Dominica’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Development hosted today, Saturday, May 24, 2025, the island’s first-ever Resilient Housing Fair at the Bayfront in Roseau. The event, themed “Resilient Homes – Resilient Nation,” drew homeowners, contractors, lending institutions, and key resilience partners into a full-day exhibition promoting safer, climate-proof housing across the country.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Melissa Poponne-Skerrit, addressed the public with a call to action:
“We are not just building homes. We are building confidence, building hope, and most importantly, building a culture of preparedness in Dominica.”
She emphasized the government’s commitment to guiding every Dominican, especially vulnerable families, toward safer construction and smarter retrofitting options.
“Each home we upgrade or rebuild is a barrier against climate shocks, and a step toward our national goal of becoming the first climate-resilient nation,” she said.
The fair featured the official launch of the Homeowner’s Manual on Resilient Housing, a simple, illustrated guide to safer home design, construction, and retrofitting practices. Attendees received it for free.
Acting Prime Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre, delivering the feature address, emphasized the fair’s urgency ahead of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forecasted to be above normal:
“Our preparedness must match the scale of the threat. Events like these are essential to shifting the culture of building in Dominica.”
Dr. Irving McIntyre, Acting Prime Minister of Dominica
Visitors explored over a dozen booths from suppliers, credit unions, engineers, and technical experts. Key exhibitors included Do It Center, Harris Paints, the National Cooperative Credit Union Ltd, and several local credit unions. Officials from the Green Climate Fund, Build Change, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) were also present as supporting partners.
Poponne-Skerrit also unveiled two urban renewal initiatives:
- Paint the Town Project – aimed at revitalizing public-facing buildings and community pride in Roseau.
- Urban Garden Venture – focused on transforming unused urban lots into green spaces for food and aesthetics.
She confirmed that 1,911 Hurricane Maria proof houses have been built across the country to date, with over 250 more under construction, representing continued investment in housing security.
The fair concluded with public demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and reminders from stakeholders that true resilience begins with informed, engaged citizens.
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