Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that work will resume within the next few weeks on the problem-plague Morocco-funded hotel in Portsmouth.
According to the Prime Minister, he went to Morroco last year, met with government officials and was able to negotiate with them the recommencement of work at the hotel
“And since then they have been able to sign all of the contracts required to complete this hotel, provide all the funding required to complete this hotel and they already have in fact restarted exporting a number of imported materials, the tiles, for instance in several containers,” he stated. “And so you going to see in the next few weeks, a lot of work taking place in regards to the completion of this hotel.”
He said the project will provide a number of jobs.
“What they were going to do initially was to send a number of workers down from Morroco to assist with the construction,” Skerrit remarked. “We have been able to negotiate them out of that. So the bulk of the people who will be required to complete this hotel will come from Dominica and therefore you have added opportunities to get jobs. So the skills men, the unskilled workers I want you to go on site to register your name and to indicate that you would like a job so that you can work there.”
Actual work on the hotel began in February 2011.
In October 2012, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the hotel would be completed in October 2013 and “not one day later.”
At a press conference in June 2013, MP for Portsmouth, Ian Douglas said the project was nearing completion, and concentration was being placed on “electrical, tiling and plumbing.” He also said at that time that five individuals had expressed interest in managing the hotel since the government has no interest in running it.
In October 2013, Douglas, who was also Tourism Minister at that time, announced that a management team from Bonaire was expected in Dominica “to see if we can reach a happy medium as far as what the government would want and what we can expect from them managing the facility.”
In November 2013, then Trade Minister, Collin McIntyre said the government was still searching for a team to manage the hotel. He said the hotel would be opened ‘sometime next year’ (2014) and the government was “recruiting staff and training staff for the hotel.”
When it appeared construction had stopped for a period of time at the facility, Douglas was questioned at a press conference in May, 2015. He responded by saying the project was experiencing “a slight setback” but was still on stream. He said a team from Morocco was expected in Dominica “to deal with the issues of décor, such as fixtures, lighting, tiling, and painting.”
At the same press conference, Skerrit, mentioned that the Morrocan Government has changed the contractor and architectural team for the project and they have been “very delayed in addressing the replacement.”
Two months later, in July 2015, Douglas blamed ‘administrative changes’ in the government of Morocco due to the Arab Spring for delays in the construction of a hotel.
In November, 2016, Skerit said work would resume ‘in earnest’ on the hotel after the Christmas holidays.
The hotel was originally expected to be built in Melville Hall but it was later moved to the Cabrits on the basis that the location was more economically viable and the move was based on ‘sound analysis.’
The 50-room hotel is expected to comprise of seven major buildings including a conference facility to accommodate 200 people, duty-free shops, and a Spa. It has been touted by the government as a ‘generous gift’ from the government of Morocco.
You keep funding so many projects, all based on empty promises. When in heaven’s name are you going to ACTUALLY do something about it? Why build a hotel when we need an INTERNATIONAL airport in order to fly into Dominica? Must we continue flying in dem little kites called planes, land on the street, approach a hut/pigpen called an airport? Business before pleasure, Mr. PM.
I think you make a good point about priorities. I am not sure that Dominica needs another hotel, at least right now. An international airport would be a good addition. As would projects that clean up the streets, guide water flows away from damaging roads, and better mobility for people to move around efficiently. Equally, health care, education and business development support are important to grow the economy…
Dominicans too sot
I am tired of hearing of that project that seems to be stuck.
So, where can one check on progress of projects and whom has the full change agenda to view?
its been 6 years since this project has started and all lies and deceit to the poor people of Dominica,sad state and it will end soon.
Roosevelt Skerrit’s story is doubtful in my opinion. The GIS press release of 16 Nov., 2015 purports that he visited Morocco as the leader of the Dominican delegation at the U.N. sponsored COP 22 but it would appear that he only was there for a day or so, on a stopover on his way back from Dubai and that no official high level meetings with Moroccan Govt. officials took place on that occasion. If they had the Moroccan govt. would have published that as a matter of protocol in an official communique and that did not happen. If Skerrit is proceeding with the hotel now I suspect he is doing that of his own accord. Who is the legal owner of that property by the way? Who’s name is on the title deed?
Correction : GIS press release 16 Nov. 2016, (not 2015).
A big white elephant. Skerit ou pa las kyonay les malayway….
Garcon, six years now you saying that foolishness and the project just cannot finish.
Allah!!!!!!!!!! Jam help us the building sinking you can see in the picture its not even straight. So they are going to level the ground or what Jesus where are you to shout us up when we tell lies so blatantly.
Sooner or later it will be declared bankrupt because hotels that are in Dominica cannot get sufficient clients; so why add another one.It would be better to build a factory to transform the foods that we grow and waste because they are perishable products.
6 years and counting for this hotel to finish!!!! Chupes!
Well, at least allu PM is a procrastinator.
shut allu … is a good thing. we never know what will happen. look what storm erika did. so lets jus say that the delay is a was blessing. lets hope for the best for good and stop bringing down the hand dat feeds us all. allu too dam ungrateful and par bon.
Sighhhhh
Woosshh–but what is that for me today dere nuh-coco mi gwage!
Joker!
All who can do a little painting please register with the labour pal reps and ministers, because in a few days time Skeritt is going to announce that he is going to paint the sky. Jobs and more jobs.
Just to wait and see. What else to do
Only stupid people will take mr on at this point
DNO i thought the PM said thst the general contractor and all the subs were psid and ready to go again
They have slready started exporting a number of imported material- can somebofy explsin that to me .
i can only assume that the same Morocco whi suplosedly went to sleep gor 5 years on a project now importing paint, electrical rough and finishes, tiles, grout etc and then exporti6the stuff to Dominica. I font know explsin that papa.
We have been hearing about the hotel for the past four years. I suggest PM stop talking about it until the work has resumed. That way you will not get so many negative comments.
BUT public officers Kia get 15 % increase ….Dominicans we cannot eat road …all these rosy things Mr skerite is promising does not fix the problems that we are facing in this country ..the man dus giving money there and there and there …what is your plan skerite to have sustainable development in this country. ???? Who goin to rent all these apartments bossman? ? What Dominica have for foreigners to want to come here and stay???? Bossman people want an increase in there wages… the police and teachers want a better salary ..better workig condition …they want more time off and incentives what are you doin??? Dominicans wat all u waiting on..to remove Mr them…u Kia wait till 2019….
But wait a while. Where I be there nuh? So RS going and fool Dominicans over and over again and we just drinking that? Jesus Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol all this is just to take the DOM-IN-CANS eyes on him and what his doing to dominica for people like me these talk cant hold me I know better
Let’s not be fooled people when you see Skerrit in every village willing and dishing monies and making promises of resumption of works all over, building of international airport and building of new hospital in Marigot, know there will be a general election no later than July 2017. Dr. Skerrit is out fooling people because he knows he is in serious trouble and he badly wants to hide behind the presidency. So please take note people
WOYYYY LOOK IT!
Pm look like I blind cause there is people working there when will u stop pm alas poor us in da
Even jumbled up gibberish can be understood.