The Government of Dominica has forcibly acquired over 230 private properties in Wesley for the international airport. These properties are located in Eden Road, Bunnum, Bottom Wesley, and Walker Rest/Baptiste. The proposed runway will permanently destroy more than 70 homes, as well as the primary school and it will rob Wesley people of their heritage. It will also permanently cut off access to all the beaches and destroy the livelihoods of fisherfolks.

To date, the government has not had any general meeting with the people of Wesley and there are known alternative sites for airport construction in the Wesley area. We, the Wesley Development Organization, are collecting signatures on the letter below to express our objection to the destruction of Wesley. Please sign and share this petition.

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20th November 2020

Hon Roosevelt Skerrit

Office of the Prime Minister

Financial Building

Kennedy Ave

Roseau

Dominica

Dear Prime Minister Skerrit

We the undersigned persons with interest in  Wesley who are normally resident elsewhere, have been following your government’s pronouncements on the planned construction of a jet runway through major  residential areas of our community and some of the  related  activities that have been undertaken to date.  As patriots we are appreciative of the potential benefits of an international airport to the  economy of our nation and we  accept that the Wesley – Woodford Hill area is best suited for such a project.  Therefore, we wish the records to reflect that we the people of Wesley  support the construction of an international airport in our general area. It is for this reason that we gave no resistance to the acquisition of hundreds of acres of agricultural lands for that purpose on the western section of our community over 20 years ago. These lands  are still under the control of  the State.

While the  details on the proposed project have not been shared with  our community,  the pattern of land acquisition indicates that if implemented; such an undertaking will have devasting consequences on our beloved community. The incessant noise that will inevitably accompany both construction and operations, the anticipated constant flow of heavy equipment through the community, health issues associated with increased generation of  dust, destruction of water ways and relocation of services  are burdens that will negatively impact all residents; not just those from whom lands have been acquired. Not surprisingly, your repeated  pronouncements on the planned construction of a runway  through the village and  your declared intention to hand over part of the community  to an airport  company by December  have generated much  anxiety among the people of Wesley. We note that over 230 private properties inclusive of over 70 homes have been forcibly acquired to date! Based on the history of international airport upgrading it is inevitable that sooner or later additional properties/ private  homes will be acquired.

Like our fellow citizens throughout our blessed  nation we believe that we have a constitutional right to protect our heritage, enjoy the comfort of our place of abode,  ease of access to our neighbours, entertainment,  churches, schools and shops ; and  such amenities as  our beaches. Consequently, while we are not opposed to the development of  an international airport within our broader geographical  area; we object to the guaranteed  disruptions to our lives  that will accompany the current proposal  and  do not share the view that our community should be obliterated in whole or in part so as to achieve the government’s objective.

Against this backdrop we hereby respectfully request that :

1.     Consideration be given to an alternative  alignment  of the planned runway that does not   include the eastern section of the  Wesley community;

2.     There be an immediate  reversal  of the aforementioned land acquisition programme and the forced relocation of residents of Wesley and

3.     The  proposal to hand over a section of the Wesley  community to a construction company in December or any other later date be cancelled.

We remain open for further dialogue on the matter.

Sincerely,