Plans are underway to transform the Canefield Airport into a cruise village.
Ports Minister Rayburn Blackmoore made the disclosure at a press conference at the airport this morning to launch flights by new regional airline CARICOM Airways between Dominica and St. Lucia.
Blackmoore said that the airport has not been able to generate a satisfactory amount of income in recent times and hence the government is seeking to devise more innovative and progressive ways to utilize the airport.
“I want to say that the last financial year, that Canefield (Airport) by way of revenue brought in $117,000. It cost the government of Dominica $1.2 million to upgrade the Cnefield Airport. We cannot get to the next level and a development as a people with that reality. We have to start thinking big and we’re not saying that we’re not going to see planes coming into Canefield anymore, but we have to try to use Canefield to add more value to our tourism product. And how do we do that therefore?” he said.
“I think our greatest hope as far as tourism development is concerned in Dominica is through cruise tourism and that is why I believe that we have to start looking at the possibility of transforming Canefield Airport into a cruise village. I think that would fit nicely with the tourism and the environment and will add a new impetus to the sector,” he stated.
He assured however that the airport will not shut down because of this.
“Notwithstanding we cannot close down Canefield now. It has to be operated. That’s why I think what’s happening here today is so important … Already, discussion is being held with some developers looking at the potential of the lot in Canefield into a cruise village,” Blackmoore said.
Another ten minute stop for Cruises. We have facilities that are not being efficiently used and we want to build more. We are looking so much at infrastructure that we have forgotten about what makes tourism really successful.
Tourism is about processes. We are blessed with a lot in Dominica but we are not using it properly. If we concentrate for one year on maintaining the infrastructure we have and putting efficient processes in place to organize our tourism we will see a very big difference and increase in our tourism. Especially overnight tourist. Which is the back bone of your tourism industry.
Hon. Rayburn Blackmore,
very good idea about the crusie village here are a few points
1. banking faciliate
2.duty free shop
3.helipad- facilitate emergency rescue
4.seaplane
5.food court, among others
“I think our greatest hope as far as tourism development is concerned in Dominica is through cruise tourism” …. and this is the next level?
We have been throwing money at cruise tourism since Mamo….Please show me the returns of that. Cruise Tourism is the crack cocaine of tourism. A quick high while killing the tourism product. We should be going up market like SLU and Anguilla, BVI not devaluing our product to the $10 per passenger cruise tourism. Governments like the number of visitors they can report but where is the revenue?
WELL SAID
sound like a good idea and i don’t mean to come off as a complainer,but given the global financial crisis and that places like barbados who are more tourist oriented than us and a feeling the squeeze do you really think its something that should be done at this time? millions of dollars was spent in cabrits and its there as a white elephant. why not concentrate in upgrading that instead? there is certainly more potential there.
I strongly agree with you. here in the B.V.I.,locals can’t access the cruise ship dock. you guys should use the Cane field strip for drag racing. this way you could consider sports tourism. Get the youths involve in something that they would have interest in the Cane field could accommodate helicopter evacuation the ship dock at Cabrits should be upgraded cause it has many great potentials
That’s a FANTASTIC!!! Idea. Whoever thought about it -way to go! It’s about time.
There’s a lot more space for everything.. like multiple docks, parking, erecting all necessary facilities, vendors, etc. This will certainly transform Canefield into a more business centered community. Banks will open new branches on site, rental companies will move closer nearby, Hotels for sure, stores, supermarkets, etc, and the value of real estate in the immediate area will skyrocket, trust me.
Plus No Garbage (land-field) site or smell to welcome our precious, sensitive visitors. Beautiful! Roseau and the Bayfront could use a lot less crowding for sure.
Mr. Minister please stop thinking about it and start building it today.
Great work, great idea.
But when the village build with some 2 by 4 little houses, no landscaping, paro pull up outside begging and big belly woman sweating and selling, and all you hear government spend 5.3 million, i wonder what all you will say.
As usual.
wat the .. is a cruise village? like really…..This dominica Government is so illiterate…..all these guys have there big house..includin the blackmoore who just built a mansion on the way to giraudel…….the country has no money cuz they have all of it………..
TO F Da police
Listen to yourself. You admit that you do not know what a “cruise Village” is. But you quickly respond by condemning the men of Government of illiteracy.
It also seem as if you missed out on the information of the recent news article that said Dominica maintained a surplus in its budget for the last fiscal year, as you conclude that Dominica has no money, because the men of government have all of it.
Most of the time we need to be careful of the things we say, even if we have the right to speak out! Our words can have a negative effect on those who are coming after us.
Lizavier
This surplus in the budget definitely did not filter down to the lower class. It stayed with the big men in Government. This is the exact point of (F Da Police). If you live in Dominica do you feel the surplus, or see the impact of the surplus? The Government choose all the ridiculous avenues to spend money that will not be profitable. This is why the minister now see that the money they spent for upgrade of the airport and the income it generated does not make sense.
Very good idea… I had been thinking of a race track…
But a cruise village sounds good too… Bayfront gets too congested
Too short for a drag race track and too many potholes too. We could turn it into a film set for magee politicians to do their thing. This only a few weeks after the announcement of a hospital in Warner.
What happen to the yacht marina idea? Maybe the whole village of Mahaut could be decamped and turned into a huge shopping center?
What a performance! This is an administration starved of ideas. Who going to pay for this cruise whats it? China?
great news…….flights from st lucia to the us are cheap…..wen will dominica realsie that we jus need an international airport and stop playing politics..wit it…….
DOMINICA DON’T NEEEED AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. What we need is an operating airport that can get people in and out quickly and provide more direct and connecting flights.
Dominica do need an international airport….And how can people move in and out quickly when you have no space in an airport….you are not making no sense….Dominica is the center of the lesser Antilles, therefore jets will come straight to dominica insted of antigua and barbados and connect flights with other airlines because of gas and customer service liability. Dominica has a lot of opportunities but this government cant realize that because there all into it cause of money…How can you have a stadium and only have 6 flights a day?
The downside is that the TSA at Hewannora is awful.
They need to get it that they are not providing any kind of safety for the passengers and are just there as a control grid to hassle people on the behest of Homeland Security, which was set up to control the population and have complete control over them via the Patriot Act (which is unconstitutional to begin with). Just a criminal society of thugs.
The airports do not have to let TSA into them. There is no law. They can kick them out and they are doing just that in Italy and other European airports. If enough airports kick them out, they won’t have any more power trips over travelers.
People have to stand up and demand that the TSA be removed. Quit buying into the govt. sponsored terror scheme. They want people to travel less and be less free.
lollololololololol.that’s all i can do .
so I can visit my frinds
I hope it will srart soon.
thank you
Another “knee jerk” unplanned idea.No environmental impact study or economic or sustainability study. What the hell is a cruise village?It sounds good but lack substance. So typical of these
bureacrats.Like the “night Landing fiasco which cost millions of dollars and no economic value to Dominicans.
The idea of converting the Canefield airport into a Cruise Village is a good one for several reasons:
1. A proper pier can be built to accommodate at least two mega ships (Carnival victory size – 100,000grt plus) and two smaller ships (Holland America Maasdam size – 40,000 – 70,000 grt plus) simultaneously, similar to the Cruise Ship Pier in St Maarten. A smaller pier can also be built to accommodate the Ferry service and boats providing water-based excursions
2. There will be adequate space for ground transportation services and the dispatch of both organized and private tours without the confusion that currently exist on the Bay Front in Roseau. I expect provisions will be made for parking and space for car rental companies wishing to do business with the cruise passengers
3. A Duty Free complex similar to Haven Sight in St Thomas can be built to house numerous duty free shops
4. A Craft Market similar to the one in Castries can be built to house art and craft vendors
5. An open air theatre can also be built to facilitate local cultural performances and local live bands and there is ample space to host carnival like activities that cruise passengers can participate in.
6. The current airstrip/airport terminal building can be upgraded, expanded and converted into a business centre with offices for customs, port authority, police and immigration, tourism information, tour operators, taxi associations, watersports associations, tour guides associations, hotel and tourism association etc to offer services to visiting cruise passengers. A full service bank, telecommunications services including internet cafe,
7. A replica of the Kalinago Barana Aute in the Kalinago Territory can also be built to highlight Kalinago/Carib Heritage
8. A Hotel and Conference facility can also be built. This will provide opportunities for Dominica to adequately host regional and international conferences like the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association COnference and Trade Show held in a different regional destination each October. I understand the next such event is carded for October 2011 in Puerto Rico.
9. A helipad can be developed to facilitate hlicopter tours and for emergency rescue
10. A seaplane shuttle service can also be introduced to offer tours to the Saints, Marie Galante, Guadeloupe and Martinique
11. Lawn Tennis Courts can be developed
12. An olympic size swimming pool can be developed
13. A CASINO can also be developed
14. A Food Court promoting local, Caribbean and International Cuisine can be developed
Personally, I believe that this is a fantastic idea and while I am not sure whether this idea is articulated in the current Tourism Policy, I believe it is an idea that must be developed with much haste if we are to position ourselves to compete more forcefully in the Caribbean cruise tourism arena.
That being said, I believe that there is need to seriously consider upgrading the Roseau Cruise Ship Ship Berth with a view to improving the dispatch of both organized and private tours and the Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth is in need of a long awaited upgrading and facelift. In addition, I believe that Cabrits and by extension the greater Portsmouth area has special appeal and Cabrits can be developed as a Heritage Cruise Port similarly to the cruise village being considered for the Canefield Airstrip/Airport. The 2003/4 United Nations Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) study on the yachting industry rated the Portsmouth Harbour/Prince Rupert Bay very highly as a port of call with much potential and stated that the harbour has tremendous geographic capital…
The Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth has the advantage of being located within one of the most picturesque harbours in the Caribbean and is the site of the only National Park in Dominca that is comprised of both marine and terrestrial environments. There already exist a series of historical ruins on the Cabrits peninsular that can be restored to house shops, restaurants, offices etc. Adequate space is available to develop an seaquarium and promote many waterbased sporting activities. Unlike the Canefield site, there are numerous prestine spots for discovery in the North and the 14 segment of the Waitukubuli National Trail ends at the Cabrits. The Prince Rupert and Douglas Bays have beautiful beaches safe for swimming and the location looks more like a tourist destination than most places I have been to.
Any further development of the cruise industry in Dominica cannot undescore the need to upgrade the Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth. Additionally the potential for marina development is also very significant especially since ninety percent (90%) or there about of cruisers (charters, bareboats, mega yachts) visiting Dominica stop at Portsmouth. More yachties know Portsmouth, Purple Turtle and Prince Rupert Bay than any other name in Dominica, I am sure. The need to take the yachting sector more seriously is more critical than ever since yachting contribute well over $15,000,000.00 to the local economy annually and has the capacity to contribute more if it is well developed. That being said, there is need for a stronger presence of the Dominica Tourism Authority (Discover Dominica) in Portsmouth. It is a shame that over the past ten (10) years there is no Tourism Information Officer in Portsmouth. The last known officer was Mr. Baldwin Baptiste and since his resignation no one has replaced him. I am therefore calling on the powers that be to gainfully employ a young man or woman to serve in that capacity for the area. Portsmouth is too important a part of the country’s tourism product not to have a Tourism Information Officer stationed there.
Referring back to the conversion or transformation of the Canefield Airstrip/Airport to a cruise village, I do hope that the development of an airport capable of safely accommodation larger commercial passenger planes than the American Eagle ATR 72 is in the pack of card as well. We cannot move our tourism to the next level with Melville Hall Airport. We need an airport that will assist in the creation of more sustainable economic opportunities for Dominica. As with Canefield, Melville Hall will also be developed for other uses such as an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre and or Free Zone Processing/Assembly Centre pluc other uses.
People id Dominica is to become a leader in the region, as we are poised to become based on the growth in the economy, then we have to make really bold moves including revamping legislation, policies, overhauling the public sector to make it more service and goal oriented and providing a more attractive regime of incentives to attract and retain local investments, diaspora-based investments and froreign direct investments. This will help to create a renewed interest in Dominica as an investment location. Also, we should nver forget where we came from and very bit of effort must be made to continue to protect our agricultural sector and our country’s food security.
So what about all the vendors who are at the BayFront? Will they have to move? That idea doesn`t seem wll planned out at all. But at least it is an idea.
Partner read the article again, but plz put on some readiing spectacles.
lol hahaha i agree with BOYZ2Men
Two words for you Blackmore RACE TRACK you will be surprise the tourism increase,hotel stay over dominica will recieve.
Ma Charles upgrade it from PJ, now its going to be upgraded to something else.
well hoping the island will benefit fom this fully.
Now i getting a bit taste to come and work in dca… so much business can be created for the younger generation… Hotel Industry now follow and think wisely!!!! BUSINESS OWNERS time for improved service and more products!
Since that little idea causing so much roro already, I say turn Canefield into a drag strip eh… I’m fed up of racing on de damn roads. I can see it already… Hot Import Nights Dominica!!! lol.
I hope it this plan goes through and not dissappear until election like the Boulevard in Pointe michel.
Give me a break Dominican’s please do not let these bunch of fools block head go ahead with any work until they remove Skerritt as P M in Dominica remember he need to go and if his men them in office who is elligal just as him do not ask him to step down we cannot agree for no plans to come in the name of this elligal government, please fight against everything and join hands until Skerritt is gone from office enough is enough, and tell blackmoore his time coming also Skerrittttttttttt liar need to gooooooooooo gooooooooooooooo gooooooooo and i mean now that man is no good to be a leader i wonder what his Aunty saying about all this , sometime i dose wonder how she grow Skerrit up if is to cheat, lie, and has no morals i also dose wonder who really grow this man up , they did a ba djob on him because a man cannot be so dishornest.
your brain and your butt have exchanged position
Is Minister Blackmore crazy, or did he start celebrating the holidays too early? A cruise village and an airport all in one. Wow! Why didn’t I think of that one.
Closing Canefield is a great idea,because it’s losing money. Dominica lacks a movie theatre, a five star hotel restaurants etc. Canefield is ideally suited for these enterprises.
hope is not a set of shacks u talking about.
Why all you cussing one another non?. Talk like big men and women and doh call others name. All I know is it is expensive to run international airport .. ask Antigua and some of the Islands with International Airport. All you doh call me names eh. I just stating some facts eh. As one reader say one must look at all facts before commenting. All you do
To those of you who asked the question “What is a cruise village?”
First of all I commend you for your attitude of humility! I mean that you expressed a good attitude. It is much, much, better for us to ask questions, if we do not understand a situatuon, than to pretend that we know everything and to make a fool of ourselves, through empty talks.
I wish that more of us would start espressing that attitude of humility, for God in Heaven is delighted with that attitude in us, as it is part of the Nature of His Holy Spirit. I know for sure, that He would protect us from those who try to manipulate us, because they think that we do not know better. Maybe the world of perspective and perception would not view us as rising in corruption compared to the United States of America, and to rate us at a higher level of corruption, than that country, in the year 2010.
With that said, I am not going to say that I know what is in the mind of Mr. Blackmore and the Government of Dominica as they speak about a “cruise village.” But if their idea is according to my personal understanding of the nature of a “cruise village”, as some of us have already observed, that idea from the minister is a “very good idea!”
Now what I understand is that, as A CRUISE VILLAGE, the vicinity of Canefield Airport would be redesigned to give reception or entertainment, through the means of various activities, to the people who travel by Cruise Ships to Dominica. Hence the name: “CRUISE VILLAGE”
For example that vicinity would be comprised of shops, restaurants, entertainments, Dominica’s arts and crafts displays, maybe a Hotel designed for tourist who would like spend more than one day in Dominica. That place would also be the main venue for information about Dominica, in regards to sight seeing, and other aspects that I cannot think about now.
That is the reason the idea is a great one. Not only that the functions of a “Cruise Village” would enchance the desire for more outsiders to visit Dominica, but it would also create all sorts of jobs for the locals. Through the activities or functions of a “CRUISE VILLAGE” the Government could restore the $1.1 million that they are short of, through investment in the Canefield Airport, and they could continue to reap the fruits of that investment. We need to maintain hope for betterment, through the ideas of our Government, because we desire to see our country move into the Light.
Once again, that is my understanding of a “Cruise Village”, base on the many examples in Toronto Canada, where I now live. We have a place that is known as Pioneer Village; we have the vicinity of the CN Tower and even the Sky Dome–the home of our Toronto Blue Jays of Baseball; we have Ontario Place and the Centre Islands on Lake Ontario, we have Exhibition Place. I could go on and on. All of those places are places that attract visitors from around the world, especially during the summer. Their main purpopse is to bring revenue into the country–the City of Toronto for example; which is what I would like to believe Mr. Blackmore is talking about.
A simply wonderful (dream). Where will the money come from though and in what time frame. Alas our political parties are so centered on being re-elected and boasting about “our party’s project” that – even if the money could be sourced – such grandiose projects could never be undertaken. Alas, we lack strategic thinking…everything is so reactionary.
To Pedro
As I already said, we need to maintain hope for the betterment of our homeland. A woman who conceives a child will only give birth to a healthy baby–both physically and mentally–if she herself maintains the same attitude and conducts during her pregnancy.
It is the same way that we need to maintain the attitude and conducts of hope–as one people–in reguards to the ideas our men of government conceives for the betterment of our country. Did you know that if the majority of Dominicans continue to nurture negativity for Dominica, that is what God will manifest in physical form in Dominica’s people and her surroundings.
I say it another way to remind you that God has blessed us with abundant Life in His Person, Jesus Christ, and He has cursed us with death in Satan. But we make the personal choice; He won’t force neither blessings nor cursings on us. What do we, as individuals want for our country and its people? God is waiting for us to tell Him what we have chosen, as a majority people, and we will have our heart’s desire.
Many of us seem to be blaming one person/group or the other. Let us not forget that most of the time the enemy is within our own self, as we produce whatever we nurture in our minds.
can get an expert to tell us wats that cruise village is about?
Good idea. We have messed up the nearest beach to Roseau with ugly,dirty, polluting industries. Let’s move- & relocate them, fuel tanks and all. The existing jetty, currently only used for the occasional cement tanker, could be enhanced, Donkey beach cleaned up and the whole area landscaped. As for keeping Canefield airport operational, yes it is expensive and it always was but the main reason for it being there,(emergency in case Melville Hall gets cut off, which is not unimaginable) is still valid. remember, Melville Hall airport is even less cost effective!
well well well i missed the action on skerro citizenship update,,,as ya’ll can see i late,,,i got a call while i’m still on vacation so i come n check it out,,,,i saw a lil marjee call ‘dominichien’ giving bloggers blows/serious talk for standing for what is rite,,,,but if i was dere i woulda whip him/her like a rag doll n send them running home directly like there mother chien,,,,um well all i want to know is who are/is the member(s) of the D.A.I.C that’s giving kickbacks to certain minister(s) of cabinet,,, n i hate when bloggers playing ignorant like they don’t know,,,yow skerro got his citizenship as an adult,,he took oath,,,under our constitution he can’t hold office or anyone else for that matter except if it was recieved as a minor,, so for all bloggers don’t confuse with those among us who got it as children under their parents,,,,his mom being french don’t change nothing since he’s born in dominica,,,now what his mom could have done is file for him right away,,,by alleged reports it don’t seem that this was exercised maybe until skerro was an adult,,,which i believe is serious lapse on his mother’s part,,,most parents i know filing greencard n british passports for there children right away,,,,well that is except she wanted to run in d ‘carwinage’ n didn’t want lil skerro behind her lol
just my observation,,,,
as dominicans let us remember this is not about skerrit or workers but it’s about the constitution,,and no one is above it, when we get to accept that then as a nation we are going under very fast,,,n my friend lizxavier4jesus,,u said our constitution enable us to hold dual citizenship,,,,that is true but remember it makes special provision for if one wants to hold office,,,,u can’t have dual citizenship for matters of national security,,,all nations if i’m not mistaken has that,,,u can’t be p.m of canada,,england and have dual citizenship,,,neither can u be president of the u.s.a,,,,,and to all my d/cans who are drinking the fox news stale juice,,,obama was born in hawaii,,but we all know that americans are not to bright so they forgot hawaii is an american dependency just like puerto rico n virgin isles,,,,,,um ask mccain where was he born,,,,um um um he was born in panama,,,his dad was serving there so his mom was over there with him,,,when he was born,,his dad took him to the u.s.a to officially get birth certificates,,,,,so what it means is if u preggerz n u came d.a for christmas while 7 months and u had ur child then in dominica,,,as soon as in a week,,,u can go to b/dos u.s embassy and arrange to have ur child a u.s citizen since u r a u.s citizen,,,,,i not american,,i’m dominican but i read up on the laws of nations that interest me,,,,n believe they won’t acknowledge the child being born in d/ca similar to mccain,,,,he/she will be like any american born on u.s soil,,,,wrong is wrong it can’t be right just like black cant be white,,,so stop beating a dead horse,,, all that talk bout ‘we love skerro’ aint gonna save him,,,,since u love him then i guess u hate dominica,,,,anytime u put one above ur head,,above ur law,,above ur ideals then u have just created an idol or a mini-god and the heavenly father will surely give u wat comes for u,,,,skerro days as a politician is numbered n he knows it,,,,skerro can’t contest the bi-elections my frenz read allu constitution b4 replying ahem!!! plus he can be fined,,,jailed n still stay away from active politics for approximately 7 yrs,,,,his best option is to drag this court date as much as till next election which i don’t see happening,,,when he relinquishes that post whether ambrose,,austrie or mcintyre i don’t see anyone of them handing it back,,,,the only man who’d hand skerro back office is savarin and no way labour gonna trust freedom with dere future,,,,so in my opinion skerro should have hold onto his french citizenship,,,bow out gracefully,,,take his cash n head to france or the E.U,,he has enough connects to get a job etc etc,,,this P.M has lied over n over and i get the feeling we as a nation is trying to justify his lies,,,is that what we come to,,,,,if u are one of them reading n u justify his actions well this is for u,,,,look ur self in the mirror n think real deep and ask urself how much would u sell your soul for,,,yes my fren u have put a price on ur life,,,,,,,infrastructural development with social decay n national disregard for morality is no development,,,,just steel n bricks,,,,keep this in mind b4 u think of replying
I believe that Skerrit should be dealt with according to the law and we make an example of him. I gather that you are an intelligent person mouth of the south and as such i am very disappointed in your assumption or accusation. It is very low of you to suggest that Skerrit’s Mum wanted to hang out at Carwinage instead of adopting her son. Those who know about the Carwinage will know exactly what you are implying. This is not cool. Dont do this. Let integrity reign across the board.in spite of our crooked government behavior – that is i
look ur self in the mirror n think real deep ur self
Mouth of the south…..Guy get a life. Are you the DNO appointed mouthpiece on criticism? Try saying something with a different perspective for a change. You must either be very lonely or had a terrible childhood.
just a point of clarification, John McCain was born on a US military base, and that is considered US soil.
Tha same way Guantanamo, even if it is in Cuba it is US soil same as all US embassies worldwide. Just thought I would point that out. Anyway you are on point. Keep educating them. lol
What you saying makes no sense! you are just confused!
Canefield airport is costing the taxpayer some three million dollars a year just to keep open in terms of staff, power, energy and equipment, because it is hardly making any money from flights. Basically it is uneconomic and has been for many years. We, the tax payers, have been keeping it open just to sit there.
Cruise ships on the Bayfront mess up Roseau traffic every day they call. The Port at Fond Cole is an ugly arrival point among containers and cargo. So therefore it makes sense to find somewhere that you can plan from scratch. A very long dock along the deep coastline can take several ships at one time. There is place for traffic and bus and tour vehicles to que up properly etc. etc..
The cruise village part is the shops and organised vendor stalls that will be built. Heaven knows where the money will come from but this is an inovative idea.
AND as for the international airport people living in never never land just do some research and check the political and economic crisis that that idea has plunged St. Vincent into. Just bulldozed earth and no money to continue it. The people of St.Vincent will be held to ransome for its failure for years to come.
I concur with you on the Canefield Airport issue and your justification for supporting transforming that airport into a cruise village. But I cannot support you with regards the need for an INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT for DOMINICA. No where on earth you find major capital projects are done they pay back for them selves. I believe it is the spin-off in the economy these project creates that matters. What needs to be done is to get friendly Governments to assist us with the construction of the airport. I believe that Dominica has capable negoitiators and friendly governments (UNited States, European UNion, China, Lybia, Venezuela et al) who we can approach to assist with the construction. We can also approach foreign direct investors and promote the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concept. Obviously commercial loan financing will be too burdensome for us. We can sell treasury bills and bonds etc.
When the airport is built in St Vincent I am sure you will see an improvement in the investment climate there.
Excellent idea. I have been saying for years that Canefield should be closed and the resources devoted to it moved to Melville Hall. Melville Hall could be upgraded further to accommodate regional short-haul jets. I had a different idea for the use of the land now occupied by Canefield – my concept was that of a business park, with offices for companies in the service sector, the intent being to draw companies like Clear Harbour to Dominica in order to provide employment to the country’s youth. Companies in North America and parts of Europe out-source a lot of service jobs, I don’t see why we couldn’t get in on the action. Globalization has made that type of investment a potential windfall to states like Dominica – its a bargain for these companies – their costs are considerably less that what it would be in their home countries, and its a bargain for Dominica – minimal investment is required on the part of the government, the country’s youth get jobs when they graduate from school, the tax base increases, more money flows in the country. Furthermore, this would not be a case of a foreign entity investing money in Dominica and taking it back out – this is a case of money flowing in – the office spaces/buildings would be owned by government or private investors and then leased to the foreign company, and that company would be bringing in money to pay wages.
Like articles like yours .. objective and making meaningful suggestions. That is waht we need on DNO. Too much politics in everything and direct hiting at PM etc. Yes warma continue with the good works.
Good idea as well. It’s healthy to talk positive. I agree with your version as well. Part of the airstrip closer to the Industrial estate can be developed as an IT Park.
More details will be given this Sunday.
Your government is working.
Patat why you holding everything. I in suspense. Tell me noh.. me alone…
very nice to hear my friend lets just wait and see .
Very Excellent Idea!
why doesnt this gentleman think deeply before he speaks so much gabbage…thats really the next level…listen to his chatter if you thinking Big Sir where is your International Airport etc to get stay overs…you thinking along the lines of small cents cruise business that cant have a spill over to create any major upsurge Tourism wise….stayover is the Key element…
so you see why this island suffers because of lack of depth in thinking…the guy spoke so much gabbage in Melville Hall talking about 727/s landing for night landing when a DH8 is even safe to land at nights there…wow wow wow…Dominica is in the Gutters,this Corrupted Labour Party is a waste!!
Idiot there are more developed islands with no INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT and they are doing great… You don’t need an international airport to bring in business you need an airport that is capable of haveing a significant amount of flights going in and out with less delays and more direct flights. Even st thomas that is more developed than dominica when it comes to tourism don’t have a dang international airport opened 24/7. Secondly before you build an international airport you need hotels etc to house the thousands of people who are going to flood the island where they going to put them in your nosehole… Ya’ll just like to braggg get the facts together. Then you guys talking about you want dominica to stay unspoilt and innocent etc but with international airports, tourism and all this comes crimes and all the other disadvantages that comes with the package so make up ya’ll mind already. shezzzz louiseeeee
Yea Yankee name one of these islands.SOT
yes some of these islands only have big airports but they are ot truly international you need to learn what international means
have you ever been to st.Thomas? If yes then what do you call Cyril E. King Airport? It may not open 24/7 but it has that potential if and when that need arises.
By the way the airport MUST precede the hotel. No investor worth his salt is not going to put any hotel
if the means to fill it is not there i.e the airport capable of handling jet traffic.
By the way New York doesn’t make you smarter than us at home.
yes i been there and yes TEY DON’T HAVE AN INTERN AIRPORT.. The doggone airport closes by 9pm and as far as tourism they were doing just fine until lately and it’s because of the crime rate going up. So again get your facts correct. Secondly I NEVER said i was smarter than anyone, the difference between me and other folks is i don’t just talk for talking sake and follow no band waggon. I think for my self son so fall back..
AMEN!!!
You are not making no sense with this St. thomas thing…..St. thomas dont rely on their airport….They rely on the tourism market which comes on a port!!
I was making a comparism that there are more developed islands that don’t have an international airport and are doing good.
The Minister never mentioned about 727s, He said 737s as you know 727s do land there already. Amerijet is a 727… However no more 727 passenger jets are being manufactured..
Enough with your BS politics ..Please just let the people capable of moving Dominica forward continues to do so…
Not to sound too redundant but what is a cruise village? How does cruise and airport come together? Will there be a link to a cruise ship? What kind of planes will be landing there? By the way, why didn’t St. VIncent give that new airline permission to land at its airports? I guess Dominica is a land of guinea pigs. Even our president is used as a guinea pig to test flights!
YEA BRIGHT IDEA IT WILL BE SO GOOD WE HAVE TO TAKE DA TO THE NEXT LEVEL FOR TRUE
nice idea… do it and do it well.. it will succeed if excuted with vision
i don’t understand
what is a cruise village??
Best idea to come from Ministry of Tourism, and Ministry of Ports! I pray that it happens soon.
What is a cruise village.
Maybe a Curise village is a place where the tourist can visit to buy Dominican food and products. However, will the tourist be willing to pay a bus or taxi just to visit this Village at CANEFIIELD? If it is a Cruise Village, it should be located close or next to a Seaport. Anyway, we shall see. The Tourism Expert may already have a plan.
To Amah
I would like to believe that provisions would be made to transport the tourist from a cruise ship, the the vicinity of that cruise village. A person, who sets forth from his/her country to visit other countries, is searching for different attractions from his/hers homeland. That person would expect to provide a cost for that privilege.
Also, let us remember that the government is considering redesigning that particular venue, because it is a standstill in production, they, having invested 1.2 million dollars there. Read that in the last financial year, the revenue from Canefield was only $117, 000.00.
We need to think more positively, and maintain hope. “God works for the good of those He loves”. Let us believe that God love us and our Dominica, and to remember that nothing is impossible with Him.
Im wondering if he also means, allowing cruist ships to dock there. I really wonder
Why do some persons have such negative vibes about this and they have no clue what is a Cruise Village. Well to the dumb ones……A cruise village is something like a cruise terminal. Basically it is a facility where cruise ships docks and the village itself will provide services for the use of the cruise passengers and crew members. It usually offers duty free shops, crafts shops or vendor stalls, customs and immigration usually hold their offices there as well as port health and animal quarantine. Usually there will be a post office and a tourist information center. Restaurants and bars will also be included and usually some form of local entertainment would be a plus. The passengers will walk directly through the Cruise Village when leaving the ship. In Barbados for example all passengers must pass through a cruise village before leaving the facility. Outside this village is where the tour operators and buses will be located for when the passengers leave the Cruise Village.
The Cruise Village should have berthing facilities for cruise ships as well and facilities, services, and activities that would entice passengers to disembark and stay ashore for the duration of the ship in port. It would not be feasible to passengers to take a shuttle to Canefield when they can buy what they want on the Roseau Bayfront from vendors and duty free shops operating there. I think it is a fantastic idea but the idea must be well developed and financing must be available. The idea of developing a similar idea at Fond Cole on the Public Works Corporation compound was not as strategic. I believe the Canefield idea for a Cruise Village is better.
mouth of the South..wow thats alot of typing..got alot of time. you need to be president..lol any ways what ever the plan is , give the contract to locals and not the chinese.
I agree with all you said. That’s exactly what I thought a cruise village will be/is..
i think casinos should be made. casinos brings money to the hotel industry as well as money from cruise ships.