Berekua

Where is Berekua located?

Berekua, also known as Grand Bay or Berricoa, is a settlement positioned in the south of Dominica within Saint Patrick Parish. The locality is situated along the Atlantic Ocean coast in the south-east of the island, with the island of Martinique lying directly to its south across the sea.

What is the landscape and geography of the area?

The settlement is enclosed by multiple mountain ranges. These include Bois Den to the south, Palmiste to the west, Morne Plat Pays to the north-west, Morne Anglais and Morne Watt to the north, and the Foundland range to the north-east and east. Several villages nestle along the slopes of these surrounding mountains, including Bellevue, Pichelin, Montine, Tete Morne, Grand Coulibrie, Dubique, and Stowe.

How is the community structured?

The main community centers around a long, narrow street named Lallay, which hosts the largest portion of the population on both of its sides. Older residential sections of the settlement consist of areas such as Mabouchay, Back Street, Hagley, Wavin Banan, Powell, and Berikua. Following Hurricane David in 1979, the settlement expanded to incorporate newer communities including Geneva, Highland, Bala Park, and Bolom.

What characterizes the local economy and population?

The geographic area functions as the largest settlement in St. Patrick Parish. The economy relies primarily on agriculture, featuring the cultivation of bananas, root crops, and various other fruits and vegetables destined for both local and overseas markets. Additional economic activities include a small furniture manufacturing industry, small shops, snackettes, craft production for tourists and locals, and a small cottage soap making plant established at Geneva.