Dominica is known globally as the “Nature Island” home to some of the Caribbean’s richest biodiversity, pristine rivers, and the vibrant Indigenous Kalinago people who have stewarded these lands for generations. Our forests, waters, and cultural heritage are central to our identity. Any project that threatens these natural and cultural treasures threatens the very foundation of who we are.

We, the people of Dominica and supporters across the Caribbean and the world, call for an immediate halt to the Deux Branches mine project due to violations of environmental procedure, lack of transparency, and non-compliance with national and international obligations, particularly under the Escazú Agreement.

Dominica ratified the Escazú Agreement in 2024, which requires the State to provide timely environmental information, guarantee public participation, and uphold the rights of communities to a healthy environment. These obligations have not been met.

Key Failures Identified

1. No Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been disclosed.
A mine of this scale legally requires:

• A full Environmental Social Impact Assessment,
• Independent agency review,
• Public access to findings before approval.

To date, no EIA, permits, or technical reports have been disclosed to the public.

2. Regulatory bodies were absent from community consultations.

Physical Planning, Forestry, Environmental Health, and relevant ministries did not attend consultations.
 Only a representative of the private contractor addressed the community. 

This violates:

• Escazú’s participation requirements,
• National environmental procedures,
• International standards for transparency.

 

3. Environmental harm is already occurring.

Visible impacts include:

• Heavy sedimentation and pollution of the Pagua River Watershed,
• Degradation of water quality in communities downstream,
• Disturbance near and possibly within the Northern Forest Reserve,
• Loss of mature forest critical to Dominica's biodiversity and climate resilience.

This directly undermines Dominica’s Nature Island status, threatens protected ecosystems, and endangers the Kalinago people, who rely on healthy forests and rivers for livelihood, culture, and heritage.

These impacts demand an immediate independent investigation.

We the people request the following actions:

1. Immediate halt of all mine operations at Deux Branches.

2. Public release of all environmental and regulatory documents, including:

• The full EIA/ESIA,
• Permits and approvals,
• Geological and hydrological assessments,
• All correspondence related to the authorization of the mine.

3. Proper Escazú-compliant consultations

Ensuring:

• Participation of all regulatory bodies,
• Free access to environmental information,
• Inclusive engagement with all affected communities, including the Kalinago Territory.

4. Enforcement of Dominica’s environmental and planning laws
Before any future consideration, the government must demonstrate:

• Full legal compliance,
• Adequate protections for forests and rivers,
• Respect for Indigenous rights and community well-being.

This petition is not against development.

It is for development that is:

• Transparent,
• Lawful,
• Environmentally responsible,
• Respectful of Indigenous rights,
• Protective of Dominica’s forests, rivers, and international reputation as the Nature Island.

We urge Dominicans, regional allies, the Indigenous community, environmental defenders, and supporters around the world to sign and stand with us.

A Nature Island must not sacrifice its nature.

 We demand development that protects our people, our lands, and our future.

 

Gallery :

 

 

 

River before the mining

 

 

River after mining- sediments clouding the river 

 

 

The famous Ma-Jo Basin pool  before the mining

 

 

The Ma-jo Basin pool after mining started

 

 

Heavy run off from the nearby mine

 

 

Point of view from the river- a gentleman sits near sediment run off point

 

 

Run off from the mining clouding the water

 

 

 

 

Historical Context of this watershed as it relates to mining.

 

 

 

 

 

A video summary of current events (2025) in Deux Branches