Two “friendly governments” to assist in construction of international airport – PM Skerrit

Prime Minister Skerrit arrives at parliament on Wednesday to deliver the National Budget

Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that two friendly governments have given their commitment to assist Dominica in the construction of a much-talked-about international airport.

Speaking at the presentation of the National Budget on Wednesday, he also said there is an agreement “in principle” from a firm to provide funding for such a facility.

“I am therefore pleased to inform this Honourable House that progress is being made towards the realisation of the international airport,” Skerrit said. “Government has set aside funds for construction and we have an agreement in principle from a major firm to assist in additional funding required.”

He said two “friendly governments” have agreed to assist in the project.

“In addition, two friendly countries have given commitments to assist with various aspects of the airport,” he stated, without naming the friendly governments. “We propose to commence negotiations in September 2018, for the 50 acquisition of private lands and properties necessary to facilitate the construction of the international airport.”

The Prime Minister noted that an international airport will help secure the island’s investment in tourism.

“The international airport will certainly help secure the investments made in tourism and the export of our agricultural produce and contribute to building economic resilience,” he said.

He vowed that his government will build an international airport in Dominica.

“Madam Speaker, mark my words this Labour Party Government shall build the international airport,” Skerrit remarked.

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52 Comments

  1. Iamanidiot
    July 27, 2018

    Well are we still getting those direct flights to Miami? because a certain Minister Promised it (with fingers crossed) or we just have to wait for the air port.
    Asking for a friend

  2. Mahaut
    July 27, 2018

    Dominica got fools only am not one of them because am in NYC

  3. Labelle
    July 26, 2018

    Pills, pills and pills…

  4. Premium
    July 26, 2018

    Dominican are just pure follwers, man said, “we dont need international airport we will spend $100mil for night landed”, everyone say, “best PM”….Now guy said, “two to assist in international airport”, here goes them followers again…..Guy said, “money for small business to stimulate economy”, “best PM”. Guy said, “money will be used to fix houses instead”, “Best PM” again,…Jah boy….But one thing I know nothing last forever.

  5. Albee
    July 26, 2018

    elections must be coming. For over 50 years every governing party have had secured funding or had some party standing by to build an international airport; yet we wait. another promise awaits yet to be fulfilled. Will we have to wait another 50 years or is this time the real? only time will tell

  6. July 26, 2018

    We’ve seen that movie a million times, we, all know how it ends :-D :-D

  7. analy thomas
    July 26, 2018

    Well done sir! We need the airport! Please keep up to your word in a timely manner and let us remember that God is in control in every situation. When this airport is built, let us work toward being a central hub for at least two airlines. We have no reason to be struggling. We are in a central location and everyone is hoping to cut fuel costs.

    • anonymous2
      July 27, 2018

      I think people on this island are fooling themselves if they think that building a big airport is going to bring people with money to DA. How long do you think that empty planes will stay in business flying here. There are a lot of changes that need to take place here before people from other places are going to want to come here. Somehow people here don’t realize that there are many destinations that are competing for tourist and business dollars. So, why would they pick DA over some of the other places? Has anyone asked themselves that question?

  8. alah
    July 26, 2018

    ohh and suit case matching tie too? dem fellas rich boy

  9. alah
    July 26, 2018

    cant understand how Dominicans have a man fooling them so for

  10. Fran
    July 26, 2018

    I am in my 40’s. and I have been hearing that since I was 7 years old. If this actually comes to fruition, make sure you have the appropriate and adequate infrastructure accommodate this International airport. And by that, I mean proper roads as in wider and paved as well as a medical facility close by with competent trained personal to assist in case of an emergencies. It is time to update and upgrade the Margot hospital if this is where the international airport is going to be. And what’s with Dominica’s always standing around and crowding out emergency personnel? I realize some do offer assistance, but for the most part they are there to gawk and take photos of deceased individuals for facebook? That is very shameful and disrepectful. There should be laws against that.

  11. Chipz
    July 26, 2018

    For 13 years the DLP has been saying that Dominica doesn’t need or cannot afford an international airport, but now all you want one in the country???? Chupes!!!

  12. July 26, 2018

    Ha ha ha ha ha! i’m sure the Punjab PhD has the final? Airport in the briefcase he carrying; boy IT Red Hot. Garcon can’t you for once be Transparent and Accountable to the people of Dominica, since you assumed leadership of my once beautiful and prosperous country. You came from Malaysia after your “bon tempts” was exposed and talked about a MAN love Dominica; now you coming again with the same crap; it’s the business of the Dominican people to know; give us the names of the two countries because we sure don’t want any blood money; well i guess “no name no warrant”; that’s what we expect from an “empty bag of coals” DUST.

  13. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    July 26, 2018

    I know next election must be real close boy. Anytime now, he calling it.

  14. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    July 26, 2018

    Ok, this time I really believe him, just like I believe in the: “Jumbie” in Sultan, the cruise ship birth in Canefield, geothermal energy being sold to the neighboring French Islands, French people purchasing groceries in Dominica, the Moroccan Hotel being completed, the boat to ship farmers produce overseas, over 2 million pounds of fish being shipped all over the world from Dominica, our economy being more robust when compared to our neighbors. Alas, I run out of lies to repeat.

  15. Truth
    July 26, 2018

    Airport number four, Lie, Lie Lie, The americans was coming to build one, then he came from china with one in his pocket, , now two friendly governments is willing to help him build one, I am happy that from since skerit came in, I let go of labour, For ,if a qualified captain cannot sail a ship, is not an aprentiste who never sailed before which is going to sail it, Pure common sense, You told your supporters , we do not need an international airport, and they were all over the world spewing out this crap ,and being laughed at, Now you are saying we need one?I wonder if your supporters are again going to join you with that, Oh how you make your supporters look so foolish,Alas, With LIES,LIES and more LIES

  16. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    July 26, 2018

    “We propose to commence negotiations in September 2018, for the 50 acquisition of private lands and properties necessary to facilitate the construction of the international airport.”

    Roosevelt you are full of human feces! You are a liar; in the first place  there is a site bought and paid for in the back of Wesley, between Wesley and Woodford Hill, where even the Government of Trinidad agreed is the best place in the country for an International Airport. That is why they were building it  twenty plus years ago. So what acquisition of private land are you talking about when the land was bought more than twenty years ago!

    You are such a liar, here you said two friendly government are going to build airport, in the same breath you said a major firm is going to assists with addition funding?

    A liar as you are always complicate things; you are talking crap, an International Airport will never be built in Dominica as long as you and a labor party are in power!

  17. bring back the parrots
    July 26, 2018

    Who are the two countries, why has he not named them? And who is going to provide the funds? And who is the contractor? Everything is a mystery with this PM. Let the bamboozlement continue, do not believe what you read and see with your own eyes only believe what I tell you. National elections must be coming up in the near future, throw out another shiny object to dazzle and confuse the masses with B/S. He must be Trumps apprentice.

  18. Ibo France
    July 26, 2018

    Why must these two friendly governments remain anonymous? Inquiring minds know that the PM wants to profiteer from propaganda. He has used this same subterfuge repeatedly to deceive the gullible. Most people have become disillusioned with Skerrit’s plethora of farcical assertions and won’t fall for it anymore. If you are to be believed, Mr. Skerrit must show authentic documents with all the facts and the signatures on the dotted lines.

  19. Made is China
    July 26, 2018

    Well let us all Start learning Chinese now. Building a new airport is a serious undertaking that is not cheap. China have been pouring a lot of money into DA before and after the hurricane. Chinese goods and products shipped from DA to the US, Mexico and South America will be cost effective. So China alone must build the airport, other countries see no value in contributing. ………………

  20. Voice of the South
    July 26, 2018

    In addition to the land, UWP also brought us a lot of debt which has not been completely repaid to the government of Trinidad. That is the real reason we were not able to develop our economy at the same pace as our sister islands. # Facts

    • Think for YOURSELF
      July 26, 2018

      Reallyyyyyyyy…… 18 years and that’s the excuses you come up with! sad!!!!

    • %
      July 26, 2018

      You should be ashamed to say you all campaigned to transform Dominica,and you are now telling Dominicans things that happened almost 20 years ago,you all cannot deal with it.Surrender garcon.You all were too greedy and corrupt,looking to full you all pockets and saying to hell with Dominicans.Get the hell out of this doggone bad governance,let real leaders do the job. Shameless,brainless,lazy,greedy,corrupt people cannot lead!!
      Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn!!!
      This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party!!!!

    • Uncle
      July 26, 2018

      Man, you are talking about something nearly twenty years ago and it was TiMTim who negotiate that loan. I would never vote for Edison and TiMTim. In fact I was glad Skerrit came in but I misjudged.I coul supportPierro but not this Jekyl and Hyde character Skerrit turn out to be. Cannot trust that man. Lennox shoots straight, I’m not married to any party so Lennox getting my vote next time.

    • July 30, 2018

      so you are one of those J A :lol:

  21. Sams
    July 26, 2018

    Skerrit stop the lies why can’t you call there name gasa all you do is lies upon lies skerrit must go toneah

  22. My little take
    July 26, 2018

    Dominicans are going to have to decide if they will make Skerrit pay for fooling them for 14 long, unfruitful, unproductive years or, like Hon. Ian Douglas, who acknowledged and said Skerrit fooled him several times but yet, for the sake of party will continue to be fooled till death. To be fair to Ian he must continue being fooled because he doesn’t have another job to turn to so he has to keep being fooled. As for me Skerrit fooled me in 2005 but as soon as I realized I was fooled once I corrected that. Every election year the man talking international airport yet they brought Gonzalves to tell us that we couldn’t afford an international airport only to see Gonsalves run back to St. Vincent and build one. During the 2014 election Skerrit told us Chinese building one for him and contract was already signed, only to hear the then Chinese ambassador say they didn’t sign such contract. Yesterday he told us about they works on terminal buildings at Douglas Charles so I would be wrong…

  23. Jonathan Y St Jean
    July 26, 2018

    What is the big secret to not name the two friendly countries? And if this story is to be believed, then what are we as a country giving them? And what about the $300 million loan Skerritt signed in China some of which was to go towards the international airport? Boy look story, which means that election season isn’t too far away. However, Skerritt make sure the electors lost is cleaned up thoroughly.

    • %
      July 26, 2018

      The Chinese embassy here on island, even issued a statement disassociating themselves from that loan.Dominica is a fetid and polluted mess,the extent of which will only be exposed when these MISLEADERS leave office at the next election.
      Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn!!
      This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party!!

    • Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
      July 26, 2018

      No secret. You can’t name countries that do not exist. :-P :-P

  24. weh
    July 26, 2018

    I wonder what happened to the promise of a direct flight to Da from Florida?

  25. karen
    July 26, 2018

    This time, the International Airport must be in Skerrit’s front pocket. Boy look lies!

  26. kubulol
    July 26, 2018

    Hope the PM is not refering to governments like : Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, China, Russia … ?
    If that is the case, I strongly advise to keep away from these dictatorships called “friends”

    • Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
      July 26, 2018

      The United States and the European Union will not fund it.

  27. Paul Rossnof
    July 26, 2018

    In his usual style he is very wage in what he is saying. For that reason let me ask a few question, so that the citizens of Dominica are clearer about what Skerrit stated.
    A) who are these ‘friendly’ governments and what’s in it for them?
    B) who is that firm that agreed in ‘principle’ to provide funding for the project?
    C) how much funds have been set aside from the government so far towards financing such airport?
    D) where do such government funds originate from since Dominica has been living of foreign aid and donations for the past few years?
    Once again we all heard a similar statement from Skerrit in 2014 and before that in 2009. In other words before every election a new international airport is being built. Once again I suggest that this is the usual Skerrit propaganda and this airport as all the previous ones is only built in his mind. For that reason, Dominicans, don’t let this man to fool you one again. You gave him the benefit of a doubt to often. Enough is enough.

  28. LifeandDeath
    July 26, 2018

    Hahahahaha…who will help; by the stroke of a pen, to put Skerrit out of this unfortunate conundrum. I can see the brother yearning to be put out of this demise and some still putting confidence in the poor guy…

    The man needs a rest people. Skerrit even on the eves of an impending General Elections will make the most unfounded and outlandish promises. He will even mobilize groundbreaking for many of the proposed projects but if you (as a voter) would let that convince you after 18 years of non-performance then Dominica is deserving of this Con.

  29. Language
    July 26, 2018

    Can someone explain what the PM means by “an agreement in principle”?

    • %
      July 26, 2018

      What he means is that HE IS “””””LYING”””, brazenly and in broad daylight,as though all of us are:Mammys, Ghost, Sogo, Cucum,Clarance, Parry, Brain, Cecil,Tony, Simeon, Lennox,etc,etc,
      Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn!!!
      This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party!!

    • jam jam
      July 26, 2018

      In principle would mean, one gave their word, but not on paper or signed contract. Just word of mouth… sounds like another lie from the hat of the pm…

  30. Real
    July 26, 2018

    what bothers me is that St.Lucia, Antigua have new Government leaders and they have been in power for a lesser time than our Pm and have made great progress in development of an International airport. yet all Dominicans get is a promise every 5 years. Antigua pm just reach Antigua has a major upgrade in there airport. look St.Lucia moving to get theirs moving these people have less than 5 years running there country . yet we have a government for 15 years and all we do is say our Pm nice and nothing moving. more promises and more bull…..

    • charles j andrew
      July 26, 2018

      For your information The Antigua airport was negotiated by the now opposition unided progesssive party but completed by the ablp so get your facts right .which provress that going on in antigua? have you read antigua news lately.in this day and age a country cannot provide water for it’s citizens who bathe in bucket and no water for weeks. building hotels with no one to occupy it is progress. laying off workers and getting 3days s week work is progress?when nurses are overworked and patients can’t get dialysis is progress?when a government is taxing the poor barber, food fender, hair dresser,when carircum nationals paying double for work permits thats progress..the corruption taking place in antigua making dominica government look small.so please get your facts straight..the worse government in the Caribbean with a dictator style of governance..antigua is broke brokebroke.

      • Former SMA pupil
        July 27, 2018

        It certainly sounds like more is happening in Antigua. Dominicans wish they were in the picture you paint. How many years have they had an international airport and million dollar hotel projects in operation? Now look at where we’re at in Dominica. Wake up please.

  31. jino
    July 26, 2018

    nice briefcase pm…

    • moi moi
      July 26, 2018

      on such an important topic – your only contribution is “nice briefcase pm’? are you that foolish or unable to make a meaningful contribution like all labourites?

  32. weh
    July 26, 2018

    The PM just said in his budget speech yesterday that the Govt plans to upgrade the terminal facilities at the Douglas-Charles Airport. Today now the PM is saying two friendly governments plan to assist in the building of an international airport?

    What is the correct answer Mr PM? are you planning to build an international airport or just upgrade Melville Hall?

    • MR DOMINICA
      July 26, 2018

      when the prime minister says by September we will start negotiating acquisition of lands and properties for the airport has he forgotten that lands were acquired for this airport ? not only between woodfordhill and Wesley but at Compton point or turtle point part of what we call temple these are two separate parcels . I remember speaking to paire Charles in new York about payment for my father’s land at mangrow gutter and was told govt. has no money to pay for lands to which my answer was please have the acquisition rescinded ,his answer to that was do you want me to tell it to you in English or patwa ? One year later I got the same answer from Skerrit except that last verbiage .Let us see where this airport is going to be built as i hope he does not give the young people of the northeast comprehensive school reasons to believe he is a liar as he told them last year that ” THE AIRPORT WILL BE BUILT ON THE NORTH”

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        July 26, 2018

        My friend, that guy Roosevelt is a sucker, who will lie his physical guts out of his belly; he will say anything  he believe his stupid supporters want to here. More than twenty years ago, the UWP led by Edison James secured a loan from the government of Trinidad & Tobago to build the International Airport, utilizing land at the place, that you know.

        If you are who I believe you are; when I was a little boy, I remember your father owning land at the same place we call Joe okay. The International Airport the UWP was building cost just a little over three hundred million dollars, close to four hundred million.

        Nevertheless, the government of Trinidad loaned our people eighty (80%) percent of the total cost with one condition: that was the the Engineers, Contractors, and any material needed if it is found in Trinidad they must be utilized.

        Construction commenced, when Edison lost, the idiots claim victory and shut the project down, chased the  contractors out back to Trinidad! 

    • Wimama
      July 26, 2018

      Lack of vision you call that!

  33. %
    July 26, 2018

    Skerrit, who are the friendly governments?They do not have names,or is this a blatent lie as usual?This man Skerrit,has been promising us airports since 2004.This man Skerrit is brazenly shameless and reckless in the governance of the country.Dominica is doomed! It’s a failed state!
    Where will this airport be built? In Vieillecase? Under this MISLEADER, Skerrit we have been promised airports in 2004,2009,2014 and 2018.This man lies with impunity.
    Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn!!
    This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party!!!!

    • July 26, 2018

      Dominicans isn’t it time that you all start asking yourself when enough is enough remember PM said Dominica is not a real country and he has proved that to be correct because it’s the people to blame for the mess the Island is in and it must be the people to change it, Change is coming to Dominica don’t miss your chance to put Dominica on a moving pathway. Look so many times PM talk about Airport. Dominica needs new voices with Dominica on there agenda. My people I ask that you make the Change not for the love of someone but to make the Island a place where you can live in peace and your children and grandchildren too. Don’t allow yourselves to be fooled any longer.

  34. Anonymous
    July 26, 2018

    Watch Russia people! Russia and China have common interest in Dominica.

  35. jamie
    July 26, 2018

    More and more lies,the uwp bought all the lands,but truly Skerrit,which are the 2 governments,man stop the lies.Lst time you said a US based company was going to be building the airport,dtop the lies and deceit man,you act like a cgild towards the oppostion,Dominica is doomed.

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