Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

Work will begin this month on phase two of the Soufriere/Scottshead sea-defence wall. The commissioning of phase one and the official launch of phase two was held on the evening of Wednesday, 11th February, 2009. The event was attended by Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, several Government officials, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Dominica, Her Excellency Carmen Martinez de Grijalva and scores of residents of the south.

In her address, chairperson of the Soufriere/Scottshead/ Gallion Village Council, Debra Destouche – Laville, spoke of the significant benefits that have been derived as a result of the completion of the first phase.

“Our communities have attracted many more visitors than in recent years all because of our super highway. There is hope for our reenergized tourism product – a better way of life for our people. In short, we are now experiencing the dawn of a new day for Soufriere/Scottshead and Gallion.”

The construction of the sea wall had been a cry of residents of the south for decades. During inclement weather conditions, residents suffered severely from the destruction to roads which often times led to their being cut off from the rest of the country.

In 2001 following the passage of hurricane Lenny, a UK consultant was contracted to prepare design and cost estimate for a sea wall.

The project was completely redesigned in 2007 by the Technical Services Division of the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructural Development.

On April 16, 2007 a one year contract for phase one was signed to commence work on the project with funding from the government of Venezuela.

Chief Technical Officer in the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructural Development, Kendell Johnson said that the wall constructed during the first phase of the project lived up to expectations during the passage of Hurricane Omar in October of 2008. The project included eight hundred and fifty meters (850m) of sea wall and road with an average width of nine and a half to ten meters (9.5-10m). Approximately forty (40) to fifty (50) persons were employed during the first phase. The main design parameters included the breaking wave height of four meters (4m), a wall of approximately three meters (3m) above the main sea level and a concrete road to facilitate the quick clearing due to the overtopping events.

Phase two of the project will comprise of approximately 1.5 km or fifteen hundred meters (1500m) of road, approximately nine hundred and fifty meters (950m) of retaining wall, nine hundred and forty meters (940m) of sea wall and eight hundred and fifty meters (850m) of wall to the east embankment. The average width of the road will be eight meters (8m) with about a meter and a half (1.5m) of side walk. Included in the works for Scottshead are drainage works, sidewalks and a new wearing course (new road surface) throughout the villages of both Soufriere and Scottshead.

Parliamentary Representative for the area, Hon. Ian Pinard, said that the commissioning of phase two of the sea defence wall comes at a time when major developments are taking place within the Soufriere constituency. Among those improvements are the renovation of the Soufriere Primary School, bus services for the children of Gallion and Scottshead to attend school at Soufriere, the development of the Soufriere Sulphur Springs, the development of the Soufriere playing field among others.

The government of Venezuela has been applauded for its contribution to the government and people of Dominica over the years and the funding of phase one and two of the Soufriere / Scottshead sea wall.

Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit delivered the feature address at Wednesday evening’s ceremony. He made special mention of the role of the Venezuelan government in Dominica’s economic development stating that they have contributed significantly in giving grants to Dominica.

“When you add it all up, the Government of Venezuela has given Dominica in excess of  three hundred million East Caribbean dollars (XCD$300 000 000.00) to the Government and people of Dominica.”

Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit and
Carmen Martinez De Grijalva, Venezuelan Ambassador

Phase two of the project began in January 2009 and is expected to be completed within sixteen months.