In a targeted multi-agency effort to address longstanding public health and safety risks across the island, the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) partnered with three local government and service entities to carry out a coordinated derelict vehicle removal operation between June 3 and 4, 2026.
The operation focused on four residential and high-traffic communities: Bath Estate, Goodwill, River Street, and Loubiere, where abandoned vehicles had been reported as a growing nuisance by local residents. Joining the CDPF in the initiative were the National Authorising Office (NAO), the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC), and Rapid Response Recovery, a local service group specializing in waste and debris clearance.
In an official public statement released following the sweep, the CDPF emphasized that this removal drive is not a one-off intervention, but part of a sustained, island-wide initiative. The core goal of the program is to eliminate abandoned and derelict vehicles from public streets and communal spaces, where they have been linked to a range of threats to community well-being.
The statement outlined the multiple hazards posed by unremoved derelict vehicles. Beyond cluttering public areas and dragging down the visual appeal of neighborhoods, these abandoned cars and trucks often collect standing rainwater, creating ideal breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes. They also attract rodent populations, block emergency and regular traffic lanes, and in some cases have been used as hiding spots for illegal goods and criminal activity.
As part of its public advisory, the CDPF issued a clear reminder to vehicle owners across Dominica: any unused, derelict vehicle parked on public roads or communal land must be removed immediately by its registered owner. The force confirmed that systematic sweeps to identify and clear abandoned vehicles will continue across every district of the island, as part of a broader collective goal to build cleaner, more secure, and more inviting communities for all residents.
Closing the statement, the CDPF expressed its sincere gratitude to all participating partner agencies for their coordinated logistical support, as well as to local community members who shared reports of abandoned vehicles and cooperated with the operation team throughout the two-day sweep.