Eastern roads to get attention

A rural east coast road
A rural east coast road

The road network on the eastern part of the island is expected to receive attention from a concessionary loan that Caribbean countries with diplomatic relations with China were offered recently, according to prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.

The loan of US$3-billion was offered by Chinese President Xi Jinping who met with various regional leaders in Port of Spain last Sunday.

Skerrit said that there is a high possibility that Dominica will be seeking its share to address ‘once and for all’ the poor road conditions on the island’s east.

“We may certainly contract a loan of course … we would have to look at the details and engage the Chinese Government on this bilaterally. But there is a very good possibility that the Government may take a loan to address once and for all the roads on the east coast because certainly they need great improvement,” he said.

He said some of the road that will be targeted are, “Pond Case to Castle Bruce going in to Petite Soufriere, from Pond Case going into Bois Daibe and Delice area to Petite Savanne and Dubique.”

He said the issues of poverty, unemployment and improvement of the infrastructure, must be addressed in Dominica and the loan came at a good time. “So this $3 billion at concessionary financing, and I believe the financing is about 2 percent interest, is very good news for the Caribbean and for Dominica itself,” he noted.

The prime minister also said more scholarships from China were approved by the visiting president.

Last week Skerrit announced that the Government of Dominica plans to source over $50 million US dollars in loans and grants to respond to damage caused by natural disasters on the east coast of the island.

He said these funds will be used to construct new road ways, river defences, bridges and retaining walls.

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50 Comments

  1. hit
    June 7, 2013

    I’m happy that the Dubique road is finally getting some attention..God is really protecting the motorists travelling on this road from fallen rocks!! It’s about time!! Please do something before something drastic happens!

  2. Leanna Frederick-
    June 7, 2013

    I am happy that the roads are being fixed, but what about the kalinago territory road ???

  3. Annica Alethea
    June 7, 2013

    The last time China assigned US$500 million to the Caribbean was for the Chinese business people to take over the Caribbean, let’s hope for something better this time. Why not the airport and export of water?

  4. June 7, 2013

    Good afternoon sweet Dominica. Well it’s very nice that we will be getting some funds to improve the road condition. Now I look at the photo in this article and what I see is poor road construction. Tarish was compacted into the soil and then asphalt was placed on top of the tarish but rain simply destroyed the base and subsequent damage the asphalt . They should dig the soil , provide proper drainage ,then compact it with gravel and put a concrete base with either construction wire or reenforced steel. Then they can put asphalt on top of the concrete otherwise our wet climate will keep destroying the roads. Also don’t the Government have a road construction engineer on staff who would look out for the Government best interest. If not then they should hire one to represent them so we can construct roads that will last.

  5. Top cop
    June 7, 2013

    I leave in the states and u pay toll fee Bronx to jersey put a toll both by the round about people can pay at least one or two dollars I am referring to the road that leads through Canefield Antrim corrona see how much money per day would be collected that money can be used to maintain this road toll both on the Roseau goodwill link road we cannot. Have everything free

    • June 7, 2013

      Top Cop.

      I fully support that but the funds should only be used to maintain or construct new roads. We know when Government has a new source of revenue they usually use it for some other thing that it wasn’t intended for.

    • Malgraysa
      June 7, 2013

      We do pay road tax in Dominica, and not a little amount either. Most Dominicans would say it is unfair, especially those who have to come to Roseau from the East coast. I think we should introduce parking charges in Roseau first.

      • June 8, 2013

        Malgraysa.

        Hello. What road tax you all pay in Dominica. Please tell me about it. Anyway we are talking about putting Toll Booths and using the funds just to maintain the roads or to construct new roads.

  6. EYE on D/ca
    June 7, 2013

    Election year is coming we expect that,But since Labour Government privatise Public works that is how it is poor Road conditions, back then we had allot of rain and we never had them problems with Roads, no clearing of Drains and so on so that is expected,,

    • Anonymous
      June 7, 2013

      people like u that has no sense of reasoning, under this labour party we have seen the most beautiful roads and best quality roads on this lovely island of ours.

  7. Anonymous
    June 7, 2013

    Its one after the other, Rome was not build in a day, it seems all u wants all about to fix one time.

  8. Annon
    June 7, 2013

    Another loan?? Are the current loans being paid, and can we now afford them and more??

  9. June 7, 2013

    thats just a political strategy, they realize mr drigo dont stand a chance in winnig that seat again so after there last meeting inthe area two mondays ago they have decided to put some money in the area, so all the other areas waiting for there roads till next time for uall.

  10. mane
    June 7, 2013

    China will take Dominica? What nonesense is this.Do China need Dominica?

    • Hmmm
      June 7, 2013

      U not too savvy on what’s happening in the world are you?

    • June 7, 2013

      Mane.

      Hello by 2016 China will have the largest economy in the World. They will forgive the loans so don’t worry we need China more than they need us. If you look at what’s happening in the World China don’t tell any Country what type of Governmrnt they have rather they engage in business with every Country.

  11. mane
    June 7, 2013

    Since i know myself all Dominica Governments have been doing is to take loans to fix Dominica roads. Skerit you need to change that put toll boths all over the place. Those who drive on the road should be responsible for repairs.
    Secondly you need to work on prevention why are Dominica roads need repairs so very often? You guys do not have to deal with salt anually, because Dominica do not have winter. You need to work on creating a proper drainage system. What have happened to those guys who used to work on cleaning the drains monthly all over Dominica? Stop spending money on roads and invest in business that can create jobs for the people of Dominica

    • June 7, 2013

      Hi. If you don’t have a good network of road how will you get to work on time. I do support cleaning the drains and putting Toll Booths on the roads. Also the base or foundation of the roads are poorly constructed because our wet climate erodes the base of the roads.

  12. roughcake
    June 7, 2013

    When will the roads, sidewalks and gutters in Roseau be addressed? After all it is the Capital City. They have been ignored for too long.

    • Peeping Tom
      June 7, 2013

      Well said!

  13. juan
    June 6, 2013

    China will be making Dominica a Chinese colony soon and build a Navy Base in Portsmouth they are slowly getting control over the whole Caribbean especially Dominica. Skerrit has already sold most of the island to China.

  14. June 6, 2013

    The road from Pointe Michelle to Soufriere need attention too. I would like to know when the airport road will be complete, I hope these guys will not pick bucket the money, Dominica government is know with corruption the reason why our country behind,

  15. Hmmm
    June 6, 2013

    How about the north. Toucarie, cottage, Clifton & capuchin?

  16. protect
    June 6, 2013

    I live in the US, and I come home at least twice a year. Don’t think the US don’t have all its share of Natural disasters. Some of them, humans help to create them. There are more seasons in the USA, and each one has its share of headaches.

    Please fix the roads going to the only airport we have working in Dominica. When strangers come to Dominica through the air port, remember, the first impression is a lasting impression. We know Dominica is very rugged, lots of winding roads and roads are not easy to be built. That’s why we must take our time to do something good and not cheap and rushed.

    • octo
      June 7, 2013

      When last you came home? Don’t you know that that’s what is happening now? Next time you come you will see the difference.

  17. dominican abraod
    June 6, 2013

    DA can’t seem to do much for themselves, china seems to be pitching in a lot, billions?? when they are done with us they will take out little country right from under our noses as payback watch. Or why do we give them our passports equaling the dollars given.

  18. protect
    June 6, 2013

    Dominica get a lot of rain. I hope we have good engineers assessing the roads before they are built. We not only need gravel, dirt and tar. We need good concrete roads with steel built in them.
    Because if it is built chip and fast, with all the rain and heavy land slides, everything will be washed away. Even human life will be washed away.

    Get reed of those small, old culverts. We need good drainage, and try to protect our forest. If our forest are not protected, and trees are being cut left, right and center, Dominica will be washed away. We need a lot of development in Dominica, but with Development if we don’t listen and take heed about mother natures wrath, we will be in serious trouble.

    We cannot stop every land slide, natural disasters, and loss of lives, but we sure cannot help to create more destruction. The whole world is getting more water, we must also play our constructive parts. Dominica is what we have. Any other country we go, we encounter problems. Lets enjoy ours.

  19. Anonymous
    June 6, 2013

    Well I hope Pond Case to RC is on the menu. hmmmmmmm

    • octo
      June 7, 2013

      The last time I checked, RC was between Pond Casse’ and Delices.

  20. God's way
    June 6, 2013

    What about savanne paille, cottage, capuchin road?

  21. Nature isl
    June 6, 2013

    Portsmouth capuchin road mr PM, are we not part of Dominica,does the cottage constituency still have a representative?

  22. truth offends
    June 6, 2013

    Although someone would have to blind-fold me for me to give any credence to anything Mr. Skerrit says, I am happy at list to hear him say something about the US$3 billion promised to nine Caribbean countries. I am even happier to hear him tell us where he intends to spend the money he expects to loan from China. I would have felt much better though if he had told us the following: 1. How much he intends to borrow from China. 2.If he would still go ahead with the $50 million he told us he was about to borrow from world banks, since in my opinion is for the same project and 3. How does he expect the said project to address poverty and unemployment as stated by him. I am however a little disappointed that he was not sure about interest rate.
    I am also very disappointed that he told us nothing about the new state-of-the-art PMH and the Newtown Elementary School that he told us about on Jan. 15, 2013, since at that time he told us that the said projects would be funded by China and would begin in 2013. Although we are just in June and we have another six months to go, we might very well see some work in progress by Sept. just before he calls the election during WCF, since many Dominicans living abroad will come to vote, since they usually base progress on sewo and do not have to face the hardship.

  23. Jay
    June 6, 2013

    This is wonderful but why don’t we finish the Pont Case to Melville Hall road first? Mr. Blackmoore said it would be finished by the end of Dec. last year but I have not heard from the Minister since and it looks like work has come to a halt. Did the French not lend us an extra 10 million Euros only last June to finish this project? Pleae Mr. Blackmoore, speak!! You are normally so vocal.

  24. Programmer
    June 6, 2013

    Those haters hating on the chinese and skerro but all of them have their long shopping list, though

  25. west coast
    June 6, 2013

    Still not value for Dominica in my view..

    Maybe it’s the same conditions as the west coast road set up whereby everything stayed in house with the Chinese.

    There we no impacting spin off for the citizen of Dominica, thus compounding the existing poverty on island…

    with that large sum of money the govt should seek to do a project that would impact Dominica long term…..

    International airport would be the finest way to go,surely a long and futuristic visionary aspect.

    but again it’s dominica! they not known for thinking BIGGER.

    So as a island they will continue to gain crumbs and remain the poorest in the eastern caribbean.

    Dominicans must see the sky as the limit and not being contended seeing a key hole mindset!

    Nothing will change to impact Dominica once this Present regime remains in office…they are expired without producing a product, or sorry the product they produced was (MASS POVERTY)

  26. Concern citizen
    June 6, 2013

    I am very worried that the government constantly borrowing millions of dollars from the China’s government to develop the country. What I would really like to know how is the country going to pay back that kind of loan and how long it is going to take before the country will be out of debt? Is the government slowly selling Dominica to the China’s government?

  27. Morihei Ueshiba
    June 6, 2013

    Zack Snyder is the man.

  28. Nkrumah Kwame
    June 6, 2013

    Well, by now I am tired bringing the plight of residents of VALLEY ROAD in Marigot to the COMPETENT AUTHORITIES, SO I want to thank Senator Daton Baptiste and Prime Minister Rooseveldt Skerrit for “listening” to our plight by not resurfacing this road.Next year coming, though!!??

  29. June 6, 2013

    Papa Bondier, fix the Castle Bruce to San Sauveur Road, Hon. Min. Yes, Yes. That is all you saying. PM Skerrit must look for someone who will say NO, NO Mr. Prime Minister. All you saying is YES YES. You are the worse Parl Rep we have ever met. If you want to be elected or given the opportunity to represent again, start doing something.

  30. jay
    June 6, 2013

    pot holes, pot holes,.. according to Paul Keens .. that is thing to mash up old people false teeth. I hope it gets fixed soon and properly so it doesn’t get damaged by a shower of rain

  31. June 6, 2013

    Alot of promises,election is around the corner, how are they gonna pay these loan back? more chinese influence in Dominica
    You can fool some people sometime, but you can’t fool all the people all the time
    We are not Falling for your promises, TIME FOR CHANGE :-D

    • Can't Understand
      June 6, 2013

      @ DK Why don’t provide the money

    • IPO
      June 6, 2013

      Alas sombody fool him …..lol

  32. Goodness!!!!
    June 6, 2013

    Fix Pond Casse to Castle Bruce road, PLEASE.

  33. van
    June 6, 2013

    Road from Lalay to TeteMorne. When will that be addressed?

    • Lougaoo Mem
      June 6, 2013

      The Geneva temporary bridge is a long forgotten bridge. It needs replacement like yesteryear. Please, please take care of that long forgotten bridge before something happens.

      • Jon Paul
        June 6, 2013

        The Bridge crossing the White River is falling apart too.The salt spra yhas eroded some of the structural parts of it

    • in my bone
      June 6, 2013

      when last u been to tete Morne?

    • Malgraysa
      June 6, 2013

      Never mind that. How about that road from Tete Morne to Souffriere the late P.M. Chalres promised us. Has his successor for the local contituency forgotten about that?

    • El Uno
      June 6, 2013

      the ppl of that area too foolish dem labour from dem bourn leave dem in their foolishness….

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