ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – At least 19 people are feared dead and 25 others missing as Dominica Friday slowly emerged from the battering by Tropical Storm Erika that is now threatening the Dominican Republic with heavy rains and gusty winds.
“I can’t tell you words to describe it,” said Information Minister Kelva Darroux, telling radio listeners here “I have never seen anything like that in my life”.
The island took a pounding from the fifth named storm of the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane season on Thursday, resulting to severe damage to infrastructure and causing widespread flood and landslides.
Most of the deaths were reported in the south east village of Petite Savanne but there were also reports of five fatalities in Bath Estate, just on the outskirts of the capital, and Good Hope, a small fishing farming community located on the island’s east coast.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who said the priority of his administration now is to local all missing persons, spent the day touring the affected communities, some of which remained cut off because the rains have destroyed the roads leading to the villages.
He is due to address the nation at 8.00 pm (local time) on Friday.
Works and Communications Minister Ian Pinnard told the international community that 14 bodies had been recovered and the search was continuing for 25 people in Petite Savanne
Several countries have already pledged assistance to Dominica and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary general, Irwin LaRocque, himself a Dominican national, has expressed the Community’s sympathy over the tragic loss of life and the widespread damage.
““Through the coordinating efforts of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and member states, we will assist with the damage and needs assessment process which we know is critical to mobilizing the required support for the reconstruction effort,” he said.
“The Community joins with the families of the deceased in mourning their loss. It is our hope that the several persons reported missing will be found and safely returned to their loved ones.
“We are confident that the people will summon the necessary strength and resilience to overcome the personal tragedies they have suffered and work with the Government to reconstruct their communities, infrastructure, and economy,” he added.
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, has also expressed his deep concern over the loss of life and damage to infrastructure and property in Dominica.
An OAS statement noted that “even as the full scope of the devastation wrought was being assessed on the ground, the Secretary General transmitted to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit his personal sadness over the tragic effects of the disaster and his concern for the people of Dominica, and pledged the assistance, solidarity and support of the OAS.
“The OAS will extend to the Commonwealth of Dominica the maximum contribution from the Inter-American Aid Fund (FONDEM), along with the organization’s commitment to providing technical expertise and assistance. “
Antigua and Barbuda diplomat Sir Ronald Sanders has called on the international community, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, the European Union Commission and International Financial Institutions “to respond swiftly to the urgent needs of Dominica”.
Sir Ronald, who was a member and Rapporteur of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) that proposed reforms for the Commonwealth, reminded that recommendations had been made for a rapid response to disasters in Commonwealth countries.
Earlier this year, Sanders had bemoaned tardy responses to disasters in Vanuatu and Tuvalu in the Pacific caused by Cyclone Pam.
“I feel deep sympathy and concern for Dominica. The loss of life is tragic and my prayers are with the affected families. The damage to the country has set back its economy and will negatively impact employment and further strain the government in the rebuilding process. The international community must act swiftly to give Dominica relief”, he added.
Mayor of Roseau Irene John said “there’s a lot of work to do” as she gave radio listeners a report on the state of the capital.
“We look at it as the work of God,” she said, adding “it is an island-wide crisis”.
Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau South Constituency, Joshua Francis called for a united approach in dealing with the cleanup activities.
“In light of the major disaster, caused by Tropical Storm Erika; I want to take the opportunity to ask my fellow Dominicans to reach out to each other especially those who have suffered loss of lives,” Francis said in a statement.
“ It’s a very worrying, and sad moment for us; some of us have lost our love ones, some of us have been made homeless and some of us have had some kind of material loss. We are going to need as much help as possible. However, we should not lose our resolve, resilience, faith, and love for each other,” he added.
The island is without water and electricity and the authorities say they are working round the clock in a bid to provide limited services.
The police have warned criminals against seeking to take advantage of the situation.
“There are a few people that believe that they should interrupt their proceedings by stealing and looting and taking the opportunity but we can say that the laws are not stagnated, it’s not on a standstill, we have our work to do and that is what we are mandated to do to ensure that we patrol and that’s what we’ll be doing,” police public relations officer, Inspector Claude Weekes said.
“People who are entering people’s building or seeking to loot, or taking the opportunity to do that; it is wrong and you are applying pressure to people that are already distressed,” he warned.
