An initiative by the Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development (AID) Bank to set up ICT parks is expected to be a source of employment for over 3,000 Dominicans.
Ian Williams, manager of the AID Bank’s Industrial Estate Unit, said the institution is currently planning to invest in ICT Parks in Canefield, Picard and Geneva.
“This project will be on a phased basis, it will be developed on two sides; mainly Canefield and Picard in Portsmouth,” he explained. “In Canefield, we intend to construct a 25,000 sq ft office building which will make provisions for housing at least 1,000 call center seats.”
Williams added that 1,000 call center seats will make provision for the employment of at least 2,000 individuals since it will be done in two shifts.
Additionally, Williams said, a 60,000 square feet ICT park will be constructed in Geneva. “20,00 sq ft space will be constructed for high tech assembly which will include the assembly of computers, cell phones, and all other ICT based equipment,” he stated. “Another 20,000 sq ft will be constructed for electronic assembly, 5,000 sq ft will be constructed for ICT based businesses and e-commerce, 2,400 sq ft will also be constructed for a daycare within the ICT park, 3000 sq ft will be constructed for a reception area and canteen, 2,000 sq ft will be constructed as a training center with provisions for teleconferencing and distance learning which will encourage the training of employees involved in the call center.”
He remarked that to date the AID Bank has spent approximately $1-million on the development of the Picard project and has completed the Environmental Impact Assessment and the ICT Marketing strategy for Dominica.
The preliminary cost estimates for these projects is approximately $40-million, according to Williams.
“We have commenced the approach for funding of this project,” he said. “The project is a tangible evidence of government’s policy to diversify the economy and provide greater thrusts on the ICT Sector with special targets such as to attract foreign and joint venture industries which are labour intensive, to reduce the level of unemployment, to improve the skills basis of the general population by promoting special industrial sectors and groups of skilled and qualified persons.”
proper infrastructure . .then investors will come!!!proper roads in the city, clean out old and unsightly houses in Roseau. when are we going to get better roads in east? This move is political . . .election season . .here I come. The sad thing, they using aid bank as a vichle now.
Well said, Mr. Williams, well said! Now, will you please tell the nation how does the Bank propose to woo investors to Dominica in the prevailing high cost of doing business here, especially the murderous costs of energy?
They closing down local business that they can help build up which will then create employment and now they talkin about ict park…. invest in our local business that crying for assistance, and then u can come talk Mr. Williams.
It was time that the Aid bank take a lead in investment in Dominica. I am suggesting that they invest some monies in the Coffee processing plant to make it multi processing; that is to include fruits etc.
Is this economic development?
Great initiative but a bit late. In addition, CLEAN UP THE MESS YOUR GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR at the CANEFIELD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE! Fix the roads! beautify the place make it attractive for more investors. The road leading to Clear Harbor…Clear Harbor had to fix themself so their clients wouldnt think they operating in a dump. AND DONKEY BEACH!!!!omg such an aweful waste of one of our better beaches..you guys have failed in the upkeep of the canefeld site.. non the less good initiative..jus learn from yur mistakes. Our parks should have proper infrastructure, landscaping, adequate building sizes and enough space for storage and a proper waste disposal system and PARKING!
All of a sudden jobs are being created huh.Shame how a select few get tricked so easily…I guess its still too early to give handouts 1 sheet galvanize two sheets plywood.SMH
If these Call Center jobs come, I’d see them as both a blessing and a curse.
The Blessing: Employment means an improved economy, decreased Crime and overall better Quality of Life.
The Curse: Call Center Jobs means young people sitting all day and getting Fatter and Fatter and unhealthy. Getting Stressed out by Obnoxious, Abusive (mostly?)Americans and unhealthy.
But apparently real ‘work’ is not appealing and only for academic ‘failures’ like me so:
“Way to go Ian”!
If you all think these jobs will pay as good as clear harbour all you lie lol
I consider this to be the goodies of election promises, where were these plans since the existence of the Aid and the introduction of ICT’s in Dominica
One Day Things must get better
Sounds reasonable but lets not fall where others fell.Let us learn to improve on these ideas and tecniques, also Many countries have a problem with disposal of electronic waste (unfriendly to environment), so i’m hoping that will be considered seriously.
Bless
The AID Bank already has a multitude of factory sheds that are used as storeroom for merchants, a white elephant in Grand Bay, so what are they talkin about?
The building where Benja Shoe was is still empty employing rats and roaches, the one where the Chinese wre making the windows is empty, where in Canefield is AID Bank going to build the half acre shed? On the air strip or in Simeon’s park where the youth kick a ball now and then?
This one is real pie in the Sky.
It’s a pity that Ian Williams will allow himself to be used in that way, leave that for the politicians garcon, you doh see Corbette refuse to show his face on that one.
I note with interest Mr. Cadette’s comment. Well this must be some kind of tree, over ten years for these seeds to eventually germinate. Mr. Cadette, maybe the seeds didn’t fall on such good soil as you’d want us to believe. ‘Success’ you say Mr. Cadette? I wonder, as an ICT specialist, and a member of the planning committee of the initial ICT park initiative , how can you see success,when the first ICT park , that you helped developed, was a total failure? what yardsticks are you now using to determine that this ‘deja vu’ initiative by AID Bank will be successful?
Mr. Williams, many comments observe that you speak as a politician and not a trained banker. Were you not involved in the first ICT project? Have you done your homework to ensure that the people of Dominica do not suffer another Call 767 disaster? And in the event that they do, are you, AID Bank and the government prepared to pay the many fortnights of salaries lost by the former Call 767 employees?
I do welcome investment initiatives that are geared towards national development through job creation and skills building. However, if such initiatives are mere political ‘gimmicks’ and do take into account lessons learnt from past failures then AID Bank and the present administration are doomed to repeat another Call 767 fiasco.
correction: **However, if such initiatives are mere political ‘gimmicks’ and do not take into account lessons learnt from past failures then AID Bank and the present administration are doomed to repeat another Call 767 fiasco.
Pie in the sky! The Aid Bank can’t even fix the deplorable roads and their existing buildings on the Canefield Industrial Estate! The site is a disgrace to Dominica and as such, would turn any investor off.
John Jay and Forkit, are you all interested in the development of Dominicans and Dominica, or are you all commenting because you all figure that some cheap political talk on the behalf of all you new leader, will help the UWP to change the “ever forward development” being brought forward by Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit and his team?
As someone who was at the press conference I believe that the reporting on this matter was poor. Lets wait for the press release by the Bank. Also please note that not everyone at Clear Harbor answers phones. There are people in management to. Did you all not see the part about the assembly plant?? SMFH
yes we will work at it…but we know uncle skerrrrritttt is in trouble and he knows it…all the trump cards are coming out but we will not be fooled..this is the same man our PM who objected to persons working at clear harbor not to paid a certain amount of money as their salary because they will be paid more than civil servants… how much tax is going to be taken out of these 3000 workers salary to pay for the buildings??????? they alone to eat wellll
I believe IAN WILLIAMS should stop making political mileage for this guys when it’s not true.
While some may be skeptical, you should clarify your comment and be prepared to do so. Otherwise how can you truthfully state that “it’s not true?” You must follow it up with an explanation. Therefore, we ask, “What do you mean it’s not true?” We deserve a response.
Great move! When a call center is opened in America, americans run for it, whether temporary or full time, its a job. Stop the hate. Dominicans too much politics!
Those enterprises with Call Centers are not doing too well in America or in Canada. Some of them are now defunct.
I have previously stated that the governments of those countries (Canada followed suit), legislated “A No Call List”. This means, they should not telephone those whose names and addresses are on that list otherwise they will be reported and sued. They will be charged an exorbitant sum of money.
People were fed-up of those calls at all hours of the day, evenings and weekends, especially at dinnertime when they were interrupted by those callers. Some of those calls were scams from far away as Nigeria.
I suspect this is the reason why they are now diverting their businesses to the West Indies/ Caribbean.
All the same, if it will create numerous jobs in Dominica, I wish them well. I hope the employees will be appropriately paid with benefits. I expect that the Dominican government will ensure this for nationals who are employed with them.
Take note – call centres are transient operations.
That’s all the Labour party can give to DA temporary jobs, ONE DAY YOU WORK NEXT DAY THEY CLOSE DOWN and it happens with call centers all across the globe !They look like saviours to countries that have high unemployment. BEWARE !
The majority of them do not know how those enterprises operate and how their employees are treated. It is not a job I would be enthusiastic about.
Production is absolutely necessary. Employees must achieve a quota. This commences with a daily, weekly and monthly quota, added up. If employees do not meet their set quota, they will be dismissed. It is hire, train and fire.
Can anyone force customers to purchase and in this type of economical era?
Is this another election trick? how long can we continue to be fooled? Is the government using the bank now to trap the young people in order to obtain votes? Dominicans wake up and open your eyes, we will not be fooled anymore…CHANGE IS A MUST AND NOT AN OPTION. All the way with LENNOX OUR NEW LEADER!!!
Be fair and view it realistically. Do not be negative in your thinking. What trick? Can the government trick a bank into doing anything? Banks are trickier than the government.
u dimwit! you acting like lennox is Jesus Christ… put your faith in the unknown still and think dude any better than the rest.
Ummmm… so theygoin and spend 40million on puttin office buildings…. now which companies are going to establish these call centres? is the lack of office space the reason why we only have one call centre which is shrinking.?
nope. Office space isnt the issue
Great news
time shall prove it, but still hoping for the best
sounds like dominicas monies are going to construct these building with no certainty of companies coming to setup shop….
promise is a comfort to a fool…. still waiting for those boats to ship my oranges to barbados
wait still….doh never make your own move. dominicans like to depend on others too much and ask for handouts.
damage control, very nicely put together
So now we are trying to create jobs? When will Dominicans get some sense in their heads?
and why cant the bank invest in a boat or plane to transport our existing products…dasheen etc.
but…to each his own
cus they are a bank… not a freight and airline company.
Is this a political gimmick in response to Lennox’s brilliant speech? Just a thought>>..
Because the bank does not want to jump the gun. The election is not yet called; he is not yet PM, if he ever will.
Please deal in reality Dominicans if by some miracle Lenox Linton is elected where will he get the revenue to run the island if Dominicans are evading paying taxes, and how is he going to invest in Dominica without the help of the Chinese when Dominicans like little birds on a limb waiting for the mother bird to drop a seed on their tounge.I think this Prime minister has done a brilliant job in bringning money fo all these projects knowing that Dominicans with their limited resources can’t pay enough taxes to run this country.No one is perfect just like the ones who critize because if you were in charge they would be getting hell also;but inspite of all the criticism in my estimation the Prime minister has done more for Dominica than all those that came before him I say great job.
***ARE THESE JOBS REALLY SUSTAINABLE***
I hope we are not just creating positions just to have the idea of job creation.Otherwise we shall all suffer!!
-Thanks
“do not edit” I was thinking the same thing but the UWP proposed the same thing…..ummmmm. Did you complain when they mentioned it or you conveniently did not hear it in Spags’s presentation in the House? Do we have to criticize everything for the sake of politics? We cry for jobs but when we get it, it’s never good enough…Is that the attitude of a true Dominican?
I was thinking the same thing. My problem with however is that we are going to spend a massive amount on the infrastructure in a venture which may not yield tangible benefits if we cannot attract the business. It would have been better to seek to have interested companies make some kind of contribution to the onfrastructure. This may not be the best jobs but anything which creates employment and attracts foreign cash into the country, even short term is not a bad thing.
ignorance usually..
so all dominicans youth just going to be answering calls ???? really thats the only form of employment you guys can think
Unless you can come up with a feasible idea for creating jobs and you can create jobs. What are your suggestions for creating jobs in Dominica?
No, some of them will be managers and supervisors. Some will be computer techs. Some will maintain data bases. Some will be managers and supervisors also at hotels,coffee plants, geothermal plants and abbattoirs. Some will be project managers and work supervisors at construction sites and road construction sites. Some will be farmers and labourers, engineers and clerical workers, just to name a few.
what about all the people working at fast food restaurant in the US but bad for Dominica
Dominica is specializing in call centers now. So kids go to Dominica state college to answer calls. Don’t get me wrong it’s an entry level job. But can’t be the only job Type . either you work for government or a call center
Better than not working
that is so funny
where ever do government is the only one to employ ? are we becoming a country of MA LOOKS ?
So why you Dominicans don’t create the jobs you want, and stop complaining
Thats a good iniative, but this government has failed and failed miserable.
NO MORE PROMISES, TIME FOR CHANGE
Is it the government job to create all the jobs
where is the private sector jobs
I am a little confused because that sounded like a political speech rather than a bank manager indicating how they are funding a project. What I gathered from Mr. Williams statement is that they are going to construct buildings capable of housing 3000 employees, not that an investor is requesting financing to conduct this operation, are those the 3000 jobs that Reggie said that Skerritt was bringing with him?
I wondered the same when i read “The project is a tangible evidence of government’s policy to diversify the economy and provide greater thrusts on the ICT Sector with special targets such as to attract foreign and joint venture industries which are labour intensive, to reduce the level of unemployment, to improve the skills basis of the general population by promoting special industrial sectors and groups of skilled and qualified persons.”
Sound like campaign to me
Ok, my question is; Is this a government initiative to build these building for ‘call centre seats’ or is this an initiative by the Aid bank itself?? Do we already have companies interested in this area and if so, why are they not investing in the infrastructure as part of their investment in this field? Are these buildings going to be considered ‘bank assets’ and then rented out to investors. What happens if they are built and the investors do not materialise because we do not have the investors signed up to this beforehand? Do they then become white elephants? Hmmmmmmmmmmm……have we even ensured that we have training programs established where we can teach our people to be computer literate in preparation for this development so as to be able to tell potential investors that they will have sufficient persons ready to take up these posts with minimal training as they have already been equip with the necessary skills??? Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Just wondering!!!!!!!
Thats really good new for Dominica!
Election gimmick
And something else to look carefully at PM is not using his ministers to come out with his plans for election 3,000 jobs why now Lennox have the PM on the run and we just start to hear other spinning his garbage.
We are going to make changes in the Govt and to add salt to injury the House speaker as President what is Skeritt thinking.
LOL well Promiseville II is well on the way!! Works for me ;) wonder if it will work for the Glanvillia people!!!
nothing lasts under Aid bank… flop flop
Great move hope it comes fruition cause we all need jobs around the world mostly our beloved country.
comes to
now allu talking, better late than never.
lol
WOW! THIS BRINGS TEARS OF JOY TO MY EYES – IT WAS ALWAYS FEASIBLE!! THAT’s the way to Go. Great AID BANK – all the days and nights we spent doing the first designs and cost estimates. IT WAS ALWAYS FEASIBLE.
The Sower went to sow his seed…… (you know the story)……And some fell on good ground.
SUCCESS – AND DOMINICA MUST ALL WORK TO SEE IT SUCCEED.