Arawak House of Culture & Old Mill Cultural Centre to Be Ready Before October

Minister of Tourism and Culture, Robert Tonge, said the Arawak House of Culture and the Old Mill Cultural Centre should be ready for use before the end of October. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of both facilities have gulped $1.3 million according to the minister.

“The Ministry will continue to provide support as long as we are able for the continued building of arts and culture,” Tonge said. “At present, we are continuing work on the new stage and other rehabilitation works at the Old MillCC and also the renovation of the Arawak House of Culture. We are continuing and looking forward to fully utilizing these newly rehabilitated facilities in the not too distant future.”

As further proof of the government’s support for arts and culture, Tonge urged the people to support the country’s delegation to the ongoing Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago. Dominica sent 40 representatives to CARIFESTA with a view to fully expressing the cultural identities of the country and the multicultural realities of the entire Caribbean community. It will also be a good opportunity to promote Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival, he added.

“The government is also fully committed to regional integration and cultural preservation and promotion and we feel that this will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the artistic and cultural expressions of our country at such a magnificent occasion as Carifesta,” the minister said.

In a related development, DLP’s caretaker for the Salisbury Constituency, Nichols “Shanks” Esprit, said the reconstruction of both the Macoucherie and Batalie bridges are almost ready and should be ready for use again before the end of August. Hurricanes Erika and Maria dilapidated both bridges, forcing motorists to find an alternative route pending the rehabilitation of both structures.

“You would have seen in Batalie that the concrete has been poured on the bridge surface,” Esprit said. “And here in Macoucherie, we have had the formwork being prepared and soon the Chinese will be pouring concrete and give it time to cure and then we will be having the bridge in operation. If you go as far down as Point Round you would have seen that the bridge is complete in terms of concrete works and it’s just giving time to be cured.”

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