Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says Government is prioritizing the restoration of access to communities in the East and delivering immediate support to affected families following widespread damage caused by a weekend weather system.
After touring impacted areas in Antrizzle, Atkinson, the Kalinago Territory and Castle Bruce on Monday, the Prime Minister said several landslides and flooding had caused significant damage in these communities.
“So the first objective of the government is to allow for vehicular access to reconnect every community and so we have mobilized all of the equipment that are available,” the Prime Minister said.
The Ministry of Public Works is currently assessing the extent of damage while teams from agriculture, housing and social services are conducting impact assessments.
Preliminary reports indicate damage to homes and small businesses.
“We have already started the interventions and many families from tomorrow (Tuesday) will start receiving some support because some of them require immediate support because they have lost, in some instances, everything they owned. So they need to have something so that they can stabilize themselves for the time being,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the cost of clearing landslides alone is expected to be significant, referencing the 2022 trough system in the East, which cost over EC$4.6 million.
Efforts are also underway to restore access to Good Hope, San Sauveur and Petite Soufriere with temporary solutions at the damaged Calixte Bridge near Castle Bruce.
Prime Minister Skerrit emphasized that Dominica’s increasing exposure to extreme weather events linked to climate change continues to place pressure on national resources, requiring urgent reallocation to response and recovery efforts.
