The Honourable Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit on Monday, April 25th, met with residents of Layou to allow them to voice their concerns and needs which the government would try to assist with.
The residents communicated their need for a renovated public convenience, fishers dock and station, road rehabilitation between St. Joseph and Layou, assistance with their small businesses and education assistance for college and university.
The Honourable Prime Minister assured them that government would assist them with washrooms and provide assistance to the fishermen. He encouraged them to take advantage of the available small business support indicated government’s interest in improving the housing situation in Layou.
The Dominica Leader also encouraged residents to take advantage of the many opportunities provided by the current administration in education.
“We have more opportunities now in education for the young people than we had years ago. All of us who gets to grade six has a space in a secondary school in Dominica. I would like to see more of you take advantage of university education because there are opportunities there.”
The Hon Dr. Skerrit also announced plans for the St. Joseph to Layou link road.
“We have developed plans, drawings for this road and as minister for finance I have committed two million dollars to these two communities. We understand the importance both to you here in Layou and to the people of St. Joseph. We are trying to get some work done in some critical areas across the country because of Erika. Once we would have set aside those contracts for those communities, the Ministry of Public Works will focus on this contract and we will see work starting.”
Hon. Parliamentary Representative for the St. Joseph Constituency, Kelver Darroux, also revealed works to commence on the public convenience at Layou.
He reported that a tender has already been acquired for works to begin by local contractor, Hayden Mills.
Meanwhile the Hon. Prime Minister informed the community that there is a major program for Layou to include the construction of a facility which will serve as a hurricane shelter/community centre/resource centre.
“We contracted the loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, and they have been pretty slow in [providing] the finances. We have been in discussions with them and we can advance for the construction of the hurricane shelter here in Layou. We believe that it will be a major plus for you here in Layou, that you have a place that you can run to for safety in the event that anything was to happen.”
The Hon. Prime Minister encouraged residents to provide their Parliamentary Representative with their information and requests for sponsorship, small business development, and financial assistance for housing and other needs.
The Hon Parliamentary Representative Kelver Darroux will be meeting with farmers on Thursday April 21st.