Gov’t wants to turn Canefield Airport into cruise ship port

The gov't is looking at Canefield Airport as a possible cruise ship port
The gov’t is looking at Canefield Airport as a possible cruise ship port

It appears government has big plans for the near dormant Canefield Airport and is hoping to turn it into a buzzing cruise ship port.

Minister for Energy and Ports Rayburn Blackmore made the disclosure at a press conference on Friday.

According to him, Dominica is seeing “significant improvement in our cruise season” and more mega ships are calling and there is need to improve the country’s capacity to accommodate them.

“The issue of having a cruise port development is very important and the idea is we have been looking at the Canefield Airport,” he said.

Blackmore stated that initial investigations have been completed and said there is confidence the project can be done.

“There are two companies, one United Kingdom-based, Halcrow and one Canadian, Delcan, who are actually willing to assist with providing the technical impressions as to how (to do) this cruise port development in Canefield,” he revealed. “And I think that is the kind of vision that the DLP has for this country; a big vision that will take us through the 21st Century and beyond.”

Blackmoore said more mega ships are calling on Dominica
Blackmoore said more mega ships are calling on Dominica

Switching to the geothermal project, the Energy and Ports Minister noted that the country has spent over $54-million, most of which came from grant funding.

“Of course we are well on the way …as you can see we have just completed the production well,” he stated. “By June we shall be doing scientific testing on production well and we are having discussions with a French consortium of businessmen and in due course a pronouncement will be made as to where we are at in this negotiation.”

Blackmoore said the government is providing “concrete solution supported by facts” on the project while “the other side is bent on providing platitudes, clichés, open-ended sentences that make no sense and are talking about projects that are totally ridiculous.”

Additionally, there are some road projects in the pipe line, the minister said.

The road from Bois Diable to White River will begin by July/August.

The government will also address the Delices road which is prone to landslides. Blackmoore said this will be a European Union funded project and submissions for bids will be ready within a week.

He noted that the Pont Case road going through to Castle Bruce, Petite Soufriere and Kalinago Territory is also on the cards. He said this $60-million project is funded under a World Bank initiative. Similarly, the government has secured a concessionary loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to the tune of US$6.5-million to stabilize the St. Aroment to Bath Estate back road cliff, as well as an extension of the side walk from Bath Estate all the way to the Community High School area.

The Dubique cliff is another area that will be addressed under a World Bank facility for risk management, according to Blackmoore.

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178 Comments

  1. Francisco Telemaque
    May 13, 2014

    ” Do you know how many people visit DA by air. vs the cost of building and maintaining such a facility. If you have friends in St Kitts, St Lucia/Grenada etc ask them how many flights they get daily?”

    Sir, Mr. Avocado, or since you prefer “Zabocca” such question under normal circumstances I would consider trivial; however, since the idea is to communicate, and exchange knowledge, I will do my best to respond in a partially and hopefully sensible way.

    First of all you cannot rely, or based what is anticipated in Dominica, on what you see is taking place on any of the islands you mentioned. In doing so, you should first ask yourself, if an International Airport is so, expensive to maintain, and is not profitable, how are these islands they told you are struggling for flights manage to maintain them and remain operational?

    Secondly, ask yourself, and Dominica Government, if there is something so wrong about building an International Airport in Dominica, so much so, that they allow Ralph Gonzalez to make fools, and a mockery of them all ; and then went to St. Vincent his home country, and build an International Airport which will become operational before the end of the year, why they refuse open their eyes, and that of our people, hence, realizing that there must be something very essential about investing in that part of our infrastructure.

    Now I have first hand information, as far as Antigua is concern; and I can tell you; had it not been for the International Airport in Antigua, the economy of Antigua would have collapse many times in the seventy’s even to the day Antigua attained its independence!

    How do I know that? My former wife Violet Matthew, Antiguan born was an executive civil servant, employed in the Antigua Government Treasury, she had first hand information of that islands financial affairs, she knew when civil servants were not going to be paid on time in any month; she dictated which local merchants got paid for goods and services rendered to the government of Antigua, for more than twenty years. I assure you she told me empathically that without the International Airport in Antigua, that country would have gone bankrupt many times over!

    And mind you; Antigua gets more tourist in one day, than Dominica gets in a complete season; so trust me I know what I am talking about; the Airport in Antigua generates more revenue, than the Deepwater Harbor as they call it dose. You see Piper babbling about more people arrive in Dominica by air than by sea, he is correct this time: Because, that is the easiest means of getting to Dominica. The crap talk about transforming Cane Field into this utopia for ships is nonsense. I do not know of any place in Europe, and the Americas, where one can under normal circumstance, go and book their passenger on a passenger boat (ship) destine for any place in this universes, including Dominica. The only passenger ships you expect to see in Dominica are cruse Ships, which brings tourist to the Caribbean, and none of them are specifically designated to travel “Dominica only.”

    If an International Airport is built in Dominica, more visitors will be attracted to the island, as long we develop the island to suite that purpose, and accommodate the tourist, therefore we need to attract some hotel resort chain to invest in the country, and so Dominica must be advertised internationally as a tourist destination; if you build an International Airport, and you advertise Dominica exclusively in Dominica as nature island who the heck going to hear you?

    I will leave this with you, it will not cost more than it is costing to maintain Melville Airport right now, that is a deceitful seed planted in the mind of our people by backward politicians of the Labor Party, because they do not want to build the Airport because of all the criticism they did, when the UWP was building the one they shut down. Have you ever heard of an International Shutting down because the operators could not maintain it, or because of flights. If you know of one please let me know where and when. Meanwhile, I remind yo that as soon as St. Vincent International Airport commenced operating later this year, LIAT will become history. Antigua Airport is a an main hub for international flights, Gonzalez informed if the Birds, a long time ago, if Dominica, gets an International Airport, Dominica will become the hub, while Antigua will loose that privilege!

    Respectfully Yours,

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Francisco Telemaque
      May 13, 2014

      “Antigua Airport is a an main hub for international flights, Gonzalez informed if the Birds, a long time ago, if Dominica, gets an International Airport, Dominica will become the hub, while Antigua will loose that privilege!”

      Well, that in the above is what happens when we do not edit what we write.

      So, that should read: Antigua is an main hub for international flights from the Eastern Caribbean, Gonzalez informed the Birds of Antigua a long time ago, if Dominica gets an International Airport. Dominica will become the hub, and Antigua will loose that privilege.

      I can tell you the reason why; and that is because Dominica is more centrally located in the Caribbean than Antigua, I am not going to teach geography, however, I will inform you that during World War II the importance of our island strategic importance surfaced, that is why Dominica was among the islands in the Caribbean selected by the United States, and its allies for a base, including an Airport, the same as they did in Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana, and Guantanamo Cuba. The government of the United still owns and operates the one in Guantanamo Cuba.

      The reason Patrick John, at one time approached the United States, and request that Dominica become a Sub-marine base, is because that may be the intention in the 1940’s to counter the German U-boats that was in the waters of the Caribbean wrecking havoc with the allies Ships.

      Of all the islands mentioned their nations Airport has long developed into International Airport, whereas, Dominica’s own never got finished,, because our bad habit of procrastinating, and thievery; that thing we call bobbol in Dominica; the war ended, ended before ours was completed. When the war in 1945/46 or there about there was no need to complete it.

      That is our peoples legacy, professional corrupted thieves, that’s what we are, and that is why Dominica is in the backward state in which we find yourself’s to this day. We will do anything it takes to block progress in our country, and we will talk ourselves to death in while we are doing it, how can a people be so dumb? We will kill our very own mother, if it means blocking progress in the country, Can you imagine that the Birds of Antigua charted several aircrafts to transport Dominicans living in Antigua to return to Dominica to vote against progress in their country, instructing them to vote against the UWP so that the Labor Party could win the election so that they could shut down the International Airport that was under construction, and our ignorant people followed their instructions.

      Unbelievable, but very true!

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  2. Anonymous
    May 13, 2014

    I see vast expanses of land at Point Round and i wonder why much is not being said about developing that area.I think that area can fullfill all the major plans that all the different governaments are arguing about.We talk about forsight,but we all are lacking there.This area is perfect for these intended projects

  3. water
    May 12, 2014

    Very Good initiative. Not like the UWP who gave us empty promises. Dominica is in the best standing.

  4. Cha
    May 12, 2014

    DLP promising a marina in portsmouth for the longest while and cannot start, a moroccan skeletal project that is abandoned….all u hear?. project abandoned..you not hearing them say one word about it….go see for urself…trees taking over the building. but want to talk nonsense about building a new hotel next to it and turning canefield to a port…finish the work u start before u start a new job fools….turn the emergency airport to a seaport while antrim falling down..fools in that govt.

    • JoJo
      May 12, 2014

      Pont Casse to Hatton Garden abandoned too? Mr. Blackmoore was adamant that would be finished christmas before last and he would make the contractor pay if it it was not. What happened mr. Blackmoore? Everytime I ttake that road now I think my suspension is going to fall off, especially around the Bells area.Has the money run out there also?
      What you all doing with the money Mr. Blackmoore?

  5. FORKIT
    May 12, 2014

    labar promising not working

    • waters 69
      May 13, 2014

      What is U.W.P Promising :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      LABOR

  6. just saying
    May 12, 2014

    great idea however government should take into consideration that the cruise ship season is 6 months in and 6 months out so they should construct this area in such a way that it can be used in some other way to create revenue while the season is out. maybe like some people mentioned as a race track. so we could have 6 months of cruise ship and 6 months of racing.
    p.s i would reallllllly like for the cruise ships to move out of town.that thing of the cruise ship taking over the bayfront for a whole day when in port is just not helping us nationals.roseau is small, with limited parking and traffic is really bad on cruise ship port days

  7. FORKIT
    May 12, 2014

    allu cannot even fix those pot holes in front of bardouille port but allu promising all kinds of things before elections.

  8. waters 69
    May 12, 2014

    Great Move Blackmoore :roll: :roll: :roll:

  9. Change is a must
    May 12, 2014

    Blackmore…before you make your pronouncements please check the statistics and to do a cost-benefit analysis. The tourism figures will show you clearly that cruise tourists do not contribute as much to the economy as stayovers. So spend the money you have to develop and stimulate the stayover tourism sector instead.

    Besides I know this is a political gimmick because the engineers will tell you that the waters are too deep off Candfield airport for it to be commercially viable to construct any cruise facility there. Stop fooling the people to get political votes.

    By the way, what is the latest completion date for the Hatton Garden/Pond Casse Road? At least try to finish that first before you talk about other projects. I feel ashamed at the state of the road farless for visitors. Please do not take on more than you can handle. Everyone knows your track record.

  10. repair mahaut jetty
    May 12, 2014

    two project for mr Blackmoore FIRST have you repair the jetty in mahaut opposite the market? second the bridge entering ROSEAU missing parts some one try to cover a big hole there if a person break a leg there i hope they will take you to court

  11. Intellect
    May 12, 2014

    I agree this would be progressive….but have we forgotten how prone this area is to flooding? I have seen pictures of this area during the flood and there;s no way all this investment would be a wise idea in this particular location. Yes the airport was there for years….but things have changed with this earth. Dominica never had such flooding in the past… but now we do.

  12. SiangUK
    May 12, 2014

    Cruise ship development at Canefield Airport………Long over due.

    That is where the New Hotel should be built, around such a redevleopment scheme.

  13. Espoire mal papaya
    May 11, 2014

    There are two companies, one United Kingdom-based, Halcrow and one Canadian, Delcan, who are actually willing to assist with providing the technical impressions as to how (to do) this cruise port development in Canefield,” he revealed. “And I think that is the kind of vision that the DLP has for this country; a big vision that will take us through the 21st Century and beyond
    Just say to the next level nuh!

  14. GOD IS MY FATHER
    May 11, 2014

    GREAT!!!!!!!!

  15. young man
    May 11, 2014

    I have been saying this for over 4 years now and i am now 25, so at the tender age of 21, it was clear to me that we needed such an investment. The money spent on the state house could have been well spent commencing this, as it would in time pay for itself.

    The port would replace the current deep water harbor, berth on the Bayfront and the said ferry terminal and at long last solve our traffic problems when a ship is in port.

    Four long wharves would ensure that we can handle eight ships at a time. The complex should include a tourist village and a PROPER parking lot for the large number of taxi operators on island. The compound can be extended to the Massacre area allowing for adequate storage and office spaces.

    A cruise ship guest would have no choice but to take a taxi into the city, forcing them to spend.

    • May 11, 2014

      How are you going to attract all these additional ships. Given that the tourist season typically only last for 6 months how is one to generate the traffic to justify this.

      • Get this !
        May 11, 2014

        the same way u justify an international airport.

      • JoJo
        May 12, 2014

        Valid point. I had not given thought to that but what are we going to do with that investment during the six months the cruise ships don’t call here? At least it would have to maintained and Canefield airport costs at least $1 million a year to keep open so God only knows what such a complex would cost.

    • Intellect
      May 12, 2014

      I guess at 21 you did not know that Foreign funding come with conditions. If you are given money for one purpose, this is what you must use it for. You get money based on what the funder decides to support……

    • Francisco Telemaque
      May 12, 2014

      ” The money spent on the state house could have been well spent commencing this, as it would in time pay for itself.”

      Well, the State House is necessary okay!

      The word State House, actually means “the building in which a State Legislature sits.” It is part of our nations development, that is part of our governmental infrastructure. We cannot condemned everything; however the crap that Black-boy is evoking five years after he flaunted the idea, and which may have got him elected, might be the only idea he has ever thought of; hence, he is repeating the same nonsense with the hope that people will not remember he babbled about that five years ago.

      Ask yourself, how come in five years, after he was elected, he never made any effort to proceed with this idea? I will tell you why, it is because it is not financially feasible at all! I doubt the Chines would not lone government one Chines penny to waste into something like that. And let me remind Dominica, that the Chines government told this present Labor Party in Government “the only way Dominica will begin (commenced) to make some progress, is when we build an International Airport! I defy any one in the present government to refute that.

      And the reason they cannot refute it is because it is true; I spoke the truth, and they try to deny it, they will know longer be trusted by the Chines, who will prove them to be liars!

      You people are so confounded it is shameful. Here you are supporting something that is unrealistic, however, you all are ignoring something such as an International Airport, which is much more feasible, and is no less an emergency at this point and time of our history. What happen to that, are you people so duped, so brainwashed, that you are unable to think cognitively, and discover that these guys are only blowing off hot air as election approaches?

      When news are published in a newspaper, there is always a caption to attract the readers curiosity; sometimes the excitement is in the caption, the headline, whereas the details of the story is boring. Well, this is exactly what this man has done, his caption has captivated many, especially the puppets he has on a string who attacks me; nevertheless he knows all of his comments on the subject is nothing more than blowing in the wind.

      There is something, that the human does naturally, it is known as “fart:” In Dominica because of the heavy accent people say “fat,” well, fart, and fat are totally two different things, and Blackmoor is simply farting out of a place that is not designated for that you see!

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • May 12, 2014

        Mr Telemaque, I posted this earlier do take a read, you usually state some relevant stuff but you are way off base on this one. Please do some feasibility study and get back to me. Do you know how many people visit DA by air. vs the cost of building and maintaining such a facility. If you have friends in St Kitts, St Lucia/Grenada etc ask them how many flights they get daily?
        Yes there are specific times like Creole, Jazz and Carnival festivals when we get an influx of visitors (Oh I should add election time, SMILE) but that would not pay for the cost of building and maintaining the facility.
        Do we really think that DA can compete with the other islands in the Caribbean for the tourist dollar. I have news for you, about 90 to 95% of these tourists have 2 weeks vacation they want to spend it in the sun, they want pristine white beaches so that they can escape from the winter back home and go back home with a tan. That way they can show their friends and neighbors they been on a really nice vacation.
        Yes , we can entice some of these visitors with eco. tourism but its a small percentage. With all due respect folks, pay a visit to our sister islands and see if we can compete on a regular basis with what they have to offer. White sandy beaches, golf courses, casino, fine dining, good customer service, to name a few. Incidentally, I have lived among the whites (majority of our prospective tourists, I have visited all the other islands we are competing with so I am not just blowing hot air.
        Incidentally, when you next walk or drive past the Windsor Park stadium, just look up and see how the building is deteriorating, we cannot afford to maintain it properly. This is what would happen to our proposed grandiose ideas of international airport and new cruise berths. I am not a naysayer, just an enlighten realist who is not blinded by the nonsense that goes on here in the name of politic.

  16. May 11, 2014

    As a followup to my previous post, I know that many of you will point to the fact that we are the nature island of the Caribbean. Really, are you so blind that you fail to see all the trash all over the place. I was in town during the final week of the season, I saw tourists having to abandon the pavement and walk on the road among the traffic because of the big piles of garbage on the pavement. Also, lest we forget, another major eyesore are the large number of vagrants roaming the streets with their clothes falling off them exposing their private parts.
    And I hope no one lectures me about being unpatriotic, to these people I say hold that thought and think, look around you, do some travelling, go on the internet etc before you come back and give me mawy pweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .

  17. May 11, 2014

    What is wrong with my people. Please forget the gutter politics and lets use our collective commonsense. Currently, our cruise season is 6 months in duration. During that time how many cruise ships drop anchor in DA? Similarly, several people are clamoring about an international airport. Do you know how many people visit DA by air. vs the cost of building and maintaining such a facility. If you have friends in St Kitts, St Lucia/Grenada etc ask them how many flights they get daily?
    Yes there are specific times like Creole, Jazz and Carnival festivals when we get an influx of visitors (Oh I should add election time, SMILE) but that would not pay for the cost of building and maintaining the facility.
    Do we really think that DA can compete with the other islands in the Caribbean for the tourist dollar. I have news for you, about 90 to 95% of these tourists have 2 weeks vacation they want to spend it in the sun, they want pristine white beaches so that they can escape from the winter back home and go back home with a tan. That way they can show their friends and neighbors they been on a really nice vacation.
    Yes , we can entice some of these visitors with eco. tourism but its a small percentage. With all due respect folks, pay a visit to our sister islands and see if we can compete on a regular basis with what they have to offer. White sandy beaches, golf courses, casino, fine dining, good customer service, to name a few. Incidentally, I have lived among the whites (majority of our prospective tourists, I have visited all the other islands we are competing with so I am not just blowing hot air.
    Incidentally, when you next walk or drive past the Windsor Park stadium, just look up and see how the building is deteriorating, we cannot afford to maintain it properly. This is what would happen to our proposed grandiose ideas of international airport and new cruise berths. I am not a naysayer, just an enlighten realist who is not blinded by the nonsense that goes on here in the name of politic.

    • joe
      May 12, 2014

      Zabocca i must say you made some strong valid points here, but i disagree with you on your concept of the tourist dollar.

      I for one do not support these MASS tourism our sister islands have fallen prey to, it impoverishes the masses, if you take time out next time you travel to go on the ground, deal with the locals, especially those that is not directly involve in the sector. Go out to the rural areas and spend some time there you will see what am talking about.

      Our offering to the world whilst might be small in terms of visitors will have a better impact, because we are offering Eco Tourism which involves Community Base Tourism. So the tourists stays in a community and spends money in that community as compare to they staying in a five star hotel where everything is readily available. I know I’ve been to some islands where i stayed at some of these hotels and cannot tell you how the city looking, is from the airport to the hotel, and everything is available from my duty free shopping to disco. True say locals (As well as all their foreign Managers and Chef) are employed but the locals are always on the lower end of the bargain, they are the Chamber maids, bartenders all semi and unskilled positions goes to them, even if some of them are high school graduate they accept Chamber maid positions or receptionists.

      I’ve seen my people in these islands deteriorated… try to get a copy of ‘Jamaica for sale” very true and interesting documentary, that will help us loose all envy of our neighbours white sand and casinos etc.

    • Anthony Ismael
      May 12, 2014

      You made some valid points in your well thought out response. To simplify things a bit, this is a chicken and egg question.
      I am curious as to what your solution is for Dominica. While we may not have the white sandy beaches that you speak of, we need to create our brand of tourism and unique entertainment for those who desire to visit the Nature Isle.
      I too have visited several Caribbean Islands and I can tell you that cost is a major factor regarding vacations. Traveling to Dominica is time consuming and cost-prohibitive for your average visitor. You specifically mentioned St. Kitts and St. Lucia as Islands with International Airports who struggle with maintenance cost for these facilities. My question to you is this: Where will Jets land if we were to revert to things of yester year.
      Should Dominica just roll over and accept defeat. Are we just doomed to failure or should we try to make some type investment for the future of the island and its people.
      Those who echo similar sentiments cannot provide a viable option.

  18. Expired cabinet pill
    May 11, 2014

    DNO, What about Government wants to turn Dominica into BEGGERS Avenue so we could depend on them for handout? The former is a far fetch dream that may never happen but the later is a present day reality

    • Simply the Truth
      May 11, 2014

      That is nonsense and narrow-mindedness. I have confidence in the government that it is not so and is by no means the intention of turning D/ca into a beggar’s avenue. The poor must be fed, clothed and housed whether some of you uncharitable people like it or not. Hopefully, they put the money to good use.
      Yes! If you are a Christian you should know that and never make such a statement. People who are without need some form of assistance from the government. Sadly, it was not so in those bygone years and some people suffered then. Furthermore, providing them with assistance and the small pittance will assist in hopefully keeping the criminal elements down.
      Other countries provide financial assistance to the under privileged. Whether it is their fault that they are in this situation, they must be provided for.
      Know, too that this is the Law of God and his expectation of any government and others who are in a position to assist. Go and read Holy Scripture on this matter and learn from it.

  19. Truth be Told
    May 11, 2014

    Wonderful idea – we have been saying this since 2000 though. What I cannot believe is that we waited for the total destruction of the Rock-Away beach and the Donkey beach to now think of tourist park in Canefield! Poor long term planning. But I am waiting to see you all pull this one off. How will you develop the surrounding beach areas that now look like rubbish dumps?

    • Simply the Truth
      May 11, 2014

      Be positive. Nothing happens before its time. Probably in the past the thought was not entertained; there was no money to repair them and to turn them into a useful area.
      How often it is years later, in our own personal lives that we get an idea on how best to take advantage of a situation, to do better and sometimes too late. Give them the benefit of the doubt.

  20. tj
    May 11, 2014

    Election is near the castle bruce road is a talking point, just no action

  21. Anonymous
    May 11, 2014

    if only DOMINICA could talk

  22. anonymous21
    May 11, 2014

    More nonsense from the govt. The cruise ships aren’t going to be coming in for much longer. Expand Canefield airport.

  23. William Mc Lawrence
    May 11, 2014

    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.

    • William Mc Lawrence
      May 11, 2014

      The above comments were made a few years ago and may be still relevant today :wink: :wink: :wink:

      • RastarMarn
        May 12, 2014

        Ok Bill wiff all dat said have you reviewed the recent data from the Tourism Sectors of the Islands that have concentrated heavily on the Tourism Sector???

        According to the general consensus based on visual observations made whlie traveling to St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, and Puerto Rico, and talking to few local folks at airports, it appears that these countries have had a stagnated economic Growth as they have been Concentrating on a Service industry which is solely dependent on Foreigners Coming to spend their earnings,,,

        The sad thing is that the Europeans and the United States Citizens whose Economies have been in shambled since long time now and more evident in the real estate Market Crash of 2007, has directly affected the influx of visitors to these aforementioned tourist destinations,,,

        Garçon if allyou doh want to look out for rain before allyou put cacao outside dat is allyou bizniss yeh, all d signs are there for how fatal an economy can get while dependent on intangibles like service industries,,,

    • Tyre hit de road
      May 12, 2014

      You should be Minister of Tourism man! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  24. dominican in tortola
    May 10, 2014

    THIS IS A BIG BLUFF!

  25. Ben Dover
    May 10, 2014

    Hahahahahaahaha…..woye……

    Filay lang zor…….all you will get cruise ship port.

    Dominicans are the most gullible people in the world.

    So long they promising that and up to now.

    Its like the Roseau transformation project. During the 2009 election campaign the DLP said they were doing to transform Roseau into “the best city of the Caribbean.”

    Did it happen? NOPE

    In 2014, the same old tune. They going to transform Roseau again. LOL LOL

    Filay lang zor. Sot.

    • Kamchatka
      May 10, 2014

      @Ben Dover – Well said. I wonder what has happened to the Roseau River Promenade they said they were going to build?

    • Chinese eat Bull-Dog
      May 11, 2014

      Soon he will talk about a bull dog and a cat farm. Ask the animal husbandry minster.

  26. May 10, 2014

    U HEAR LIES

    • FORKIT
      May 12, 2014

      dat is lies

  27. Dilligent Dcan
    May 10, 2014

    I would love to see this project become a reality. We do need area like this here to boost economic growth. And please people stop the negatives ok…. let my country prosper!

    • anonymous21
      May 11, 2014

      Cruise ships are not boosting the economy here. These people don’t spend hardly any money here.

  28. Anonymous
    May 10, 2014

    The Canefield airport seems like a good location for such a venture but then again has Mr Blackmore forgotten about the industrial zone next door. So what’s the plan to deal with the industrial zone since those 2 activities don’t mesh.

    • Intellect
      May 12, 2014

      Are you aware of the type of ‘factories’ in the industrial zone? I assume u are not familiar with it to even mention it as a deterrent for economic/tourist activities close to it.

  29. RastarMarn
    May 10, 2014

    Garçon allyou not listening to Rastar yeh,,,

    Allyou not following the events in St. Lucia look Marn hear Civil service employees gonna haffi take 5-10 percent pay cut wi,,,

    Garçon tourism is NOT the answer to the Economic Woes of the Caribbean Region,,,,

    STOP investing in tourism infrastructure and concentrate on the education of them youths with more Technical Education for them to have a serious career they can retire with,,,

    Service industry is NOT the Answer!!!

    Look at what happening Barbados and now Look at what’s going on in St. Lucia,,,

  30. km
    May 10, 2014

    Couldn’t we have inter island flights (from Melville hall )

  31. Nocolor
    May 10, 2014

    Wow…really? I’m speechless….Promises…

  32. Dreal1
    May 10, 2014

    That is the BEST government in the history of Dominica. One with a plan / vision. LABOUR KA TWAVAY & we love our PM.

  33. IluvmyPm
    May 10, 2014

    Best thing skerrit can do for Dominica is resign those who follow hate u in there hearts they only pretending for what they getting

    • Intellect
      May 12, 2014

      Oh so all the posts you have been making have now been brought out into the light…. I guess you forgot to change the name for this post……

  34. joe
    May 10, 2014

    if its one time im voteing is if labour put the cruise ship berth cainfeild

  35. Laplee
    May 10, 2014

    Correction. Offices

  36. Petite Soufriere
    May 10, 2014

    I just do not understand why on God’s earth that this is what a Government is planning on doing. As one person said this airport is ideal for emergencies. Imagine someone having injured in the city and have to fly thru marigot? Why can’t we improve on the one in Roseau. whether it mean demolishing and expanding?

  37. Laplee
    May 10, 2014

    What happened to the international airport again the PM said we didn’t need?. He brought Ralph Gonsalves to tell us we don’t need one in DA but as he went back to St. Vincent, he built one. Yea, you carried a couple of people to witness some signing of agreement and we still waiting for the next move. This is just more election gimmicks. You all were just in St.Joe and no mention of this. If the head is sick, so is the body. It’s time to vacate those officcies. Zour tout sa mem.

  38. sotzorsot
    May 10, 2014

    Agriculture has been sigatokad, tourism ‘rubbished’, financial services sector ‘monopolised’, So the master plan is (drum roll):
    1)a play ground here, one over there
    2) some toilets there,
    3) some checks over there, plus school fees for college students
    4) an indoor facility there (even if it small like a matchbox when they hear 3.6million they’ll be happy and vote)
    5) another port there,
    6) two more plants in Roseau, throw concrete on dem ole sidewalks
    7) paint 7 poowi houses

    Yah man, Dominicans you dealing with wii, we must win the elections.

  39. elections soon come
    May 10, 2014

    Ha ha ha, elections soon come boy.. now all plans are out… we eat plenty concrete the last 4 years, truckers cry, public works fini bat,

    Now a government needs 20 years in power to realise that the capital city needs a ‘face lift’? yet still no concrete plans to attract investors to create jobs? more loans to expand NEP instead?
    what?… 20 years needed for how many projects (roads excluded)?? Laughable…

  40. GREG
    May 10, 2014

    How many times have we heard this before. We eard before the last election , we heard three years ago and now itsssss back. Just like the farmers boat.

  41. Anonymous
    May 10, 2014

    roads fixed and a proper hospital is needed most. geez.

  42. Steven
    May 10, 2014

    DNO, THE thumbs up and thumbs down symbols are not operating;is there anything you can do to assist?

  43. Jay
    May 10, 2014

    They say that elephants have a long memory but human beings are not bad at recalling things either. Mr. Blackmoore proposed exactly the same idea almost four years ago (see DNO of 13 Dec. 2010) when he said :”plans are underway to transform Canefield airport into a cruise village”. What happened in the intervening period? One gets a distinct feeling that old plans and promises are being pulled out of closets, dusted off and presented as new merchandise. Something is definitely afoot but if this is designed to convince people I for one prefer to see action than listen to replays of old recordings, before making up my mind.
    As for the two overseas consultants mentioned Halcrow do have the track record and experience for such a project but I always thought they were a U.K. company rather than Canadian

  44. FAST N FURIOUS
    May 10, 2014

    Labour Ka Tawvay!

    • JoJo
      May 12, 2014

      but Workers Work!

  45. Trolol
    May 10, 2014

    Transform customs into the cruise ship port instead with their insane duties, we don’t need em.

  46. burtdave
    May 10, 2014

    The question is should we take Blackmore seriously? The government spent over three years talking about a vendors acade wgere the old ruins building is despite expert advise that it would not work. after all these years they are coming back with the same talk that Blackmore gave a few years ago about that same canefield to be converted in a cruise port. W here is the progress on that since you since mention that that years ago? Now you should be coming back with some specifics, instead you are providing platitudes, clichés, open-ended sentences that make no sense and are talking about projects that are totally ridiculous.”

  47. HealthCare
    May 10, 2014

    Tourism and roads are good but it’s not all…..How about money to pay and keep specialists in our healthcare system?? Young Doctors who want to specialize have to go elsewhere when they graduate because Dominica pays among the least for specialized Doctors. Put money into keeping them.

  48. viter
    May 10, 2014

    stale news that wii.. if im not mistaken I think that was an idea of Norris prevost before the 2000 general elections..so you see this government is just a follow fashion. the keep blaming the uwp; yet the trying to take credit for all UWP ideas..thats why Dominicans most vote the uwp back into office cuz they have shown that they have the ideas to move dominica forward.

    • Ca,Brits
      May 10, 2014

      I think…… Norris Prevost want a hotel In Portsmouth !!!!

      ————-” LOS NOMADOS ” You forget that story ?———-

    • real possie
      May 10, 2014

      But viter does that make any sense? anyone can say all the nice things they want people to hear so Norris or whoever can say what they would do or what they wan to see done but the main thing is where the money to do what they want to do coming from? but that is how a country should run with both parties putting their heads together for the betterment for the country, so by you making that statement now you see why we never went anywhere till now.

      • real possie
        May 10, 2014

        PS I want you to say that geothermal is a good thing for us lets see how we can make it better and not walk around saying its bad its this its that when you know if you win the election you will take it and run the project the same way, cause you have an ex President of the USA backing and overseeing the project I want opposition cause when people from opposite sides come together on an issue only good can come from that that’s why I can never back UWP or tream DA not team cause I don’t see any team here.

    • Dominican at large
      May 10, 2014

      It all seems that development can only take place in the Roseau vicinity. This kind of approach is wrong and it is not healthy for our country. I do support the idea that Dominica need a cruise ship port that will accommodate the new mega ships and eliminate the mess on the bay front in Roseau. However I would like to suggest that Point Round is a more suitable place to accommodate a new cruise ship port or even a better place for a new modernize port.

      • JoJo
        May 12, 2014

        That place reserved for the Chinese, don’t you know? Ask Skerrit.

    • forreal
      May 10, 2014

      so if they had so much good ideas,why did you all vote them out then,why should we go back now,we might as well forward,you see it’s plain to see it’s not what is good for the country, for you all is a matter of who in power,where you all can find favors,corrupted minded people you all are,we are not going down that road,we are for the betterment of the entire country to benefit,not just the party supporters,you all are so plain to see,just on them kinda attitude i am encouraging dominicans not to vote UWP,i smell a rat.

  49. Anonymous
    May 10, 2014

    when will this govt take us to the moon . give me the date and year so i can send in the leave document to my company in advance . please dont let me down mr black moooor
    yours turly

  50. james
    May 10, 2014

    Great news. DLP is working.

    • Kalinago
      May 10, 2014

      working by lying to the nation

  51. Anonymous
    May 10, 2014

    LABOUR KA TWAVAY

    • Jay
      May 10, 2014

      Even this is not original and clearly “borrowed” from the Conservatives’ 1979 campaign in the U.K. when the slogan” “LABOUR ISN’T WORKING” was famously coined by that party’s advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi” In fact. this slogan has become an advertising classic.
      The Dominica labour party had better be careful on two counts. One: someone may get it in their heads to sue for plagiarism and thereby give air to the original slogan. Secondly it’s effectiveness is easily countermanded by proclaiming:” WORKERS WORK!”
      I’m afraid the lack of professionalism in Mr. Skerrit’s campaign is showing.

  52. MY 2 CENTS
    May 10, 2014

    Labour Ka Twavay………………. that the kind of Government Dominica need one with a foresight, a hard working team and not the blah blah team.

  53. MUDD
    May 10, 2014

    For so long. That is what I’ve been saying all the time. Stups

  54. flyboy
    May 10, 2014

    This is where the big airport should be located….

    • warrington
      May 10, 2014

      DOOS BOY U GOT ME CRACKING WT THAT ONE;;;;; :You and the government of Dominica are so, poor, you do not have a pot, or a pan, to urinate into, where the heck are you going to get money from to build another port? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

      • Francisco Telemaque
        May 12, 2014

        Warrington, I learned that from your name sake “Warrington” a Crib from Dominica he was a civil servant, in Antigua used to represent Antigua in first class Cricket; when they picked played and played Wellet, from Nevis the first time to represent the West Indies, they overlooked Warrington.

        He was around in the days of Kenneth Laurent, the late Grayson Shillingford, Irvin Shillingford, Norbert Phillip, Kentish, and the boys and dem!

        I think he now lives in Brooklyn New York, but anyway that saying (you nu hab wan pat fu pi.. in,) is an Antiguan thing, I put it mildly by saying urinate. When they say pat they mean, pot, hab= have; fu is as we say in Wesley, meaning for, and I suppose you know what “pi.. means.

    • warrington
      May 10, 2014

      OHH MAN i missed the real HUMOUR. POT or PORTS?

  55. Ms Twitter
    May 10, 2014

    Good idea.

  56. Anonymous
    May 10, 2014

    Mr Blackmoore while I agree that the cruise ship berth should move from town I strongly believe the Canefield Airstrip should remain for emergency purposes.

    My Suggestion is you should look at the Belfast Refresh area which can bring your much needed economical activity in the area and the coconut trees right in the vicinity would be a complimentary attraction depicting the Caribs and where it all begun. I addition Rodney’s Rock can be fully develop to demonstrate another chapter in our history.
    Benefits: the people of the community more employment. The bus drivers more earnings for less investment transportation to the town. Less congestion in Roseau. Available parking and I can go on

    • Anonymous
      May 10, 2014

      Excellent Idea!!!!

    • james
      May 10, 2014

      Emergency purposes ? How many times have we use that airport for emergency in the past 40years ? garson…… What DLP is doing now should have been done 40 years ago, instead of that JETTY in Roseau.

    • Anonymous
      May 10, 2014

      go idea, but you know the never listen to the voice of the people

  57. KITTINICAN
    May 10, 2014

    ALL KINDA TINGS HAPPENING..WII… :) .. :( .. :-|

  58. opinionated
    May 10, 2014

    amazing how all these projects can now be implemented at the 11th hour!

  59. coyote
    May 10, 2014

    What’s with all this nonsence,it seems to me that dem fellas don’t have a plan,an economic plan. I know we want to do big things but we have a small economy so therefor i say let us concentrate on what we have already to make them work better more effcient.

  60. Anonymous
    May 10, 2014

    Mr. Blackmore THIS one you got it so so right. I can even say you took the idea from my head!!!! The shared vision we have for Canefield airport gives me the chills. On that note sir while you at it on the cruise port, I want you to consider the further development of what I call a tourist village in that area… similar to the Rodney Bay village in St. Lucia but better….to include the industrial site!!! Facilities would include, hotels, holiday villas and apartments, Restaurants, bars nightclubs, telecommunication and internet cafes, discotheques, movie theaters, sports facilities, wellness spas, open space green areas with loads of trees, medical centres, art galleries, and the list goes on. Can anyone with the vision add to the list. We would need to reconsider gaming in its fair sense. This is definitely a visionary idea that will take us through the 21st Century and beyond. We now need to work diligently to develop it to its maximum potential and return on investment. May we have courage, discipline and prudence amongst others to undertake what might be the biggest transformation of DA to date. I in full support of that move Sir!!!

    • .....
      May 10, 2014

      You so right…LMAO!!!!

  61. why-so-serious
    May 10, 2014

    :twisted: is tht even true??????????? :twisted:

  62. blackman NET
    May 9, 2014

    More wasting of money we do not have, more Promises that will never be fulfilled more poverty……….more BS from this Government. I really want to know who is taking these guys seriously because it’s obvious they are on some crazy spending spree or is it the Chinese government with another loan……… who are the ones that are gonna pay back this loans and all this nonsense when there is less than half the population employed ….less than half…….and our projected growth is less than even 1 percent……Can somebody please tells these Clowns in Office that this spending that is taking place is not the correct path for Dominica…….for them to be trying to build long term sustainable businesses they worrying about Tourist on cruise ship that only come for a few hours and leave what kind of income will that Generate…..Dominicans get serious about what is going on here because these guys are over doing it right now trust me………Peace

  63. John
    May 9, 2014

    In addition to a cruse ship port why don’t they convert the fixed aircrafts Canfield airport to a helicopter airport? They could use it to ferry passengers from Melville hall to Roseau and from cane field to both French islands helicopters can also be used to ferry people on sight seeing trips around the island especially disabled people who are unable to hike on long walks. This is just a suggestion the runway is still useable but as they say not safe for airplanes but why not a helicopter. They can also construct a casino at Canfield.

  64. Lol
    May 9, 2014

    Lol i suspect you do not leave in DA to see all what the Government is doing. Labour is working.

  65. why hide
    May 9, 2014

    wow. now i am not lying. but seriously. every time i drove past canefield airport for a number of years i have had this dream of turning it into a massive harbor in my mind. i support 150%. i would just like to know where he is getting the money from for that. no free meal ticket there. its gonna be expensive. furthermore we again on this talk of geothermal energy… mr blackmore must get real.. he is asking for 500 million USD. or 1.3 billion ec dollars for his 120 MW plant, and so far.. not one MW has been generated and they used up over 50 million dollars already… they like to accuse UWP of pie in the sky things.. but every time skerrit or blackmore open their mouth in this election year. they become more unbelievable than the UWP

  66. ni
    May 9, 2014

    I hope they will build a shopping mall in the area as well..

  67. go do it
    May 9, 2014

    less talk more action please

  68. Francisco Telemaque
    May 9, 2014

    ” Canefield Airport and is hoping to turn it into a buzzing cruise ship port.”

    Blackmore, your rhetoric is nothing more than another dangling carrot, wrapped in red. Dominica is approximately 289.9 to 305 square miles, ours is a small island. There is the port in Roseau, you also have Prince Rupert Bay in Portsmouth; which is more suitable for development as a place where ships can be ducked. From Canfield Airport to Roseau is less than seven miles; so what sense do you find in the nonsense you are dangling in front of the gullible.

    We have never seen a total of twenty tourist ships in Dominica in one day of the total tourist season,since tourist began visiting Dominica, so I wonder what prompted this emergency, to develop another port to accommodate ships less than five miles from a port which stands idle for most of the year.

    Blackmore let commonsense prevail, more tourist Ships, visits Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Martin, and Puerto Rico, where most of the cruse passengers boards, do not have as many Ports as you want to give to Dominica. I lived in Cuxhaven West Germany, where I saw hundreds of mega tourist ships as you call them, and whereas their accommodations are much better than you have in Dominica.

    It is quite common to see Ships tied up alongside each other, and people crossing from one mega ship to another in order to disembark, and embarked. You and the government of Dominica are so, poor, you do not have a pot, or a pan, to urinate into, where the heck are you going to get money from to build another port?

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

    If you want to tell a lie to influence voters, perhaps you can start babbling about building an International Airport, because that should be our top priority at the moment. If Dominicans vote for you people this time around based on these unrealistic promises you all are making; when their belly starts growling for hunger, you should get a cater-nine (bull-pestle) and whip their behind.

    If you all had fifteen years plus to build an International Airport, and you say “we doh want it.” How can you make a lying promises like that when you know you are just pandering for votes. Any little rat can get in front of a crowed, and say the government is going to do this and that, if I was confronted by one of these so called politicians who wish to be voted for; I would ask them what happened over the past almost twenty years you guy’s lived off the hog; show me something significant that you have done to enhance the life of a single individual?

    Have you notice all of you look older than your age, fat like pigs! Dominicans need to send you and all the rest home, you all are a bunch of waste of time, I am very disappointed that the young whom should be ambitious, and aim for the best for their country, spend all these years in government, and the country is basically worst off than when the older people managed the country.

    I do not want to hear anything about we installed landing lights at Melville Airport, because that is the biggest blunder any politician could have made in the twentieth century. I do want to hear well the Chines gave us a Stadium, and Test Cricket is played here: Reason Dominica had a Stadium given to Dominica by France, (the French government) when Patrick John was Prime Minister, Eugenia Charles demolished it when she became Prime Minister. So, stop telling all of these lies man; stop fooling those who are stupid enough to listen the lies you all are telling right now!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Anonymous
      May 10, 2014

      @Francisco Telemarque : you sit down wherever you at and write a lot of crap even if some Islands get more cruise than Dominica tell me which of these Islands do you see get 20 cruise in a day ? Not one .And I’m also sure that Dominica come along way with the amount of cruise ships that are arriving in Dominica now
      and I’m also pretty sure that Dominica also gets more cruise than some Islands.

      • Francisco Telemaque
        May 11, 2014

        You shut tup, I lived in Antigua, some years ago, and saw that in the port of St. Johns’. When you wish to contradict me, write your name so that I can know who the heck I am dealing with, again, and this time I will say it as the Antiguan’s do. ” you and your government are so damn poor, you do not have a pot to pi.. in where the heck you all are going to get money to build another port, when you do not even have dime to build an International Airport?

        An International Airport should be the nation’s priority.

        It is cheaper to build an International Right now in the country than to even think about building another sea port, less than five miles from one in Roseau, you can remain the fool and gullible as you are. Francisco Stalemate do not listen to crap, and fools talk, and if you wish to know where I reside: Note: I reside in the City of Los Angeles, in the State of California, I am not hiding okay, and believe me; I am very visible, on a normal day you can find me driving the Streets of Los Angeles, in some of the most expensive motor cars, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars with my Surname on my registration plates.

        That thing you all call license plate at home!

        Before you try to attack me know who the hell you are dealing with because I am not impressed by any politician in Dominica, I do not revere crap, I am only concern about the welfare of my birth place, and the relatives of mine who are there suffering, I am sure you Butt, is also suffering right now; Anonymous as you may be! If you want to remain shallow, and swallow the lies these waste of time politicians are feeding you go wight ahead; I am not suffering, I want of nothing, praise the Lord!

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • D/can to de Bone(F)
      May 10, 2014

      Francisco are you seeing only blue or another of Dominica party Boom boom fly. People vote for who they like so
      stop peering on the labour party . I suspect you might be another Dominican who hate the Pm , labour government with a passion….hope that not the case .

      I am 100% Dominican and not no political stalwart or boom boom fly. Am in interested in Development of Dominica, no matter who is in government . We must stop this bitterness towards our people.

      • Francisco Telemaque
        May 12, 2014

        You are nothing than a darn fool, wether skerret or not is not any of your business, but I assure you if I like someone and I am dissatisfied with their performance, it is my duty to let them know I am dissatisfied with their performance.

        I would have to be fool to see that the country is not making any progress, and continue to vote for someone simply because I like them! I leave that to an idiot like you! I do not have to pander to any politician, you see, because I am not looking for anything from them.

        In all of my life of living, I have never borrow nor beg, for an handout, I have never accepted a handout in my life from not even my parents. I have worked every dime I have to my name, and I assure you I have enough to leave for all of my children, and grandchild, and as for the fly’s you talk about, the next time you see the one who dropped you out on this earth, take a good look and see what is following her down the street, and ask her why are they are flying behind her.

        Take good look at yourself also!

        And trust me there is nothing I write on DNO, that I cannot tell the Prime Minister to his face. For your information, there is a forum that we write in sometimes, Mr. Skerrit is also a recipient of the communications, whatsoever I write here I write the same in that forum, so you do not have to go and carry my name to him, in order to find favor, when you beg him for a hand out, he is already familiar with my views, and I doubt there will be any love lost!

        As soon as somebody have the courage to speak the truth, little nothing like you comes along talking about bombom fly, I am not you,; that’s what you are! I am from a different bread, from a different time, I am for progress for the whole nation and not what I can get as an individual; there is nothing in this world that money can buy that I cannot buy it for myself. Go ahead kiss up, I am my own man, very independent, I requires nothing from anyone.

        Can you say the same; you do not even have a none, I do not even know if you are dog, or a cat! I am bold and confident, I do not kiss the butt, of any man; none is more important than I am; for I am:

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  69. wesley
    May 9, 2014

    wat happen to tese people there is no space for such a projet; the river will take just as it took the disco; why now for all these projets people do not be fool again u will live to regret it

  70. wellsa
    May 9, 2014

    what about possie

  71. May 9, 2014

    I think this is a brilliant idea. More exposure, more business, less unemployment. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. GO FOR IT.

  72. Anonymous
    May 9, 2014

    YOU GUYS WILL DESTROY THIS COUNTRY

    • D/can to de Bone(F)
      May 10, 2014

      Francisco are you seeing only blue or another of Dominica party Boom boom fly. People vote for who they like so
      stop peering on the labour party . I suspect you might be another Dominican who hate the Pm , labour government with a passion….hope that not the case .

      I am 100% Dominican and not no political stalwart or boom boom fly. Am in interested in Development of Dominica, no matter who is in government . We must stop this bitterness towards our people.

  73. D. Trade inc.
    May 9, 2014

    Four in close proximity to each other. Why?

  74. Satelite
    May 9, 2014

    Thats the best idea I have ever heard for this site in my view. And what a sight that will be when it is completed. GO AHEAD

  75. flower
    May 9, 2014

    A cruise ship port? Its not a bad idea but remember a primary school is near by. I think it might be a bit to noisy and congested

  76. Mamiez
    May 9, 2014

    all you doh tired take ideas from team Dominica and call it your own,,,, strupes

  77. ABITRATOR
    May 9, 2014

    Very very very bad idea at this present time. We cannot leave the island with only one airport. If a natural disaster were to break up the runway in marigot, we we be stuck. You always need an alternate airport. Build another airport first if you going to do that sir.

    • Anonymous
      May 10, 2014

      You may be right Sir

  78. Bull sheet
    May 9, 2014

    Looking at! I am always looking at. Always window shopping; but I will never enter and to pretend that I have money. Why should I keep fooling myself.

  79. AA
    May 9, 2014

    How do these leaders think nah, really how do you guys think, why do you all waste the states resources, my tax monies doing sh** that will not develop the country longterm? whilst the turning the area is a nice idea, what is trhe level of revenue that is going to be generated from this additional cruise ship berth? there is already one in possie that is a white elephant how is this one going to increase the earnings potential of Dominica?

    Mr. Minister put half of this monies into a well executed agricultural plan that will increase food production, which enhances food security and increases the potential of earning foreign exchange by exporting the agricultural produce. This will have long-term benefits to the country that will not deminish

  80. Annon
    May 9, 2014

    It’s all good. Sounds like a billion dollars worth of pronouncements spoken of as a true politician does. The cruise ship port is a wonderful idea…but don’t reinvent the wheel, consult with other islands who have been in tourism for lots of years to get ideas, don’t just say and go deeper into tourism without dialogue with other sister islands who been there and done that. Any mention of how indebted will the country be for this?

    In addition, Dominica really needs other means of income genaration. Decriminalize marijuana, legalize medicinal marijuana, think outside the box, some gambling for the cruise people to partake in when on island. Good income generation just in case tourism one day goes down like St. Croix, and it can happen, a very fragile thing. Food for thought.

  81. john paul
    May 9, 2014

    He noted that the Pont Case road going through to Castle Bruce, Petite Soufriere and Kalinago Territory is also on the cards. He said this $6-million project is funded under a World Bank initiative. Similarly, the government has secured a concessionary loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to the tune of US$6.5-million to stabilize the St. Aroment to Bath Estate back road cliff, as well as an extension of the side walk from Bath Estate all the way to the Community High School area.
    Something is wrong with that statement,those 2 projects cannot cost the same amount,there must be a discrepancy somewhere.

    • Malgraysa
      May 10, 2014

      When will the Pont Case to Hatton Garden be completed Mr. Blackmoore?? Never mind all these fancy new-old ideas. Finish firs what you have started ant that are way behind. What about the Rosalie to Petit Souffriere road mr. Blackmoore. That was a promise from your last campaign. Ehere is it Mr. Blackmoore?

    • john paul
      May 11, 2014

      Thank you for the correction DNO I thought I was going mad lol

  82. No more
    May 9, 2014

    Govt want to do this Govt want to do that, but what all u fellas do for 15 years except get RICH on poor Dominicans

    • D/can to de Bone(F)
      May 10, 2014

      stay counting for me with documented evidence how they got rich? You all talk to much rubbish here

      • FORKIT
        May 12, 2014

        idiot, you know dey corrupt and there is documented evidence

    • ocra
      May 10, 2014

      True that!!!!

  83. Anthony Ismael
    May 9, 2014

    This is brilliant news if it comes to pass. The congestion in Roseau has to end.

    • kkatii
      May 10, 2014

      Remove all the old, fire hazard abandon houses in Roseau and build parking lots.

  84. BEB
    May 9, 2014

    The GOVT. is working

    • Channel 1
      May 10, 2014

      @BEB – When the UWP was working all you vote them out under corruption allegations which all turned out to be lies and election tricks from the DLP.

      In the 2000 election, the chant was to ignore the UWP’s performance (which the DLP could not dispute) but instead focus on the lies of corruption.

      Now 14 years later, we have brazen bold-faced corruption going on but all you now want to now switch the 2000 election chant around to say ignore corruption and focus on the government is working (which real work dat we still want to know)………

      This is hypocrisy of the highest order from the DLP and their delusional supporters.

  85. Ajoucou
    May 9, 2014

    ‘petez poule’. Fowl fart in english

  86. labourd
    May 9, 2014

    focus on the second town

  87. AP George
    May 9, 2014

    I mean these guys are making huge promises. And so it seems the only development in Dominica is public sector ‘development’… I don’t see how that will be sustained.

    No word on any substantial and major private sector development which will drive productivity and create jobs. None. They’re all on the cards.

    Frankly, Canefield airport can be a viable airport if it is developed properly. It can be repositioned and lengthened and used for small commuter and even small jet planes. The ride from Melville Hall is long and Canefield can be time saving alternative – given it’s close proximity.
    Then a modern commercial port facility should be built in Portsmouth, replacing Woodbridge. Then Woodbridge Bay can be expanded and improved for a cruise village.

    I mean, I understand Dominica needs alot of infrastructural development, but it seems all we’re focused on is government projects. And so, true growth to me would be measured by how many foreign or commercial ventures we get that would create new jobs and bring NEW cash to Dominica.

    And is it a coincidence that all these projects are being announced right before a major election? If they are seriously going to work them like the State House, then I would commend them.

    So we have the following:
    -Kempinski/Dubai hotel (125rm) project on the north
    -The Portsmouth (Moroccan) hotel – any opening date?
    -The China-funded Pottersville hotel project
    -The Princess Margaret Hospital (Marigot needs one too)
    -The international airport on the north
    -The Stockfarm Indoor Sporting Facility
    -The Portsmouth redevelopment/improvement
    -Various road projects

    And the only private venture is the Kempinski project. We need more Clear Harbours, and more All Saints and Ross Universities that will fuel longterm growth and inject much needed cash into Dominica.

    • HealthCare
      May 10, 2014

      You made great points but I don’t think you get it: Dominica will not attract private venture unless the cost of electricity goes down. In other words, Domlec prevents private venture / foreign investment by keeping their rates sky high. Just ask a malaway shopkeeper how much they pay Domlec for just running a deep freezer to keep chicken frozen and a fridge for keeping Quenchy cold you’ll figure it out.

      • Neutral
        May 11, 2014

        You really think that is what will stop foreign investment in the private sector? Any government worth is salt would giving tax breaks and other incentive to encourage investment in the private sector. I think squabbling between the political parties pose a greater obstacle to foreign investment than any other factor. Until such time as Dominica can come up with a sustainable blueprint for economic development we will not move forward. Let me reiterate, I did not say Labour or UWP, I said, Dominica. Not a plan that is to be discarded by the next political party in power. People such be free to choose their political affiliation, but that should not preclude them from agreeing or disagreeing with the actions of the ruling party or the opposition. A sense of National Pride, couple with a love for our country with the underlying zeal to see our country progress, should be our driving force.
        I have read comments on DNO about the demise of America. It will not be because of the lack of National Pride, because when it comes down to it Democrats and Republicans think alike. Obammacare if it is working will stay in place no matter which party wins the next election. You do not rewrite the entire blueprint every time you change political party. LOVE OF COUNTRY COMES FIRST.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      May 11, 2014

      George Cane Field Airport cannot be developed into anything different as far as an Airport is concerned. Further more that should have never been built. As far as I know that is the only airport in the world which runs North, and South, with the sea to the West.

      As a result there is plenty wind share, which can cause aircrafts to crash on both landing, or take off! Have you ever wonder why Melville Hall Airport has remained the airport of choice even by LIAT Standards. Wind Share, has rendered Cane Field Airport useless, they should have never built it at that location in the first place. One wonder how come they have avoided a major disaster there for so long.

      The only reason it was built is because some politicians claim that there should not be an Airport at Marigot; it should be in Roseau,so that nasty spot was elected to waste part of the fifty million pounds given to us by the British when they cut us from their coat strings by forcing us into independence! All of that money could have gone into an International Airport, nevertheless, when that was suggested, the Labor Party countered by saying “we doh want it because Antigua, and Barbados have one already.”

      Again Cane Field Airport is another blunder of the notorious Labor Party!

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  88. Open Mind
    May 9, 2014

    U all had fifteen years for all these important projects and could not deliver, all of a sudden, in one year to election, u want to come up with all these plans which is impossible for you all to achieve, as you all are going out. I for one has always been of the view that the cruise ship port should be where the Canefield Airport is, instead of this foolishness Eugenia Charles did in Roseau.

  89. speed
    May 9, 2014

    The airport don’t need nothing to be a race track and will attract plenty of attention. People will be coming from al over to look at the races and racera to race their cars. Plenty of publicy for Dominica as the races Will be. Aired on local regional and international television. I strongly believe this is something the government should take into consideration.

  90. Anonymous
    May 9, 2014

    The airport don’t need nothing to be a race track and will attract plenty of attention. People will be coming from al over to look at the races and racera to race their cars. Plenty of publicy for Dominica as the races Will be. Aired on local regional and international television. I strongly believe this is something the government should take into consideration.

    • Mamiez
      May 10, 2014

      krazy T that there man

      • Nevada
        May 11, 2014

        Does sound like him huh. Lol

  91. LOL
    May 9, 2014

    more lies………why is only now nah?

  92. Anonymous
    May 9, 2014

    Whey ,whey ,whey according to Coipel!!!

  93. Lougaoo Mem
    May 9, 2014

    God, help me to understand what’s going on, versus the plans he said in the pipeline for our beautiful nature isle. I’m confused with the lies and deception.

    It doesn’t take much to see right through these corrupt politicians. They lie in your face because they know that no one shall ever hold their feet to the fire. That’s where our county is today.

  94. Rasta
    May 9, 2014

    Excellent idea!!!! it was time we developed that country. look at St lucia, Antigua and Barbados they would get 4 to 5 Ships per day we only get 1.5 per day.

    • Channel 1
      May 10, 2014

      @Rasta – 1.5 ships per day you say? ie 1 and half ships per day? :lol: :lol: :lol:

      You must be a Labourite………..

      • Sout Man
        May 12, 2014

        @ Channel 1:

        Your attempt to poke fun at Rasta and Labourites expose your rear end. According to Bob, “…… playing smart but not being clever”. It’s ok to use 1.5 as the average per day. It’s statistical data my friend. :lol: :lol: :lol:

  95. ny
    May 9, 2014

    good long they could have done that

  96. dre
    May 9, 2014

    great idea, more tourist more money and development for the country

  97. faceup
    May 9, 2014

    You and the Labour Party cannot finish the Airport road is Cruse ship port you can Start and Finish… LABOUR MUST GO!!

  98. John Jay
    May 9, 2014

    This is madness , can’t believe that . As a person who is familiar of this area I smell a rat there is a lot of ground swells during a certain time of the year.
    I see this as a political trick to gain votes in this constituency and they should come again why now, why are they not looking at the cruise ship berth in Portsmouth or building another pier at Bayfront in Roseau. we are not getting cruise ship year round . When the cruise ship season end what are they going to do with the facility, going to remain as a white elephant. Everything up side down inside out, come again with you all trickery. SHAME.

  99. kubuli
    May 9, 2014

    Lets Go DLP!

  100. 4u2C
    May 9, 2014

    Blackmore too lie!! Election really coming.
    Tell the people when DELTA, AA, and British Airways doing night landing……
    And blacksigatoka is just a myth….

    DLP need to go…too much lie and disrespect to the people.. DLP please leave!! Get the OUT!

  101. Channel 1
    May 9, 2014

    Wait awhile nuh……….so after Roosevelt claim in St. Joe that he is going to do approx. a billion dollars worth of projects in Dominica over the next 12 months, Blackmoore now coming with Part 2 or wha?

    Or Roosevelt forget to include those projects in his utterances at St. Joe and he now send Blackmoore to say dem.

    These fellas really brazen to think they can fool people other than their delusional supporters. So long Dominica’s most backward and lazy government ie the DLP talking about a cruise port/village for Canefield…….

    Blackmoore & Roosevelt and the rest of the DLP…………………….a big loud sttuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssss to all you eh.

  102. May 9, 2014

    I dont care whose in power once good things is happening in my lovely country am happy, but remember Dominica will not develop without an international airport, and we also need a marina so more yachts will be able to stay longer on our shores , that will boost Dominicas economy. I met a few yacht owers and they asked me if Dominica has a marina because they’ll love to sail too Dominica.

  103. Oh No
    May 9, 2014

    I hope I am wrong but this idea sounds laughable. What about the expansion of the Woodbridge Bay facility? Can’t it be expanded to accommodate the potential influx of the mega ships? What about Cabrits? the various ministries must seek to synchronize their thoughts whenever they convene their cabinet meetings. The Canefield airport should be developed to facilitate expansion of the economic activity it has been doing with the smaller airlines. While safety should always be a top priority location is crucial to business. If the consultants are paid to develop an idea they will accept the money to satisfy their clients.

  104. JoJo
    May 9, 2014

    I think this is a good move. The cruise ships area is an obstacle in Roseau, not the right place. But Canefield urban council have to clean up Donkey beach they have let deteriorate badly for so long. Also, move some of the industrial activities like the stone & sand. That can go to Les Points , for instance. Make that whole area a pleasant tourist village with nice landscaping and a pleasant walkway from there to town, well lit with good security
    Remove buildings in Pottersville and compensate those people. That is a hazard and ugly to walk there. I wonder if they should have built on the foreshore in the first place!
    If you run out of time don’t worry, the next govt. will finish it for all of us.

    • real possie
      May 10, 2014

      Wow jojo for once I have to commend you I like what you said I could not give you thumbs up cause it seems DNO found a way to only let who they want to give thumbs up or down.

  105. ##Dominica.#
    May 9, 2014

    Dream on! Dream on! Clearly the approach is simple. Promises, promises, till the next elections comes around. The ideas are note worthy to be fair, but A promise is a comfort to a fool. And as the saying goes fool me once, shame on me. fool me twice shame on you. Bare in mind it cost lots of $$$$$$ to build and get those projects implemented, are we that gullible? I have never experienced persons Who were Elected by the people, for the people, fooling the people with impunity with one goal in mind to stay in power. That is a dam shame and the persons involved knows it. We are clearly trying to chew more than we can swallow. Politics is a very profitable business and by any means necessary weather its RED,GREEN, BLUE, BLACK, AND YELLOW every body wants a piece of the action. One day the truth will come out as a rude awakening. To be warned is to be ready. Only in Dominica. OMG, SMH.

  106. T
    May 9, 2014

    DNO is something wrong with the ‘Thumbs Up” ‘Thumbs Down”?

    Admin: Our IT people are looking into similar queries.

  107. arturu
    May 9, 2014

    election is closed by

  108. f
    May 9, 2014

    Labour ka tawvay!

  109. Doc. Love
    May 9, 2014

    Waypapa, more breaking ground. Why does the Skeritt led Administration always want to do whatever the UWP does, good or bad. Remember during the 2000 election campaign, the Labor Party Government accused Mr. Edison James and Timothy of regularly breaking ground. From Monday, if you were not aware that General Election was due soon, now you know. Them fellers breaking ground like wild fire.

  110. racataca
    May 9, 2014

    ohhhh wow busy cruise port!…what fantasy! such remarkable ability to spot business opportunities! wooow…
    I already imagine hordes of tourists visiting to massacre village, shopping at 7/11….or walking on highway to Roseau because Dominican rogue taxis charge them 100 USD to get to Roseau…Exactly tourists specially travelled to Dominica to see such highly cultural places like Canefield East, Massacre, Check Hall…Yes! You understand tourists wishes so well…I applaud to your intellect and your remarkable ability to develop tourism!

    But please dont forget one thing then your next minister feels sick (allas it never happens to our good and honest ministers, public officials, attorneys and political activists)…then french air ambulance wont be able land on your ‘new busy seaport’ and your PMH wont be able to help because: no equipment, no scans available, no medication…..

  111. Anonymous
    May 9, 2014

    I will hear more we!

  112. dafriend
    May 9, 2014

    For once Blackmoore picks up an idea that has been suggested by numerous people. Well done! This site would make a great cruise ship harbour, in fact it should not just be a cruise ship harbour it should be a modern cruise ship village with cafes, bars, shops, duty free and restaurants.

  113. lapawol
    May 9, 2014

    thats actually a brilliant idea…

  114. Anonymous
    May 9, 2014

    Wonderful ! let me see if the opposition party will oppose this plan because they opposed everything that is good for Dominica

  115. DA
    May 9, 2014

    i realy don’t know why they did not put a merina in cabrits where they making the hotel

  116. eyes open wide
    May 9, 2014

    plx add a mega mall to the drawings too as we maybe the only caribbean island with one ,do it in a way where they will spend some cash when they get off the ship :wink:

  117. true
    May 9, 2014

    …..and then there was donkey beach and then is a polluted donkey beach……..

  118. Catarina
    May 9, 2014

    OMG The people of Dubique are tired of hearing what they are going to do about that very dangerous cliff. I myself ran out of fingers to count the years on.

  119. RIGHT
    May 9, 2014

    Can Mr Blackmore give an insight into the situation with the falling road at Antrim? They’re anxiously running into avenues that may seem like progress but they are ignoring the basics that would make it what it should be.

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