site visit on January 21, 2023, engaging stakeholders to chart a path forward.
Several initiatives have been undertaken to restore access, including road clearing costing $2.6 million and the construction of the Bagatelle Bridge at a cost of $2.5 million.
Recently, Parliamentary Representatives expedited efforts to restore access, conducting a site visit on March 19, 2024, accompanied by engineers and community residents. A follow-up visit is scheduled for April 4th, 2024, to finalize logistical matters before commencing the reconstruction of the crossing to facilitate 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 as we continue our ongoing efforts to address this critical infrastructure matter,” stated Hon. Jullan Defoe and Hon. Cassandra Williams.
