Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, 17th June 2025: The Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) is alarmed by the collapse of the roof of the Dominica Grammar School (DGS) auditorium under construction on June 16, 2025. No injuries or fatalities have been reported, but the incident appears to be treated too casually, with construction activities appearing to be continuing as usual.
The ERC urges the government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica to treat this
collapse as a potential criminal activity that warrants investigation and possible prosecution. The minister of education’s attempt to downplay the significance of the collapse is unacceptable.
The Ministry of Education personnel should not lead the investigation.
Despite no injuries, those responsible for professional negligence must face consequences.
The ERC calls on the Commissioner of Police to consider the site a crime scene and halt
construction activities on the project until an independent investigation is conducted.
All involved parties should stop tampering with the collapsed structure and vacate the site
immediately.
The public must view this collapse as a warning, highlighting risks from poor construction practices. Had the roof collapsed after occupancy, it could have caused severe casualties.
A thorough investigation should examine the design, approvals, inspection reports, and
contractor compliance. All state and private agencies, such as the Physical Planning Division and the consultants, responsible for the safety of construction activities, should be included in the investigation.
The ERC is relieved that no injuries occurred, but is concerned about the lack of serious attention from authorities responsible for health and safety. This incident undermines Dominica’s much-talked-about resilience reputation.
The ERC appeals to the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), and the Attorney General to appoint an independent team to investigate the collapsed roof and other structures in the project. Construction activities must be suspended until the investigation is complete to ensure the future safety of students, staff, and management.