Heavy sea swells were on Thursday morning taking a toll on the sea defence construction work at Pointe Michel three and a half miles south of the capital, Roseau.
This has led to concerns that a March 12 (2012) completion date that had been announced by Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore may not be met because of the damage inflicted by the rough sea.
The contractors C.O Williams have acknowledged that they are facing serious hurdles because of the swells.
Late last year, Public Works Minister Blackmoore stated that the people of Pointe Michel should see completion of the sea defense wall project before the end of the first quarter of 2012.
The project, worth $22-million, includes road development and construction of 720 metres of wall in the first instance, with 412 metres expected to have been completed by the end of December.
“In terms of the casting for the footing of the wall we have seen the completion of 514 metres of that component which is very significant the average height of the wall is three to five metres,” Blackmoore stated at the time.
A request for an extension of deadline for the project had been denied earlier this year; but, workers later made “remarkable” progress, from being months behind to one and a half weeks behind, Blackmore revealed at a site visit.
However, the latest heavy sea swells in the area have caused a section of the road to erode, now making the deadline date “unrealistic”, one person with inside knowledge of the work explained.
Barbados based contracting firm C.O Williams is the main contractor for the project.
Dominican company ACE Engineering is the sub-contractor.
we here in DA cry out for everything and always have loads to say when something is being done;dats y our country will always have to be last behind in everything am grateful for the project just hope they continue it pass d village tooo;and for all those people dat saying about the company dats doing the work do some research before yapping
Any child from the village will tell you that from
November the sea swells begin.
1. This year the swells are smaller than normal and started much later.
2. The contractors had no hurricanes and no storms to contend with during the hurricane season.
3. The contractors took the entire christmas holidays off instead of working when the traffic was light as schools were closed.
I trust that the full extent of the penalty for breaching the contract will be imposed as this is a loan not a grant and Dominican contractors have once again been sidelined for this project.
Keep in mind that the local contractors have to pay duty on their equipment while foreign contractors get to bring in their equipment duty free and leave with what is still good at the end.
This is yet another case of poor macro economic management that deprives our economy of a proper multiplier effect.
hmmmmm so noww they see why they should give God thanks as a country….God have favored us, during the 2011 huricane season with no rough sea….and I never once heard any government official made a statement in Thanking God for his mercies….what do they do….SPEND OUR TAX MONEY ON FETE AND SEWO AND REVELING CULTURE…..HMMMM…
The road leading to poree should be widen to accomodate the traffic while the wall is being built.
We need a state of the art hospital,instead of helping the catholic church and the vatican to renovate the roseau cathedral. seperation of church , and state..
VOICE FROM CALI.
What?
@ Anonymous
If you keep this up, soon you will not have a voice. God will take it away from you. God doesn’t joke or make jokes with people when it comes to His Consecrated Church. Beware of your words which will condemn you in time.
@ Anonymous
You are in Dominica, a predominantly Christian country. You are not in the U.S., Canada and Europe of all places where some people are becoming more and more godless as their politicians. Woe to them. Therefore, what you have stated does apply to DA.
You must have been baptized a Catholic, right? Tell us if you were. If you were, where did you go wrong? You must have made a detour, going the wrong way. Read Holy Scriptures. St. Paul said: “You were running well. Who prevented you from following/practicing the truth? A little yeast leavens the bread.” Check it out in Holy Scriptures.
If you keep this up, soon you will not have a voice. God will take it away from you. God doesn’t joke or make jokes with people when it comes to His Consecrated Church. Beware of your words which will condemn you in time.
Who decided that Dominica is a predominantly Christian country and when did it take place? I too, am TOTALLY AGAINST my tax money (contribution)being given to ANY religious institution/agency. All institutions of such ilk must be able to finance their own activities. Further, if one institution does get monies from the public coffers, then ALL should; and who and how does one determine the quantum to be received?
There should be a TOTAL separation between Church (used here to refer to religious organizations)and the State. You see when the state provides such support one may be accused of the state favouring one religious institution over another. Moreover, when our Constitution was being prepared, there was no consultation with the masses here as to what should be contained therein; the Political parties- government and the opposition decided FOR the masses as to what should be put in there and then went to London and confirmed it with the Queen!!
And Sir, if you permit me to digress, I am not in favour of monies coming from the Treasury (which means from ALL taxpayers)to be used to pay health insurance for ANY politician, be they Honourable Charles Saverin or otherwise. The Politicians cut workers salary by 5% in 2002 claiming to stabilize the economy, has not repaid this amount to the workers; then RAISED theirs by a wopping 42%; and continue to offer increases of 1% on average over the ensuing years. What are they doing with their huge increases? Further, the teacher who was injured by a student at the DGS recently reported that he was refused the service of a CAT or MIR scan at the PMH as he was UNABLE to furnish the 500 dollars required for same. He, and other workers in similar situations should be the ones getting help from the Parliament, NOT POLITICIANS!!!This stupidity must STOOOOOOPPPP!!
You really think it is more important to renovate a church instead of making a hospital state of the art? Do you think if a priest has a heart attack he is strictly in gods hands. If we had a decent hospital the priest would get help from god and Doctors.
Pray, what has this got to do with a sea defence wall at Pt. Michel?
well if the sea could talk eh. that project did not look like it would be completed by the date given anyways
Once it complete before the next hurricane sesson,Is a good development for our country. I hope thing goes well.
Doh blame allu thing on the SEA
Don’t pass it on d sea
Having witnessed the start of work on this project at least six months ago, one thinks that the project should have been so advanced so as to, itself by virtue of its own construction, mitigate against this very onslaught.
Seems to me policy makers and developers, when embardking on these types of projects, place heighten urgency on expediting in the quickest possible time – while not sacrificing accuracy and durability, of course.
@ Truth Seeker
Despite this disappointment, it may be a blessing in disguise despite that the road was not yet completed. The waves could have washed it all away.
What exactly u talking about?
@Truth Seeker
I am from pte michel living in the states, i hope all goes well with the project.
My prayers to the workers, and to all the people of dominica,I am part of the dispora, hope to be home soon.
The deadline of March 12 was never feasible don’t blame the high sea. Till May – June I see that project completing.
That shows how important the wall is.Waiting for 50 years, thanks mr S.
One would have thought you would have given GOD the praise 1st.
God only give who are willing to work hard, and he needs no praise.
Blame it on the sea..yeah nice trick
blame it on the sea …nice excuse..smdh
we cant control mother nature
regardless of swells which I gather are recent, the project would not have been completed by March 12.
Good for them that they got an “act of God” excuse.
@ Oh
Especially with people as Anonymous who needs to learn about love, understanding, tolerance and peace. This person has swayed very far. Woe to that person.
Note what this person stated in the beginning of the article. Types like that bring down the wrath of God and punishment on the country/village and its people. In their ignorance they are not aware of it. They go from bad to worst spewing out their hatred as imbedded in their heart and mind. Unhappy person.
@ Justice and Truth, you pretending to be Godly yet you wishing bad on others, i have read many of your comments in the past and i have to say that you are no lest a better person, than the persons whom you are wishing ill, Woe be unto you as well
Deal with all you all hatred and jealousy against each other in Canada, growing up, i always heard that Pointe Mitchel is a curse village, was cursed by a French priest due to the villagers being bad, one have to agree and disagree, you always mentioning all your faith in God and yet you wishing others bad, this is pure hypocrite
Jason, Get reverend P. Augustine to reverse the curse.