Statement by public works minister Rayburn Blackmoore on feeder road development

Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore
Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore

Coming out of the 2007-2008 national road audit approximately 7% of the feeder road network was in good condition. That knowledge has informed the Government’s approach and strategy for bringing the feeder roads to excellent service condition and by 2020 Government intends having the feeder road network in good condition.

During the last financial year the Government embarked on the Farm Access/ Feeder Road Phase One project and spend $2.2 million on the improvement of sixteen (16) farm access and feeder roads totaling 30.1 km of roadway. The only segment which was not undertaken in the Phase One project was the $60,047.36 Petite Macoucherie Feeder Road (Salisbury end) contract because the contractor failed to undertake the job. All the other nineteen (19) contracts were successfully implemented.

This Phase One project resulted in enhancing the safety, comfort and productivity for the farming community within the targeted regions.

In fact, the areas for farm access and feeder road improvements were prioritized based on the level of and potential for crop production, dependence on agriculture as a major livelihood, the potential for poverty reduction, number of farmers served by the roads and their acreages, and the potential for increasing employment.

Phase Two forms part of the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) facility under which the Government shall invest approximately four million euros (€4million, about EC$14.7 million) on a major feeder road rehabilitation programme. The work is scheduled to begin during this 2013/2014 financial year.

Currently the engineering surveys and designs works are ongoing on the thirteen (13) targeted feeder roads located within the northern, southern, eastern and western parts of the country.  The total length of roadway to be rehabilitated is 74.1 km which represent 22% of the 338.5 km national feeder road network. Interestingly, the longest road within the selected group is the Mero/Cuba-Carholme-Petite Macoucherie-Haut Jean Feeder Road with a distance of 22.5 km long and is located in the Mero-Salisbury heights.  The Member for the Salisbury Constituency is well knowledgeable of that fact and only just during the last parliamentary session on October 23rd, he and I discussed that matter.

I wish to also comment on the action of yesterday instigated by the said Member in transporting of banana leaves from one locality to the next and more specifically into the city. Although we operate within a democracy, those persons including himself who engaged in such practice showed total disregard for the quarantine order and the law of the land which seeks to contain and control the spread of the Black Sigatoka disease throughout the country.

The Government shall however remain focused on responsible and sustainable development and is fully aware of the importance of the agricultural sector to this country and will be making the biggest investment in feeder roads in the history of Dominica.

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30 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    November 1, 2013

    MP Hector John had a good intent but a totally wrong execution plan. As one who worked in the Banana Industry he should have known of the importance in minimizing the spread of Black Sigatoka. Wrong move and the number of wrong moves (boycott independence) just seem to be creeping up on y’all guys bit by bit!!! But the same can be said about the PM when a plane from Venezuela landed some years ago at Melville Hall with Banana products on board. The quarantine officer was personally ridiculed and was even ask to “show” where the BS was. Now that is BS!!

  2. Dominican By Birth
    November 1, 2013

    Talk as usual, when will it turn into actions??

  3. St joe massive
    November 1, 2013

    St joe massiff#2 that’s for u red can’t lose st joe not even in ur dam dream so go to hell 5 more year of

  4. St joe massive
    November 1, 2013

    Change is a must but allu will still lost

  5. Block 44
    October 31, 2013

    Mister Blackmore, stop being WICKEDLY Misleading..

    There were no Banana and Plantain plants because we were also concern about Black Sigatoka.

    There were on vines and branches from tree crops..

  6. Peeping Tom
    October 31, 2013

    Thank you for the press release, Hon. Blackmore. I like this approach that you have taken whereby you seem to present relevant information in a rather objective manner. This shows maturity, leadership, and statemanship. Keep up the effort, sir.

    Of course, do not expect your news release to silence your critics. In fact, they would prefer that you remain silent so that they can hit you some more blows. So, in spite of the facts that you have presented, prepare for more blows.

    • Shameless
      October 31, 2013

      :-D :-D :-D :-D . Some folks just like sucking up if you ask me! Just say what you want and publish your real name so he can send some crumbs your way…lol! But Change MUST Come!

      Assertive, NOT Agressive!

  7. Solution
    October 31, 2013

    I hope when change come, all u Dominicans wouldn’t want another change BACK TO LABOUR.

    MY VOTE STILL STANDS SECURE IN DLP
    Dominica is a large country and i’ve seen the professionalism that is being done in our road network, it is not about cover up, it is getting it done properly for us to enjoy for yearsssss to come. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Everyone want there road to be paved, wait nah man chaaaa.

    If I was PM I woulda give up because you guys are sooo ungratefull , wicked and vindictive.

    • James
      October 31, 2013

      u fool this is the govt that has collected the most taxes in the history of Dca and compared to where is Da big? Da is so damn tiny on the world map it aint funny! these ppl collect 15% vat u know years now…. change is a MUST!

      • Justice and Truth
        November 1, 2013

        This is the government that got the most help for Dominica, to assist Dominica and its progress in this twenty first century, to the year 2013 and more to come. He has a genuine vision for Dominica.
        Note that he is fighting with no one and against them.
        Taxes are inevitable. Nationals of every country must pay taxes. In Canada, US and no doubt Europe, we must pay our fair share of income tax and goods and service tax. We have no choice. The saying: “Taxed to death and after death”, the latter on their estate.
        While we are alive, there is a way of combating it. Be a smart shopper. Purchase only what is absolutely necessary and ensure that they last for a very long time.

    • IluvmyPm
      November 1, 2013

      Liar the Chinese road falling apart by secret bay in Portsmouth and the road in pond Casse open up on the fireman what years u talking about.

  8. st.joe massiff #2
    October 31, 2013

    2020 to late… by that time the people will not have a voice.. you have failed and its time to try anothet governance and if they fail us we will kick them out like how we gonna do you..

    • Justice and Truth
      November 1, 2013

      You can only kick them out if they are in the minority. The opposition could have a vote of no confidence, if the majority agrees.

  9. st.joe massiff #2
    October 31, 2013

    is not your dam business what ple do in protest of their rights an entitlements. U have push the ple to this cause that your policies keep people poor and begging.. you all destroyed the agricultural sector and you all will always be remembered for that no wonder there is so much cancer in this nature island.. have place agriculture on the back bunner leaving the ple to feed themselves with crap no food security..dominicans know now that we have to fight for what we need and deserve

  10. USA
    October 31, 2013

    your colleague stated recently, and we all know that, Agriculture is the growth engine, that is going to get us out of this economic crisis that you all have placed us in, and feeder roads are an integral part of that process, so if we are to wait till 2020 to move from 7% to 100 % then we shall all be in lots of trouble, but the thing is you all are on your way out, so we will realize a 100% in a much shorter time frame. CHANGE IS A MUST NOT AN OPTION

  11. Hee haw
    October 31, 2013

    what about the Captain Bruce Road? Mr. Minister,do you know where that road is?

  12. Yes I
    October 31, 2013

    stop talking nonsense in the minds of D/cans. you know well that nothing was ever gonna be done on the Salisbury Road. not because the people of that constituency dont vote u all, u all disregard them. speak the truth Mr Blackmore, and stop ure crap about phase 1 and phase 2

  13. Friend
    October 31, 2013

    mmmmmmmmmmm so the gov there planning to fix Salisbury people road while they spreading black sigatoka in Roseau? lol

    ‘Although we operate within a democracy, those persons including himself who engaged in such practice showed total disregard for the quarantine order and the law of the land which seeks to contain and control the spread of the Black Sigatoka disease throughout the country.’

    I would like to know why the contractor for Salisbury didn’t take up the contract in phase one – also, Salisbury was budgeted for in phase one – where is that money? Why is Salisbury being budgeted for in phase two when it was already budgeted for in phase one?

    So one contractor didn’t take up the contract in phase one (people so desperate for work around) why didn’t another contractor take up or get the offer? Or is the roads in such deplorable conditions that it requires the specialised expertise of just that one contractor?

    • .
      October 31, 2013

      They need their froad fixed. They should spread the BLACK SIGATOKA ON YOU. YOU ARE SIMPLY A SKERRIT SOO TEE WER!

  14. Anonymous
    October 31, 2013

    Dominican always
    can we have the name of the said contractor so we can ask him his reasons for taking all the other contracts but not the one for Salisbury and to verify if he was offered a contract for the Salisbury area to begin with

  15. Dina
    October 31, 2013

    Please keep quiet Rayburn. I am not even sure you know what you are talking about in this prepared and manuicured release…… Please. Being a policeman is where your expertise lie.

  16. hmmmm
    October 31, 2013

    Isn’t it convenient that Salisbury was the only one not undertaken because the contractor failed to take up the contract. Weren’t there other contractors who tendered? Just asking

  17. Go getter
    October 31, 2013

    What is Mr. Blackmore saying? If the contractor failed to deliver couldn’t another person be contracted to do the project.
    I just cannot understand what is going on. STUPESSSSS

  18. Anonymous1
    October 31, 2013

    What were u saying Blackmore?

  19. "O" STRESS"
    October 31, 2013

    Every thing will be ok by 2020 including the time when the present party will say we give up and we are tired of serving as a Government, who so ever will may come, that`s a long wait for our present day politians.

  20. Morihei Ueshiba
    October 31, 2013

    This is one minister i would like to see in opposition, the way mister treated me in his office, cannot wait to see him out of office so i can remind him. 8)

    • Anonymous
      October 31, 2013

      sounds personal to me.

      • Anonymous
        November 1, 2013

        And why not?

  21. Anonymous
    October 31, 2013

    from bawi this is bull crap!!!!!!! 2.2 m and nothing for salisbury that bull crap you talking.

    • lolz
      November 1, 2013

      shut up your leader has spoken!!

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