GRAND BAY GETS NEW COURT AND FIRE STATION BY YEAR-END

Southern Dominica is set to gain a modern Magistrate's Court and Fire Station as construction advances in Grand Bay, with both buildings designed to bolster the island's judicial and emergency response systems.

Opening dates have been set for October 2025 for the court and December 2025 for the fire station, the Government Information Service said. The projects form part of a wider government push to strengthen core infrastructure across the island.

Rayburn Blackmoore, Minister for National Security, framed the facilities as meeting standards of dignity and efficiency. The new court will provide a more conducive setting for judicial operations, he said. On the fire service side, the government has allocated nearly $2 million for a custom-built fire truck. Three additional vehicles, one fitted with foam discharge equipment, have already been acquired and will roll out by the end of the year to cover St. Joseph, Portsmouth, and Roseau.

Chief Fire Officer Wayne Letang described the station as the island's second-largest, featuring a gym, training grounds, and quarters designed for female personnel. The need for expanded fire coverage in the region became apparent following Tropical Storm Erika, he noted.

Both buildings incorporate hurricane and earthquake resistance through reinforced concrete, specialized roofing, and reinforced windows and doors, according to Cal Murad, Project Director at Montreal Management Consultants Est.

The construction has generated jobs for at least fifteen people from Grand Bay and surrounding areas, local contractor Ronald Letang said.