The contractors who rehabilitated the West Coast Road – China Railway 17 (CR17), have had a positive impact on local work techniques, according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
“Their sharing of knowledge and exposure to new technologies have benefits not only in building country capacity, but in making work easier and less expensive,” the prime minister told the completion ceremony of the road now officially dubbed the Edward Oliver Leblanc highway.
“The techniques and design and construction that you use to carry out your work have had a positive impact on our professional and technical workforce, we will be better off for it and I say thank you,” PM Skerrit said.
He made specific reference to sea defence work undertaken by CR17 that had drawn criticism.
“Many people including engineers felt that you were not putting sufficient steel in that project, but you have shown us that with less steel it means less money, and then less headache for the prime minister and minister of finance in constructing sea defence walls across Dominica,” he said.
According to the prime minister, CR17 did an “excellent job” in rehabilitating the West Coast road.
Some bloggers to DNO don’t appear to quite agree with PM Skerrit’s assessment.
Here’s what one of them had to say about the newly rehabilitated highway:
“Not to nitpick about the new road, but there are already holes in the newly constructed road. The road appears to have just sunk in. There is one right next to Harris Paints in Canefield, the bridge by Auto Trade, one by the DCP Warner Road junction that can really jolt a driver. So when you say perfect, I beg to differ. I would say much improved. But (it) is these little holes that grow into big ones in a few weeks’ time”
The blogger was responding specifically to Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore’s assertion that the government’s road rehabilitation projects are aimed at making Dominica’s roads “perfect”.
http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/thread-740802-1-1.html
http://shanghaiist.com/2011/07/12/photos_brand_new_road_collapses_aft.php#photo-1
come on man the road is cool.lets not look for one bad to kill the ninety nine good. just drive safe. ride in comfort
I just hope that Dominican’s did not pattern or copy road making from the chinese. Wa happen is the first road Dominica have nuh?
The Chinese have taken every shortcut possible in the road building process including putting down fresh asphalt on old asphalt without grading of the old and preparing a subbase. this is a remedy for DISASTER.
If one list all the shortcuts they took it will take a whole page. Blackmoore is aware of the limitations, but due to political expediency he is restricted from doing anything about it.
shut up!!! i hate ppl like dat eh
I am urging all Dominicans to study what China has done to Tibet. Please I am begging Dominicans. Read about how China has taken over Tibet and the Tibetians have become third-class citizens in their own country. Dominica is well on its way to becoming the next Tibet. Even Lennox Honeychurch is now involved in spreading the rumor that the MOU Skerrit signed with China was made public. That is a lie from the pit of hell and Honeychurch knows that very well. What Skerrit did was to tell Dominicans what he wanted about the MOU, but at not time was the actually SIGNED MOU revealed to the Parliament or the public. I challenge anyone to tell us when the SIGNED MOU was laid in Parliament or made public. Please DNO extend that challenge to Honeychurch and other government officials. It is the same way the people of Tibet were not aware of the MOU their government signed with China over 100 years and know the people of Tibet are paying for it with their blood. PLEASE READ ABOUT WHAT CHINA IS DOING IN TIBET. LETS US LEARN FROM THE MISTAKE THAT TIBET MADE SO THAT IN THE FUTURE OUR CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN WILL NOT BE KILLED BY THE CHINESE WHO ARE ON A MISSION TO TAKE OVER OUR SMALL COUNTRY. MAY GOD HELP US AND DELIVER US FROM SKERRIT.
Next big sea surge,lets see how well the walls hold up. Da true test!!!!!!!!! are they pouring concrete in a 9/8/5 mix or 7/5/5 mix….. humm who are they saving money in the long run eh, less steel my …..When de big sea take the wall ask them if they going to fix it for free.
They look like prisoners or are they?
Just take a look at yourself in the mirror,then you can make another comment!!!
No one is asking to ignore the Chinese impact in Dominica. Anyone with a brain knows that they are also for their best interests. But that’s the nature of business and nothing in life is free. But sometimes I think when Dominica use the word ‘chinese’ to whine and complain about what these people are building it borders on racism. There are continuous derogatory statements made my Dominicans about these people. It’s easy to verbally attack people when you think they’ll tolerate your disrespectful behavior. But you might want to be mindful if biting the hand that’s building your country. They don’t have to help and they don’t have to open shops here. You all act like you run things instead vein the ones who desperately need investments. The Chinese building roadss etc in the country is their investment and Dominicans might want to make an investment of their own by discussing things rather than attacking people verbally like bullies and racist. Smh at black people dishing out the same thing you all are always eager to accuse another race of. Ughgghhh my people
we cannot blame the high office for the road, they see there was a need for a high way yes it didn’t come out as they think it would but they try to get it for us thanks god it’s not the best but better than is was i didn’t vote for them an will not vote for them but little by little them guy trying let give thanks for the road while it’s there for the next 4 year
i noticed that during the heavy rainfall last year certain parts of the road was washed away, i should not say road but ashpalt… in mero and st joseph, and it was newly built… if we get the same or similar weather during the huricane season it will happen again.. my take on this is that we got a road job of the 1970s when we are in 2012..
the paintings or markings are pretty but it does not change the fact that it is a crappy job..
thats what happen when contract are signed and hidden from the public.
y is my islands people so ungreatfull
I read the first part of the article but this is something I have always been interested in, China and their projects. Not too long ago one of the big shots in government in St Lucia delivered a speech about her curiosity about the Chinese and I agreed with her. She said they are everywhere and she said that by doing all those things, the Chinese expect something in return. The Chinese are rubbing the little man of making bread because of the government allowing the Chinese to open stores and other shops everywhere. They are saturating the market, it’s like the government has not control.
The way I see it is that these countries like ours are third world countries and we need the infra-structure to develop. I do not mind things like loans and the building of stadiums and airports by the Chinese. The thing is that when the government signs these contracts they must be careful and read the fine print. We should stand our ground and not let the Chinese have the majority of ownership of most of our huge businesses like allowing them to buy a ton of stocks in companies because the person with the most stock, they are the ones in control. They should not let the Chinese provide majority of the labor because the local people will not benefit from these projects, the Chinese hardly spend their cash in the local shops and supermarkets, all their food and clothing are important and if they do buy something they buy it from other Chinese, so I hope you can see where I am going with this. Not enough money is circulating in our local economy by the construction of these projects from the Chinese. This is just one of the examples. Another thing is that allowing the Chinese to buy huge amount of land and bring in stuff duty free to the islands, which is another problem. Customs are squeezing local people and the Chinese pay little or next to nothing to clear their products at customs. You never ask yourself a question why their products are so cheap. You think if they were paying the regular charges like other Dominicans that they would be able to offer those prices? This is just not good, when you saturate the country like this; there is no room for the local man to make bread.
We should accept with caution and pay back all what was given to us before. We should also not get too comfortable as islands in receiving aid from China and the US because this will make us become lazy and complacent and not want to come up with new ideas to support ourselves. It’s like a boyfriend giving his girlfriend everything she wants or a girlfriend giving her boyfriend, she/he may never find a job to support his/her self because they will be taken care off. Now when China stops giving we will be in trouble because we have become spoiled and will not be able to support ourselves. Dominica has resources which we can use; the government needs to take a tougher look into how they can utilize these natural resources. I believe we all know that.
In addition, we do not see or hear everything when these deals are taking place, in other words we do not see the “terms “of the agreement. Who knows what the Chinese wants in return. They may want something which might take years to come but in the end it will come and whatever that is might become a problem when it is time transfer it over to the Chinese.
To the Dominican’s criticizing the newly built road about having hole in the road already is Dowasco fault because of the pipe laying system’s in Jimmit and other area’s that is why the road’s have the little hole’s why don’t you stop one day to see before you run to criticize the work of The Skerrit Led Administration.
That is not a highway!!!!! Scarcely a main road. Just basically resurfacing the same road.
look nasty work. not even the grass on the side of the road they rip off
I have been hearing so much talk about the Roseau to Portsmouth “Highway” and so much talk about road rehabilitation, but this photo talks volumes about the quality of work that is being undertaken. First of all the photo of the area taken looks more like work being don on a feeder road. Just look at all that grass on the roadsides that have not even been disturbed so one can only think that they are doing road surfacing and not road rehabilitation. Highways have road shoulders, this has none. Look at the left side of the road/photo. This should have been levelled.I see no attempt to improve the poor drainage that exists along many portions of that road.What about embankment or railings, very few if any at all.
See that telephone or electricity pole in the photo, it is almost on the road.
If what is shown in this photo is typical of what exists along the road project then this is poorer that the works of Public Works or NelloTier, or Sintra or Rush and Tompkins or Norde France.
flordia shut the hell up
It would have been nice to present a picture showing a few locals working on the project. A picture is really worth a thousand words. I sure hope that a Dominica government t never make such a foolish mistake again.
Nothing in life is free. What will Dominica owe? Land, people, water, sealife—-I’m just saying—-
Apparently they think the chinese just traveled half way around the globe just to give them a gift and get out. smh………….
it’s called votes… whenever china does something Dominica have to close its eye and say I see no wrong in this….
how many dominicans worked on that road mr. pm? and how many were taught by your chinese?
it wont be long now before time will tell…….
I agree with you. Too me when I look at that picture is only Chinese I seeing? Where the Dominicans they suppose to be teaching? They hiding in de bush!
I think i see a black man in the pic. I’m not sure, lol.
Maybe what you saw was a black Chinese or a Chinese wearing black
Where are the lights on the Highway from Portsmouth to Roseau. No bicycle lane nor no emergency lane in the event of an emergency or breakdown, a motorist can pull into the hard shoulder.
We need more lights around the city! And more highway traffic signs/road signs.
lol this isn’t america lol do come and try to Americanize DA ,first of all traffic lights suck it will cause confusion let the drivers figure it out, watch that eh in america if a traffic light malfunction dem americans dunno what to do causing confusion, but in dominica if it have traffic jam trust me we finding a way to make the traffic flow in no time
@Florida you making me laugh you know.
the chinese put all that you should come and see dem they so preety and also the number of bycicles on the highway is so little that there is no need for bycycle lanes and we have coped in the passed without emergency
This is Dominica and not Florida. But by the way, where in Florida do you find bicycle lane? Since in Florida they have that stand your ground law and people cannot even walk the streets or else be shot. I was there a couple hrs back and no one was outside…..I was wondering why the place was so dead. People do go outside in florida
you calling that a highway, the only thing they did was put ashpalt and paint the road, still bumpy as hell they boasting…
it was said by them that we are getting a three lane highway with bypass in mahault… not even a passby we get, what a bunch of lying politicians
One has to wonder whether these know it all politicians consult technical experts before they spew out such junk. ““Many people including engineers felt that you were not putting sufficient steel in that project, but you have shown us that with less steel it means less money, and then less headache for the prime minister and minister of finance in constructing sea defense walls across Dominica,” (DNO defense is spelt with an s not a C”.) Mr PM when the engineers spoke about the exclusion of the steel reinforcement on the bridge structure and the subpart construction ,you sort to shut them up. In the professional world the owner ( which is the government is suppose to follow the advise of the technical consultants which on this project were the government engineers). What you had on your account is a contractor who would make any diversions to maximize his profit. But then again the money did not come from the treasury. Nevertheless the government has a responsibility to insure not only absolute safety but also quality assurance. When our engineers complained about the elimination of reinforcement on the bridges for fiber reinforcement they were essentially concerned about safety and durability. What the Chinese contractor gave us are brittle structure that could provide catastrophic failure upon overloading.
The sub-base preparation and drainage system seems inadequate and I fear that the reoccurrence of pot holes in the very near future. I pray that I am wrong but my experience leads me to pessimism. Lets wait and see how this west coast road is going to hold up in the next rainy season or during the intense.
just saying chinese LOVE to cut corners
1/2 inch of asphalt is not enough to create a good roadway. Please note that any surface will be eroded until the drainage issues are resolved.
Where he DOMINICIANS working on these projects?
can someone tell skerrit to speak for himself and not for the Dominican public with his chinese them, this man talking like is he alone that ever had to build roads in Dominica the man not accepting his mistake with the people of Dominica by not sharing the M O U with us all he is trying to do is to see how he can get us to join him with his nonesence about chiniese give me a break,Skerrit stop talking for Dominican because you care nothing about our well been all you doing is cause us pain everyday witout work, food, and money to feed our family but don’t worry time will tell…………… :
Well, I guess he is speaking for the MAJORITY of Dominicans because they voted for him 18-3.
You forget man. lol
all u must have felt old
so they teach us how to make roads with no drainaige and thats a potential death trap for the people using it ( i guess thats what they teaching us )
Let me categorically state that i applaud the effort of the Government for giving us NEW roads. I can now drive with little fear of falling off the road. But let us be real. Since i’m so used to such good road i’d like it to be a long lasting experience. No short cut please. If the road needs more steel give it more steel
if u calling that good road u need to talk to ur husband and find out what good road and good construction is cause anyone will tell u lack of sufficient reinforcement is face for civil action law suit plus the road surface it to smooth and dominicans never have good tires to handle the road then ask him about the drainage along the sids of the road ( or lack of it ) when ur done askign him that ask hime what is a camber on a road and he will tell u about the lack of that on the road then ask him why no on slides of the road under lapoite cliff which he works on and why everyone seems to be sliding on the new coastal roads ok SO BEFORE U SAY NEW ROADS ASK A PROFETIONAL ABOUT ROAD BUILDING AND THEY WILL DO THE SAME THING MY BOSSES DID WHEN I SHOWED THEM PICS OF THA ROAD DURING AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION P.S. I THINK THEY STILL LAUGHING ROLLING ON THE FLOOR AND ASKIGN ME WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY DO WITH THE OTHER 30 MILLION OF THE 100 MILLION THEY SURPOSED TO HAVE SPENT ON THE ROAD
Less steel means less money and less headache for the Prime Minister? Hmmmmn. Is that a typo DNO or is it that the pshychology degree took over common sense. Seems like we are a people with short vision. Don’t you know that cheaper does not always mean safer or more durable? I’d rather spend 1 million dollar more to increase the life of my commodity than 1 million dollar less to increase my spending over the years. It’s gonna cost us more Mr. PM in the long term, fixing what could have been avoided. Now is not the time to feed egos, it’s time to think of long term implications for our actions.
you are missing the point the road dosent need mor steel these pepl say the walls need steel but by the time the salt water expand the steel plus the
heat the concrete will bust
WHere is DA getting the money..you can’t tax them any more.
The things people say makes you wanna puke
IT IS A SHAME TO SEE ONLY CHINESE IN THAT PICTURE WORKING IN DOMINICA WHERE THERE IS SUCH A HIGH LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT ,,,,NEVER THINK THAT CHINA IS DOING IT FOR NOTHING BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE THE SAME IN AFRICA AND NOW THE AFRICANS ARE REVOLTING AGAINST SUCH AN UN FEAR SYSTEM..
Dominica has a high water table and therefore one will always see some element of sinking in our roads.
The same happens in housing construction
With proper drainage and road construction techniques our water table should not be a problem. If you know we have high water table and don’t cater for that during construction WE WILL ALWAYS SEE SOME ELEMENT OF SINKING IN OUR ROADS.
that they cannot understand sigh