After a second large-scale destructive fire tore through multiple structures in Dominica’s capital Roseau this month, senior government official Melissa Poponne-Skerrit has unveiled urgent fire prevention calls and long-term policy review plans to address mounting safety risks in unregulated development zones.
Poponne-Skerrit, who serves as Parliamentary Representative for Roseau Central Constituency and Minister for Housing & Urban Development, outlined the new guidance during a recent press briefing, urging all property owners across her constituency to proactively assess their immediate environments to reduce fire hazards. She specifically recommended that residents remove or swap out highly flammable building materials wherever feasible, and conduct routine inspections of aging electrical wiring—key preventative steps that can cut the likelihood of destructive blazes.
The most recent fire, which broke out earlier this May, left a trail of damage across several Roseau buildings, marking the second major fire event to impact the capital in 2026. The first incident, recorded in early March, caused far-reaching destruction across the affected area, prompting government officials to re-examine long-standing safety gaps in the city.
A core point of concern raised by Poponne-Skerrit is the outsized risk posed by unplanned settlements and informal development, which have proliferated in parts of Roseau without formal regulatory oversight. The minister noted that while many areas of the capital present a planned facade along main thoroughfares, entire informal communities, unlicensed commercial operations, and unregulated outbuildings often sit just behind formal developments. “In Roseau, what you see at the forefront is one building, but there’s like a whole village at the back, and then sometimes you have bars, mechanic shops, other structures without proper planning, people tend to do the things on their own, and so these long-standing issues will pose increased risk,” she explained.
To address these systemic risks, Poponne-Skerrit called for a full top-to-bottom review of national and local policies governing unplanned and ancillary development, saying a complete re-evaluation of current regulatory frameworks is long overdue to bring heightened safety to at-risk neighborhoods.
Beyond long-term reforms, the minister extended a formal assurance to residents and property owners impacted by the latest May blaze, reaffirming the Dominican government’s commitment to standing with affected communities through the recovery process. “As we usually do through this difficult time, and we remain committed to helping you to rebuild stronger and safer,” she stated.