Environmental research

Bagatelle is a small village located on the rugged terrain in the southeast of Dominica. It consists of four main hamlets namely Bagatelle Fond St. Jean, Point Carib and Fab. The village of Bagatelle was first developed as an estate for the production of limes and sugarcane and the main site for the estate is actually the main village now. The ruins of the estate mills and store houses still exist and plans are ongoing for the restoration of these ruins into a tourist attraction site. Bagatelle is one of the villages which was occupied by the early Carib settlers, mainly due of its rugged topography and close proximity to the sea. Evidence of this is clearly visible in the physical characteristics of the current population. Fond St. Jean is a small fishing village located near the Atlantic Ocean. The main economic activity in the community is fishing and the Fond St. Jean Fisheries Co-operative is one of the main suppliers of fresh fish on island. Fab is one of the hamlets which the early Carib settlers fled to in order to escape from the European settlers. The cove-like nature of the hamlet, coupled with its location at the top of a mountain, made it an ideal hide-out. Point Carib, which is an extension on the "Grand Bay", is also important for fishing and trading of goods by sea. Bagatelle is in the Southern District, approximately thirteen (13) miles away from the capital of Roseau. The population is about eight hundred and fifty persons (850). Residents depend largely on farming and fishing. The production of Bay Oil is the main income generating activity. The indigenous people of Dominica, the Caribs once resided in the community, thus the name Pointe Carib. Several generations worked on the Bagatelle Estate and nearby Geneva and Stowe Estates for survival and it was always very common for some persons to engage in fishing. Today Fond St. Jean is known for its fresh fish and village Feast (Fisherman Feast St.Peter). The estate produced cocoa, citrus, bay oil and lately rum made of cane and molasses. Closure of the estate in the early seventies created a void and persons took on bay oil production and fishing on a larger scale. Anticipated climate change risk facing the community and the changes that are expected The Bagatelle Community is prone to multi hazards inclusive of Flooding, storm surge hurricanes and landslides. The residents of the community have had to respond to numerous road blocks as a result of rock fall and other landslides affecting their neighborhoods. Because of past experiences and the impact of hazards on the community, the residents are very cooperative in their quest to minimize and or reduce risk. From a historical perspective it is well known in Dominica that as a result of the Bagatelle Disaster (landslide) in 1977 thirteen people (13) lost their lives and the same number were injured.-Post 1977, the population grew and is concentrated in an area known as PROJECT . During the years of management of the then Bagatelle Estate, a main contour drain designed specifically to control excess water from interfering with production and the few residents who lived nearby was maintained on a regular basis. However, since the increase in population and change in land use, there is even more need to stabilize the area. In 1979, the community was again devastated by Hurricane David resulting in one death and a few persons were injured. 90 percent of the housing stock was severely damaged and the community then relied on the strengths of (Koumen) self- help each one helping each other in the rehabilitation process.-The following year Hurricane Alleyne struck on August Monday 1980. August Monday is observed as Laborers day and it is also a holiday. Many people were caught unaware and again suffered losses. -At various community forums the residents have made it clear that the storm drain must be concreted to protect lives and property hence the rationale for this intervention. Collectively, the residents have decided that the construction of the storm drain is priority and also echoed their sentiments that they do not want a repeat of the magnitude of 1977 landslide or any disaster to impact their livelihoods. The Community is poised to give sweat equity on the construction of concrete storm drain whenever this project will be implemented.

Dominica