Dominica to embark on $94M climate resilience program

Dr. Darroux said the monies will go towards climate resilient projects
Dr. Darroux said the monies will go towards climate resilient projects

The Dominica government is said to be in “an advanced stage of discussion ” with the World Bank for a part loan, part grant of close to EC$ 100 million to fund the country’s Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR).

According to Minister for the Environment, Natural resources, Physical planning and Fisheries Dr. Kenneth Darroux, the (SPCR) was approved by government in 2012.

He said that the traditional ways of addressing climate change and environmental issues were really not producing the results that the government wanted, and therefore, a reformulation of ideas on climate change issues was viewed as a development issue rather just isolated change in climate.

The program will be addressing key issues in various parts of the island and is expected to begin in May 2014.

Some of the projects which will be given priority are:

-Pont Casse to Bois Diable road at EC$ 7.4 million
-Bois Diable to Castle Bruce road at EC$ 7.3 million
-Castle Bruce to Petite Soufriere road at EC$ 13.7 million
-Castle Bruce to Hatton Garden road at EC$ 15.8 million
-Dubique Phase I Cliff Stabilization and Road works EC$ 11.9 million
-West Coast Water Project Storage Tanks/Water Inventory EC$ 8.1 million
-Capacity Building for Adaptation to Climate Change EC$ 3.78 million
-Formation of Spatial Data Management System EC$ 4.725 million
-Improving, expanding of climate change & Seismic Monitoring Network EC$ 0.976 million
-Agroforestry, food security & soil stabilization EC$ 6.074 million, Sustainable Land Management EC$ 1.63 million
-Construction of Storm Drains EC$ 5.285 million,
-Project Preparation Advance (PPA) EC$5.434 million
-Contingency Component for Emergency Response EC$2.717 million

This adds up to a total of EC$94.821 million.

The financing allocation for Project Management and Monitoring during implementation will cost EC $4.74105 million, according to Darroux.

The Minister also mentioned that a grant of EC$ 5 Million will be made available for the setting up a project management unit and will also involve the processing of the project package to be submitted to the World Bank.

The EC$ 5 Million will also be used for the purchase of equipment, vehicles, as well as a working team to get the program started, Darroux noted.

“We have been allocated funding from the climate investment fund in the amount of US$ 21 Million, of which US$ 12 Million is grant financing and US$ 9 Million is what you call highly concessionary financing,” he said.

Darroux mentioned further, that financing of US$17 Million is expected to come from the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) and the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP), which is a regional project being undertaken by the world bank which is running simultaneously with the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR).

“So we are talking about a total investment package of US$38 Million approved by cabinet,” he pointed out adding that this investment package will seek to begin addressing the deficiency that was identified in the strategic program of climate resilience.

“I am confident that the implementation of this project will show the world, that the people of Dominica stand ready to play our part and that the international community, they stand ready to do the same,” he added.

The project is expected to be done over a 4-5 year span, and was a continuation of a process which started a few years ago when the PPCR was launched and Dominica was chosen as one of six pilot countries in this part of the world. The aim was to produce a strategic document that would point this country towards climate resilience.

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66 Comments

  1. December 27, 2013

    :lol: 8-O :-D :-P :?:

  2. Plan Dominque
    December 21, 2013

    Can the minister explain the correlation between climate resilience and road rehabilitation to the extent that close to 80% of the programme budget is allocated to road rehabilitation? Was it not road rehabilitation without proper environmental impact studies that cause all the flood damage in mahaut, canefield and massacre a few years ago? what about disaster mitigation in communities such as Good hope and Petite Soufriere that are so prone to landslides.

  3. Anonymous
    December 20, 2013

    What are we talking about!!! Lets EXAMINED and DISCUSSED the components of the climate resilience programme. Blogger Climate Change is on point with regards to their argument. They argue what does rebuilding of roads have to do with climate change. In fact EC $56.1 Million will be allocated for that initiative from a total budget of EC $94 Million. One can put forward compelling arguments in favour of rebuilding roads as a climate resilience strategy BUT is it the best option to pursue in terms of BUILDING our resilience to climate change in other words are these the best adaptation and mitigation strategies that we the people of Dominica could come up with!!!!! The very core of our efforts (Agroforestry, food security & soil stabilization EC$ 6.074 million, Sustainable Land Management EC$ 1.63 million and to a lesser extent Construction of Storm Drains EC$ 5.285 million) have been vastly marginalized with no significant budgetary support. How do we justify spending EC $56.1 million from a total budget of EC $94 million on rebuilding of roads as a priority area in terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

  4. Climate Change
    December 19, 2013

    What does climate Change have to do with rebuilding of roads?… Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures include:
    Building climate resilient houses and buildings to resist stronger hurricanes
    – locating settlement away from flood zones and areas prone to landslides and storm surge
    – food security – irrigation systems, drought and diseases resistant crops
    – proper health care systems to combat new diseases
    – energy efficiency
    – renewable energy
    – livelihoods
    -coastal protection
    If we use all the money to rebuild the same old roads…they will still be washed away by heavy rains like at Pond Casse…why not look at building a new climate resilient road network that will not cause landslides and be destroyed by floods….Its all politics…
    Wh

  5. sam
    December 19, 2013

    Seems like we are surrounded by UWP Idiots. How can you guys run this country when you do not even understand the mechanisms of global financing. If you all knew how to take loans we would still have control of DOMLEC.

    • """"
      December 19, 2013

      Oh you Hypocrite and buffoon. Tell us how many times this lazy government had the opportunity to purchase DOMLEC. Are you one of Skerrits lapdog? Lazy people like you need to think before you blurt out garbage.

  6. hope
    December 19, 2013

    Good projects.

  7. Morihei Ueshiba
    December 19, 2013

    Skerrit i did not vote you for debt slavery. Stop taking all those loans and selling our country to communist countries. :mrgreen:

  8. '''''''''''''''''''
    December 19, 2013

    I quite agree with the blogger who referred to Darroux as a failed Minister. The man is supposedly a medical doctor, much more qualified than Skerrit. When he entered into politics, his constituents were happy, because people thought the man would be of assistance to the constituents. But after 5 years the man has done NOTHING, for the constituency.
    He has failed the constituents, and failed himself.
    SHAME ON HIM!
    Don’t tell me a heck about climate change. You know not what you are saying. YOU ARE A HUGE FAILURE.

    • Anonymous
      December 19, 2013

      This is pure ignorance. We Dominicans are blinded by party colors and are not for positive progress and development of our country. These projects are vital and you reject them because it’s DR. Darroux presenting them.
      If he didn’t present them, then you would cry and say that he is lazy and didn’t contribute anything to the development of the country.
      I mean, look at the high cost we occur after natural disasters. Dr. Darroux and his ministry are taking the necessary actions to mitigate some of the burden on the country in case of climatic misfortunes and you cry the man down because he is not UWP although you know well that all of Dominica will benefit from this project, and people are going to gain some employment.
      Yes I Dominicans. We not ready I tell you boii….. Politics making us more Dotish

      • .
        December 19, 2013

        Oh you fool. Give us a list of his accomplishments in his constituency.You all Skerrit buffoons are always spewing out garbage in matters you all have absolutely no information on. WHY CAN’T YOU AGREE THE MAN HAS BEEN A HUGE FAILURE? ARE YOU A CONSTITUENT of Petite Savanne? If not well shut up. You are empty.

      • Anonymous
        December 19, 2013

        To . ( full stop)
        You got to remember, he is not only a Parl Rep but also a minister and is responsible for both his constituency and his ministry.
        This is an a formidable project for the country and we must commend Dr. Darroux on this positive initiative. Job well done Sir. We need more of this.
        BTW, I am from the Petite Savanne constituency and I am not a Laborite but when it’s good, say its good.

      • .
        December 20, 2013

        @Anonymous. You are missing the point. tell us what he has accomplished in the Petite Savanne Constituency. CAN YOU? After all he is the representative.

    • Mec
      December 20, 2013

      And all u want him to cross. Y want someone who fails on my team. All u uwp ppl all u think all u have good head

  9. answer
    December 19, 2013

    Anonymous Did you really lived in London?

    Quite frankly I don’t believe for one second you did how can you even begin to compare what is going on in Dominica to London.

    In London this would never happen. I would like to school you on how London system of government works but I guess it will just fall on death ears so I will reserve my statement for the wise.

    For your info I am living in London.

    • Anonymous
      December 19, 2013

      Ain’t it

      • Malgraysa
        December 20, 2013

        You mean “innit” Anonymous, innit? Even that one you can not get right nameless one.

  10. Francisco Telemaque
    December 18, 2013

    “The Dominica government is said to be in “an advanced stage of discussion ” with the World Bank for a part loan, part grant of close to EC$ 100 million to fund the country’s Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR).”

    Darroux, we all know that election time is not too far away, hence, each and every day, another puppet comes out with some sweet sounding lyrics that only you the obstacles of progress in our country understands and are able to dance to your own song and music.

    It is the same old music, “we are negotiating to borrow millions of dollars to repair roads, this thing about fixing, and the repairing of roads has no end in Dominica; the cycle has been in continuance for almost a hundred years now; most of that could be avoided if only the people in authority would simply put on their cognitive thinking cap, come up with sensible resolve, and do what is right to change the situation; any situation good or bad can be changed.

    Which would be a better decision?

    Deciding to borrow money to repair the same portion of a road which is going to be washed away a few short months after the repair is conducted, or to build a new road and changing the route, take another direction, I personally would decide to build a network of new roads, which maybe costly in the interim, nonetheless save the people of Dominica plenty of money in the long term.

    Today you added something to your rhythm. Big deal, “stabilization of road, and stabilization of soil” which tome is one of the same thing, however, someone perhaps yours truly need inform you that as long as there is soil erosion in Dominica, it is almost impossible for you or anyone to accomplish any sound form of destabilization of the earth under your feet.

    You are rattling about improving expanding change and seismic monitoring, that to me is another of your mythical dreams, when the earth shakes so slightly in Dominica it is registered here in California, we know the earth shakes in Dominica before you do, so you are not saying anything.

    I am concern about this: formation of “spatial” data management. What is that; I ask the question since I know spatial relates to the occupying, or having the character of space; you need to explain that doctor! On the other hand if we are talking about spatial summation, you would be into sensory summation that involves stimulation of several spatially separated neurons at the same time, I do not know, but since you are a doctor and all perhaps you are into the human or perhaps animal brain, so you need to explain that.

    Is so funny that you people think of all the not very necessary un-call-for to borrow money to waste on, however, none of you, thinks of borrowing to invest into anything that will pay for itself.

    Borrow and build a darn International Airport which will eventually pay for is operating cost, and make a profit, that is commonsense, not the crap you are talking and promoting!

    You are in the process of borrowing a hundred million dollars to waste, but you are not giving any details as to how you will repay this debt.

    Talking about climate change, when Dominica has very little to do with it if any, China, and the more industrialized world is responsible for the damage to the earth, China is the major culprit.

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  11. um
    December 18, 2013

    OK so labourites… This is what I want to see happen… Tell your PM that for me please… We have a year software development and robotics competition … Winner gets a scholarship or cash prize in the respected field… This would in turn motivate citizens to become more inovative.

    Technology is the future there would always be use of it… We need to start tackling that market… And maybe just maybe one day Dominica would be the technology hub of the Caribbean….

    Do that and maybe just maybe I might view allu government in a different light…

  12. Peeping Tom
    December 18, 2013

    This is another piece of marvelous news for us! Congratulations to all involved.

  13. Eagle-Eye
    December 18, 2013

    More money being pumped into the economy is good news especially if it is spent on infrastructure development. This will create a better environment to do business. It will create or help generate employment opportunities for unemployed Dominicans. The more people employed the more taxes collected which will help pay back the loans. The Dominica economy will benefit in the long run. This will help generate a “Feel-Good” factor for all Dominicans, except if you are a UWP candidate wanting to form the next government. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

  14. SD
    December 18, 2013

    I will say this over and over. Too much politics in everything the government does or announces…
    If there’s one thing constantly missing, it is this, everybody in Dominica wants everything, but no one wants to pay for it. You all cried when they brought in VAT, Now you have rubbish collection, when I was growing up it was straight in the ravin, yet no one wants to pay for it…where all you expect the money to come from? Your general taxes? It was only last week you were all happy that barrels were being let in Free for xmas…yet perhaps with you all consumed within Dominica, then the government can then use those taxes and not have to rely on loans..It’s all a matter of economics..no internal economy to speak off, yet we want.

  15. De Original Met Yo
    December 18, 2013

    half of the money going back in certain people pockets through kick backs. allu can announce bridges in the sky..and road on top road like america, is go allu must go

  16. joe
    December 18, 2013

    @() before you burst a vein, tell me what is the role of a PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATIVE, if it is not to REPRESENT YOU IN PARLIAMENT?

    You people demand too much from a parliamentarian, especially those in government, they cannot be held responsible for your non-patriotism, you see a drain need unblocking do it don’t wait for parl. rep!!!

    I lived in England all my life and am yet to know where my Parl. Rep Constituency office was never mind to know him/her… there work is in PARLIAMENT and in cases when they are in government CABINET!!!

    • ()
      December 18, 2013

      @ joe You idiot what does speaking rubbish in parliament has to do in helping to improve my standard of living, providing much needed water in my community, improving the health system in my constituency, helping to create jobs for the constituents,helping the youths in the constituency to be good citizens. If he speaks in parliament at all it does not translate into anything positive in his constituency.
      Skerrit has delivered NOTHING to you all, so it’s like a norm that parliamentarians should just earn a salary and do not deliver.
      DARROUX IS ONE SUCH.HE HAS BEEN DOMINICAS MOST MASSIVE POLITICAL FAILURE.

    • Anonymous
      December 18, 2013

      @ Joe Your ignorance is frightening Sir. You are not in England sir, you are in Dominica. Why didn’t you attend night school in England? Maybe you would have been a little smarter, and you would refrain from spewing garbage and filth on this medium.

    • Malgraysa
      December 18, 2013

      Joe, I would not mind if they did really represent us in parliament. The very few times the House meets it is just to rubberstamp the decisions and the money already spent by cabinet. I think the P.M. made a big mistake in getting parl reps elected that would not stand up to him and as a result neither he nor the the people they are supposed to represent respect them. It is a great pity.

  17. Morihei Ueshiba
    December 18, 2013

    Urban Baron will be good for you

    • bwa cwaib
      December 19, 2013

      What can URBAN BARON possibly do to Dr. Darroux?? He has absolutely nothing to loose!!Never did never will!! Urban Baron should be ashamed!! All I can see in this constituency is pure jealousy against Dr. Darroux! The truth is..he has helped many..the same ones he helped are the same ones sitting on buses running their mouths!!

      • ?
        December 19, 2013

        @bwa cwaib When will Labourites understand that giving a man fifty dollars or five hundred dollars twice a year, will forever keep the person in poverty? That’s what he has done. He has NOT helped the constituency. HE HAS FAILED THE CONSTITUENCY.

    • ah chow
      December 19, 2013

      alass youre innocent for u dont know the difference between the two

    • Mec
      December 20, 2013

      Hahaha oh la sort au sort.

  18. Anonymous
    December 18, 2013

    Darroux please leave Skerrit politics alone. You are not a politician. what have you done to better the lives of the people in your constituency? I CAN LOUDLY SAY NOTHING. YOU ARE ALREADY A FAILED POLITICIAN.

  19. Diaspora
    December 18, 2013

    Its just amazing all of a sudden we are requesting so many loans or getting so many grants. I sometimes wonder, don’t these funding agencies research what is going on in Dominica? Or are our leaders taking us for fools and so they continue to brand figures in our face because we are such idiots? Alas……poor ma Dominique.

    • Peeping Tom
      December 18, 2013

      You have simply been listening too much to the mischiefmakers. Now, you are understandably confused.

      I suggest that you ask them how is it that in spite of their rantings against our government and their cries of doom and gloom, our government still succeeds in securing resources from development partners.

    • Nomination committe
      December 19, 2013

      How unpatriotic

  20. well well
    December 18, 2013

    Hope this money doesn’t go in that black hole called the consolidated fund you guys have in the treasury, cause once money is put in there, then all accountability of funds is lost.

  21. Massacre
    December 18, 2013

    Same woman in a different dress. I want DLP to tell me how many times do they recycle thier information? Do you guys think that Dominicans are so dumb to have forgotten that you already told us that same story? You all so have nothing to bring to the table so you repeat old news.
    End of year is near, where are the 1000’s of job Skerro promised by now?
    Well guess what! no more pulling of the wool over our eyes! The world has enlightened.
    We are running with Team Dominica this time around.

    • Nomination committe
      December 19, 2013

      It seems that good new is a pain to the opposition. The hate to see or hear we are developing.
      The Funding has reached a new and last phase before disbursement.

      The next stage is implementation within the first half of 2014.

      Govern cannot stop implementing projects because election is due in 17 months.

      The government is working.

  22. HIM
    December 18, 2013

    2009 -2014. Darroux what have you done in the Petite Savanne constituency? Are you not ashamed?

  23. YES I
    December 18, 2013

    ALAS ALAS Papa bodieu….HOW are our children going to pay for all this loans….oh lord help us

  24. Just Blaze
    December 18, 2013

    So many loans how are we going to pay them back. As if Dominica on a ticking time bomb.

    • anonymous2
      December 19, 2013

      DA has been sold at least 10 times over to the highest bidder and the international banking cartel.

  25. ????????????
    December 18, 2013

    This man entered into politics with a huge title of medical doctor. The people of the constituency were happy and ecstatic, they will finally have a Parl Rep who is a Minister of government and therefore development will finally come to the constituency. Like the blogger before me, he has been an abysmal failure. He drives in a black vehicle, and if you do not know the number plate, you won’t know if is he passing. This man has nothing political in him, but it’s not surprising. It is alleged that he was paid to contest, so what does he care? He is only following the dictates of his God Skerrit, and to Hell with constituents.
    GUESS THIS IS THE SAME STORY ISLAND WIDE.
    iT’S A COUNTRY FAILED BY SKERRIT AND HIS CABAL.

  26. Eye
    December 18, 2013

    R u guys serious? This is the same story of 6 months ago , just that we have a different reader this time around.

  27. Doc. Love
    December 18, 2013

    More loans again, the Government of Dominica should designate December the month of loans. The year will soon be coming to an end, Minister of Finance, Skeritt, what is Dominica’s national debt. One billion, two billion, three billion, what is the national debt, Sir. :mrgreen:

    • trolol
      December 18, 2013

      Soon we are going to take loans to pay of loans. lmao :lol:

      • Jay
        December 18, 2013

        We may already be doing that in one form or another. Last week the Govt. issued a tranche of $20 million in Treaury bonds, to be redeemed in 91 days. In simple terms this is a short term loan, for which you give the donor an i.o.u. at a discount Plus a decent interest rate.

  28. Anonymous
    December 18, 2013

    Thankfully the people who comment here on DNO displaying their ignorance and partisan stupidity don’t speak for the majority of Dominicans who continue to support this government and it’s progressive programs

    • ????????????
      December 18, 2013

      Labour Party slaves always try hard to defend corruption.
      Can you outline the accomplishment of Kenneth Darroux, who does not seem to care a dam about the Partite Savanne constituency?
      I FULLY AGREE THAT THIS MAN IS DOMINICAS BIGGEST/GREATEST FAILURE. If not I would have Skerrit first and he second.

    • Anonymous
      December 18, 2013

      The progression I see is not in dominica just the progression of certain bank accounts inside and outside of dominica .

    • anonymous2
      December 19, 2013

      Oh, but they do represent the majority. There are a lot of people here that can’t read and write but know what is going on.

  29. Mon
    December 18, 2013

    Put this money into agriculture and you Will see it double in a year time .

    People stop this madness .

    • Anonymous
      December 18, 2013

      Don’t worry, that coming very soon. We gonna fix Agriculture and Manufacturing too.

      • anonymous2
        December 19, 2013

        The people are going to have to take it into their own hands to do. Don’t depend on govt. to do anything.

    • Peeping Tom
      December 18, 2013

      Lol! Who do you think will benefit most from the above-mentioned projects?

  30. Jay
    December 18, 2013

    That is not news. GIS (through DNO) reported on this on 26 Augsut of this year. Only then it was Rayburn Blackmoore talking. What has changed? Are they putting the spotlight on Dr. Darroux now to try and burnish his waning star in his constituency?
    I am far more interested right now in the progress, or lack of it for the 35 km. (…just under 20 miles!) of road from Pont Casse to Hatton Garden. On 25 August, 2011 Mr. Blackmoore was quoted (DNO) as saying that this road would be completed by “next year” i.e. 2012. Well Mr. Blackmoore it is nearly two years and four months since you made that statement. Where is the road? The least you owe us is an honest update, please!

    • PoKeSa
      December 18, 2013

      You’ve raised a valid point about a status update on completion of the Pont Casse to Hatton Garden (20miles/35km) length of road infrastructure. I can’t understand why we in the Diaspora, and as it seems local Dominicans, are so deprived of basic knowledge about what’s happening in our country.

  31. ()
    December 18, 2013

    This man/failure that is bragging about climate resilient is one of Dominica’s greatest failure. He has virtually abandoned his constituency,over the past 5 years. Nothing , absolutely nothing has been done, in the constituency, except the giving of the odd $100 note $50.00 note, like Skerrit is doing at the red Clinic. etc. But this is good for many of the constituents. They are the ones MOST DISRESPECTED BY THE SKERRIT CABAL, not getting a dam,year after year, after year but still voting THIS BRUTAL, WICKED DEVELISH AND CORRUPT party back. SHAME AND GREAT SHAME on this parl rep. You have failed those who thought better of you.
    I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW YOU talk to some of the constituents who know that you have failed them and did not deliver a dam.
    You are truly Dominicas biggest failure.

    • Malayway
      December 18, 2013

      and you are Dominica”s biggest hater and idiot!!

      • ^
        December 18, 2013

        @Malayway whenever the truth is spoken,it is always taken to be hatred. well I live in Bagatelle, and this is the ABSOLUTE TRUTH. This man has failed us, and I will not vote him or Labour Party again. Urban was not an educated man,with a degree, but he understood politics and was far better than this failure Skerrit imposed upon us. watch and you all will see by how much Labour Party votes will fall in this constituency. JUST WATCH!

    • Anonymous
      December 18, 2013

      Before you burst your vein with anger, please tell me in detail what is the role of a Parliament Representative, if it is not to represent you in Parliament…

      You People expect too much from your Parl Reps, no wonder Baron left with nothing, like Henry in the valley…lol

      I lived in London and i never new my Parl Rep!!!!!

      • .
        December 18, 2013

        @Anonymous You ignoramus, and idiot this is not London. This is Dominica. Why didn’t you attend night school in London? You would not be there spewing garbage.

      • Jay
        December 18, 2013

        With all duerespect, this is not London. Dominica is very parochial, very small, yet we boast 21 M.P’s, which means that the average parliamentarian represents some 3350 people only. Let well, “average” as in some constituencies the actual number iseven below that, so it is inevitable that a parl. rep. should be closely connected, almost umbillically with the people who selected him/her.
        I would submit that we could cut our costs and improve efficiency by cutting the number of seats and have more, regular meetings of the House instead.

      • anonymous2
        December 19, 2013

        Maybe it is time that you started seeing your rep and participating in govt. as a demanding citizen.

  32. Aye
    December 18, 2013

    Waste of moneyyyy!

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