The Paix-Bouche/Dos D’ane Village Council held its 18th inaugural meeting on Monday January 16 at the Dos D’ane Primary School.
Five elected and three nominated members will lead the affairs of these communities for the next three years.
Re-elected Chairman of the Council, Hubert Remie listed construction of the Bakery Lane, construction of storm drains, installation of street lights and fencing of the basketball court as some of the council’s notable achievements over the last term.
“In this upcoming term, we anticipate a 100% completion of the storm drain and timely collection of garbage in around the communities of Paix-Bouche and Dos D’ane,” Remie said.
Minister for Social Services, Lady Catherine Daniel expressed satisfaction with the work of the past council.
“I am very proud to be associated with the many successes that your council can report to you today. I am advised that we have seen a number of infrastructural projects to include roads, drains… I must underscore that a hardworking and committed village council is truly a vehicle for community transformation and you must commend yourselves for a job well done,” she told the council.
The Hon Member Of Parliament for The Paix-Bouche Constituency, Roslyn Paul also had words of commendation for the outgoing council.
Hon Paul announced that with this new council, several interventions will be made to improve road infrastructure and provide housing assistance and washroom facilities, as well as continue assistance to small businesses. Students of the Dominica State College will also receive transportation allowance to facilitate attending classes.
Hon Paul encouraged the communities to support the new council in its endeavours.
“To the community, the village council, can’t do it alone. You should not only lend your voice, but your hands, your resources, your expertise, your time and effort to be able to ensure that we have the best communities of Paix-Bouche and Dos D’ane in the entire country.”
The Dos D’ane community forms part of the Portsmouth constituency; Member of Parliament, Ian Douglas informed his constituents that all pit latrines in the community will be eliminated this year and streets will also be upgraded.
He says while Government is continuing to fund infrastructural development, the onus is on the community to maintain a clean and beautiful surrounding.
“Government has a broad overall responsibility to bring about infrastructural development but the maintenance and upkeep of our homes and our communities is an individual responsibility. Government can give us all the galvanize and plywood and paint we need but they can never give us a clean and tidy home, that is for us to do. Government can build all the roads we want…but all the cleaning of the drains and sidewalks and roads…will never be achieved if we do not take a tangible and collective effort to keep our communities clean and beautiful,” he admonished.
The Paix-Bouche/Dos D’ane Village Council was first inaugurated in 1961.