New completion date for Melville Hall Airport Road Project

Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore

Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore has given a new completion date for Lot 2 of the Melville Hall Airport Road Project.

Blackmoore said the new date has been set for the end of December 2012 and all is being done to meet that deadline.

He has threatened penalties or ‘the issue of termination’ if the project is not completed as promised.

“We are looking towards the end of December to see the completion of this project,” he affirmed at a press conference on Thursday.

The project was scheduled to be completed in June but despite an ultimatum given by Blackmoore in March this did not come to fruition.

Back then Blackmore said he was not satisfied with the progress being made.

Protest by truckers over non-payment of monies owed to them also has had an impact on the work being done.

Earlier this year two new sub contractors were brought on board and according to Blackmoore this was a step in the right direction.

“Having seen what is taking place on the ground, I think it was a good decision,” Blackmoore said on Thursday. “At the end of the day the intention is to see how we can get the entire project completed.”

Lot 2 of the project runs from the Melville Airport to Pond Casse.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

52 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    October 15, 2012

    Mr. Blackmore transforms ignorance and deceipt into virtues!! Action is a part of decion-making: no action, no resolution to problem(s).

  2. zamm
    October 14, 2012

    Most valuable minister in action, words and more words and much more words. Such small projects got so many issues and worries. What does one expect from a government who depends solely on grant money and so forth……….? So many projects in Dominica are just like snails and so forth…. Mr minister, You all talkin bout lot 2, lot 3 lot 4, what about lot south east, lot eastern district and clearing lot potholes? Imagine all over the place, just a set holes in the road and grass like crazy. Look independence coming, and one can bet their last dollar, the place will still be untidy and so forth….. Mr Minister, keep the roads clean and pothole freee, aint Drivers paying license for being on the road, i wonder where dat money going? Less Talk mr minister, give the people action!

  3. dissident
    October 14, 2012

    Seriously though, Belles has a lot more work left. The excavation work going on now needs some proper though. I am not an expert but there is no need to rush the work.
    Will the section of road in the wet area that is sinking for years be complete as well?
    I know there are bridges that should be widened. Like Deux Branches Bridge.

    The original contract date was june 19 so the new date is December _____ 2012.

    Get serious and fill in the blanks

  4. anonymous2
    October 13, 2012

    That remains to be seen. I have heard that before.

  5. FLORIDA
    October 13, 2012

    Updated pictures of the roads in progress would be appreciated. Those living aboard/over seas would like to see pictures of the advancement of the road project. I am pretty much sure locals as well as those aboard would appreciated the pictures.

    Thank you!

  6. Free Thinker
    October 13, 2012

    I am getting a very strong smell of general elections in Dominica.

    • Freethinker
      October 14, 2012

      Bro. You stole my name. That, sir, is not cool.

  7. Nudibranch
    October 13, 2012

    stupesssss
    Any standard contract has a delay clause costing the contractor a fixed percentage per timeframe. Sadly govt here uses their own open ended contract or things would be done on budget and within time. Download a standard AIA template for review.
    Gaddarkhan was selected because they had the liquid capital to fund the project till the moneys became available from whomever (EU?) to back pay.
    Money arrived and were duly swallowed by the “black hole of incompetence” leaving Gaddarkhan to hold the bag whilst Blackmooore and cronies whistled and looked sheepish.
    Drivers naturally got annoyed at lack of pay, Gaddarkhan got annoyed at lack of funds to pay them back and complete work in progress.
    Who’s fault?

  8. Nacinimod
    October 13, 2012

    I hope in their rush to complete the project it does not result shoddy work. Projects of this magnitude and complexity cannot be rushed. Besides, doing this work without new equipment and modern construction techniques is a farce. As the old saying goes—you get what you pay for.

  9. 1979
    October 13, 2012

    admin, ease up a bit nuh man, we only live once unno…. I was on a public pc and made a comment about julien morris expression and whether it was a bird or a mango on a tree he was looking at and you deleted that man??? SMH Hon Timothy ask us to preserve our mental health, don’t u know laughter is the best medicine…. gosh man…. lighten up every day at our workplaces we have to deal with tight ssaed people who need to take a laxative. give yourself less stress by just having a good laugh and allowing someone else to laugh too….

    anyways….dno is not mine and I don’t work there. so it’s just MHO, suggestion or whatever.

  10. WOW
    October 12, 2012

    I can only WOW at Blackmore’s statements… if you know what I mean… you remember Blackmore and more planes would land at night… I am still waiting and will wait to see the December 2012 deadline come and go… but December 2014 is not far away… so WOW :wink:

  11. catty
    October 12, 2012

    Sorry Blackmoore we just can’t take u and your Gov serious,i think its December 2013 u mean..the deadline has long gone what was done Nothing!!!

  12. Shadow
    October 12, 2012

    BLA,BLA,BLA,As usual take us to the next level, Independence is here again,but everything is upside down, and inside out. Those of us who know you well just “SMFH”

  13. Rubber on De road
    October 12, 2012

    New completion date for Melville Hall Airport Road Project: Are you referring to the road leading From Melville Hall Airport to Roseau or are you referring to the Road from the Melville Hall Bridge to the Terminal ??

  14. Hate ignorance
    October 12, 2012

    smoke screens , mere talk . the french man have the government by their balls , all the sponsorship money that is alleged to have been giving to the party during election is bitting them in their a** . they can talk but cant make any serious movement or action . deadlines have come and gone and they cant do s about it.

  15. October 12, 2012

    have u asset the project sir if u have how can u give such a impossible deadline or did u mean 2013?

  16. Belles
    October 12, 2012

    So you meean to tell me that there was not one person from the Labour Party at the time of neigotiations to see that Dominica’s interests were being looked after!!
    The more I hear about this Fake Pal Reps the more I want to vormitt.
    In every contract there must be consequences and time lines.Why is it that we always feel inferior to these foriegn thieves?
    It seems like this contractor can say he will finish the roads in 2015. Then i want to see what these lame politicians will do next.
    It is time to move to the next level and vote this guys out.
    Let’s form a new party in Dominica.

  17. Cancer Queen
    October 12, 2012

    i think is high time that road is completed.

  18. FLORIDA
    October 12, 2012

    Where are the updated pictures for those who live over seas can see the progress been made. I am pretty sure those who are local would like to see pictures also.

    Thank you!

  19. Anonymous
    October 12, 2012

    all part of the next level. Deadline after deadline they come and goe, come and go and still we wonder what is wrong. when time is wasted, money is wasted and as a result money wasted may well be stolen and d sagga continues…. me and my neighbour NOT voting labour!

  20. The Engineer
    October 12, 2012

    It is good to have a schedule and deadlines. But those should just be guidelines – I understand the economic impact, and the inconenience, but above all let the contractor do their job right. When comes to earthwork, a lot of surprises can come up, especially in Dominica where is rains a lot. Again, it is good to have the job completed on time, but don’t rust the contractor that they do a crappy job in the end – make sure they do it right for that large investment!

  21. Konspiracy
    October 12, 2012

    Yes i Dominica big tings happening…vote correct and they go continue…blessings for the hard-working PM

  22. 4u2c
    October 12, 2012

    All Blckmore and his oligarchy crew is proving is their ineptness. Blackmore has proven that he has no idea of project management as a result cannot every time he has open his mouth all we see are Lies and more lies….We never had so much JOKERS running a country. Not even Astaphans would hire one of those guys in their Hardware department!!!

  23. Freethinker
    October 12, 2012

    Praise to Blackmore…excellence as always sir…making us proud…beautiful

    • Anonymous
      October 12, 2012

      LOL! That’s funny!

      • 1979
        October 13, 2012

        you mean hilarious!

    • doc
      October 13, 2012

      you sound like an idiot

    • Lex
      October 13, 2012

      Really . I am sure you are being sarcastic

      • Freethinker
        October 14, 2012

        lol, of course it’s a joke. You see how I normally write comments?

  24. 4progress
    October 12, 2012

    1 It does not seem that penalty clauses were written in the previous contract, let us hope Mr Blackmore is right about the current one.

    2. Given all the delays, can he confirm whether he has gone over budget or not

  25. .
    October 12, 2012

    Pictures please.
    We always got pictures when it was the roseau to pm highway

    • Anonymous
      October 12, 2012

      Yes, pictures please

    • Bravo
      October 12, 2012

      yes we out there want photos. thank you

  26. Jane
    October 12, 2012

    I love Morris expression at the back, it says alot. One meaning I got is ” here we go again, common Mr.Minister!”

    • ideal
      October 12, 2012

      looks like he is praying for deliverence, hope the almighty will hear his prays..amen

    • Nika
      October 13, 2012

      why are you referring to the Minister as “common”?

  27. Anonymous
    October 12, 2012

    Can DNO find out the cost of this road so far?

    What is the cost of the delays?

    What was the orginal estimate?

    What was the original loan?

    Have any further loans been taken?

    What is the final amount that the 2 tax payers in Dominica will end up paying when interest and forecasted penalties are all added together?

    If you have already posted such article please can you put the link?

    Thank you.

    • Bravo
      October 12, 2012

      How to please U people. Did u want a job??? embrace development and be thankful. SHEWWWW

  28. Malatete
    October 12, 2012

    Completion by the end of Dec.? That’s exactly 11 weeks from now! I wish you luck Mr. Blackmoore but will not hold you to it. However, hope does not cost anything and God only knows how badly that road is needed.

  29. Tiger
    October 12, 2012

    The minister threatened the contractor over delays. Threats without the ability or intention to enforce that threat is just empty rhetoric.
    Those terms have to be written into the contract and unless these is very good reason why the terms are not met, you enforce the terms of that contract. It sends a message to this and other contractors that you are serious and if they don’t meet those terms, there will be a price to pay.

  30. Citizen
    October 12, 2012

    I think that completion date should be specific to a certain portion of the road. I believe that the belles area can be completed by the end of December with the new team who is currently working there. The lower portion leading to Pagua is virtually impossible as no work is being done there.

    Must say that I am impress with the new team, the rate at which they work and the modern equipments which they are using. The other company, well I don’t know but it look like they think they have till 3012 to complete.

    • ellen paul
      October 12, 2012

      Hats off to Caribbean Contractors Dominica Ltd and their team for ensuring that the project is completed to satisfaction within time stipulated

      • Malatete
        October 12, 2012

        If you read the DNO article properly you will realise that the project, if completed by end Dec., will be at least six months behind schedule.

    • Nika
      October 13, 2012

      In that case the job will be rushed and after a few showers the road will be sinking or washed away. SMH.

  31. evenhanded
    October 12, 2012

    The Hon Minister should make public the clauses of the road construction contract dealing with termination and the penalties for late or non performance of the terms of the contract. He is rapidly losing credibility from reasonable members of Dominican society by his frequent announcements of deaaredlines that consistently ignored by the contractors!Ministerial responsibility is loosing its meaning,rapidly!

  32. October 12, 2012

    Completion Date is the end of December 2012? Mister Minister, the end of December 2012 is not a date. So the contractor has delayed the project on many occasions, but you want him to complete the works during the slowest period in construction; the festive season? Yeah right!

    After so many delays you’re still considering termination and penalties? I wish I was a contractor operating under your Ministry oui garçon!

  33. Anonymous
    October 12, 2012

    deadline encore stop take people for fools

    • fun time
      October 12, 2012

      thay are not going to stop taking us for fools thay know how some of the DOM-IN-CANS can be fooled but as i keep saying life is just for are time so what we do its just for are time lol

      • Love da
        October 12, 2012

        Get a proof reader and news alert we are not fools. We are some of the very well educated people in the world.

      • my my my
        October 12, 2012

        fun time it look like that you are not part of the DOM-IN-THE-CAN

      • doc
        October 13, 2012

        @love da, we are sure acting and behaving like fools. i guess people can call themseves fools when we can see what is happenning around us

      • Mie
        October 13, 2012

        You are just too smart for you own good. Everything is just for ARE time.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available