The issue of access into Dominica is at the centre of discussions as stakeholders deliberate at a special two-day conference which began at the Fort Young Hotel on Tuesday.
The conference which was organized by the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) is designed to focus on the destination and strategize on ways to entice more visitors to visit.
Head of the DDA, Colin Piper, said adequate access into the country continues to be a major concern and plans have to be made to address it. He noted that one approach to rectify this is to form partnerships with those involved in the aviation industry.
“There are no better people to address the issues than with those involved in the aviation business, either the managers of airports or the owners and operators of small airlines and the destination and its stakeholders which have made an investment in the industry,” he said. “And so bringing all these people together we are hoping to have substantive dialogue around the challenges that we face, making our issues known, making our issues real so that they realize that our tourism industry will not necessarily grow as we would have liked it until we address the issue of air access.”
The Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) views the conference as a timely intervention in the process of finding solutions to what is arguably Dominica’s biggest problem in terms of travel.
“We are really trying to wow the people, letting them know what the value is in Dominica,” President of the DHTA, Yvonne Armour, said. “We want them to know what the product offerings are, as well as the constraints. We have problems of reliability of airlift, with the baggage. It’s all about resolving issues of reliability, cost effectiveness. So that for our clients we can have some level of guarantee that when they come to Dominica it’s going to be seamless.”
Access Consultant from Trinidad and Tobago, Ian Bertrand, who has been working with the Discover Dominica Authority in finding practical solutions to the issues, said ferry access into the island should be further exploited.
“Ferry access is an important part of the access solution to Dominica. You have the two ferries that travel between Guadeloupe and Martinique and Saint Lucia into Cabrits in Portsmouth and Roseau. They bring in significant numbers of visitors to Dominica. Since we are looking at optimizing all the resources available to Dominica we have to look at both air and sea access,” Bertrand said.
Dominica is the most expenssive Island to fly into one can fly from Toronto or US to Trinidad for half the price to Dominica,we do not need a B737 or B757 nor B747 what we need for Dominica is a jet plane somewhat like a DC9 that would fly from Canada or the US arriving in Dominica the same day so that we do not have to overnight in every hotel in the Carribean or get there with our lugages missing. I board a plane at the air port and in the plane people were saying that they would never fly to Dominica again this is sad for 2012 very sad, someone mentioned that we should build hotels first but it’s like the chicken or the egg which come first, well I think we should take the risk If we build it they will come
where de original plans from uwp era….
Some of these same shareholders stated that Dominica does not need an International Airport until 2020. Now Some of them are seeing the importance and need of that same International Airport. Why do we always put politics first and not the benefit of the country first.
Look at the picture! St.Lucia,Grenada,St.Kitts,St.Vincent,Anguilla,Antigua they are all our neighbouring sister islands which has pass us and we can not be compared. Maybe we are carrying the wrong name (Dominica).
My St.Lucian friend comes to Florida buys groceries and pack them in her suitcase and goes straight home with frozen stuff. She goes to St. Lucia weekend for the Jazz festival and the price is great.
This Government has taken away UWP vision just because of politick. Where are the hotels which were suppose to be built in woodfordhill? Where is the FIVE STAR hotel which was suppose to be built by Public Works? Where is the Apartment building which was suppose to be built in Silver Lakes for those poor people, with a School?
Where is the new Modern Public Library?
The people living along the Stadium were told they have to move/relocate because Government needs their properties to extent parking and to beautify the city. Whats the hold up I guess they can’t pay off the residences. What happen to the apartment building which was suppose to be built in Bath Estate by the French Investor?
A lot of promises!!!!
and a monkey that cannot accept the truth click dislike…expect more idiots to join that monkey
To Piper: There is no need to blame the aviation industry. you need to talk to skerrit.People traveling to Dominica from Canada,the USA and England and as a matter of fact anywhere in the world coming to Dominica need a one straight flight.people are already tired on their 5hrs from the USA to Dominica do you think they want to be struggling with their luggage to fly again on small Liat to Dominica. Landing in Antigua if you know the struggle and the hustle that Dominicans have to go through in Antigua you all should do something like building a jet strip so that people can enjoy visiting Dominica. Dominica is bigger than a lot of those islands and they all have a Jet strip. So if you want people to visit Dominica you should think about the people not the Aviation industry.
Next year around the same time we will be having the same conversation. By the way St Vincent then airport will be operational and Ralph will be laughing at us. Well not us but the idiot s that he continue to ma manipulatenipulate.
To those who must justify the failure of the DLP government on the matter of air access note that the rain falls on every house top.
This begs the question:”WHAT DID WE GET FOR OUR $8 MILLION GIFT TO LIAT, MR. SKERRIT?” And please, don’t tell us it’s none of our business!
LIAT just cut flights to Dominica. That $8 million probably went into someones pocket…
What Dominica needs is HEAVY investment to develop various industries like Tourism (Health tourism, improved nature sites, etc), Offshore Banking, Light manufacturing (Electronics, etc), High tech industries (ICT, Call centres, etc) and increase productivity through greater exports (ask HongKong how they did it). Tons of American/Canadian companies are looking for closer-to-home locations, so, set up a team from the InvestDominica org, to traverse the US and Canada to recruit these companies. But, also, our infrastructure needs major improvement: roads need to be of international standards, proper city/community planning, sewage treatment, dependable utilities, etc.
How? give foreigners incentives to invest/operate there: zero corporate and income taxes on sliding scale (will more than make up for it in consumer spending their disposable income – will also attract skilled labor to Dominica; increase population and tax base), $1 lease land or free land (for major investments like amusement/theme park, hotel, etc), other tax holidays, etc.
So, what all these things would do is increase demand for the Dominican experience – and therefore people would HAVE a reason to come there to work or visit.
Consequently, you can then now more than enough justification for an international airport. Remember, I’m all for building it, but if we built it now, we still would have the problem of flights to Dominica. So, when the demand is there or at least growing (due to all those investment items above), then we can sing!
AMEN!!!!! At lease someone can see beyond the bushes. I’ve been saying that for the longest time. These people are just too naive and some what dumb. They seem to have the idea that building an international airport would just create an increase in traffic as if someone who wishes to travel would visit Dominica just because of the airport.
Dominicans are too NAIVE for my liking, let these people seat there and display their stupidity.
My friend, we have all the incentives and still no major foreign investment coming. Check with Invest Dominica Authority to find out yourself.
Right now nothing less than an international airport will do. Problem however is not construction but maintenance. I don’t even know what to say on this issue. It’s just insane. I honestly hope we find a way to have an international airport. Something’s got to give. Dominica not exporting nothing right now so we need a way to bring in money.
The truth is that, I paid my fight to visit Dominica for the independent celebration, the cost from Antigua, Barbados St Lucia to Dominica cost far more that the flight from Canada to Antigua
When I check a flight from Canada to St Lucia, Canada to St Vincent, Canada to Grenada etc, the island with an International Airport, what nationals from these island and even tourist pay to visit these islands are way cheaper than what one have to pay to visit Dominica, if Dominica had an international airport things would have been better when it comes to tourist and others visiting the island period,
You are right and are kind enough not even to mention the extra travel time, extra security inspection and the possibility of missed luggage.
Let’s face it, we have had an access problem ever since the days of Columbus. The Spanish never bothered to occupy us and that’s also why the ruling powers at the time, England & France decided to leave Dominica for the indigenous people. It is also the reason why we are so thinly populated relative to other neighbouring islands, which have a smaller land mass. We shall never generate the volume tourism of say St. Lucia or Barbados and my humble suggestion is to concentrate on the few, who have the means to arrange private access and have plenty of money to spend. I do not see the viability for big resort hotels here. We are exclusive and should cater accordingly. Good luck mr. Piper. Your task is not an easy one.
A Vision Without Faith or a Vision itself, stands in the wind…! why can’t these people set goals and achieve them? why are we the only CARICOM Nation without an INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?
Why don’t you ask your prime minister skerrit that question. I think he deserves to answer it
Discover Dominica Authority headed by Collin Piper, who is a manager without the Tourism know how will have issues at resolving this problem, since they are attempting to resolve the access of Dominica, to which they are ignorant of it’s intricacies, the only way that we can get the necessary volume is by having an INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT simple! this is a business an in business without a vision and risk there is no business and that’s exactly why the standard norm of doing business here won’t help this situation. Collin Piper and DDA is incompetent of dealing with this issue and the our tourism management! Things are not always governed by Economic and Management Principles. Take a Risk and Show Faith in your Management Abilities…!
Here is another good solution Mr Piper: Ask the PM to contact those jets that flew non stop to Dummynica during the 2010 elections. I am quite sure he still has their numbers and help is just a call away! So stop wasting time and money with your T&T consultant Mr. Bertrand, because he does not have a number to contact those BIG JETS that flew non stop from the US to Dummynica during the 2010 elections, since those “Ou toe sot” people did not care about their safety so long they voted for Skerrit. Hope this one really solves your problem Mr. Piper! In case Skerrit forgot their number I have the # of the one that was in charge of the Florida flight, because he contacted me for a free ticketand I saved his number for future FREE trips
I cannot believe a country that is so green and beautiful, still cannot be accessed in 2012 while we vote for a government every 5 years!
A local popular pastor who was, and might still be, an advisor of PM Skerrit described the mentality of the Dominican people best during his 50th birtday celebation when he said “Ou toe sot.” Let us change the ‘Ou’ which is singular to ‘Zor’ plural. It would read Zor toe sot, meanining All you too stupid. Is really our stupidity that has us thinking of access to Dominica now. Is because zor toe sot Skerrit and his visionless government still remain in power. ZOR DUMMY_NI CANS TOE SOT!
@spiffycas,don’t you know if you don’t climb you cannot fall?
It saddens me every time when i see the utter rubbish posted on here. PEOPLE AN international airport (alone) is not the answer!
Listen, if there are NO tourists there will be NO or little flights. Now airlines have wised up these days, the are telling governments ” you want me to operate, you pay me for every empty seat” so now when a B737 or B757 or even a B747 flies into dominica with 60 filled out of 150+ seats on a daily/weekly basis, you calculate the amount of money that the government would have to pay that airline. Easy money for the airline and DEBT for the country.
WE NEED to first UPGRADE Dominica, make our selves more marketable,therefore making more tourist attracted to the island. Creating an influx in traffic which would then make it necessary for an international airport. Any person in their right mind would not want to fly to a country just because it has an international airport, they must have a reason to visit the country. Take Tortola for instance, it does not have an international airport but that was not a problem until now(another Story)….During Peak Season there are up to 10 American Eagle flights, 5 LIAT and many of the charter flights. Dominica American Eagle only adds one flight on schedule during peak season, BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE ANYMORE!!!!
The reason why flights into are so expensive is because the demand is low, airlines are operating flights which are rarely at full capacity so they have to charge enough to make up for all the operational costs for that flight.
TRUE.. YOU MAKE SENSE
But doesn’t that go without saying. It is Obvious that along with the airport there needs to be other infrastructural developments and improvements ect ect ect. When people talk of building an international airport i highly doubt that they mean we should do so in a vacuum. So while your point is valid, I think it should be quite obvious to the powers that be and that cannot be a reason for not having an international airport. I agree that maintaining an airport is expensive business but again is that a reason for not having one? Seriously. That’s like saying a house is too expenisve to maintain, mortgage, insurance, ect so I’ll just keep on renting. People let’s wise up and start thinking long term and out of the box rather than just where our nose can reach.
Best comment I’ve seen so far! It addresses the issue head on!
An international airport looks good as words! What are Dominicans ready to do to accommodate one? It is not only PM SKERRITT who lives here you know. Think people
Alah! Alah! Alah! Look at where Mr. Skerrit and his government put Colin Piper and team in 2012? Magwaysa! can you believe in 2012 the DDA hired a T&T consultant by the name of Ian Bertrand to help them come up with solutions to access DA in the year 2012, and Mr. Bertand is implying that sea access is the only thing he see now. In other words he is telling them that air access is not even an option. I feel sorry for the DDA!
Columbus discovered DA they say in 1493 by sea and almost 600 years later we to discard air access to DA? I don’t know what Columbus throw in our water.
Folks, UWP had already bought land for an International Airport and we kicked them out of office. We put DLP to lead us and since then is disaster after disaster. We cannot blame Rosie and Peiero for where we are now because they both knew they gave a political joke to Dummynicans during the 2000 election and those dummies believed them.
What is really hurting us is we voted Skerrit in 2005 and 2010. I am talking about a man that told us that we cannot afford an international airport now. In fact that same visionless Skerrit who could not afford a car before he came into politics, has gone on to build a multi million dollar mansion for himself while he keeps telling us that we should have gotton an international airport 30 years ago, but it is too late now. What’s wrong wit us in DA?
Why some of us throw common sense in the back seat and let political partisan and twisted facts take the forefront believing that they are telling the truth.I wonder if that is the reflection of the so called Dummynicans.Your mention that the UWP bought the land to construct the International Airport is so funny you forgot the fiasco regarding Edison James with such purchase and the monetary problems it caused for the Country in the end it was all wasted money.
Why is it when you read something you need to twist the facts to suit your politics.I’m saying this regarding your comment about Mr Ian Bertrand.Where was it said at the conference that Mr Bertrand was implying sea access is the only thing he envisioned for Dominica and that Air access is not an option. What a gross misrepresentation by you,is this the truth you are telling that hurts.What Mr Bertrand was saying is that the ferry service should be further exploited along with Air access. A truth that’s told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent.
You added added the words, “Along with air access.” I did not quote Mr. Ian Bertrand; that why I said, he implied it. The fact is, if he is the hired consultant to address access to Dominica, and according to the release, the man tells them that “The ferry service should be further exploited” am I lying to say that he implies see access as the only solution he could come up with? It is you turning direct speech around by adding what the man never said, as well as you added ealier that all three administrations have seen the need for an international airport, and that’s why this DLP administration called this conference. You the one twisting truth around to decieve those that cannot differenciate truth from error. How dear you say that this DLP administration sees the need for an international airport when their actions show the contrary? How could the DLP be see the need for an international airport, and we ALL know during the 2000 election, they brought down Former Antigua PM to tell us that we don’t need an international airport? In case you say it was the Rosie DLP, Skerrit brought down St. Vincent PM, Ralph Gonsalves to tell us that we do not need an international airport while he was working on one for STV. Futhermore, Skerrit told us that if we were to have one it should have been built 30 yrs ago. To prove his objection to addressing this need, the man dumped over $100 million on night landing. So stop making excuses and twist truth around. You must be one of those Dumminicans leaving abroad and only visit DA during election when you can get a free ticket. You don’t even know what is happening in DA, let a litte, to feel the pain and suffering of the people.
The problem is the Dominica government. All of this talk is simply dejas tan. It was night landing, then it was air Venezuela coming,then it was 8 million dollars to LIAT. What else this liars have to say? 13 years wasted and 13the years of retrogression.
Extend the runway and bring in more airlines.
@ Observer – you honestly think they have thought that far? Taxes? We don’t think! It’s all emotion just like children. Very infantile nation.
And dream on if you think its 5%! In 10 years we have gone from 3% sales tax to 15% VAT!!!!!!!!!!!! Hundreds of millions sucked out of disposable income into treasury for gross misuse and waste. Further, that rapid, massive increase in taxes in so short a space of time was based on little to modest infrastructural development. Not to mention our exports have decreased significantly and steadily at the same time and our tourism arrivals which beg the questions – why are our taxes increasing when we are producing less? Where are our tax dollars going? and now we are begging our inefficient inept government to spend even more? – but that’s a whole different discussion.
Also, already there is talk of VAT increase again and state palace not even finish yet and road to airport not even finish yet! And you think its 5% alone in income tax for an international airport? I wish! Most of Dominica don’t pay income tax and maybe that’s part of the problem and why Dominicans are so immature in views on spending as it’s not their money! They need to see on their wage slips “gross wage” less tax and see their gross whittle down to nothing maybe then they will smarten up.
Income tax, VAT, probably an arrival tax will have to be added and definitely an increase in departure tax and that still won’t be enough. I remember the days not too long ago when departure tax was EC$20! Now it’s EC$50 for what? and you want to add international airport into the mix so probably EC$200! Great I hope we love the international airport then!
Someone said earlier we just need more flights and he/she is absolutely right!
Never-see-come-see is Dominica’s biggest problem and why we cannot grow and realize the potential of the island – luke wee luke our airport wee we beeg!!!! – that’s what this airport crap is all about and always has been. Nothing to do with branding, economics, statistics, global trends, reality! we just want our airport to prove we arrive wee! we lahge just like alyou!
International airport for Dominica? for any of the oecs islands for that matter! If it wasn’t so pathetic it would be hilarious! Independence was the worse thing to happen to these islands we just werent ready and still arent.
Let us not fool ourselves in believing that we can have an International Airport just like that, or simply because the Edison James Administration took a loan and paid for the lands to build an international airport.
Let us think of this scenario for a moment: how many persons do you know have taken a loan to buy land and hope to build a house someday? Why have these persons not been able to build a house as yet? Do you think is lack of ambition or they were advised by their bankers or credit union loans officer that they would not have sufficient funds to eat a proper meal 30 days in a typical month.
Translate that personal advise from your banker and substitute it for the IMF , world bank, or any other multinational donor agency and Dominica will be told that its level of earnings ( salary for the country is referred to as GDP) is not sufficient to repay the national debts plus offer normal services like health, education, etc.
The bottom line is simply this: we as citizens of Dominica must increase our output of goods and services fivefold with at least a tripling of our population size with a minimum of 100,000 persons employed earning an average minimum salary of EC$4,500.00 monthly.
To realize that objective, we have to depend less on central government for our basic survival – paying light bills, school supplies for primary school, doctor bills, and those expenses we should take care of!!!
We have too many poor and lazy citizens seeking to rip off the Country: squatters, people that want government to give them a house free, and all other services free and not pay a cent. Citizens of Dominica are holding every government that they have elected to ransom simply because they voted for a man/woman and believe that is all they have to do as a citizen. How much work is involved in placing an X next to a candidate’s name?
Politicians themselves over-promise and end up wasting the little resources of the state and are unable to invest in productive ventures that can increase the revenue of the state. Let us not fool ourselves all expenses are put together when calculating the debt to GDP ratio; if we have more debt that brings more revenue towards GDP than basic consumption or subsidies for paying utility bills for citizens then we will be better of. But when a significant amount of the National Debt is for assisting citizens who refuse to help themselves then the country get no sizable revenue from such expenditures.
Colin,you are a real joke.Plans “have to be made”to address the poor access in Dominica..You just figured that out? What does Dominica have RIGHT now to interest anyone to come visit? Roseau is a mess,LIAT is ridiculously expensive..San Juan to Dominica is almost $500US..Florida to San Juan is under $300…go figure..stop going around in circles..The whole bunch of you need to go..Why all these conferences?We need action..
The construction of an Internatonal Airport has been an age old problem facing our country. Governments have come and go and this problem sadly to say still exist today.The construction of such an infrastructure should be a National piority and should be a dream that all Dominicans should look forward to in their life time.
Yes, we want that International Airport,but there are two questions that has to be asked.Where are we going to get the money to finance such project and,then we also have to ask where is the best suitable place needed to build such project.The latter is important since it has to meet approval of International Aviation standards, let us not forget the topography of our Country it is not friendly, so finding a suitable location will be a challenge.
Why is it some of us think that partisan Politics can solve this problem.This is beyond Politics and Government, it is something the Country needs and we should all be united towards this goal.The mere fact that a conference like this is taking place shows admittance and urgency by the Government and the stakeholders of our tourism Industry that such a project is of vital importance and i hope that something good comes out of such conference and not just another conference held for PR or Political reasons.
My friend do not come with this one at all. Firstly, building an international is NOT the reason behind this conference as stated by you. In fact air access is not even the reason. Access to Dominica is the reson for the conference and their hired consultant keeps telling us that boat access might be our way out. secondly, what urgency is the government showing to address the building of an international airport as stated by you? Skerrit has made it very clear to us that he is not thinking of such project. He it was that told us the we cannot afford one and went on to say that we should have had one maybe 25 to 30 years ago. Thirdly, talking about partisan politics that’s just what you are doing here because you are trying to tell us that the government is now addressing an international airport problem, when Skerrit himself has told us we are too late. Let me answer your two questions for you: 1.You asked, where do we get the money to finace the international airport? Gary, Skerrit was able to get $27 million to build a palace that is not as important as an airport. He dumped millions upon millions of dollars on night landing which is clearly useless. He was able to spend money to ensure that 747 planes landed in Dominica with Dominicans (maybe you were on one of them) just to vote for him. He was able to throw another $8 million on Liat, an airline that’s been serving the islands for over 50 years and participated in his night landing saga. Maybe that was his way for paying them for the night landing experience. 2. Your second question is, where is the best suitable place? Gary, FYI in 1998 the then government bought and paid for land for an international airport which met the approval of International Aviation Standards. So what you talking about man?
Ian told us air Venezuela was coming after air night landing. What a useless government we have. A bunch of people drawing a huge paycheck while the country going down by the latchais
Get a small cruise ship and transport passengers to and from San Juan.
OH boy, if I would have to do that to get to Dominica I’d rather go somewhere else! Any other bright ideas?
International Air Port Please! Everything done in Dominica is done for the 60s when the Caribbean islands have moved on full speeed! The reality is that such lack of vision and poor planning is killing Dominica softly! There was a big talk about big airport remodelling and so forth! For Years the guys from Venezuelan were just cutting mountains and carrying mud to the sea! All the work done, gave the impression that it would be an airport, top of the line! loook what is is given to Dominica now! Some airport what is small, not up to international standards, and not fully equipped with international airport facilities!Oh yes and they have a checking point for entrance and exit of the airport which was supposed to be electronic but you have some guys coming out and write the time and vehicle number!
They said Night landing! Night Landing! And you know, groupies of the party in power were blowing the horns at ” Night landing wevay Dominique, Halay horrray, Halllay Bravo! Night Landing weevayyyee! But how is the night landing going! Its advise never to take a night flight to or from Dominica. Most times to the surprise of the passenger, liat counter workers at the airport would make announcements that flight cancelled due to acts of nature! Yet still folks are boasting about the night landing! Do you hear the ministers boasting about night landing? Its just sad to stand and digest all these things that are not going right yet Dominicans just take it in day after day! Only In Dominica, folks take any and everything from Politicians and yet shout out: Thank God for their main personalities!
Please rise up and demand better from those in Power! Demand good stuff and better stuff! Things are tight but they owe it to ya all to deliver! Remember when these Politicians are eating steak and drinking whisky and sipping champagne, poor folks are sucking salt and under daily pressure! Ask the Government to build an international airport, so Dominicans can be able to go out and see what real development is all about! St Vincent Got one beautiful airport from friendly Governments and so forth! Why Not Dominica? where is the land bought by the uwp for the international airport? What is being Done with the land and so forth and all the money spent in the preliminary planning stages?
In the meantime, while the other Caribbean islands: st Kitts, Antigua, St Vincent, St Lucia, Grenada and so forth boast and make Dominicans feel bad and naughty for the lack of an International Airport, lets just fly international in our minds on full( pun intended international Airport. would like someone to wake this person up when these politicians make up their minds to build the international airport. ohhhhhhhhooooooooooo someting happening! Remember de red plastic bag for the red plastic party of the century!
We need better air access; it is such a struggle to travel to Dominica. We need an international airport or a longer runway; we are 50 years backwards. The money that was taken to renovate the Melville Hall Airport should be invested in building a bigger airport.
What qualifies Collin Piper as an expert on tourism? have we noticed the decline in our tourism, the state of Roseau (rubbish, odor, etc.), the mayor? what are these people doing for tourism? have they presented a vision of what they would like Dominica to attain? Just look at this simple issue of an international airport. why are we the only caricom nations without an international airport?
we just need all our luggage to reach together with us. Cargo planes??
January 2008.Julius Timothy said
“Unless there is an international airport Dominica can never go forward.The economy will remain stagnant.”
While celebrating the 4th anniversary of Skerrit as P.M we were told how Dubai is going to build us an international airport,,,January 8 2008.
We are still waiting
So why resist the construction of an international airport which is the only way of increasing the air access. these people are just wasting tax payers money with their consultation.
By hook or by crook but it will be costly, It is IMPERATIVE that we expand our airport. Especially now that AMA is pulling out. It is so expensive to fly from San Juan to DA that it is too pathetic to even discuss. You can actually fly to PR from the US which is twice the distance to DA for a 60 percent discount. To DA is another story.
Until we resolve this airport issue the status quo sill remain the same.
DUMB/MINICANS,
The only ones who prosper in this category is Liat and Antiguans. After paying $1200.00US OR $3204.00EC TO TRAVEL FROM THE US to Dominica, and the first place i see is antigua where my time and luggages are destroyed. Liat cost twice the amount that we pay to travel from the us to San juan. Dominica can do much better if only they would take their head’s from between their you know what and stop giving away money that belongs to hard working people to LIAT.. This is a major crime.
Next time go via St. Maarten or Barbados – Jet Blue goes to both and forget about that shambles of an airport in Antigua.
Colin Piper is a waste of time he cannot even conduct an investigation with his staff after all what happen to one of his staff member in US Tell me if he can solve any problem He just hve to clear his desk
Don’t know how, don’t ask me for money, but build the International Airport. I’m tired of this old story. We act like we are just wandering in the wilderness in sandals. We want to fly to the promised land. Lovely Dominica, Land where the people smile. Won’t you come add stay a while, in beautiful Dominica.
i must agree where there is no vision the ppl perish.. as a st lucian we are also in this dilemma ..now that a new gov is in power they have 2nd thoughts of continuing in building an intl ..terminal in the south..the one at present has outlived its lifespan…DOMINICA NEEDS AN INTL AIRPORT… usually it takes both the MIN OF TOURISM, FOREIGN AFFAIRS..AND AIRLINE DISCUSSIONS TO BRING IN MORE PLANES .. so once the tourism vision is to build X AMOUNT OF HOTELS..in the future..then ..then dominica will have more air traffic……trust me.. st luica has 2 airports as far as i am concerned one needs to shut down and just focus on the main airport to the south..cause the smaller one in the city area has very little traffic than lets say 9 yrs ago
I do agree that we need a better airport than what we have,but international airport.Look at Grenada people they have one and they can barely keep it open.Look at ST.Lucia they get a lot more tourist than we get in DA, yet American Airlines demanded $5000000.00 up front in order to fly to the island.What we need is a long enough runway that can acomodate large airplanes like what ST.Thomas has.
There is nothing that any government running this country would love more than to be able to point to an international airport and say “we did that” . It has been in every political manifesto certainly since 1970. Yet is not there yet … Ask yourself why. None of them have ever been able to make the case of driving the country to economic collapse in the attempt to build it as a good one. None of the ‘friendly’ Governments we deal with are mad enough to say to their taxpayers “we are going to give Dominica $5 Billion US so they can service 2000 tourists a year” .. It is not going to happen … just forget it … We should not even be thinking about such a ridiculous waste of resources even beyond the ‘Nature island of the world’ promoting increased carbon usage though more air miles.
nothing will come from this…Dominica is General a small minded type island…nothing to shout about this conference…
the majority of its citizens are proud with mediocrity from their ruling regime at all sectors…
So what to do? laugh? or cry? or say I TOLD YOU SO, LONG AGO.
I remember the “inaugural” flight….what a celebration that was….LOL
with the two IDIOTIC REPORTERS acting like fools . where are they now. WHO’S LAUGHING NOW
@Met Yo – It is becoming much clearer now that that particular celebration of fireworks which surrounded the so-called inaugural night flight on September 20, 2010 was just a fancy way to announce to the region & the world that Dominica was coming out last in the Caribbean in terms of having the facilities to enable planes such as LIAT and a few ‘toy’ planes to land in the night.
Some persons mistakenly thought it was a celebration to signal the start of serious & meaningful improvements to air access into Dominica…:lol::lol::lol:
Labouurrrrrrrrr……………….
Can someone or some organisation or the people in mass..Kindly ask the Labour Regime to clear there Desk please…
We surely need a wind of change, stale foods are extremely destructive to the human soul.
KICK LABOUR SASPO OUT!
Fellow Bronxite, residents will return no matter but high airfares prevent more visitors, ferry inter-island never an option if flying from USA. direct/cheaper flights are needed, more marketing/promotions such as ‘Why Not Dominica’? Has anyone thought to consult with Jet Blue on flight possibilitiesas they fly to many carib islands ‘Why Not Dominica’? More questions need asking before answers found.
or some organisation or the people in mass..Kindly ask the Labour Regime to clear there Desk please…
Good day all can you remamber that the wind of change has been saying from day one when this red Gov’t come we need a change.Tell me what the people did in 2010 say to them we love you so much we are giving you 18 ot of 21 thanks to the wind of change, stale foods is much better than no food at all.
KICK LABOUR SASPO OUT!
oh please shut up fool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Simple facts…where there is NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH….that’s the # 1 issue, Dominica needs to eradicate from its Governance System..
Soon after that is done…Sun light while dawn upon Dominica…
But they can convey 175 workshops, assembles or whatever the Heck they choose to call it, Nothing Will Emerge of Success in terms of Fruits being Born….
Do not burst your brain anymore Mr. Piper. Here are two easy solutions to the problem:
1.Since independence day which was formally known as National day is on Nov 3, let us use this coming 3rd November to change our name from Domi-nica to Smarti-nica. The first four letters ‘DOMI’ are hurting us since they are pronounced DUMMY. They are hurting us so much that we act like dummies. Only dummies would vote out a government that had plans well in place for an international airport only to be replaced with a lazy, visionless, and incompetent government that keeps telling us that we don’t need an International Airport.
2. You left out a few VIP’s that would have contributed significantly to this meeting. You should have brought in the Hon. Prime Minister since he and his government seems to have strong influence in the regional and international world, as stated by him during the doctor Etienne Saga and plus he is the money expert and has handled more money than any local PM’s. Also missing at the meeting are Ian Douglas who is the minister of talk show, PM Gonsalves of St. Vincent who was the one hired by Skeritt to tell Dummynicans that they did not need an airport, while he was secretely building one for his country. Also, we need to find a way to bring in former PM of Antigua, Mr. Bird who was hired by my good friend Rosie Douglas to again tell Dummynicans that they did not need an airport since his in Antigua was swinging. Hope these 2 solutions help.
Boy allu something else. One point #1 did you know that “the so called plan” was to send a one pager to the EU thru Caricom when the full funding was available to build the Int’l airport while they were in power…yes I saw it…smh…and wasn’t it them that wrote the US embassy to say letting the US build it before the election would constitute melding in our elections and Mamo would have won again instead of them…smh
When politicians talk and tell you call kinds of lies, believe them…smh
Wow, do you really believe that these two sacastic opinions coupled with your political partisan is really what’sneeded to solve the problem at hand.As you noticed i used the word opinion and not solution to describe your comment because sadly to say that is what it is, you are just giving your opinion regarding the matter and not offering anything constructive regarding the matter, just to remind you opinions are the chepest commoddity everyone has one, so let us not confuse opinons for solutions.
Gary I gave solutions and not options. Her is an additional simple solution. Fire Skerrit who has plainly told us that he cannot help solve the problem. He said we should have built one 30 years ago but we can’t affor one now. If you hire a carpenter to fix a problem on you house and he took his own mouth and tells you that he cannot do the job, would it make sense to keep employing him?
Haven’t you all realized that Dominica is one of the very few islands in the caribbean or maybe the only island (even if there is not international airport) airfare is very high?
Why do you think is the reasons or reasonings behind this height in airfare? How many major airlines land at either airports? What is the major airline for booking travel to DA? Now answer your own question. I’m sure you will come up with “NO COMPETITION”.
With no competition, industries tend to for monopoly and can set their price. Then if regulations are not enforced, then it causes bigger headaches.
Not even gonna say anything bout that. Cause zor toh sot. Airlines moving away and advancing, neighbors building or advancing their airport to accomodate these changes. Here in DOminica we are preparing for 1984 when we’re in 2012.
So true
OMG!! They are still wrestling with what? Build the airport. Geee!!!!
LIAT alone cannot do it to Dominica, the government should also exploit connections with Air Caraibes ATR Service, Caribbean Airlines ATR Services, Conviasa as well as LIAT. These Airlines all have agreements with each other and can come together to improve Air Acess into Dominica.
Airport Taxes are killing LIAT’s Air Fares, Fuel Prices and other taxes contributes to high ticket fares. The base fare for LIAT to Dominica is approximately 300 Dollars or less.
Dominica needs to subsidise seats on Airlines to Dominica to make the fares more attractive to pull the tourists also effective advertising.
Lastly we need an International Airport or an International Airfield to complement larger aircraft in season.
Building an international airport does not necessarily mean that international flights will come in. Grenada, St Kitts have white elephant international airports. St Lucia has to subsidise the airlines to come in. Dominica does not have enough traffic to justify an international airport, nor enough hotel space. Please people it is a pipedream. Develop what you have, have a commuter airline from the main stop off points, develop the ferry service, improve the service industry. Tourists will not come to Dominica no matter how pretty if it lacks a proper service industry and is no longer welcoming. What makes you think that people would want to spend their hard earned money during such difficult economic times when there is so much negativity in the place. There are many places in the world selling the same product with a much better image, remember that!
Where is the Hon:minister???
Where are the results for all the previous studies taken by third party groups through the years for a proper airport for Dominica, looks like we are starting all over again, well beter late than never but I can say to date we are 30 years behind so good lock.
you just had a prime minister donate 8!!! million dollars !!!! to liat and here it is we are having air access discussions , and LIAT is not at the table , we are wondering like the proverbial DEER IN THE HEAD LIGHTS , talkin ad nauseum , the same thing over and over , and then we bring a traditional air access consultant to tell us about the ferry !!and colin ‘DUH’ piper comes to tell us that we must form partnerships with those in the aviation industry , so 8 MILLION DOESNT BUY US partnership?? so much for sixteen thousand a month salary !! we really need to do better than that , this grey matter defficiency is really oversubscribed in dominica , we have carribbean airlines now adding a significant amount of turbo prop aircraft to their fleet, mr piper your resume suggests that you majored in marketing ,finance and STRATEGIC management , how about using that to create and form some partnerships.
its clear that the person that put the thumbs down never traveled yet to know the importance of an international airport……..
why waste time and effort to talk about access. For years everyone knows it has to be seamless. If not international airport, and airlines find it difficult, you must have your own plane and boat to service the hubs. Do not need a big conference to address this.
why is everybody so concerned about access when i see the wanton degradation of our surroundings. case in point the beach at scotts head went there with a set of tourist and found the beach looking as if it were labas my tourist friends said that they were very disappointed with this. we advertise clean and crystal clear waters but we forget that what we do with our surroundings affects us as well if these tourist tell there friends what they saw. do u think that access is so important if no one wants to come?
My friend, too many times, we the people depend on the government to do for us, but we forget that once upon a time we were a self-sufficient people. Why can’t the villagers make it their duty to work with each other, ensure that their area is kept clean that way they encourage visitors to come by? Organize a weekly clean-up. Bring attention to your area. What happened to youth groups doing those things? Are we so lost and dependent that we need a hand to see even in broad daylight? Magwe sa.
What is there to wrestle with? We all know the answer.Realign the runway and EXTEND it to at least 7000ft.Next build a modern state of the art terminal. We’re always building little cubus and calling them modern this and modern that.
What do we honestly expect the Trinidadian gentleman/lady to tell us? Have you all understood what the man said? He told us to travel by ferry.Papa bon Dieu,Mama la sainte vierge ayez pitie de nous.That is not the ANSWER.The answer is a modern airport. Definitely not a ferry from T&T to Dominica, St Lucia, Antigua or anywher else to Dominica.Thank you for visiting our country and sharing your expertise with us.Please come again.Our doors and arms are always open.However please tell us the pure unadulterated truth next time.Tell us what the nation want to hear not what the boys want you to tell us.
I absolutely love that comment. You hit the nail right on the head, with some humour thrown in there as well. The first part of your comment is what I have been suggesting all along.
Though air access requires urgent attention in areas of cost and availability, Ferry Services should also be an area of focus when addressing the issue of attracting more people into Dominica as Mr. Bertrand rightly suggested.
the problem can be solved, the government should purchase a small plane, hire a pilot so travelers particularly dignitaries and tourist can can be flown from melville hall to canefield for a small fee.
You go hide yourself some place, that’s your big bright idea and solution?
the issue is not access to the airport by car, it’s access by air via international flights!!
With respect, the access to the airport by car IS a problem! It takes 1.5 hrs. on a bumpy, potholed and winding road and will cost you the best part of $100/one way if you want to get to Roseau. One really has to be determined to want to come here.
I’ve always wondered why there is no public, cheaper bus service to Melville Hall for the ordinary citizen.
NO!!!!! Two Words More Flights!!!!!!! Thats all we Need. More Flights coming in !!!!!!!!!
international air pot mr pm
Two Words… Londonderry Estate
Has Ian bertrand ever taken the ferry? It is a mode of travel so designed by the French to capitalize on the hucksters. The procedure does not meet international standards and would only serve to deter more visitors from visiting Dominica. Until such time there can be seamless coordination between the airport of arrival in the neigboring country and the ferry service – with ease of check in etc – the ferry is not a viable option.
Colin Piper seems strip government of any responsibility. The fact is if Dominica is waiting on relying on airlines – small or big to fix its access problem they are fooling themselves.
A runway that can accommodate jets is the only hope that Dominica has.
Hmm. So this is the current status of Dominica’s most backward thinking government $100 million dollar plus investment into Melville Hall airport? Another one of these ‘conferences’ to look at Dominica’s air access problems eh.
I guess them will carry on with these ‘conferences’ until the year 2030. Didn’t a certain person say that Dominica does not need an international airport until 2030?
You mean after 13 year the progressive forward thinking most intelligent party in da have not brought us that next level yet? I guess they need another 13 years to solve it.
While the talkers talking St.Vincent building never hear so much nonsense in my life, this country will go nowhere without an international airport! Just look how this night landing was a waste of money.
Where is the International Airport? Where are the airlines that should be serving us from various destinations directly? When are we going to quit putting the cart before the horse and politics national development? Why did we spend $25 million on the state malice and $8 million on a dying airline (LIAT) when that could have gone into funds to supplement additional construction of an international airport?
Enough is enough but as long as we as a people continue to allow “political thieves” to manipulate our intelligence for personal gain them the International Airport will never come. Look around you and will see home backwards we are in terms of air access. To add insult to injury, the lands that were purchased for the much needed airport is still owned by government but they refuse to build the airport because it was the brainchild of the UWP. I weep for my country….
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
So do I. I’ve been hearing about this International airport since I was 9yrs old. I’ll be dead soon (god forbide) and they still haven’t done anything about it. Maybe my grand children will live to see that one day.
How about ferry service into DA from Antigua, Barbados & Puerto Rico to give travellers an alternative to LIAT?
This is one of the best things coming from this the FERRy service need to open up TO THE OTHER ISLAND LIKE ANTIGUA SM AND BARBADOS AND LET LIAT FLY EMPTY.
We are in 2012, moving into 2013, it is high time that an INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is constructed. The land was located, but the greedy persons chose not to sell and now even they may be singing my song too, INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. It will certainly provide jobs while it is being constructed and after that, more airline staff, more security personnel, advanced security measures, more trained ATCs, etc etc. Why the long wait. All that is needed is mentainance and sourcing out of companies and airlines to service the said airport.
All of you people pushing for an international airport need to go find the money. The airport in Melville Hall is in the wrong place and a lot of money was thrown at it for nothing. It should have been at the Portsmouth end of the island to begin with.
sorry i thumb you down by accident
I thought RS had solve this problem when they say that night landing was the constraint. Now, and only now, the DDA saying air access? Where were u all in the rehabilitation of Melville Hall. It was then Collin had to challenge RS and tell him the crap at Melville Hall will not add much value to the tourism product.
Shame on DDA. As well, a consultant from tnt had to make it clear that sea access and ferry is the way to go? I guess we are more attentive to the experts and not the in-perts. (experts in Dominica)!!!
Same story different day and NO ACTION!
Where is the vision? Our Government has sent Dominica 50 years back because of the failure to continue the policy of the UWP. Build the International Airport.
What people need to know is that, Dominica need an international airport until then nothing will change when it comes to tourism
If Dominica had an international airport things would have been much better, people do not want to overnight in Antigua, Barbados etc, tourist do not like the hustle and bustle of overnight and not only that the problem of your luggage arriving in DA, days after one arrived on the island sometimes days before departure
Dominica need an international airport, period, nationals from St Lucia, Grenada, St Vincent and the other Caribbean islands do not have to go through all that hustle and bustle we travelling to their island
I know of Dominicans instead of going via Barbados and Antigua, pay their flight from where ever to Guadeloupe and then take the ferry to DA, if this is a big issue for Dominicans far less for the tourist
two words INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Sort, how oten you travel?
You that sort SORT
Where?
8 words: How Are You Going To Pay For It?
the same way our taxes are paying for the wasted 100 million plus goat strip with candles that keep blowing out due to high winds
One Word ACCESS
Wuill you pay an additional 5% tax on your salary to help finance the two words “International Airport”? And what about maintenance costs after construction?
i doh want no more comment after that.
No MORE
Its not simply about getting an international airport, its about giving airline carriers a reason to fly into the island.
If more tourists wanna come, more airlines will consider flying them in.
How do you fly them in when the largest aircraft holds only 64 persons? Operating cost will decrease as the total number of travelers increases. Gees.
Sorry to say,but i agree with you as do so many others. Sadly however, those block headed mules who are in charge,and to whom the stage belongs and has belonged for a long time just can’t comprehend that.We can continue to host all kinds of conferences and invite all and saundry to tell our leaders what they want to hear, but the hard fact remains. We need a better airport. Please stop wasting money on melvilehall.STOP! I don’t want to hear no about ferry, ferris or ferrilia.
In order for an international airport to succeed in Dominica you must have a substantial amount of passengers landing and taking off every day. Do we meet that criteria, the answer is a big “NO”. Yes we tend to have many visitors to the island during the various festivals but, what is going to keep the airport a float during the down time? Who is going to pay the outrageous landing fees? Certainly not “I” by paying over and above ticket prices. Some individuals can’t even afford to pay for tickets regionally; how will they pay for them internationally?
It’s very easy for folks who do not understand the dynamics of an international airport to state that indeed this is the answer to our woes.
Like the saying goes be careful what you wish for.
Too many low thinkers like you that cause us to be so behind in Dummynica? Will you not try to build a house to put your children even if you don’t have money? If you already have e house, did you have all the money before you started? People with vision don’t look at where they are but rather, what they can do to change where they are. It all starts with a plan. If you have a government with vision people will pay for it. Anguilla is much smaller than DA yet because of their vision Dummyinicans find a way to go there for employment.
To j
Your analogy using Anguilla in comparison to Dominica regarding vision is not a good one and is not a an example of showing vision.Yes Anguilla is smaller than Dominica but Anguilla topography is different than Dominica and so it a plus for their Tourism Industry, and by the way their economy is hurting very badly since some big capitol projects folded due to lack of funds by the investors relating to the world financial crisis so do not pretend things are good there and do not forget who help bail Anguilla from some of it’s financial problems Dominica.
I SECOND THE MOTION, YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE NAIL HEAD.
J I would shake your big toe. I continue to push aside ‘myopic’ thinkers like spiffycas.
If the Wright brothers had that kind of mentality then we would still be riding pee pwees to travel
Two more. Forget it!!
Believe you me, that will not solve the problem.
There are islands around us with international airports that are currently paying airline subsidies to fly there. Can we afford that???
Name one. you people just repeat hear say, check why is Dominica the only oecs nation without an international airport?
St Lucia and Antigua for sure are doing that.
1)I remember when the SVG PM was here and speaking bout Dominica don’t need international airport,then secretly he started and completed his.
2) I also remember when The Bird administration part funded the labour campaign of Rossevelt Douglas, crying down the good intents of building an international Airport in Dominica. Knowing Good well that an INT Airport on Domninica would then make Dominica the MOst centrally located INt Airport in the English speaking caribbean making ANU and BGI somehwat of an “OFF” course airport.The slanderous campaign succeeded thus leaving us 20 years back from the first strip at mellville hall .