Government administrative building for Portsmouth

A view of the town of Portsmouth. Photo: Chad Ambo

Negotiations are ongoing for the construction of a government administrative building in the town of Portsmouth.

This was announced by the Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit at a recent town hall meeting.

Skerrit said there is an influx of government offices in Portsmouth and people are unaware of their location.

“This is a town in Dominica and if it is a town in Dominica it must have appropriate government offices here and people must know they can go to a central spot and to acquire government services,” he stated.

Skerrit noted that he is not in favor of having the government offices being scattered throughout the town of Portsmouth.

“What we have done in the government is to speak to the Dominica Social Security and say to them, will you finance the construction of this administrative building, you finance it, you put your interest rate and the Government of Dominica will lease that building with the eventual aim of owning it after we would have paid you for what you have spent,” he revealed.

Skerrit revealed that this new government administrative building will include an Office for the Prime Minister.

He said there will be no need for individuals to travel to Roseau to meet with the Prime Minister.

He also stated the government administrative building will also include: sub-treasury, the DSS Office, the education office, the office of the parliamentary representative, the post office and conference facilities.

“The money is available all we need to conclude on the plans and the drawings to start the process,” he noted.

Meantime, Skerrit announced that Mayor Titus Francis will serve as a coordinator for the project.

“I have identified Titus Francis who will I appoint as the coordinator of these projects to ensure they get done and get done in a timely manner,” he remarked.

He said Francis will report to the Prime Minister and also to the Member of Parliament for that constituency.

“Portsmouth has the right to get what Portsmouth truly deserves and the government must not be afraid to spend the monies that we must spend in Portsmouth,” Skerrit stated.

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53 Comments

  1. “Skerrit said there is an influx of government offices in Portsmouth and people are unaware of their location.”

    Just another lie from the most notorious liar of all time; Roosevelt Skerrit. Portsmouth is less than ten square miles in circumference, where one can walk around the entire place in about two hours. Nothing happens in Dominica that is unknown to the residence of any particular location.

    So, how come all of a sudden “there is an influx of government offices in Portsmouth” that people do not know about? Roosevelt you might be able to impress someone who has just heard about Dominica for the first time in their life; however, for those of us born in Dominica, and knows Dominica very well, knows for a fact you are lying through your tooth’s, and cannot impress us with that lie!

  2. Tumble. Back kick
    May 6, 2017

    The people deserve their government, Portsmouth people are the most gullible. The hospital, police station, firestation are in need of repair, the road is a mess and you people allow mista to throw all foolishness in the air and you all applauding that. So build office for yourself so people can snitch for you! And Titus will be reporting to you, zoh bien jwen! Self serving people. Jahjah sees and knows!

  3. Gordon
    May 6, 2017

    Good move PM, no one like traveling all the way to Roseau to find the office not open or a mister not dey and they telling you to come back tomorrow. Like you living around Roseau with all them congestion, garbage and bad smells, not to mention the heat that give you headache!

  4. discreet
    May 5, 2017

    Where are your advisors ? Are they fake ?Do they have fake jobs and are being paid for doing nothing? The new bridge will not bring economic prosperity to the country .Engage your farmers ,open the coffee factory, We will sell coffee to Iran ,Dubai and Vietnam That is real development

  5. discreet
    May 5, 2017

    PM give the young people who want to achieve a chance /You have CBI monies open the feeder roads and let maintain our market share of the global market. We can ship coffee as far as Dubai Iran China and Vietnam. Trust me we can do .You commissioned the opening of the new bridge. Let us open the coffee factory. The bridge is of no economic value just another piece of infrastructure .Where are your highly paid advisors. Are they fake:?

  6. Let The Truth Be Known
    May 5, 2017

    This is a good idea. Portsmouth being a town, the second town as we call it, those who reside in that part of Dominica will welcome the administrative building and avoid long traveling to Roseau.
    In time, other appropriate areas of Dominica will also have one for the convenience of those residents.
    This is what it means by stating Dominica is progressing.

  7. The mouth
    May 5, 2017

    Sadly this is the wrong move. I am assuming that given there is insufficient funds to pay existing public officers, there won’t be new staff recruited; but recircled to Portsmouth?

    One of the advantages of developing services in the “third world” is the ability to leap frog over the west with advancements in new technology. Simply building a new office that inherits the paper based systems that we have in Dominica, will not serve anyone.

    In addition, if we are seeking to conserve our funds and improve services these should be located under a single roof or preferably accessed remotely.

    In my opinion that’s where the investment is needed. Move away from this labour intensive paper system, to better use of technology. The USA, Canada and Europe are moving away from paper, even the passports will be the size of a credit card.

    Once services can be accessed remotely, you can have service centres in all major towns and villages that access services from a computer in a…

  8. Bois Diable
    May 5, 2017

    Do our government officials ever leave their hotel room when they ? I hope the proposed office complex or building will rival those of other Caribbean islands. Recently I had the opportunity visit a government minister. I thought his office was a rabbit hut. Come on government. All of our smaller brother candy sister islands are leaving us behind. Dominica is the only seventeenth century island in the Caribbean. When will we advance to twenty first century status? I thought our PM was the youngest in the however he is more of the prehistoric type tan any of the other leaders who van be his father.

  9. LifeandDeath
    May 5, 2017

    I tired!!..another pie in the sky type building..Why Skerrit can’t stick to one thing and complete it..The Moroccan hotel, The Portsmouth Fire Station, The Hospital etc..finish them things and then talk..
    Look so long the Modernization of Roseau is being talked about..a waterfront promenade on the River bank..an International Airport..wa going on ppl?
    FURTHER, if Social Security money is being spent on Capital Formation projects, there had better be a boost in employment to keep that balance and for gov’t to collect adequate tax to repay that money..
    Sometimes Skerrit has fairly good ideas, but he doesn’t go beyond the frills and fancy and really do a thorough analysis..that may be because Dominicans don’t require an explanation from him either..it’s all politics and Campaigning in that man head..Dominicans better start voting for plans ’cause dem politicians only planning for votes.

  10. MR. PROLIFIC
    May 5, 2017

    There are better things to come, save the best for last. The wise men came from the east. Bruce castle our next goal. RED RED RED and Red all the way. Move forward with us or keep your stress. The choice is yours. Put your country first.REEEEEEEEEEEEEEED.

  11. selly
    May 4, 2017

    You bypass our palrep and go straight ti Titus Francis.

  12. Dominican
    May 4, 2017

    One time the naysayers saying the govt forget Possie, when one little project come to Possie everybody up in arms. These naysayer speak because they have to say something not because they have something to say. This is why the rest of the country will never follow their poolbwa protest action. You all will stay with your 8 man protest until you make up your minds and stop opposing for opposing sake. :mrgreen:

  13. Looking
    May 4, 2017

    Way to go. Build a gov’t building with a Prime Minister’s office in every constituency. In that way the Prime Minister will be able to attend to his constituents on a daily basis. Something like our primary health care with health centers all over the island.

    • Jon Jones
      May 7, 2017

      It sounds like you dont want to be too far from a red clinic. Just ask your PM to give you the money in your hand on your doorstep so you wont have to walk and queue up.

  14. Unknown
    May 4, 2017

    Not a fan of the PM but give credit where credit is due, great move on his side

    • truth , shall set you free
      May 4, 2017

      unknown, shame on you, What credit? The man have been doing this for every election ,Just promising promising, like he is mad,and once election is gone ,Every promise is gone, But it seems like Dominicans really doesn’t learn? So you giving credit for a promise?The man even promising to bring down heaven to earth,Look he just said that ,he is a disciple , You give him credit for that too?how much more will you allow him to fool you?He must be happy that there is people like you living in dominica,, what are you ? a donkey ?or an ass?

      • Jon Jones
        May 7, 2017

        Simple tactics work on simple people. Dominica is full of blind and docile people, Skerrit knows this and has made a fortune from it.

  15. Real Possie man
    May 4, 2017

    Well I support that move. Been calling for that long time. The best area for that building is the old soar eye public works building. Break that down and put that building there.

    • QUEENS
      May 5, 2017

      Definitely! that was my same sentiment to. It is in the middle of everything, or buy the land across from the Park, it has been idle for ever.

  16. HOODY
    May 4, 2017

    Not first or second time these jokers promising this building. Every time someone requires service you have to spend a day to travel to Roseau. Come on just build that then talk about it

  17. THE DOGS FRIEND
    May 4, 2017

    so why was all that money hidden in foreign banks, if lennox did not open his big mouth i guess those monies would remain in those accounts till they leave office…

    CBI CBI

    • Jon Jones
      May 7, 2017

      This fact is lost to the minds of many Dominicans. As long as they get a handout they will be happy and dont care. We are lost and only when it is too late will they even begin to understand.

      In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king

  18. Daily Bugle
    May 4, 2017

    That’s good. There needs to be more decentralization to get certain tasks done quicker. Not only for the Government but for other large companies on the island. Let’s make business in Dominica be quick again.

  19. weh
    May 4, 2017

    Will a new red clinic office will be established in portsmouth?

    • Jon Jones
      May 7, 2017

      Guaranteed!!!!!

  20. stupendous
    May 4, 2017

    what about the Moroccan Hotel, when is it going to be completed? what about the fire station? what about the police station? what about the hospital improvements? and according to Skerrit the money is not a problem it is available. yet still for paying public works workers it is a problem and for granting civil servants an increase above 0,0,and 0. is a problem or rather not available. So is it fair to say money is not a problem under Skerrit; however the problem is Money. A paradox you say well think about it!.

  21. Olooip
    May 4, 2017

    Really in 2013 Ian outlined a set of development plan for Portsmouth and since election nothing. What is Francis coordinating and is it another NEP job for Francis. Since when government need a coordinator to construct a government facility. Isnt that the reason there is a ministry for public works. Is Francis going to be project manager just like he served as manager of the Portsmouth Credit Union?

  22. zeebee charles
    May 4, 2017

    it should be the same in Roseau to many offices all over the place use up the post office building after completion to house offices like housing division, electrical division ,engineering surveys,so is not just in Portsmouth .Mr pm i support you ideas 100 %

  23. snowell
    May 4, 2017

    Go Skerro don’t mind the narrow minded b……..

    • Jon Jones
      May 7, 2017

      Skerro dont mind the narrow minded at all. That is why he has the red clinic. Wake up fool

  24. Titiwi
    May 4, 2017

    How many building does one need to administer a population of barely 72,000? I suspect a creepimng relocation of the seat of power from Roseau to the heartland of the Possie Nostra.

    • Joe
      May 4, 2017

      Titiwi you are the most FOOLISH person ever!!!!!!!!! Do you know the distance from Roseau to Portsmouth??? What 72k people have to do with bringing Government service to the second town which is $10 per trip away????

    • Antony P. Ismael
      May 4, 2017

      Our communities are spread out over several areas. Given the road network, we do need more services in other parts of the island, besides Roseau. Portsmouth is quietly developing and this is much needed.

    • KaliBud
      May 4, 2017

      Ok Titiwi mind. We hear u and ignore u too. Let de Dowad talk. Portsmouth is better for a city than Roseau anyway. Nothing wrong with upgrading the second town. Roseau is congested and have no potential for further development

    • May 5, 2017

      Government putting in institutes to accommodate you new neighbors from Main Land China yes Chinese on there way to settle in Portsmouth, so Dominicans whenever you hear the PM making announcements open your eyes, and remember PM said they hirer a consulting firm in the USA giving them instructions how to continue playing in the minds of the residents. Ask yourself is the bridge a development for Dominica or it’s a DLP bridge, the people deserve to be treated disrespectfully because of greed they give up control of their lives so why should any one care about them.
      They are asking what about the Diaspora well they have drawn away because all there hard work and support have fall on diff ear they have decided Dominicans at home are on there own whatever happens so be it. Democracy is dead in Dominica and Greed and hate is at the top of the ladder .

  25. Antony P. Ismael
    May 4, 2017

    Why not relocate the Portsmouth Police station in the same building upon completion? Provide police officers with the tools that they need to perform their duties satisfactorily. The construction of this building should be in line with the needs of Portsmouth and it surrounding communities. This will definitely help to eliminate that trip to Roseau and begin to ease congestion.

  26. john brown
    May 4, 2017

    Don’t forget Grandbay, need one too!

    • Antony P. Ismael
      May 4, 2017

      John, you are absolutely right. Development means providing goods and services to people in the communities where they live.

  27. May 4, 2017

    Yeah boy, the time for Possie is now! Let’s get this going PM!

  28. May 4, 2017

    I welcome this news PM. It’s a real hustle most times to come down Roseau to do business.

  29. May 4, 2017

    Good news. I hope DSS will take on this project. Some people travel to Roseau and have to wait so long to get attended to, sometimes go home without results.

  30. Antony P. Ismael
    May 4, 2017

    I have been echoing the same idea for years now. The planning and construction of this building must be thoughtful and pragmatic. This building should be constructed in the Picard area with proper parking facilities and it needs to be designed as a mixed-use building. Please do not build it in Burroughs Square. I hope there is additional commercial real estate space in that building for a proper cafeteria/restaurant and space for the community to hold meetings and events. The communities of Marigot, Bioche and Dublanc are nearby, so they should be included in the planning phase as well. Space for medical/doctor offices is a must. I hope community members in Portsmouth will have a chance to share their ideas to include their needs before the first block is laid.

  31. DonK
    May 4, 2017

    Boy I Just love my PM!!

    • Floridian Diaspora
      May 4, 2017

      You love him too much, you dumb loyalist. Add a EY at the end of your user id as that word would suit you best

      • exposer
        May 4, 2017

        try again next time……

    • Let The Truth Be Knowwn
      May 5, 2017

      Without a doubt!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  32. QUEENS
    May 4, 2017

    Great! Best news ever. Traveling long distance to Roseau is a pain for me. Hopefully more businesses will be opened too.

    • Let The Truth Be Knowwn
      May 5, 2017

      Thank God it does not take over four hours as it were in those days. As a child, I recall those days.

  33. Concerned Citizen
    May 4, 2017

    This is a long time coming; finally the second town is getting recognition in some way or form. It needs more developments like now.

  34. IV CALL
    May 4, 2017

    Let’s bet it’s CBI again! :lol: :lol: :lol: Go jonny go go :lol: :lol: :lol:

    • Joe
      May 4, 2017

      You prefer it to come from an increase in TAX???????? Stupid!!!!SMDFH why don’t you people educate you all selves before making senseless comments!!!!!!

      • May 8, 2017

        Joe no one is stupid when asking qualified questions , so why CBI funds will do other projects for DLP but in Portsmouth the funding will be from Social Security , so you should ask yourself that question, and by the way the money in social security is tax payers money. Another fact to look into is why PM by pass the pal rep and go to one of his supporters to over see the project ?
        Dominicans enough is enough we need better for our island.

    • Dixie Normas
      May 4, 2017

      but the man said Dominica Social Security(DSS) don’t you read???

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