Planning Division conducting ‘Lessons Learned’ analyses via district stakeholder consultations

​Planning Officials are undertaking ‘Lessons Learned’ analyses, through district stakeholder consultations, as Dominica takes stock of the damage caused by Hurricane Maria. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Planning Ministry officials are said to be zooming in on what’s left behind from the 2017 hurricane Maria.
 
A number of stakeholder consultations appear to be revealing that closer attention must be paid to the rebuilding roofs. Researchers found that to a large extent, failure of structures, in particular roofs of residential buildings, could possibly have been reduced, if builders, contractors and homeowners adhered to building codes.
 
Annie Edwards - Physical Planner, Planning Division - said, “Maria was a very catastrophic hurricane for Dominica. It affected about 90% of our buildings, and destroyed about 60% of them. As a result, the Planning Department which is mandated under the Physical Planning Act, to guide the development of Dominica, took the initiative to hold a ‘Lessons Learned’ consultation”.
 
Meanwhile, Government is said to have embarked on a number of other initiatives like educational programs targeted at builders, contractors, other stakeholders, and the general public. Consultations are ongoing with Engineers, Architects, Contractor Organisations, the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Water Resource Management, the Dominica Bureau of Standards, the United Nations Development Program and Engineers Without Borders. Development Control Officer at the Physical Planning Division, Naomi Dorival says her department is conducting island wide training activities with key stakeholders, before rebuilding begins.
 
Dorival said, “We have undertaken this method of going into the different districts, because we want to ensure that we reach as many builders and contractors as possible, and provide them with this essential and critical guide, as we go through the build-back and renovation process, post Hurricane Maria”.
 
The Physical Planning Department, in partnership with the OECS iLAND Resilience Project, will be producing a brochure highlighting best building practices, which targets builders and homeowners. Jingles and PSAs aimed at the general public, is also in the works.