The construction of a state-of-the-art new Princess Margaret Hospital and a new Primary School in New Town are among projects to be undertaken in 2013 through gratuitous aid and concessionary financing from the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“We are unfolding the designs of the new hospital and in my discussions with the Chinese Ambassador he has certainly assured us that it will be a facility that will continue to demonstrate the serious nature of the relationship between Dominica and China,” prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit said.
He expressed gratitude to the PRC for making the necessary financing available and indicated that Dominica is benefitting from a number of projects through such financing.
“The loan arrangement is about 40 million U.S dollars at concessionary rates. I believe we have a five-year grace period before we start making repayments to the Chinese Government,” Skerrit noted.
Recently the Government of the PRC made available loans funds to Dominica at special concessionary rates to construct the new State College and the new State House building.
“At a time when the entire world is going through its own challenges, though it is a loan, it is highly concessionary and we are indeed grateful to them for that. I really want to thank the Chinese Government for their understanding and continued collaboration and cooperation. Even if we had the idea, with an idea you need the resources to implement it and had it not been for their intervention we would not have been able to undertake these projects for the people of Dominica,” the prime minister said.
The construction of 30 new homes for the indigenous community in Dominica, ten of which have already been completed, is also being financed with funds from the PRC.
Skerrit is selling Dominica to China within 10 years China is going to annex Dominica and make it a colony and build a Chinese Navy Base at Portsmouth, watch and see your illustrious leader is selling your Island he will them flee with all the money.
we defintely need a new hospital, i dont care how it is paid back, our government is ensuring that thosr things are put in place so that we all can benefit, better health care and good education, employment next. those chinese know what work is all about give them all those contracts.
Peeping Tom,
Yes indeed, it is acceptable to be partisan but are you guided by your affirmation that Dominica is bigger than a political party?
I am not the one who is concerned about who initiates what, it was you. This is further demonstrated by your questions to me to point out which previous gov’t did what.
@ My brother Ted. I am still looking for the reason why you are so mad. I do not oppose an international air port,or any business or investment that is in the interest of Dominica and it,s citizen. I simply stated that after the reseachers are satisfied with their research, and the t,s are crossed and the i,s are doted, and the interest rate on the loan are satisfactory or the terms on the grant are in the best interest of the Dominican people! Ted Dominica is the biggest island of the winward island with the smallest population! who can guarantee us with enough flights a day into Dominica that would maintain the international airport? And who will be responsible for the empty seats when it’s not creole festival or carnival? Ted you want to get mad? Then get mad at the people in position to promote tourism better than they are doing now, and the ones that can create a friendlier environment for investors. Lol… and i love you but get mad at yourself for helping to make Antigua more financially stable than Dominica the land of your birth, as one of their leading financial economist. As for the airport if all is done in the right manner and it make sense, then am all in favor of it.
Gratuitous aid and concessionary financing? But what part is gratuitous nuh? its all LOAN. Dominican have to pay back every cent. It would have been concessionary if only they did not force Dominica to hand over all the contracts to Chinese firms. This aspect far outweighs the gains that could have been garnered if the spill over effect of a a large segment being offered to Dominican contractors.
guys I asked my friend in government and he confirmed it is ASSISTANCE GRATIS instead of loan. d hospital is a gift!
Since China is fast becoming the main engine of global growth they should not be completely dismissed. But it should be acknowledged that Dominica’s relationship with that superpower presents not just opportunities but also challenges. China is fulfilling its part of the bargain as per the MOU it signed with Dominica in 2004 – new stadium in the heart of Roseau, 30 miles of road on the West Coast upgraded, new bridge, new state house, new state college, new hospital, and 30 new homes for the indigenous community
All of this infrastructure development is great but do the terms of the MOU include China helping Dominica to develop its manufacturing/productive sectors? Will China open its markets to Dominican goods and services or does it expect only to flood Dominica with Chinese imports? Will China assist with improving Dominica’s technical knowhow, technological capabilities, innovation and competitiveness?
Yes and yes
40 million U.S.dollars!very interesting note of legal tender,due to the fact that it goes without mention the curency which circulate in Dominica is Eastern caribbean curency.In actuality therefore,that sum is aproximately 100 million E.C.dollars.WELL! WELL!WELL!if it were a grant my reaction would be to congratulate my P.M.and thank the Chinese people.However, it is a loan.Consequently,my view is should my daughter who is nine years old ask me to borrow my car because resourcefully at this point,she is not capable to handle my car the response to her would be NO.China in my humble opinion knows better than me that Dominica is and will be unable to pay that money back.According to some-ones ouatation the past that is forgotten is doomed to be repeated.In this case,the thoughts which rings in my head says COLONIZATON,COLONIZATION, COLONIZATION and least it be forgotten the deplition of Dominica,s curency.Yes!it is fact that the United-States of America owes China.It is also fact that the United-States of America consist of fifty States,a number of teritories and owned military bases in the world.There to fore in my humble opinon and extremely small interlectuall analysis the United-States may have agregated debts of trillions;nonetheless, the United-States of America is not broke.Unliquidated it can never become a colonization of which my sense tells me factually that is no mistake.My lovely Dominica on the other hand consist of one State with ten parishes.So one may choose to follow blindly or one may choose to analize that which one has find the best solution to multiply ones assets and be leaders in the process.
Interested to know what the interest rates are on these loans? Most loans taken with banks or elsewhere, have a clause. If payments cannot be maintained then goods etc are taken as payment.
What happenes if Dominica cannot repay these mounting loans?
then it will be employed by only chinesse.
If/when these loans are not re-payed; then China gets full control of its protects. Hmm, hopefully Skerrit is paying attention to the fine prints, because he might just be signing off the “fregging” island to another country.
When the Government of Dominica gets a loan from Caribbean Development Bank, local labourers, artisans, contractors, architects, businessmen, wives, husbands children benefit. When the Chinese give us a loan on so called concessionary terms, who are the beneficiaries of the Project during the construction phase. We all have to pay back the loan, so we locals should earn some income during the construction phase.
Well apart from the few they employ, they actually purchase all materials locally, so the husbands, wives. children working at these hardware stores will remain employed.
They also pay VAT on these materials which assist government to pay public servants on time as they have been doing for some years now compare to Grenada, Antigua etc..
They also pay Electricity and other utilities whilst on island….. so go figure how they assist the economy!!!
Who finances the CDB? What conditions are attached to CDB loans? Do a little search on the CDB website and you would probably be surprised at some of the conditions for sourcing material and human services for projects financed by CDB funds. It is also the same for EU projects.
Financial partners generally attach strict conditions to their contributions. Some conditions are more relaxed than others. For example, spending EU money means sourcing materials and services from the EU (within certain limits). This is why Gardakhan has been able to import his tricks and government has been unable to stop him. On the other hand, spending Petrocaribe or Chinese loans and grants usually are free from some of those stringent conditions, except in certain cases.
Additionally, when the Chinese buy materials locally or hire local equipment and personnel, isn’t their money circulating in our economy? When they buy food locally, doesn’t this allow certain persons to remain employed?
So, any talk of advantages to be accrued from CDB loans over Chinese loans must be tempered. Nothing is as black and white as it seems.
I love the order of priority:
1. Stadium (used maybe 14 days a year)
2. West coast highway but airport road still not completed
3. State Palace
4. then LAST: the hospital
Typical.
Skerro not stupid…he knows for years Dominican been begging for a hospital…what better way to ensure they stay in power but to start this project a year before election!!!!Its not that you care dere PM you are just safeguarding ur fat cookie jar. Saddest thing about it is….this is the EXACT poop which fools the people.Guess im gonna have to tie my waist even tighter for the new term cause the hard times continue. Gone are the “All shall eat” days.
Valid points. However, they are being done. Although I have my disagreements in some areas with this present administration, I must say that progress has been made in many areas at home, when compared to previous administrations.
It is about time! Desperately needed, and I hope the newly qualified docs and surgeons will be given priority to bring in fresh ideas. Our current surgeons need some serious personal development courses. Their style of treatment is seriously outdated. Next, we need an international airport or some form of cash cow or two to fund our loan repayments
America owes china alot of money!!
Thanks, we dinetly need a state of the art hospital, the current hospital is deplorable,so what if we owe the chines, amerikka dont give a hoot but us.
Even amerikka borrow from china, so why cant we? .
Next will be a international air port, so those antiguan, and bagans with there attidude can kiss where the sun dont shine. so go china , and skeriitt yay.
For those talking about the international airport, again!, count how many passengers are on the small planes that land in Melville Hall, and American Airlines won’t be flying here after March 31st anyway.
Way to go Pm while dem christophines talking u working.
Chinese are constructing and completing projects world wide. Why are we so un informed. they have mastered the art of completing major projects in record time and very innovative.
The terms of the loans is not just for Dominica. Other nations that borrow from China get similar terms.
But is high time that we all stop wanting nothing. if we are to oppose every project, nothing gets done. in the lat 1800s when London had a major sower issue, look at what happened? they wasted so much time just debating while people died and nothing was being accomplished.
lets stop all this debate and only ask the necessary questions and be optimistic.
i wish Skerrit would outline his enter vision for the country instead of a step by step approach..
By so doing we could better understand the steps his administration is taking..
where is my comment dno?
beacuse u was born in the french island u continue to take from the chines one day when u can no longer pay the chines u will put on yr w ings and flee i do hope u never come back to D.A. cause i find to my self that is too much bourrowing from one set of people are they the only people dominica open to?i dont think so, please try some other country cause u are not gonna like what is about to happen in the next few years with this people,dont forget they got the largest army in the world.ps read carefuly.
Very good for Dominica. Hopefully, patients will not have to pass an exam in conversational Chinese before being admitted to hospital, as fluency is Spanish is currently required for admission. Oh, Iforgot, we now have Dominicans trained in China, so we will have translators!
Dominicanewsonline why you not posting my two comments
Because no name make no sence !!
Shocks man, no Int airport and I as holding my breath for that oui man, maybe next year I hope
horayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, next time put your priorities straight, state house is not a necessity.
skerrit, give Dominica to the chinese na.
The thing that worries me with all these loans however concessionary is they have to be paid back and for a country that produces next to nothing is, how will we pay it back and what happens if we cannot.
While it is good to have these and some are much needed, I fear we are not being told the whole truth about this relationship with china. We seem to give very little a get a lot. Call me a skeptic if you will but, there is always a price to pay and I doubt that price will be concessionary, when the beast comes calling.
Question is there some trade going on in Dominica that we know not of?…something just don’t add up…as much as we want all that and some more…but c’mon don’t tell me soon our all rivers will be drained out…
That’s one thing, when the time comes for the Chinese to level up for paymement and Skerrit is not there, he will ….
Nac Vibes, are you equally skeptical about our relationship with the USA, Canada, Britain, France, and the European Union? What happens if we cannot repay the millions we are borrowing from France to do the Melville Hall road; are you not concerned about this also? Are you satisfied that you know “the whole truth about this relationship with” these countries? What do these countries want from us; does this concern you as well?
Something tells me, Nac Vibes, that you have been fed some propaganda and you have bought it. Liberate your mind, Nac Vibes, and the world is yours.
Mr Skerrit, so if thing’s get bad and we cant pay back, will they bring there army and take over our land ??
BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We produce nothing but $1 billion in debt.
You don’t know that Skeritt secretly sold DA to PRC?! China has a great interest in its colony.
hoooooorayyyyyyyyyy! that should be a priority rather than the state house. but anyway, thumps up to that. we need that badly
DO you realize that we can actually take on more than one “priority” projects at once?
But we didnt did we? We were not simultaneously building the stadium, state palace, roads and hospital were we? If that were the case the hospital would be opening now not so along with the State Palace that the PM boasted will be ready very soon.
Meanwhile, how many dead Dominicans later that maybe a proper facility may have helped save? stewps.
Loans loans loans, well look high taxes on Dominicans to pay those Chinese. You can say that 60,000 people paying the mortgage for 30 Dominicans, instead of taking one concessionary loan for an international airport he increasing debt for non-income generating assets!
we dont have to pay them back, by the time they done with DA they will own all of us and the whole of Dominica, you watch and see
You sound like you actually expect the politicians to be somewhat reasonable, wrong country. Reason isn’t accepted by Dominican politicians.
Ted am with you on congratulating the PM.
And we need great minds like yours back home.But
on the international air port… We need to think long and hard about that, research and plan properly, we don’t need another white elephant like the stadium. While it is a great building, it does not generate enough funds to maintain it self or to pay employees that have kids to take care of year round.I would love to see an international air port, as long as we can maintain it by having enough flights per day.
If airlines in America and in Europe are cutting down flights coming to the Caribbean why should we get an international airport? Those are the places the big planes which would land here come from.
Leroy
If you were thinking rationally you would realized that within the last 5 years the DLP administration borrowed approximately half a billion Ec dollars which i am show could finance an INT’ AIRPORT.
None of these project can sustain themselves .
Eg the sate house cannot generate income to payback the loan nor for maintenance of the structure.
The french loan which keep increasing steadily to do the road from airport to “ponde casse” . cannot payback the loan or future maintenance cost.
The state college,the recent 20 million from CDB , even the hospital.
Leroy all these projects ( except the sate house ) are important and help creates an environment that is conducive TO development. There are all facilitators of growth and development. so i welcome them even at the expense of taxes.
However nonE of these above mention projects will be able to directly repay the cost.
So why the hell (and i am very mad that a man i speak to so much seems to get brainwash by those incompetent fools) you all don’t value the airport as a facilitator of economic development and not for the direct revenue .
y OR y U ALL ONLY THINK REPAYMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE AIRPORT. LEROY TEN MAY BE A BIG NUMBER TO REPAY BUT IF YOU ADD TO FIVES TIMES IS THE SAME TEN THAT YOU HAVE TO REPAY. THAT’S WHAT HAPPENING TO THE DEBT.
The only way we can truly market Dominica and take advantage of our Eco touristic resources is by building that international airport.
Leroy ,
while AA is cutting flights to Dominica they have increase an additional flight to Antigua during the season , air Canada , charter Italy , have all increase the # of weekly flights.
Anyway Leroy I BUSY AT WORK BUT i hope you make it down for val so we can deliberate on these issues .
the question is: are you sure the international airport would be able to sustain itself given the present trend in cutting international flights to the Caribbean????
Ted I agree with you whole heartedly, except to say; in reference to ” AA” I wish to say American Airlines does not fly to Dominica, and has never flown to Dominica!
Some people believe that American Eagle is part of American Airlines operation due to the colors in which American Eagle aircrafts are painted.
The fact is they are totally two different entity.
And the reason why they may be pulling out of Dominica, is because we do not have an International Airport; and anybody who believes installing landing lights at Melville Hall Airport will anytime soon see dark night landings after 8:00 P.M. in the summer time will live three hundred life time before they see that materialize.
LIAT has made thousand of eight o’clock landing there for more than fifty years, and unless someone with ambition decides to build an International Airport in the near future, one day unless Dominica government buys LIAT, there may be no more commercial flights in and out of Dominica, very soon.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
I gave a guy to fix an amp 3months now every week he is saying next week. if i had given i to the Chinese I’ll have my amp the same day
I hope and pray that the present Hospital will not be demolish,rather utilize it as an institution to treat the number of destitutes,and persons who should be treatedfor drug and alchol abuse we are larking in those areas. Never mind twenty years from now Dominica will belong to China,cause the borower is always a slave to the lender,but beggers are no choosers, we are dammed if we do, and dammed if we dont,it is happening with more developed countries. We have to admire China whilst those other countries is spending on wars, china is building and and buying their way to most countries and thats smart. The sad reality is we are indebted to china for life. So choose our poison. I rather be happy now rather than die crying,and be broke, that will be our story in time to come God help our next generation.
China is spending on wars too! Think US debt bought by China. The Chinese aren’t paying for the wars directly, but they are indirectly. What if the USa continued to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq, and went broke and defaulted on its debt? China would lose LOTS of cash. China is like the USA’s silent financial partner in war.
if pmh is the main hospital how can they demolish it before they finish building the new one? where will all the patients go?
That’s great news! All for progress and development and hopefully moree locals will get employment. My family and I are grateful that our family member is working on the State House project.Not political; just progress. Thumbs up!
I would like to know if the government of Dominica refuse to make payment what the consequences will be.
China will send ninjas
our nations credit rating drops. as far as i know we are working on improving the nations credit rating!
I think the PM is biting more than he can chew from these chinese people weather it’s in the form of loan or grant. these people have an agenda of their own
so right we all will be sold
That’s nothing to China. Look at what they did for the US!!!
I hope not only new hospital proper equipments and better doctors needed as well.
LOL “state-of-the-art”!!!, Just like the so called highway? Don’t get me wrong I’m thankful for these things, but don’t glamorise it so much.
It is not yet even built and furnished but you are already tearing it down! It is already not sufficiently good for you. Lol!
great news looking forward for this in 2013 the hospital the most needed.
china again guess we really have no money,skerro and his regime very sad.what is in for china,where’s the deal?
that is a mule comment
Ok Grell, now go talk to the Gen Sec of the PSU!!!
Why is the People’s Republic of China being so generous? How is Dominica benefiting the PRC? Oh wait, Dominica has the repay the loan with EC dollars which is pegged to the US dollar… Perhaps I am on to something…
the= to
It’s not a gift
Dominica has about 20 architects on island, is anyone of them capable of designing a hospital? After all, they all were trained overseas, in England, Canada, Cuba, France, United States. Are they or will they ever be given an opportunity to design something worthwhile for Dominica?
State House – Chinese design, Morroccan Hotel Morrocco design, State College Chinese design, Bath Estate Apartment Chinese design, Petro Casa Venezuela design.
Shame on Dominican architects and engineers who are serving as moose boys to the chinese. Roosevelt Skerrit continues to insult the intelligence of Dominicans and belittle our professionals into nothingness. ALAS.
I bet when Dominica secures a loan at “market rate”, Dominica will be able to use whomever she wants… Sucks being on the teat of other countries.
Well if you did some research before speaking, you would known that a few Dominican architects worked on the stadium.
And remember that architects don’t need to design something to work on it. Thy can supervise and ensure construction is following plan to a T. But your mind is one sided, you wouldn’t have thought of who supervised the construction, only the design. The architects in Dominica do not have experience of designing such projects so it is only right that it is designed by experienced professionals. However by supervising they gained inside knowledge on the scale of the project, design, cost management and management of the workforce. There you go
How many is a few? How may Chinese did likewise?
On that note: I would even suggest that while the Chinese funds it, can a Dominica design it?
FUNNY HOW THE CHINESE PROJECTS START EITHER JUST BEFORE AN ELECTION OR RIGHT AFTER AN ELECTION
When is Elections?? FYI 2015!!!
i guess this is so timely; timely enough to coincide with the prospects of general elections…WASN’T IT THE CHINESE WHO SAID THAT THEY DON’T INTERFARE IN TEH INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF OTHER COUNTRIES?
THIS IS POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN DISGUISE
So you mean the Chinese aren’t good-hearted communists who want to “spread the wealth” to all emerging nations??
Its not all about a pretty building, we also need the hospital to be more equipped.
thank you, I read the string of comments hoping to see one like yours.For Christ’s sake we need an MRI machine. too many times we have to fly to antigua, Bdos or the french neighbours to have an MRI done. well said it’s not all about a pretty building.
Equipped? staffed? huh? Who cares? We niggers just love concrete. Give us that and we good! International airport next!
My questions are, (1)With all the avail loans funds to D/ca at special concessionary rates from China (PRC), where are the “JOBS” for our people?
(2)Why do the taxpayers who will be paying back these loans get nothing in return? And last but not least. Who are the big fish benefiting from the millions borrowed to finance these projects?
If I were Chinese i would Answer back : We give you a loan for infrastructure it is up to you to use the money correctly in order to create jobs. take your destiny int your own hands use what you have and stop expecting other people to do things for you!! never biet the hands that feed you!
Please dont get me wrong, I approve of this project but correct me if I am wrong, but I really thought that the new Hospital was part of the Four – Pillar projects:
1)West Cost Road
2)Stadium
3)Hospital
4)Grammar School
And all of the above were part of the “Grants” from the secretive MOU between the cabal and the PROC.
When was the last time the government of Dominica funded a capital project in this country? We are rapidly becoming a colony of China; we are digging a pit for ourselves that we won’t be able to get out of.
They bolster themselves, those evil men,
Playing smart and not being clever,
I say they work inequity to achieve vanity,
But the goodness of Jah Jah idureth for iver.
So if they are the big tree, we are the small axe,
sharpen to cut them down, to cut them down.
These are the words of Jah Jah, those weak hearts won’t prosper
And as they dig their pit, they will fall in it.
You Sir/Madam deserve an award! Too bad the rest of Dominica does not agree with you. Unlike the USA, Dominica cannot afford to be entangled with China. Who cares if the rate of the loan is low, when the country can’t even afford to pay the principle. That’s what’s going to happen if the country keeps racking up loan after loan.
The Government should cut the civil service by a quarter and the savings be used to fund capital projects.
Come home and pay the Taxes so the Government can fund a capital project you UNGRATEFUL SOB!!!!
We the Dominicans are thankful for the Chinese assistance in granting us these Capital projects at no cost to us…. We do not fear the chinese and will not believe your narrow-minded BS that we are becoming Colony to China and is digging a hole for ourselves…. This is the most NARROW-MINDED COMMENT and it tells alot about the writer!!!!
I guess America will soon become a colony of China too right ZEY ZEY!!!
There is nothing wrong with this, after all, It will be mandated that Dominicans learn a second language, Chinese. Our citizens will become marketable in the world. So there are positives.
They also want US dollars, but will settle for a currency that is pegged to the USD.
All this for a vote? More power to us…
I believe it was always stated that the grants under the 4 pillar projects were for the west coast road, the stadium, the rehab of Grammar School and the hospital. The state house, college and most of the other projects are concessionary loans.
Did anyone bother to click on the link to the video or the article from Al Jazeera in my earlier comment??
We need a new hospital, I agree, but please people educate yourselves!!
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia/2012/10/2012103135950361962.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/10/201210210243520232.html
Very interesting! Thanks.
Good post, that everyone should checkout!
Are you trying to instill fear in us?? Our local engineers will ensure the work is properly carried out!!!
Be grateful, this one example from a war zone country is not going to kill our spirit, the chinese had to husstle build the hospital for fear of their life!!!!
you’ve brought shame on the name joe!
Very interesting Video…Thanks for sharing!
The new hospital cannot come any sooner. It really should have been the first project, years ago. Still surprised at the magnitude that is being spent for loans for this. Not sure if most people expected that. I would have far preferred to see a hospital with 100% grant funds than a stadium free and a hospital with that much funds as loans. How much does the “concessionary terms” amount to? I hope 5 years from now we will be in a better position to repay that debt. Nonetheless it is progress.
we want it named Mione Elizabeth George Israel Hospital after Ma Pampo. Not too much to ask!!!!
This is awesome news!!! It’s about TIME!!!
Congrats Mr.PM, I welcome this news as i see this as long over due. A new hospital will certainly aid the development of our lovely Dominica.
On the other hand though , i am amaze that the only time we speak of not being able to repay debt is when it comes to the international airport.
Again i am calling on the PM to seek from the PRC the financing of an international airport at the same concessionary rate that we have been receiving.
Also i do hope that majority of the workforce on these project will be Dominicans because is we Dominicans tax payers money that will have to payback the loan.
Once again , job well done Mr.PM.
adding to my point of debt repayment .
40 mil USD state college project, 40 USD million hospital , 27 million USD state house.
these add up to 107 million USD . Plush other accumulated debt within the last 3 years..
i am not saying these projects are not needed well with the exception of the sate house( timing wrong) but i am just saying by the end of this five year term we will accumulate more debt than the cost of the international airport which must Dominican saying we cannot afford to repay so we don’t need it.
Once again i welcome the news of this new project. great job PM.
How can you welcome this project when you just outlined that the government is taking on too much debt?!?1
Your maths is wrong…these are not the loan amounts so please dont decieve.
Ted interpreting the article i guess thats what you deduce from it but the figures you gave are incorrect.
The Government got a loan of US$40M, for the following: 1. State House,and two other houses to accomodate the Electoral office, the IPO and other government offices that are currently being rented… the cost for these buildings amounts to approx. US$10M.
2. A new state of the art College, not sure the cost,but can say it is 95% completed and it looks damn good.
3. Two apartment buildings each containg 60 apartments in Bathestate area. Single mothers and persons from the rural areas but works in Roseau will be given priorities for these apartments.. They will have the option to rent or lease the property until it eventually becomes their own.
These are the facts really, now what do you think? Oh by the way the Hospital is the fourth pillar in the four pillar project, so it is at NO COST to the Tax Payers… It is a gift from our good friend China!!
I must say a BIG THANK YOU to the PEOPLE REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
@ Ted Lewis you are right about the Internatinal Airport because ST.Vincent and Dominica were the only Islands without one now St.Vincent IS ON ITS way to a big & Beautiful Internatinal Airport so you know now what means.Dominica will be the only one now without one.but i really think after the road network is completed then the Airport will be next .Remember we have the state house,the state college,the stadium,and the hospital and most of all the roads everything is falling in place so be patient the airport will be next.and when that take place we are going to be the envy of others especially Antigua take my word
I wonder if they will envy us our taxes too? We will probably will have the highest VAT in the OECS so I hope you are just as proud of your white elephants then too.
@Ted Lewis…Be patient you are right about the International Airport Dominica and St.Vincent were the two Islands without a International Airport now St.Vincent is in the progress of getting a big beautiful oneso you know what that means now Dominica will be the only Island without one.but that’s ok I really think that thegovernment got everything in plan .we cant have bad roads with a international airport ok that’s working on on we have the state house,the stadium,the state college the hospital so you see everything is falling in place next will be the INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT and trust me when that happen we are going to be the envy of the others ESPECIALLY ANTIGUA.They say who laugh last laugh the best.food for thought
Just curious, how do you think the government is going to repay all of its loans? Perhaps with property taxes?
If they use Dominican workers the project will take twice as long to complete because the local workers work slower and take all kinds of times off work and are more expensive.The Chinese workers take NO time off; no Saturdays no Sundays and no holidays.
i suspect we need to check the chinese to fund/implement your ideas for job creation as well cuz the government is lacking in that department
Hmmm, weezib, the facts show otherwise.
One strategy of this government has been to help persons create employment for themselves as opposed to actually employing them. For example, there are currently two programmes that directly target the young and the unemployed women. These programmes seek to train persons in various skills while paying them a small stipend in the interim. Of course, i can also point to the Youth Business Trust and the programmes of the Youth Skills Division.
So, i would also suggest that sourcing money to place in the AID Bank so that entrepreneurs (and farmers) can finance their businesses is also a major feature of this government.
I could also go on to show you how even the projects where the Chinese have been employed provide employment opportunities for Dominicans and allow Chinese money to circulate in the economy.
No, i am not saying that the bulk of their money stays in Dominica. Neither am i saying that the empowerment programmes being implemented are enough. In fact, no one believes they are enough. I am simply stating that you have been duped into believing that the job situation in Dominica is so bad. But i understand why you would be duped: You have been paying too much attention to that one news channel whose raison d’être is to undermine the DLP adminsitration.
Keep spinning around and around you might just believe yourself.
ehhem, the way you speak anyone would think that these are new initiatives developed by this gov’t. That is why they say a people who are ignorant about their past are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
So the job situation is good then? Private sector has been growing at what rate?
Papa Dom, the Youth Skills programmes is a carryover from previous administration. Consider though that anytime a government decides to continue with the policies of a previous administration, that government is making a policy statement. So, whether the Youth Skills programmes is a new initiative or not is irrelevant. This government has seen its value and has continued with it, even expanding it.
Now, inasmuch as it is important to you who initiates what, can you point out which previous administration had the Youth Business Trust, or the apprenticeship programme for youth, or the programme that specifically targets unemployed women? And, can you point out which previous administration has worked under the current conditions to source and receive funds for the AID Bank at “concessionary” rates?
It is acceptable to be partisan but, come on, Dominica is bigger than a political party.
HEYYYYYYY (in african dialect) im finally seeing progresso,
although in my personal point of view, i would have much rather the hospital being done b4 the State House, but hey, we cant always get it as we want it!!
good news, good news, just make sure its a hospital with individual rooms like in the US (im just saying!)
yessss jah! im all for development but our people need to be given employment man.. i know some of you are gonna get on for this comment.. but when u have 200 people working and 10 persons are dominicans.. its not right to me!
Dominicans working to damn slow and they come work late
You sound like you are having a house built in Dominica…
I could shake your foot!!!
And too much bad attitude. It is almost as if we are bothering them on the job. I wont be mad if is only Chinese I see working in those new facilities. We need State of the Art attitude as well. And as always we can’t stress enough that the nurses need to work on their attitude in time for the new hospital.
lol
So why did the government keep giving the impression that the state house was a gift from the Chinese?
you thought it was a gift. y you think opposition was so eager to speak on it?
You have not been following the ongoing debate.Onmeof Jerry brisbane;s problem with the new State House is that the funds are loan funds albeit at very very very concessionary terms and on condition thast the Chinese themselves come and build it.
Jerry on the other hand is proposing that rather than accept the Chinese concessionary funds, we should have gone tot eh CDB, apply for as loan at a greater interest rate (5,6 or 7% maybe, risk waiting another five or so years for the first disbursement and then get a Dominican or caribbean company to do the construction. He says in this way, the project would be more useful for Dominica as locals wil be working.
I’m really beginning to like you. You make a lot of sense.
if locals were working the project would be halted, court case involved,money finish, concubines getting house and car on the money etc etc etc.
I have never heard this version of Jerry’s vision. What I hear him saying is: Palace is a total waste of money. I agree.
Yes, Piper, i understand why you are so confused. You have been listening for so long and so frequently to the wrong news channel that you have become a victim of that channel’s misinformation campaign. Repeated sufficiently, any lie will seem like the truth. So, Piper, you have been misled!
If you look closer, you will see other ways in which that news channel has misled you.
Pipes, u retard? lol 27 million is like a rhyme in our heads… lol just saying