Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that the contract signing for a major hotel project for the north of the island will be signed next week.
The agreement will be signed under the Citizenship by Investment Program, he told the radio program, “Focus on government and development” on Thursday night.
“Next week we will be signing the final agreement with Range for the construction of 120 rooms in the Cabrits area,” he stated. “We will sign the agreement under the citizenship by investment program.”
The prime minister said the project will provide jobs for Dominicans.
“You can appreciate the number of jobs that it would create in itself in the economy for the citizens of Dominica,” he stated.
He pointed out that the government is doing everything it can to attract investments.
“We are doing everything possible to attract the investment, to make funding available, to continue expanding our public sector investment program, whether it is in agriculture, whether it is in education, whether it is in infrastructure we are in fact doing that,” he noted.
In February 2014, the government announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Range Developments Limited for the construction the 75 to 125-room, high-end luxury brand hotel.
The MOU was signed between the government and Mohammed Asaria, Vice Chairman of Range Developments.
International luxury hotel brand, Kempinski, has partnered with Range Developments in the venture.
Kempinski was founded in Germany in 1897 and currently operates over 70 high-end luxury hotels in 30 countries across the globe.
Meanwhile, Skerrit said the government is in discussion with a company for the exportation of bulk and bottled water and the architects for the construction of an indoor sporting facility in Stockfarm are here in Dominica.
“Incidentally the architects are here on the island to engage stakeholders with regards to design of the indoor facility,” he stated.
He noted that funding for major projects on the island has been secured.
“We told you we were going to build a hospital, we know where the money is coming from,” Skerrit stated. “We told you we will be doing the Roseau Enhancement Project, we know where the money is gonna come from. We told you we will be doing an indoor sporting facility at Stockfarm, we know where the money is coming from. We are doing a coffee plant, the coffee plant is basically completed, we know where the money is gonna come from.”
Will believe it when I see it … yeah election is close so words flying all over the place
up north again hope this time is in the woodfordhill Wesley area all these lies must stop whoever holds the reign to political office is a boss ( I Forget the wisest pm Dominica ever had) lol another hotel up north when the one I was told in possie far from completion .We must sound the call and say enough is enough this MOU to you should be made public Dominica’s integrity
is worth far more than lies So souple please stop this practice And tell the pastor to expose untruth when they are told (OPPS forget he is bz laying hands and taking out demons see they are scatterd sir so you must be bz lies and more lies)
How foolish can you be? There is an unfinished hotel already in this area. What is happening with it?? Why isn’t it being finished? Have the ministers creamed to much money off and there is nothing left now to finish the project?? That’s how DLP is managing our affairs.
Anyway, so one building site in Portsmouth already and another one is be added.
Skerrit, instead of talking wishy washy, give us the details of the agreement you just signed with the investors so we can judge for ourselves how beneficial this is going to be to Dominica. But as per usual everything is secret and on a need to know basis.
Boss, you and your government have to go. You have done enough damage to Dominica.
The moroccan hotel has been abandoned for more than a year.!!!!… and u idiots trying another scam???
You have no idea where money will come from to give civil servants a raise. You said that our economy is doing better than the other OECS countries.
I am suspicious that you claim our economy has been hit hard by the Global economic crisis. Now just a couple mornths before you call election a long list of projects suddenly coming on stream.
I listened to the budget address and I don’t recall any of these projects. What is the total cost of this. Although this was not budgeted you claim to know where the money coming from. None for the civil servant.
Labor working on people mind.
Can we the electorate get an update and statement of account on activities at the Moroccan hotel project site. I have friends who worked there. I got a breakdown. I need your confirmation. BREAK THE SILENCE and SPEAK!!!
How about all the other projects DLP told us about ? Like the Hotel at the Public Works Site?
This is just another Gimmick by Skerro to fool the Kool-aid drinkers .
All wise thinking Dominicans know that DLP have out lived its usefulness.
Time to go and give someone else a chance to develop the country.
PBut who is going to be using that Hotel? How will they come to Da and by what means? Will we be importig workers from Haiti and D.R to work in it> B-cuz all Dominicans are leaving!
This DLP guys have always been putting the cart before the horse .
They are deliberately keeping Dominica undeveloped .
Woooo, I neva see a gov’t have projec like dat boy. What is the total now since election push in full gear, about $2 billion? Well dat economy beat ‘the Chinese’ economy papa.
Doe get me wron eh, I love the Chinese for what they doing for our countries, but look project since election mentioned boy…wha.
The PM is building his empire up in the north area.
So where the money coming from for the new hospital in Goodwill to replace the old Princess Margaret Hospital? We have not seen the new one yet.
Where the money coming from to repair the old Marigot Hospital with wood ants?
Where the money coming from to repair the Portsmouth Fire Station where firemen are under attack by rodents?
I must say that Dominican politics is funny, if it wasn’t sad. We know that election is around the corner. By next week we will hear about money for the international airport, a mariner and God knows what else.” You can fool some people some time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”
Mr.PM, without an international airport to bring in tourist from around the world these hotels will not see any profit. You seriously need to be talking first the international airport and then come along the hotels. We simply CANNOT depend on LIAT or EXPRESS DES ILE to shuttle tourist to LOVELY DOMINICA. We need the capacity for direct charter flights from the US and Europe or weekly flights to have these hotels you talk about in good shape making a profit and be in business for a very long time.
Let me explain something to you backward people.In New York , Ontario Canada and many part of the world investors are geting 5 to 10 years Tax Free on investment.We are not in 1492 This is 2014 .welcome to the world my people and wake up.I don’t support any political party.AM a DA businessman living over sea
Question to mr. Roosevelt Skerrit: What is the status of the following development projects promoted by your govt. through the IDA (Invest Dominica Autority)? Details of which are in the public domain, to be found on http://www.caipainvest.org/investment opportunities_dominica pdf.
– International Business Park (Picard)
U.S.$.18 million
– Woodford Hill Hotel Villa Resort project
U.S.$.130 million
– Cabrits Marina & Hotel development
U.S.$.50 million
Your response is awaited with great interest. Thank you.
one ting allu workers not ez eh!…allu can’t take de development that comin see’n that allu leader doh stand a chance of gettin in power…physiology on allu..boy
Go and develop your mine
your d… harss! all u labourits are just a bunch of wicked people
You all should realise that a hotel development that has concessions not to pay tax for a number of years can easily be used for money laundering. You just take your money to the bank every month or so and tell them it is income from your hotel. The tax people are not interested because you are not liable to pay tax anyway. Once the money is in the bank it is clean funds. You ever think about that?
Totally agree. Somebody explain to me where all the guests for these wonderful hotels are coming from?
Why does Dominica need more hotels when the existing ones are not operating to capacity?
I tried to book a flight to Dominica and was advised by the travel agent that there are no longer same day flights to Dominica as Liat’s last flight from Antigua is 5 pm and this does not allow sufficient time for passengers in transit fro the UK.
Why did Dominica contribute millions towards Liat’ s operation? One would expect an improved service and not the worsening state of affairs.
We do not need more hotels, but we need to have a less stressful and convenient air travel service.
You do know the difference between UK and Antigua’s time and vice versa. This may account for you not catching the flight from Antigua. Next time if it is convenient for you, try to book via B/dos to D/ca and see what happens.
Lady, the time difference between the U.K. and Antigua is one hour less than between the U.K. and Toronto. Do people have the same problem with onward connectionss when flying between the U.K. and Toronto? I’m simply observing and asking a question.
More hotels more jobs.
Oh yes? They said that about the Moroccon hotel. They even had special training. Where are the jobs? Now everybody is on that fake NEP programme.
I’m afraid that LIAT’s schedules are not organised for the convenience of Dominica passengers connecting with international flights, at least not those originating from- going to the U.K.
Try to fly via Barbados instead of Antigua. It is a more customer friendly airport and has at least two daily flights to/from London (BA & Virgin).
Upon arrival from London you can connect with LIAT flight LI524 at 18.10 hrs, arriving at Melville Hall at 19.55 hrs. (via St. Lucia). This is a night flight.
Unfortunately, to connect in time with your outward bound flight to the U.K. you would have to leave Melville Hall on the 07.00 hrs. LIAT LI361, scheduled to arrive in Barbados at 08.00.
The drawback is that you will have to spend many hours in Barbados waiting for your London departure in the late afternoon. Incidentally, the same applies if your you are booked on the first LIAT flight out of Dominica for Antigua.
If you point of departure/return is London you want to consider flying via Martinique using the fast ferry connection to Fort-de France. There are multiple connections from Paris Orly into London City airport via Cityjet , extremely convenient for central London and the public transport network. On your return you would have to overnight in Martinique as the ferries depart too early to connect with flight arrivals from Paris. There are worse things than spending a night in Martinique rather than getting stuck at the airport in Antigua!
You are right, despite our infusion of capital into LIAT, which was supposed to buy us influence, LIAT services to/from Melville Hall have not improved.
This government is a joke to have mr.Douglas as minister of Tourism. Just take a look at the man backyard. Take a look at Portsmouth in general and ask yourselves a question.
Mr Skerrit Sir,all of a sudden we heaing of all these so called projects just before the elections but please give us an update on the Morryocan hotel at the cabritts where work is at a stanstill, and the coffee plant. Where is the coffee. Sir.
Hehehehe good question. There is an awful lot of coffee in Brazil but not in Dominica.
Eidolon, that coffee plant still trying to take root…get my drift?
I will give you your kudos if these projects come through. Some of these projects have been earmarked by UWP, but if you get them done, the country benefits. I however have two questions with your news release:
I. I honestly do not believe you should put the exportation of water in the hands of foreigners for the simple reasons that water is Dominica’s “gold”, and the integrity of our water may be compromised if the owners of the venture do not have inherent interest in the ecology of our island. We have seen what has happened to so many African countries which were ripped off their “gold” by foreign firms, and the accompanying contamination of their pristine environment. So, I advise you to take counsel.
ii. There are serious trust issues with you, Mr. PM! Generally, a significant portion of the population do not believe you! Even when your intentions are good and even when you may be speaking the truth, we take it with a piece of rock salt. You’ve led us down many false slopes, and you lied to the nation so many times, I think you have “dirtied your water!” So while this news release sounds good for our country, I am not that upbeat. Many of us have lost trust in you.
Finally, where are we on the Morocco hotel in Portsmouth? Has a management contract been awarded? Here’s an idea for the Morocco hotel or any other hotel where the State makes the final decision:
There is a fine hotel in Barbados called PomMarine. It is operated by the Hospitality Institute of the Barbados Community College. It is the training grounds for all those students of hospitality at the College. I stayed there a couple times. This hotel has played a major role in the resource development of the tourism sector which now makes Barbados a force to be recognised even at the international level. PomMarine is opened for business under professional leaders, but the staffing is by students who are training for their degrees. Why not give this some thought, Sir!
Great! Dominica is moving ahead step by step and the Prime Minister is moving with a vision.I am sure he is seeing what St.Lucia is doing as a great powerful country for tourism etc.St.Lucia also has several hospitality training institutions.Let us all be positive for our sister country.
So you think locals can deal with a water project? So far everything local has been mismanaged and I am not saying that foreigners are any better. This is a huge gamble. We are building on areas that are important for our water and nobody does anything about it.
wow i totally dig the luxury of the hotel – will be a pleasant touch for our stay over investors
What will Skeritt do next, in order to win the next general elections. Skeritt can say whatever he wants about Mr. Lennox Linton and UWP Team Dominica, I don’t think Skeritt has ever been so confused and worried in his life. He has himself to blame, according to the saying,” let sleeping dogs lie.” He should have never ask Mr. Linton to join the political race.
Is it for read, I’m hearing this. Why not complete the hotels which are already started, the Layou River hotel and the Morocan hotel, why not raise funds to have them completed , instead of them standing as white elephants?.
I wish them the best of luck. I hope Range Developments plans on marketing their hotel and Dominica like crazy to the international community in order to drive stay-over passengers not only at their facility, but DA as a whole could potentially benefit.
They keep building hotels mostly dominicans coming to Dominica who gonna fill all these rooms
eexplain the bloody mou!!! now the pm want to come and do all kia ting for people because election coming??? what about the bloody morocan hotel??? it stop so long ???? now talkjng about another hotel with some mohamad mad man. but wait nor dominicans all u not seeinnggggggg????? open al u eyes+!! so long them man in power 15 blooddy years now they want ro do all ki
international airport .Dominica need to grow.why dont you get it MR skerrit? any way you are on your way out team DOMINICA is committed to build that airport.
My people find out about Range.
i had to take a laugh on this one…i bet you know where the money is coming from SUDDENLY..well give us public servants our raise too nuh cuz is GOODIES you sending out in the eve of ELECTIONS..
What is really going on with our government? There is a hotel that is incomplete close to cabrits all now and yet still our PM is signing MOU with another company for another hotel? MY GOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU MR.PM?
One calls that desperation and no vision! Also fighting for power and does not want to step down. He wants to bring Dominica will Cuba and like Venezuela where wealth and power goes to their heads.
Blah blah Skerro building hotels with limited air access and being held over in dirty antigua how can this employ people.I can’t figure out what kind of plan is this.Air access to Dominica is @ THE LOWEST.Get it right men,just dont understand how my people are so stupid.
Papa-bon-dea ouh pa ni bout
Election is comming now everything is on the Cards
I’ll tell you what!!!
I have always wanted the Cabrits to be repaired and utilised as one of our prize attractions.
However, it appears that ‘Hotel Cabrits’ has been repaired for one or a few to enjoy and for specific events to be ‘hosted’!!
How accessible is the Hotel Cabrits area to the tourist on foot or to the tour groups? Please educate me!
But quite aside from that, why is the beautiful cruise ship berth not being used at all? Could we not develop the Cabrits into a top class entry port from which the museum on the hill can be accessed by luxury boats, private yachts, smaller cruiseliners and so on?
That place should be thriving and selling Dominica as much as Screws does with a much smaller capital budget and with much less manpower available to them!!!
It really is not rocket science!!
Not only that. They appropriated some of the Cabrits national Park to accommodate that Moroccan hotel and now want to do the same for the Range development. We losing our national heritage all in the name of greed.
And by the way, are those folks gonna be handed citizenship on the basis of the MOU or are we gonna wait to see if this hotel does in fact become a functioning reality first? If the citizen is given first, what happens if the dream hotel takes as long as the Moroccan Hotel or if it is never COMPLETED?
Are there any checks and balances in place, or even sanctions written into those contracts which hold their ‘feet to the fire’ in the event that this does not materialise??
Just asking…………
Fata Morgana! The Moroccan hotel across the road, supposed to be complete in March 2013 is till not finished and you starting on something else again? What about the Boutique hotel at Scotts Head that never materialized, the new luxury development at Mero to replace Castaways, the big dive hotel at Ti Bay, across from Secret Bay? The grandiose development at Woodford Hill with Geest and the four star hotel for Hampstead? Club Dominique rotting away for years, dolphin resort at Salisbury half finished, Laura Club standing empty and for sale for a second time …do I need to go on? What about all the hotels we have already that have not enough guests or already closed down? Well, I wish you luck Skerrit because this time you really need it more than us. We already at the bottom.
Ok….This ‘MOU’was signed in February.
As pointed out above by DNO “In February, 2014 the government announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Range Developments Limited for the construction the 75 to 125-room, high-end luxury brand hotel.
The MOU was signed between the government and Mohammed Asaria, Vice Chairman of Range Developments.”
Now it is being FINALISED. “Next week we will be signing the final agreement with Range for the construction of 120 rooms in the Cabrits area,” he stated. “We will sign the agreement under the citizenship by investment program.”
I ask, who are the specific persons who will be acquiring our citizenship as a result of this agreement? Can we be given all the names please?
Talk for yourself, I do not want the names…. When you get the names what are you going to do with it?????
MY GOD, can it get worst than that?.
Only for negative people as you who lack confidence.
Too little too late A GREAT SHAME
By the way Mr Skerrit, what is the latest on the Coast Guard base which was supposed to be constructed in the Bellhall area near Cabrits?
Ofcourse you know where the money for that Coast Guard base is going to come from. After all, the Americans were here for the ground-breaking ceremony where they committed the money towards doing the project.
You know where money is coming from but we cannot see what is coming from the money.
Mr Skerrit, you and the rest of your government are a big joke. Phew!!!
Yeh before signing the paper I an sure you “full aShheet”.
Doctor Benjamin please do us a favor.