American firm to give presentation on international airport

Skerrit spoke to students of the North East Comprehensive on Thursday

An American firm will be in Dominica to give a presentation to cabinet on a study in relation to the construction of an international airport in Dominica.

Speaking to students at the North East Comprehensive School in Londonderry on Thursday, Skerrit said that “government is doing everything possible to build an international airport here in the north east.”

“You will be that first I am saying so, because I have not said so to the country before that we have in fact engaged an international firm, an American firm to do all of the studies in relation to the international airport and they are coming down to do a presentation to the cabinet on the 21st of April, 2017 on their finding,” he stated.

The Prime Minister did not name the firm, nor did he give details of the type of engagement the government has with the American firm.

In November 2013, during a visit to China, Skerrit signed US$300-million deal with Chinese company ASCG with “reconstruction of an international airport” among projects to be undertaken under the agreement.

In December 2013, Skerrit, said Chinese engineers were in Dominica to visit the proposed construction site of an international airport, in Compton Point near Calibishie, and to offer advice to the government.

At a Dominica Labour Party Rally on May 5, 2014, Skerrit said that his government was actively pursuing several projects, including the construction of an international airport through the BOOT – Build, Own, Operate and Transfer – option, with a team of private developers from China.

Later that same month, the Prime Minister led a three-man delegation to China to “advance discussions on the construction of an international airport and other development projects.”

Upon his return from China, Skerrit told reporters that “good progress” was being made on the project and a document will soon be made available to the public about the details. That document was never made public.

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64 Comments

  1. Just do it
    March 20, 2017

    Put the airport in cabrits please… no roads to be built….Portsmouth already have all the nice beaches and the medical school

  2. Voice of The South
    March 12, 2017

    let the hatererade begin…. the floor is yours haters!

  3. anonymous2
    March 11, 2017

    The Chinese own the island and will be footing the bill if they decide to even put an international airport on this island.. The PM is just a mouthpiece.

  4. Has it come to this?
    March 11, 2017

    You can no longer fool adults, so you are trying to fool their children. So, in typical Nigerian gossip movies Mr PM; ” has it really come to this?”

  5. rasta
    March 11, 2017

    Skerrit I am convinced when the Americans do come to talk to you ,it will not be airport but about Manfared.
    How slick! You need to GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. Reasoning
    March 11, 2017

    :?: How could a school principal and teachers allow a rogue they should be standing against address such vulnerable innocent vulnerable young ones with such lies :?: I wonder whether the Parliamentary Opposition will be allowed the opportunity to address the students :?: I think that the Parliamentary Opposition should make an appointment to visit the schools around the island!

  7. Signs of DEFEAT
    March 10, 2017

    Sign #1:

    When a Prime Minister CANNOT face the public to address an important subject as plans for an international airport, and as a result can ONLY turn to school children to break his news you know it is a sign that the Hon. PM has lost his moral authority to govern and should therefore resign or get fired.

    Sign #2
    When a Prime Minister CANNOT sit with his friends and convince them that this is the right time to build an international airport, and has to turn to his old friend in St Kitts, Dr. Douglas, who by the way was voted out of power by his people; when this is who the PM has to bring down to convince his own team (DAIC) that it is time for international airport, you know the man has convinced himself that he has lost his moral authority to govern and, should therefore resign or get fired!
    When both #1 and #2 were done in the same day it is a clear sign that the PM is telling us that he has lost his moral authority to govern and is ready to resign or get fired…

  8. Roosevelt Skerrit you are nothing more than a corrupted fraud and a liar! What is the name of the American firm; disclose the name of the firm so that we can make a phone call or go to visit the firm to find out if your dream is real.

    What study is need, than has already been done. Do you remember, you and your associates ran to China days prior to the last election, claiming you were going to get help to build International Airport? If no study was done, how on earth did you expect the Chines would give you money, when a study was not done.

    Did you forget the Chines had already given money to the UWP to assist in the building of the International Airport you help shut down? Did you anticipate the Chines would have given you their money when they advised you that the only way Dominica will begin to make some progress is when you build an International Airport in the country; however instead of you talking their advise; you took Gonzales advise and told our nation we do not…

    • Continue:

      In stead of taking the Chines advise; you took Gonzales advise and told our nation we do not need an International Airport.

      What did Gonzales throw in your face last month, two days prior to the inauguration of Argyle in his country. Be reminded he said: “Dominica is the only independent English Speaking island in the Caribbean without an International Airport; however he hope you will attend the ceremonies during the inauguration of Argyle International Airport.” Note: he was the man who made a fool out of you when he told you our island does not need an International Airport, all you need to do is refurbish Melville Hall and install landing lights, are not ashamed of your stupidity?

      Are you not tired of making a fool out of yourself? Do you remember you were part of the coalition government who shut down the International Airport the UWP was building; the one that was in progress, a study was already conducted, as a matter of fact prior to that at least five…

    • Finally:

      As a matter of fact prior to that at least five studies were conducted; dating back to the days of E. O. Leblanc to Edison James days!

      Roosevelt Skerrit the school in which you now stand was built by the same Trinidad Contractors, and engineers who were building the International Airport between Wesley and Woodford Hill when you all shut it down, and literally hostilely chased them out of the country, do you remember that Skerrit?

      That secondary school was part of the project too, they built it to replace the school that was in the flight path of the International Airport that was under construction.

  9. KID ON THE BLOCK
    March 10, 2017

    One wonders if it was the Novice who portraits himself as the PM of Dominica, had said just what was said by Hon. Doc. Skerrit, about the American Firm to give a presentation of an International airport, what would have been the reaction of THEM UWPites ,

    • Shameless
      March 12, 2017

      The same novice have you and the PM mahmoetaying and shaking like a twamblair bird :twisted: . When will you understand Dca does not belong to Uwpites but rather ALL Dcans. That block the kid sitting on appears to be his brains. My god, when are some of us going to stop being like VW Bugs of the early days? Remember, their brains (engine) were in the backside :twisted: .

      Always Assertive! :twisted:

  10. March 10, 2017

    Tell us Dr Punjab PhD was the study done via Goggle Earth? or by NASA no problem with that; but why the secrecy; your marriage was your personal business and you do right not to tell LABOURITES dey too mal palan; but the business of the country especially when it comes to $ and cents is the peoples business not that of school children most of whom can’t vote until 2020; is this the straw that the drowning man is grabbing at? But then again ”what do we expect from an empty bag of coals but dust”

  11. Chanter
    March 10, 2017

    Garcon ou pah las mati?

    Watch out people, watch out. American firm- international airport? Something else is about to happen. Sit back, relax and enjoy the flight.

  12. Tjebe fort
    March 10, 2017

    Roosevelt, Americans you say? Boy make sure they are not white men with blue eyes and neo colonizers. God forbid, they have blond hair as well.

  13. JOSH SHAW
    March 10, 2017

    this criminal Roosevelt looking for sympathy all about even in schools but is jail for him for all the shame,disgrace he has brought here also for all his crimes against the state. fraud, treason just to mention a couple

  14. Real truth
    March 10, 2017

    There will be no international airport in Dominica anytime soon…! There simply is no real return on this investment in Dominica……..bottom line , no real revenue or profits, the current Government cannot legally guarantee subsidized revenues for a airport of this magnitude……..wake up people!

  15. LifeandDeath
    March 10, 2017

    “an American firm to do all of the studies in relation to the international airport and they are coming down to do a presentation to the cabinet on the 21st of April, 2017 on their finding,” he stated.”
    I looked away from the screen ’cause I was laughing so hard..So they coming to do “all the studies” and though the doh reach yet, by the “21st of April” they will present “the findings” to Cabinot!!..
    Comedy Central got nothing on Skerrit.. :lol: :lol:
    What Spell Mr. have on Dominicans nuh?

  16. Shaka Zulu
    March 10, 2017

    I think they should reconsider sit for airport. Borough square to one mile is best place for a runway. Move folks to grange and derrière la rosine. Possi have place for residential expansion and everything else. Straight road to Town. Make Possi the commercial capital of Dominica and Roseau the administrative. We have to think long term.

  17. You hear lies!
    March 10, 2017

    Well, well, well, that man can lie. You mean you have intention to build an international airport and you spending millions of dollars to fix the apron at melville hall? How long does it take to undertake a feasibility study for an airport? You are so “braggard” if you knew that was taking place would you not have said that before?
    Why did you choose school children as the audience to speak those lies? Where is the north east is the airport going to be located and what is the name of the american firm?
    Time will tell/

  18. The Thinker
    March 10, 2017

    What a way to run a country?Such an enormous announcement to a school?No detail of the company that made the study?No detail of the American delagation?When we’re these decisions taken,The one man government?
    Even if the total cost of construction was covered by other sources,we do not have the capability to maintain such a facility.
    The pipe dream continued.Wake up people.

  19. March 10, 2017

    Looking to see this project get underway most of my life. We in the 21st century, UP DE TING!

  20. March 10, 2017

    In a few years hopefully, we will be where we want to be in air travel. It’s a pity so many people refrain from visiting because of our lack of an international airport. I’m optimistic that the new airport will be an incentive for prospective visitors.

  21. truth
    March 10, 2017

    Im sure if my child was in that school She would tell the prime minister ,He lie,He’ve Lied and he is still lying,
    For not all donkey is ass

  22. March 10, 2017

    Well done PM! I know you’ll see to it that our dream of an international airport comes true!

    • Me
      March 11, 2017

      So Frank, you are admitting that you are still dreaming?

  23. papa
    March 10, 2017

    Poor us in da pm how u paying the taxes on the houses u have in ny da people open all u eyes

  24. jihan
    March 10, 2017

    Lies and more lies Skerrit,your days are numbered dude,dont take you serious anymore.

  25. March 10, 2017

    Dominicans like to change what they hear into statements that lead to more problematic situations .

    • March 10, 2017

      If you hurt the prime minister then pack your bags and find another country because whatever you all say does not make sense . Typical Dominicans …Anyways you all need to stop gossip and do all you share work .

      • March 10, 2017

        Carlo stop you ignorance no one can tell you to give up your party but don’t tell me you don’t know what is right from wrong how do you communicate with your children, a you one of those parent who leave the teaching up to others to do for you, because you put your hand out a head of their education just to get hand out from Skerrit , So when you posting know what you want to say . Carlo don’t you believe it would be better Skerrit had told the children about the Hospital not only the one in Marigot but also Roseau and Portsmouth .

      • Anonymous
        March 11, 2017

        Roosevelt Skerrit is not Dominica. our country is bigger than one man. Dominica was there before him and will be there long after him. Skerrit is mortal like all of us.

      • Anonymous
        March 12, 2017

        Carla what if the P.M. is hurting the country. Should he not pack his bags and go. he is only one man against many of us. I think for the good of the country he should go because he is too divisive and giving all of Dominica a bad name.

    • March 10, 2017

      If you hate
      the prime minister then pack your bags and find another country because whatever you all say does not make sense . Typical Dominicans …Anyways you all need to stop gossip and do all you share work .

  26. Tamar
    March 10, 2017

    I don\’t know how Dominicans are comfortable with that mess

  27. only time will tell
    March 10, 2017

    big JOKE right lol last people first and fist people last lol you see this guy will never get it right because his a child that take every thing as a TOY that’s why he runs to the kids to make them smile and take pictures but these same kids will get up from the sleep that they a in

  28. DA girl
    March 10, 2017

    Do good they say you bad, do bad they say you bad. Mr. PM no matter what you say or do, good or bad, you will get blows. So just do what you have to for the benefit of our country and its people. From what I understand from all I’ve read, is that the FUNDING for the project is to come from China, but the STUDIES I’m assuming in various environmental factors, such as wind, soil, flood vulnerability etc were done by the American firm. Maybe my interpretation is wrong but I’m seeing two distinct sets of responsibility. So I really don’t understand the confusion. After all, the airport needs international certification and has to be vetted by various organizations. All our bases need to be covered. We not going to put the cart before the horse.

    • CRIME STOPPERZ
      March 10, 2017

      girl grow up, you to sort

    • Look It
      March 10, 2017

      In December 2013, Skerrit, said Chinese engineers were in Dominica to visit the proposed construction site of an international airport, in Compton Point near Calibishie, and to offer advice to the government.

      Later that same month, the Prime Minister led a three-man delegation to China to “advance discussions on the construction of an international airport and other development projects.”

      So, you reckon PM went to China for a lime and dem China man came DA for a likkle lime too….. you all at too bloody gullible!!!!!! STOP TRYING TO BE LOGICAL, ITS PRETTY CLEAR YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR PM HAS WIPE AWAY THAT ABILITY!!!!! SOOOOOO long Skerrit talking about consultancy with China for that airport NOW its with an american firm SMDH

  29. Children secret
    March 10, 2017

    NG Lap Seng, a Chinese business man and a very good friend of Roosevelt Skerrit, has been jailed in New York approximately two weeks after Skerrit was seen in photos with him, a day before Erika destroyed Dominica, along with others who were also arrested in New York, is now awaiting trials in May 2017. Interestingly enough Skerrit revealed his secret he kept from adults to little children en?

    What’s the secret: He hired an American firm to do all of the studies in relation to the international airport and they are coming down to do a presentation to the cabinet on the 21st of April, 2017 on their finding,” he stated.

    Here is What did not say: In light of the NG Lap Seng case that is coming in May 2017, around April 2017 you see me talking to Americans agencies; so know is about the airport and not with FBI that getting ready for Lap Seng case. Another thing he did not tell those children is, how Monfared became a citizen and how long he was hiding in DA.

  30. Cyril Volney
    March 10, 2017

    Projecting the results of the study: (i) US 400 million dollars construction costs. (ii) 6 years to build (iii) US$ 20 million annual maintenance costs/airlift costs.

    ” the international airport must go hand in hand with air lift development”. Dr Denzil Douglas. Not only must you build it, you must get the airlines to use it. You must compete with St Martin, St Kitts, Antigua, Guada, Martinique, St Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, and now SVG, all within 1 hours jet flying time of DA!

    Cost of a dedicated Dominican owned/operated air shuttle to and from Antigua and Barbados, and a daily flight to Florida? Small change in comparison.

    • EnfantDiable
      March 10, 2017

      This makes plenty sense! We support that approach.

    • Dan the American
      March 10, 2017

      YES!! What do you need more, reliable air service, or environmental destruction and huge jets on approach?
      There are other ways to make a living.

    • Tjebe fort
      March 10, 2017

      Now you talking sense partner. why don’t we work closer with the French. E.U. is already a big donor to us and Guadeloupe has a big modern airport that is underutilized and only 50 miles or so from Melville Hall. Honestly I can not see British Airways or Virgin fly direct to Dominica from London any time soon. Have an air shuttle service, even helicopter for people with big pockets and also use a fast ferry to Portsmouth. I would love a big airport brother but false pride is very expensive, ask comrade Ralph.

  31. DRASTIC
    March 10, 2017

    Thanks DNO for the sequence of fooling the people statements
    The late Premier LeBlanc said Dominican folks have fowl brains. How true.
    There we go again with another pocketician doing his thing

    • Kharie
      March 10, 2017

      LOLOLOL @ ‘pocketician’

      That word might just make it into the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary of new words….love it!

    • March 10, 2017

      As Blessing said how many Airport can Dominica handle this will be the fourth offer and they all come with different cost and where is China in this new bid as I remember he said they were going to take on the airport and run it a time before we can ever take control what happy there, are they following all the headlines that is going on about the CBI program.
      Skerrit should have known better than to use the school to roll out that kind of news and that’s not right, on the other hand he wouldn’t be able to feed that crap to the parents, so I will just fool them they don’t know better that’s disrespectful of the students.

  32. dissident
    March 10, 2017

    You can’t fool me twice!!!!!
    So you watching de children in their eyes and lying straight to their face?
    Remember when they get to be half your age you will be a sickening memory!
    Your face won’t be on their exercise books!
    This act of treachery is against the children!

    You can’t even mention the name of the US firm!
    You dirtying your own name.

  33. March 10, 2017

    Distractions, distractions, so Dominicans will stop talking about the criminals caught with our passports

  34. Cyrique
    March 10, 2017

    Fabulous news! This is very welcome progress. I hope that this news is greeted with optimism & joy. Well done PM.

  35. I am Dominica
    March 10, 2017

    DNO…you are so bias!!!

    • EnfantDiable
      March 10, 2017

      DNO has here given a proper journalistic account on this matter!

    • Look It
      March 10, 2017

      LOL LOL You vex because DNO has published all the BS that has been fed to us through the years :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  36. zandoli
    March 10, 2017

    More studies? What about all the previous studies that were done? Did this data become obsolete? Did the wind patterns and topography change over that period?

    This is just another example of smoke and mirrors.

  37. papa
    March 10, 2017

    Mr quick what next everything that comes from your mouth is lies

  38. papa
    March 10, 2017

    Mr quick

  39. CRIME STOPPERZ
    March 10, 2017

    that was a child story tale

  40. %
    March 10, 2017

    Since after INTERPOL busted MONFARED,Skerrit has been like aHEADLESS CHICKEN,all over the island,trying to buy sympathy…Skerrit you have damaged the good name of my country,and reasonable Dominicans,shall not forgiv you…Any word on the overthrow of your government by the stalled truck with speakers? You promised airport in 2005,2009,2014…Under your wicked,corrupt and evil regime,we should have had 3 international airports…WICKED !

  41. Ashamed Dominican
    March 10, 2017

    Lol

  42. FBI Agent
    March 10, 2017

    LOL!!! American firm now Dr? What about the Chinese firm you signed a loan of $300 million with in 2013? They gaway? You realize you cannot fool adults any longer so you’ve decided to take your lies to high school students? Well, if you going to deal with American firm you mean to tell me they will have to meet you in Dominica all the time, since you CANNOT put foot in the US? When was the last time you put foot in the US?

  43. Titiwi
    March 10, 2017

    Don’t tell me, our newly discovered ambassador in Miami, Jonathan Brown will be part of that delegation, who I gather is also scheduled to visit the country he allegedly represents next month. Seeing is believing and even then it may be just another pipe dream, a mirage. Sorry to be so sceptical but one learns from past experiences, which is that in this regard we should not put our expectations too high.

  44. Dianne
    March 10, 2017

    Yow, Mr. Can lie dry!!! Geeeze man!
    OK. Firm conducting studies. Fine. So what happened to your team of Chinese who were here some months ago and were expected to present their findings soon after their return????

    Your next firm is conducting studies. Is it an online study with no need to be on the ground in Dominica????

    Anyway, I was expecting Mister to make some kind of bogus statement like that since he was embarrassed in SVG a few weeks ago when they opened their spanking new jet airport.

  45. Floridian Diaspora
    March 10, 2017

    Poor kids. I feel truly sorry for you. I guess that when you are tired of fooling the old ones then you go after the young. The must love him to. Look at this girl taking a pic of her handsome pm while the illuminati agent knows that he is secretly grooming her to vote for him in the future. Did he tell those innocent children that high paying jobs are to come from this ever phantom airport? Did he act like a god and said “let their be an airport” so he spoke and it came forth? What this political roadside mechanic needs to do is retire from his red garage as this red no longer represents his party’s transmission fluid but the blood of the people who were lost due to his bad tune ups he gave the country

  46. Shameless
    March 10, 2017

    Stuuuppppppes :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :twisted: Boy you hear LIES! Moreeeee LIES! SKERRIT MUST GO!!! :twisted: :twisted:

    Always Assertive! :twisted:

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