By Government Press Secretary
A landslide that occurred in the southern community of Pichelin over the weekend does not pose an immediate threat to life or property, according to Minister for National Security, Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore.
The Minister told DBS Morning News on Monday, January 26, 2026, that the landslide occurred in the early hours of Sunday, January 25. In response, the government mobilised a multi-agency technical team to conduct on-site assessments throughout the day.
“I want to emphasize again, based on the advisory report generated by the assessment team, that there is no risk of immediate threat to life or property downstream,” Hon. Blackmoore said.
He further confirmed that vehicular access along the Chatwell link road between Bellevue Chopin and Pichelin remains unaffected, ensuring continued connectivity to neighbouring communities, including Grand Bay, Bagatelle, and Fond St. Jean.
The assessment team included officials from the Ministry of Public Works, project engineers and consultants, officers of the Dominica Police Force, Fire and Ambulance Services, the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, and the Office of Disaster Management.
Minister Blackmoore said discussions were held on Sunday with members of the Village Council and residents of Pichelin to ensure they were fully informed and prepared, should contingency measures become necessary. The Minister urged residents to avoid traversing the site, noting that it remains an active construction zone.
Cleanup operations are expected to begin shortly, weather permitting.
“An assessment had to be made yesterday as to when the contractor is to mobilize the requisite machinery, actually to clear the slide. So that will start this morning, and the members of the team that I just referenced are going to go back to the area to ensure that mitigation measures can be actually adhered to for the express purpose of ensuring the safety and security of the residents downstream,” the Minister explained.
He highlighted that the ongoing EC$116 million road reconstruction project from Loubiere to Grand Bay includes widening roads, improved drainage, box culverts, and slope stabilization, aimed at significantly enhancing road safety.
The road project is co-financed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Government of the United Kingdom through the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF), and the Government of Dominica.