Everything about Roseau totally explained
Roseau (
Kwéyòl:
Wozeau) is the
capital and largest city of
Dominica. Its population is 14,847 (2001 census), It is a small and compact urban settlement, located within the
Saint George parish and surrounded by the
Caribbean Sea, the
Roseau River and
Morne Bruce. Built on the site of the ancient
Kalinago Indian village of Sairi, it's the oldest and most important urban settlement on the island.
It is located on the west (
leeward) coast of Dominica, and is a combination of modern and colonial (French Style) architecture.
It exports
bananas,
bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges and
cocoa.
It is the see of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Roseau.
Overview
The central district of Roseau is tightly packed with small and large houses and even larger modern concrete structures. There is little green or open space situated within the city, and this is even more so today, as many of the
courtyards which was once commonplace within the city are giving way to office space. The district is, however, framed in every direction by natural elements. The sea and the river provide water element while the
Botanical Gardens and the
Government House gardens frame the city with green space. Both these elements are rare in the
Caribbean. No other centre in the region has such extensive botanical gardens with such central location, and the Roseau River is amongst the largest rivers that flow through any Caribbean capital.
The urban structure of Central Roseau is based on an irregular grid system of miniature proportions, making it a highly illegible city. Even though the grid area isn't very extensive, it's relatively easy for a visitor to get lost there. The grid area has some 80
blocks in the area of 30
hectares (74
acres). In comparison, the grid areas of
Kingstown and
Castries — capitals of
Saint Vincent and
Saint Lucia — have some 50 and 60 blocks in the areas of over 40 ha (99 acre). The average block size in Central Roseau is thus some ⅓ hectare (1 acre), for example about half of the figure of Central Kingstown.
Several
embassies are also located in the city. Among them include the
Venezuelan Embassy and the
Chinese Embassy with a couple of other
consulates located around the city.
History
The city of Roseau sits on an
alluvial fan formed hundreds of years ago as the river after which it was named meandered across the area from what is now known as Newtown to its current location. Over the last two thousand years
Amerindians migrating through the islands settled the area attracted by the nearby river. With the arrival of the
Europeans on the island in the
16th and
17th centuries, a small settlement was established by the
French who in their tradition of naming places after what they found there named the settlement with their name for the river reeds which grew along the river banks. A plan was created for the settlement which mirrored examples in France where streets extended from a central point at what is today the Old Market and extended out to the rest of the settlement.
Coflict raged between the French and the
British over the area on several occaions. Finally the British gained a stronghold and by the late
18th and early
19th centuries set out plans for the city which included
fortifications and government structures, the grid road street system and blocks and new urban areas to the north and south known today as Potter's Ville and Newtown. Goodwill was established in the 1950s and Bath Estate in the early 1980s. Since that several new semi-urban settlements — such as Stock Farm, Castle Comfort and Wall House — have been constructed around the existing ones. Some older settlements like Fond Cole and
Canefield nowadays belong also to the semiu-rban area that lies around Roseau.
The French influence can still be seen today, however, in its architecture, and crooked streets which extend from the Old Market Plaza. Examples of the English influence is also evident in architecture and street names.
Architecture
There are some fine examples of West Indian in Roseau. The ones that stand out the most is the
French Colonial style and the
vernacular form. Much of the French influence can be found along King George V Street. Around the city you'll come across some good examples of the English influence in the form of large colonial town houses and colonial public/government buildings. The churches in Roseau are fine examples of Europe in Dominica with a bit of creolisation. The Roman Catholic Cathedral stands prominent in
Gothic Romanesque revival and the Anglican Church on Victoria Street in
Georgian style. Amongst these buildings you'll find much of the urban vernacular squeezed in between larger colonial and more modern buildings.
City life
]
Because of the
suburban sprawl, few people live in Central Roseau, but more of them daily
commute. Motorised vehicles pour into the central district thus introducing a mode of point-to-point interaction in an environment that was created for multiple use. As elders said, first there were no streets but just a space between the buildings. The streets of Roseau, and especially those of its central district, are not only ways to move from place to place but they're places themselves. They are used as gardens, playing fields and social meeting places.
The Botanical Gardens on the fringes of the central district are a relaxing place if compared to the busy
downtown area. They are, however, mostly used by children. Several schools are situated in the vicinity of the gardens, and groups of school children in their blue or brown uniforms populate the gardens along with tourists. When there's a
cricket match, however, people gather to the sides of the Cricket Ground to watch the game.
Sports and recreation
Within the city of Roseau, there are many opportunities for recreation. Many persons seek out the tranquility and cool of the Botanical Gardens as a getaway on Sunday afternoons and at lunch. As well, it's a popular venue for local cricket matches and sports training. Football is a popular sport; there are several pitches throughout the city area (at
Newtown,
Potters Ville, and
Bath Estate), as well as in the sports stadium at Windsor Park.
Sporting facilities and infrastructure
There are dedicated sports facilities around the city. Private tennis courts are located on High Street; netball and basketball courts also abound in the city's major high schools. These are complemented by community facilities at Goodwill. A dedicated netball and basketball stadium is located at Stockfarm near the State College.
In 2007,
Windsor Park, also home to the
Dominica National Football Team, was completed with the generous donation of
EC$33 million from the
government of the People's Republic of China.
Elsewhere in the city it isn't uncommon to find that a section of the street, sidewalk or even the beach has been adapted to makeshift games of cricket or football.
Popular sports include netball, basketball, rounders and (to a much lesser extent) tennis.
Accommodations and Infrastructure
There are no world famous hotel chains in the city. The most famous hotel is the Fort Young Hotel. In addition there are several small family owned establishments within and on the outskirts of the city.
Dominica Broadcasting Corporation, the national radio station, and two other private radio stations is located in the capital.
Non Governmental Organizations
Roseau is home to service clubs including, Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions. There are other organisations such as the local humane society and conservation society.
The Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce, Waitukubuli Eccological Foundation, Dominica Tourism Association and others are based in the city.
The city is also home to several
labour organisations including the
Dominica Amalgamated Workers' Union, the
Dominica Public Service Union, the
Dominica Trade Union, the
National Workers' Union and the
Waterfront and Allied Workers' Union
Communication
As the most important town on the island and hub of all business activity, the city has been a central point of the road networks on the island. it's an important link between northern eastern, and southern bound traffic. as a result its street are frequently clogged with busy workers, shoppers. and schoolchildren. When there's a cruiseship in port many are amazed at how the narrow streets of the town accommodate the needs of all these users.
The city is also served by a nearby small aircraft airport which provides direct link to the nearby islands as well as occasionally to the larger Melville hall airport to the north. the ferry terminal provides direct link to the neighbouring Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique and St. Lucia to the south.
There are no rail or subway systems.
Education
Roseau has been the historical centre of education on the island. There are six
secondary schools located in the city as well as eight
primary schools. A
community college - The Dominica State College is also located in Roseau. A private medical school, All Saints School of Medicine, has recently moved into the city. A private religious college, St. George University, came to the city in 1999.
Scenery
Roseau's nearby scenery (mostly in its so-called valley) includes
Boiling Lake, 6.5 miles (10.5 km) east, in the
Morne Trois Pitons National Park,
waterfalls,
thermal springs, and scenic
plateaus.
Notable people
Further Information
Get more info on 'Roseau'.
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