Dominica's Ministry of Agriculture urges the public to avoid five high-risk sites to prevent the spread of Lethal Yellowing Disease.
Dominica: The general public has been informed to stay clear of five sites that have been affected by the Lethal Yellowing Disease, with the Government aiming to prevent further spreading of the disease to other parts of Dominica.
On Friday, April 3, 2026, the Government shared a public notice informing the general public that Hodges Bay, Palm Tree (Tourma Tante), Black Beach (L’anse Noir), Turtle Beach (L’anse Torti) and Woodford Hill Beach (from Walks Bridge to Fisheries Complex) areas are to be avoided.
The Government revealed that visiting the mentioned areas will contribute to the spread of the disease across Dominica, seeing as the vector can be spread through clothing, footwear, vehicles and other personal items. The Government further shared the importance of protecting the country’s coconut industry, explaining that the spread of the disease will not only eradicate coconut production and destroy the trees but also impact the nation’s revenue and farmers’ income.
This notice was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, which just last month confirmed that the Lethal Yellowing Disease is present and currently affecting the coconut industry in the country. Since the announcement, the Ministry if Agriculture has been engaging with the public and providing them with knowledge on what the disease is, how it spreads and how to protect the coconut and palm trees.
Moreover, the Ministry has also implemented measures, such as marking the red zones, removing infected and high-risk palms, treating affected sites, etc., to effectively deal with the current situation.
Upon sharing this notice on its Facebook page, a few citizens have taken to the comment section to express their different opinions on the matter.
While some have offered their suggestions in hopes that the mentioned areas have been secured with danger zone tapes, others seem to state that the disease has been in the country for more than a year, questioning why the Government is only now taking action to tackle it.