Work on the Chinese funded West Coast Road Development Project which extends from Roseau to Portsmouth is currently at an advanced stage with asphalting works now taking place in the Picard, Portsmouth area.
Three kilometers of work has already been completed.
Chinese Project Manager of the rehabilitation of the Roseau to Portsmouth West Coast Project, Jing Hao, speaking through an interpreter, told GIS news on Thursday that the asphalting of the road in Portsmouth compliments other works now being done on the project.
He said that the construction of a box culvert on approaching Picard was done to reinstate a failed section of that road and significant improvements were done to drainage structures.
“Presently, we have started paving the road at Portsmouth and we are still doing some other works in the Portsmouth areas. This includes the box culvert, just at the entrance of Picard. Based on our designs, it is not actually what we were supposed to have done but based on the requirements of the Government, we have made certain adjustments. That is pretty much what has been done so far in the Portsmouth area,” he said.
Work is also on-going on the Roseau Bridge which extends from Hanover Street to Elliot Avenue. In addition, work is being done under the Canefield cliff where there is a shifting of the existing road further westward towards the existing sea defense wall.
“The work on the Roseau Bridge will be completed in approximately one to one and a half months. We are also working under the Canefield Cliff and at the end of that work we are doing, we would have completed 1.9 kilometres of road. We are in the process of constructing a three-lane road. This will be from P. H. Williams to Woodbridge Bay,” he pointed out.
The Chinese official told GIS news through his interpreter that a decision to construct a road to accommodate three-lane traffic under the Canefield cliff is a very practical move.
“The reason why it is going to be a three-lane road is because as you can see, there is an area that is still not paved. It is the section that is going towards the sea, westwards. Now, based on discussions that we have had with Public Works and the Government, due to the size and width of the road, it is very practical to have a three-lane road,” he stated.
Notwithstanding minor impediments, the Chinese construction company is generally pleased with the pace at which the West Coast Road Project is being executed.
The company is grateful to the Government and people of Dominica for the support given thus far in implementing the project.The road when completed is expected to significantly elevate the standard of Dominica’s road network.
Weather permitting, the company is expecting that the entire West Coast Road Project will be completed by December 2011 or early January 2012.
The $100 million West Coast Road Rehabilitation Project is being undertaken by the China Railway 17th Bureau Group Corporation Limited which is a subsidiary company of China Railway.
China Railway comes highly qualified and is reputable for building major highways and roads, bridges, airports and houses.
The company has been rated as the fifth largest construction company in the world.
i visit pueto rico all the time and i see asaphalt been put down on old furface .i pass today the road is rough ,next morning acrew is at work by afternoon there is smooth road
Lets wait for the finished product before we criticize
papa mete what coshoni that chinese doing there is that a high way?
Tell me about it, Highway my %$#%#. them man just paving the same old road, where de two lanes, the bloody thing is the same size, what a mess, I cannot celebrate for that nonsense. two cars cannot even pass. real coshoni my friend
thank god for labour power
A WORTHY PROJECT,
MY CONCERN RIGID SPEED RESTRICTIONS MUST BE IN PLACE BEFORE COMPLETION SO THAT THERE WILL NOT BE AN INCREASE IN MOTORABLE ACCIDENTS ON THAT STRETCH OF THE ROAD,
ANOTHER, IT WILL BE GOOD WHILE IN PORTSMOUTH A SCHEME IS DEVISED IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE FLOODING IN RODNEY STREET AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
Wow!!! The new standard for highways in the Caribbean…Dominican standard. You all need to go to nearby Barbados to see the minimum standard of a simple highway. Surely, this is nowhere close to a highway!!!!
My questions: Old road or new road? Is it better to have an upgrade, or to stick with what is broken and no good?
I know for sure that in this situation – ANY new road in Dominica is better than what we currently have! Thinking of my terrifying journey from Marigot airport to Roseau was enough to give me mild palpitations… these roads have got to go… and if we are lucky enough to get an upgrade…then we should take it. Having said that… if they are getting the job done, then they should do it well enough, but like all else, there are many factors which determine how a project gets done.
But at the end of the day… that road is way better off than how it could have been. Dominca roads need mojor FACELIFTS….
For anyone in Dominca… look at the trek to Trafalgar falls… there’s a bit of tarish, or whatever the hell you guys call that…which needs to be paved. Tourist attractions like Trafalgar needs to be made more easily accessible. I enjoyed the smooth ride but when i got to the rocky, bumpy, unpaved road…i was cussing the fact that Dominica needs to get up to the time with a major FACELIFT!!!!!!!!
So i ask … would Dominicans prefer the current road states to an improved state?
THIS ROAD IS NOT AN AIRPORT RUNWAY!!!!!!!!
ONE THING DOMINICAN DOES NOT SATISFY THATS WHY WE WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE THAN WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY GO TO THE U.S OR GUADELOUPE THE ROAD HAVING THE SAME BUMP 1 THE NOT SAYING A WORD THEY ENJOYING THE RIDE ON THE NICE ROAD THEY DONT CARE ABOUT THE BUMPS
Bullsh*t! It’s people like you who keep this country backwards. It’s not an issue of being satisfied, but rather an issue of doing the job properly. Why should the Chinese do a cheap old job, and then a couple years later we have to o it again or beg another country to do it for us? If you’re giving somebody something, give them something good that will last. The road that Gaddakan did from canefield to pondcassa was well done and will last a life time. I can’t say the same for what the chinese are doing.
My only concern is drainage. I dont see any and without that the road wont last
thats very true…if they are real engineers they with put drainage…however from what i know…drains are suppose to go first….
Can a local citizen take some pictures or a video of the work that has been done, and post it on YouTube. Someone did a great job with the Roseau Valley Road. Thanks a million.
HEAVEN HELP US ALL.
i drive on this road everyday and i tell you, the new road has as many bumps as the old road, poor quality work.. no drainage, the edges are rough, gardakan would have done a better job..
Just a resurface job huh….
$$$Huh hundred million dollar super highway,next my guess,two hundred million dollar drainage.employment for citizens of this state remains an issue.
Like it or not all of us have to drive on it so shut the H up
you not working is home you are anyways, find some work to do then you will use the road and C how bad it is
In section 4, subsection 3 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government of China, which was published on the front page of the Dominica Chronicle Newspaper on 29 April 2005 it states simply:
“Completion of the rehabilitation of the Roseau to Portsmouth Road to be undertaken by the Chinese Government by way of gratuitous aid within six years”.
The Chinese are fullfilling their part of the bargain to the letter and they began on time last year within six years.
There is no mention of highway. If politicians said highway, it was them, not the Chinese. I do not know where the real journalists are. They are howling for the MOU and there it is bold as brass on the front page of the Chronicle but Jerry and the others are blasting Skerrit for lack of ‘transparency’ and asking for the ‘secret’ MOU. It is there folks. You obviously forgot that it was circulated, broadcasted and published. Just do a little research….but that is maybe too much work for some.
“Rehabilitation” – making the roads just a little better than they were, enough to keep Dominica begging China for more.
Now I see why DNO has absolutely refused to put pictures about the project on its website. Could they have been threatened by the gov’t and Chinese? It’s OK DNO, the truth is coming out. We asked for them, because we know that no matter how the Chinese and DA gov’t sugarcoat it, a picture is worth a 1000 words. And from the picture we see, this is the kind of track you would see in a park… not a highway for sure.
Afterall, what can we expect of the Chinese… enriching themselves with inferior, cancer-causing products throughout the world. The same inferior products we complain about… it’s not just goods/items but in services. And so it is, that Dominica has sold its soul to the red devil.
This is one things that the gov’t engineers should definitely have planned properly. Granted that the Chinese are just doing what they are told or what the budget called for, but good business sense would tell you that you don’t put inferior products on the market. But then again, that’s how they are getting rich.
Shame on the gov’t for letting this mess go on. When these folks said highway, I thought of straightened curves, hard shoulders, curbs, proper drainage and in some cases decent sidewalks, cause I know it may not be feasible to have sidewalks along the entire course of the road. And in exchange for this mess, we give them our souls? Wow… I would have rathered they got a soft loan from the US/Canada/French and have their contractors partner with our to do the work. THat way, Dominica would have more say in how that money is spent.
But that’s the nature of a grant… China gave the money alright, but Dominica is repaying that ‘grant’ in more ways than you can imagine. They should have thrown in some police patrol cars with that deal, so that cops can catch the idiot speeders who’ll think these roads are now racetracks.
Lesson to learn: if you’re gonna spend money on doing something, do it right; but don’t take that lesson from Chinese…
1 they are not spending on this 2. would you want to pay higher taxes to pay back a 100 million dollar project 3 the US and french would never give us such a loan further more for it to be soft
Do not expect any highway coz that project is only a rehab of the existing. In addition a poorly rehab.
The reason why is because the chinese contractor is just putting asphalt layer on the existing road without leveling area of bumps. Just go Portsmouth and drive on what so called resurfacing.
In my opinion the section resurface in Possie wont hold until the project is finished. In fact, they already patch the newly resurfaced section. Loooooool
Most of those big retaining walls are without steel and contractor with government is telling us its a “mass concrete” oeuvre. Not so sure that all government engineers are agree with that and ALL will tell you that that job is rubish.
How was it possible that the government authorities signed a contract where they don’t really have control of it: No public works engineer as supervisor. In addition from what I heard in a party, PW had advice to raise the Roseau bridge for flood purpose and nothing was taken in consideration.
Was a hydrologic study was made for that bridge project? In Tarroux area, what will happen to the road because the size of the bridge after the cliff when going towards Roseau is way smaller then the road itself.
Who is fooling who. This is the question I’m asking.
To finish I have a question: If one of the section of the road failed with dominicans or with buses full of cruise boat tourists who will be responsible to pay back for compensation?
that “hard cur dominican” as written above can’t even spell properly but is he/she that want to give all kind of remarks about the Chinese and the work they’re doing. we dominicans just don’t appreciate nothing that is being done. i remember when the stadium was being built dominicans said so many things about the stadium and how it isn’t good ect. come on my people what’s wrong with you? we can’t do it on our own, we need help from other countries. let us appreciate something for once.
FULL THE STADIUM IS NOT PROPERLY BUILD, DID U RECOGNIZE THAT THE BRIDGE BY THE COAST GUARD BASE HAVE NO STEEL IN IT. GOOD TO NO THAT U GET MY POINT.
THAT PIECE OF ROAD I AM SEEING IN THE PIC IS NO INDICATION OF A HIGHWAY. IT SEEMS THAT THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED CHINA RAILWAY HAVE JUST RESURFACED THE OLD ROAD. ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE WE WANT A NEW ROAD. ARE THE CHINESE PULLING WOOL OVER OUR EYES. PLEASE STOP INSULTING OR INTELLIGENCE.
u just cannot please dominicans…. smh…
Good job! However to the silly youth, good roads have brought more deaths in DA. Any road they give nice surface no matter how short seems to excite the youth as a racetrack. so please don’t be silly this time.
oh please you mean the road they give more sidewalk than road how many persons you expecto walk on that huge sidewalk at a time.The road is so small that you can’t escape an accident if someone sudenly stops infront you,my advice to you is stop thinking of petty things like racing the kids are going to race whatever road they have,lets look at this,lets say we have a volcanic eruption in the south,god forbid and you want to evacuate residents of the south into the north can you imagine the
caos on that little road? we keep putting square pegs in round holes all in the name of love for polical party and don’t realise that in the end Dominica is the one that suffers.
Is there any talk of drainnage on the sides of the road. It makes no sense if water is going to run off the roads and underneath to erode them again. Good roads should be a bit raised in the ceanter and slant at the edge so that the water will flow off the raod and not create puddles. The slants should be invisible.
We should check these peoples qualification. We should make use of our local engineers
freeness is the worse thing on the face of the earth. when the road is completed all Dominican will be crying on those chines. that picture they showing the road work have no standard the edge on the road is not even done properly that thing those chines doing is not good. for $100 million best we did just do Roseau to hillsbrough bridge and do a international standard road and later we will see how we can continue the rest onward. the canfild road is a better job than what those chinos doing.
you mean chinese – not chines and canefield not canfild
thanks master degree
The article says $100 million West Coast Road Rehabilitation Project. What did the MOU state, REHABILITATION or brand new highway from Portsmouth to Roseau? Dominicans were told by Govt. the Chinese were going to build a brand new Highway. Rehabilitation or New Highway is the same thing. That money will easily be retrieved given the 40-45 Chinese businesses that have already swamped Roseau. By the next FIVE YEARS, the number will TRIPLE. Most of the local businesses will close down and forced out. The Chinese would be in control of most of commercial activities.
The Dominican market will overflow with inferior cheap goods from mainly China. Locally- made products, because of their costs, will be hard to sell. Already, our Kalinago citizens are producing less ARTS and CRAFT work, because they find it more economical to buy products from the Chinese to re-sell instead of developing their arts and craft industry.
The Chinese will control the BOTTLING and SELLING of water. Soon it is they who Dominicans will have to buy water from. THINK I am LYING? Is madness I talking? TIME WILL TELL. No OPEN TENDER for the $27,000,000.00 State Palace for the President. Contract was awarded to a Chinese construction Co. No local construction firm capable to do that same job? Who has to pay back that loan? But most of that money will not circulate among Dominicans nor into the local economy. Repatriation of $$$$$$$$$$ back to China. Since Dominicans have been refused to see or be informed by the MOU, anything goes. No dog bark.
Then we need to educate our people – if we want quality then we should spend our money wisely!
The internet is no place really to openly express our views on our country. As open a forum it is it has the ability to be misinterpreted. We Dominicans are very passionate about our country and its welfare that is why we speak so openly. I would like to say some things myself but i do not want to come out as some of us who just do not know where the line lies.
All I am going to say is as a people we can do much more to help our local economy. When last did you purchase at least $40.00 of local produce? How often do we say for the sake of country let me help? When we can say we normally pass the imported (cheap) stuff on a self and buy local then we can say we are helping. Our population is low, that is a fact, for a country our size with so many natural obstacles to modernization. I truly believe our Gov.t is trying its best with the resources at its disposal, the least we can do is help.
Totally in agreement. People should take note of what is happening in neighbouring islands, Africa, etc. The Chinese has a stronghold in almost everything, and the little they are doing is nowhere what they are gaining overall.
Land and buisness are being bought by the Chinese, with Government standing by. How long before the inferior goods which are being sold by the Chinese kill/harm and individual before action is taken.
Does the rule that you have to be Dominican – by birth, not bought – no longer apply to buying land? The Dominican selling the land should be made aware that they will not be able to re-purchase this land, certainly not at the price it is being sold.
Wake up people, before it is too late.
What price our dignity and culture? How long before we lose the title ‘Nature Island’? because the Chinese are outgrowing their own country and wish to expand and control.
i must say some of us Dominicans need 2 becarefull what we say,the reason why they are not digging the road up and rolling it again is because it make itself already it well set u wouldnt want to trouble it,i also think they should dig where that sinking it really does feel good when u passing in it ,in that case it is not a good job.
The road that Gaddakan did from canefield to pond pose is a good road. They graded the old road, rolled and placed new road, and gave it drains. Didn’t that road make itself? Yet they did the right thing because they know that you must do that if you want to do a good road.
It would be a complete shame if they do not bypass Massacre and Mahaut. An improved road network = more traffic. It will not be fair on the people of Massacre and Mahaut.
that is what alu calling high way it looks more like a deaf trap to me
we dominicans a so ungreatful please be thankful for what we never had before it is up to the drivers to drive carefully there should be a speed a limit
the quality of work isnt of a high standard at all by the chinese…look at the poor work done at the staduim this will suddenly crumble!
take a lot of the many cracks in the staduim and poor quality in terms of mixture etc…
but again dominicans all across the board settle for less! dominicans are a bunch of beggers who are proud!
Cracks in the stadium???? First time I am hearing about that. Dagua, any lie to make a point eh?
Chinese are way too Racist…will never respect them! dont come into my pathway china
Majority of Dominicans dont welcome chinese in dominica they were forced upon the citizens by a greedy and illegal Prime Minister!
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF<YOU DO NOT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF DOMINICANS.BY THAT STATEMENT YOU ARE PROVING TO THE WORLD HOW RACIST YOU REALLY ARE.YOU ARE QUICK TO LABLE THE CHINESE RACIST,I ASK YOU, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DISCRIMINATED BY A CHINESE? IF SO WHEN AND WHERE.
Sorry but did any of you observe that the Chinese engineer said that the culvert at Picard was not what they supposed to have done…
Hopefully its better than what was supposed to have done, and hopefully there weren’t other not supposed to have ‘dones’ elsewhere.
Do I smell shortcuts and or cost cuttings? I would be happy to know that they were improvements to the ‘inferiorities’ of our local designs.
BUT HOLD ON WASNT IT AHIGHWAY THAT WAS PROMISSED? THATS WHAT ALLYOU CHEERING ABOUT EBEH ALLYOU DOMINICANS GOOD
What becomes of the large pieces of equipment used by the Chinese once they have finished? I saw last year on my visit some abandoned at various points.
boyyyyy, them chinese should have done the roseau valley road, it would have finish by now….
3 years going and dem man cannot finish the valley road………good job
take your time and do and do it once, do it in a rush and u have to come back and do it again……. that my grand mother told me when i was small,..
what ever happen to the “highway” that was promised by Skerrit, Austrie and the likes after the sleepless nights of negotiations by the sly – fox when he returned from Beijing. And why are Dominican engineers not working side by side with these Chinese guests. Can’t even a Dominican labourer be employed to dig the drains . How long can we expect the road surface to last if a new foundation was not built. I,m hoping that this is not a one hundred million dollar scam construed with the blessings of Skerrit. how long will we continue to not get value for money on this paradize
The surfacing is good but i have questioned the work from the time i found out that the project in its detail was actually submitted by the Dominican Engineers. The Chinese contractor is simply doing what is on the plan. What a shame!!!
About the drains; As I was informed by a visiting friend, according to roadway safety it is not practical to have drains constructed along a high traffic roadway; instead they should concentrate on creating sufficient shoulders. these shoulders comes into play when they accommodate roadway vehicle runoffs. Sometimes vehicles go oput of control. They allow vehicles sufficient runoff space instead of ditching. What is needed is a construction slant which will allow water to run off the roadway. Around the corners the slant runs towards the inside of the corners, therefore vehicles going round the corner will not be drifted towards the outside perimeter.
I believe therefore that more attention should have been placed on road widening and allignment, and cliff edge management, but it tells a story of how our engineers think. After all, the contractors on the section of road from Canefield to Pond Casse indicated that the contract was for road widening and rehabilitation, NOT ALLIGNMENT. As a result we saw different work on the Pond casse to Marigot section. I wonder whether it is not the same mistake with the west coast road?
Well if there was no realignment on the first section of the Pond Casse road they must have gone above and beyond duty… I practically grew up along that area and worked the road as a tour guide. I must admit its a lot straighter than it used to be.
REHABILITATION not a brand new road..and digging up this old road would have been another major expense,anyways i dont hear any noise under my car when I drive on the bit of road they have resurfaced thus far……thank you to you know who !!
Your Jack-A**. Give it a couple months and you’ll see.
John brown u not seeing that is coshoni john brown u ever been to the french islands just there to see road being built u ever been to the U.S? I am not saying that it is not better than what was there but the fact is we dont know what is In the M.O.U and whether we getting value for whatever deal china has with us.they didnt lift the old surface, there is no drainage, just a few places were straightened, what about mahaut, massacre, whats the deal john brown. iwas joking about the prisoners but lets ask some serious questions now.WHAT IS IN THE MOU AND WHY IS IT A SECRET. WHAT ARE THE CHINESE GETTING IN RETURN?
A picture tells a thousand words. The picture shows no evindence of any prepartory work being done in order to properly surface the road. It would appear that the message is that beggars are no choosers. For those of us old enough to remember Rush and Tompkins and the roads they resurface in the 1980s, this project appears to be the Second Coming of Rush and Topmkins. I guess Skerrit is too young to remember, since he would have been in elementary school in 1984 – 85 and may be that is why he is accepting of the project in its present format. Some of the money that is being spent on the palacial State House should be used to properly resurface the road instead.
I am glad u mentioned Rush and Tompkins. The highly respected or feared gov. of the day did not allow them to expaned the roads as planned and do proper construction. That is because Dominicans were always treated as second-class citizens by the elite. Everybody’s trap was shut. You people behave like this is first person who is incharge and he is making a mess. What did u say about Rush and Tompkins at the time? What about the stadium at Canefield among others? I hope some of you can control your households
Shi**y comments always come from those who are out of Dominica. I just don’t know why they didn’t stick around when their good govs.were there with all their empty promises. Why did u run away from the GOOD TIMES??????????
But how to please Dominicans!!!
When Gadakan was doing the road from Canefield to Poind Casee we made soooo much noise about the delays and having difficulty using the road.
The same thing was said for the Laudat road. People go on TV trying to embarrass the government as to why the road taking all that time to build and how people residing in the communities have to use the road to go to work and have a life.
Next thing some people start make big noise with Chinese and even fight with Chinese and try create a big sin and said in no uncertain terms that they were not welcome and we did not want their road.
So what the hell now is our beef?
We want first world roads from Chinese and at the same time all our educated propaganda blues stirring up conspiracy theories as to what we going and give China in return!!!!
So China say to hell with we Dominicans . Let all those that does call on radio and blog on internet come Dominica and give us road!!!!!
boy u can talk sh*t. u sing for some thing man?
I’m not singing for anything. Even got turned down by the gov when they promised to help me. This is not
personal. but I agree with Oh My especially the last paragraph. I will repeat: Those with the loudest bark are those who ran away from their responsibilities to develop their country, and are out there developing someone else’s country, and they’re proud about it too. Shame on you!!!
AFTER THE ROADS IS COMPLETE START THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT……………
So the Chinese can bring their people in quicker?
dno thanks for the pic, good job
what i seeing dere nah, it’s seems as if the chineese fixing the road for themselves.
I don’t see not one dominican in there, not even holding up a sign. My people wake
up please. It’s just a matter of time before the next prime minister is chineese and
by then it will be too late. So praise skerrit now and your kids will curse you later
for being so stupid for not being more in tune with your countries political engine.
Do yur research @#$ hole.
Choose your words wisely and be more informative with
Your statements. Simply calling me an a hole does state your
Case about my opinion. I must admit you made me lmao, you
Small minded fu#*%s are only here to for entertainment. Your
Probably in Dominica struggling and can’t see pass your little
World.
so when we speak the truth here about the uneven bumps resurfacing you get thumbed down….but truth will always be truth!!!
Esquire
LMAO
YOUT
were all thumbed down for just speaking the truth about the ongoing construction!!
BUt all those who refuse to see it now I only hope you don’t show your faces in this forum when the majority swings in the favour of those who are simply typing the truth…
Did you see the Taiwanese MOU? They are all the same, ‘cuse soon after the Taiwan mou was signed their people started opening business here, immediately driving down the price of goods the Milat-Wozo dem used to kill us with. They started to be seen hanging on truck tailboard all over Roseau doing business just like the locals, nothing has changed.
There is lots of space for them, our population too small. And soon, as they do elsewhere there will be a china-Town. The Milat-Wozo dem used to suck us malaway dry and they are Dominicans. Thank God they are dwindeling.
Skeritt and dem are smart. I am sure they held talks with de Chinese about ‘The’ Int’l Airport. Well, the more of their people here will give the Chinese more impetus to build one. I doe like Labor party so much but I would vote them back in. No one else has scored so much for Dominica.
Their next move,…. with the new police chief in tow, should be to require a license for people to play or hold a dance by de road. Protect Dominnicans by strengthening and, enforcing the ‘disturbing the Peace’ and usless ‘noise abatement’ laws.
Too many of our people hold dance by the road disturbing the peace when they want without permit.
You ever pass Mahaut, some places in Roseau to hear speakers by road loud as they can, no fete? The worse is Grand bay, huge stadium-quality sound system full blast by road or in people verrander, with no regard to law, disturbing neighbors – and police stand right there drinking with them.
He needs to do the right thing by launching a campaign to protect Dominnicans by strengthening and enforcing the ‘disturbing the Peace’ and usless ‘noise abatement’ laws next. For Real!
@ ignoble. How do you define smart? Of all what you have bee seeing and hearing, all the facts and evidence of corruption, bad governance is smart? Engagement in Rubbish Bin and Fertilizer Bobols is smart? Pure corruption against the law. Deliberately disrespecting the laws to become a member of parliament is being smart? Fighting to remain in Govt., knowing that he is there illegally as a holder of dual citizenship during the 2009 elections is being smart? All that controversy about VILLAS and ownership of those VILLAS is being smart. To be lying, and committing illegal acts is being SMART? You already forget the Trafalgar Land Deal? Is that being smart? Signing an Agreement with China on behalf of Dominicans, but we cannot see or know about the contents of that Agreement is being SMART? Ask any one who really qualifies as a SMART human Being, whether those actions you have heard of and know about are SMART.
To allow Agriculture to decline to such a state where many, many people earned a decent living and to instead adopt or implement a policy of dependence on handouts, people driven to a BEGGAR mentality is being SMART? You refuse or forgot to mention about citizens being protected from increased criminal activities and violence, attempted assassinations, firebombing of homes,corruption especially in ‘HIGH PLACES’ and so on. Dominicans need to know and quickly who their LEGITIMATE Leader is. We need to be protected from those persons who blatantly disrespect the Constitution and Laws of the Land. If those in authority disregard, disrespect the Laws, what could they tell the youth? Being SMART? GOD SAVE YOUR PEOPLE from such ignorance and foolishness.
Does that equate to a highway???????????
Just asking
I think the mahaut issue was discussed a long time ago, over the news where it was said it will be too costly to do such a project right now, in my view they are doing an excellent job down, we just have to thank God that we have something, now that we don’t have to be buying expensive SUV’s anymore and we can get some affordable (incl. fuel efficient) Cars that will last.
““Presently, we have started paving the road at Portsmouth and we are still doing some other works in the Portsmouth areas. This includes the box culvert, just at the entrance of Picard. Based on our designs, it is not actually what we were supposed to have done but based on the requirements of the Government, we have made certain adjustments. That is pretty much what has been done so far in the Portsmouth area,” he said.”
You mean it was meant to be even more inadequate than it is now ? Lord help us !
Far from being a jewel in your crown, this west coast road will be the Albatross around the neck of your Dominica Labour Party..
You are an english student. You will know what I mean
Eugenia Charles had a road narrowing project in the 1980s and Skerrit having a road widening project in the 21st Century!!!
Yet we elected Mamo for three consecutive terms in Office.
If Mamo and Freedom Party could get 15 years for a road narrowing project , trust me Skerrit will get 25 years hard labour as Prime Minister of Dominica to take us to higher and higher levels of development.
Let finish and so the fun resumes on DNO!!!!!!!!!!
I heard some B.S in my life but this one tops the cake
“The reason why it is going to be a three-lane road is because as you can see, there is an area that is still not paved. It is the section that is going towards the sea, westwards. Now, based on discussions that we have had with Public Works and the Government, due to the size and width of the road, it is very practical to have a three-lane road,”
I hate to criticize this project but …. this is like a woman going to the salon .. coming out with an amazing hairdo … in a couple days … a week or so it’s back to steel wool again.
no work is being done on the foundation of this road, no work on the profile , bankings … alas …
Dominicans however, with our newfound mendicant predisposition and never see come see attitude will accept anything that is shoved down our throats.
In the end though we will be the ones holding the short end of the stick.
DOMINICANS WILL BE GREATFUL FOR ANYTHING THEY GET, BECAUSE THEY TOO DAMN LIKE TO GET. RESURFACING THE ROADS WITHOUT PROPER DRAINS IS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY,JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURE HERE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE NICE JOB NO SIDE WALK, DOMINICANS PLEASE
WHAT A LAUGH. THANK GOD FOR WHAT THATS YOUR TAX DOLLAES AT WORK NOTHING IS FOR FREE.DEMAND THE BEST NOT A BOTCH JOB .
You are chatting sh*!. I am presently at the University of Kent in Canterbury and have visited many areas of England where there are no sidewalks simply because it is a waste of money to put sidewalks in areas where people scarcely walk. I do agree that sidewalks are a neccessity in those areas which are heavily trafficed by pedestrians, however if people are not going to use it much why waste money that could be put to better use? Since you live in London go take a ride on the A40, M25 or one of the other motorways in England and tell me if you see sidewalks everywhere because I don’t. I take the point though that drainage has to be considered at every section of the roads.
For a $100 million project, I was expecting to see some serious work, including re-alignment. Never realize it was just an asphalt overlay, based on the accounts that I am hearing. Just from the look of the photo, the road surface looks quite undulating. As some of you rightly pointed out, if proper preparation is not made of the areas beneath the asphalt overlay, the existing damage could show up quite quickly in the new surface, and deterioration can be much faster – In asphalt pavement preparation of the base is key. I hate the fact that a lot of you think that this is Chinese funded and that the Contractor, who is being paid to do a proper job, should just give us whatever, and we should just take it and not comment. We Dominicans are a proud people, and a lot of us have traveled and we know what good roads look like.
the government can t do any thing about how the work is being done because we have been sold to the highest bidder for 30 pieces of silver before the election the road that was promised and which is being delivered is comparing water and oil they are both liquids but have so many differences
Well that’s good all major roads are undergoing some form of repair but what about from Hatten Garden to Castle Bruce. I must say it is utter rubish to fix a hole on a asphalt road with tarish. Haven’t these fools realise that it is a waste of money. The tarish only last for a week in the hole come sun or rain. At this time it is more comfortable and profitable to ride a donkey or horse on the Hatten Garden to Castle Bruce road .
would appreciate if DNO could do a follow up story on this article and would also take pictures of the mentioned areas that are said to be under rehabilitation, we the people on the outside of Dominica would like to have a better look at such developments, rather than just pretty words.
A big thank you to the chinese. A big relief for the bus drivers and other road users. We cannot get a highway, but this is great for the nothing that we have. Peolpe, let us not blame them for what they are doing, instead, let us praise them, because they are doing what is asked of them
Job well done guys. Unlike some lazy Dominicans who dont understand how ppl working at night lol you guys work on the hour these guys work to FINISH THE JOB not extend a pay cheque.
Never see people fix road this way…let us see..maybe something new.
I am not critisinzing but to be honest I thought the road was going to be properly redefined as to what is road and what is not. I mean our current road has no structure and I really wanted to see that this project defined it’s structure giving it a proper shape on the edges and sides.
Cutting the edges the road properly and shaping it is one of the things that gives it a proper definition. But looking at the picture it seems that it is going to be the same old way. We won’t know when we are driving on the sides or on the road itself because it is just one and the same.
I am trying to be hopeful and I am happy to see the good work that has so far been done in some areas which is defenitely and improvement.
But with a December 2011 proposed deadline I think the rest of the project is really not going to offer much substance.
Still happy to have something better than the existing.
in life it will always have haters, bob marley was de king of reggae an dey still kill him,dts how human beings be,same ting like de stadium dey run dur mouth until or iz nut labour dat cum out wit de plan,all kinda ting,but as it build, talk change all man in stadium now,cricket booming now ,party stand,festival in de stadium,wen de road finnish u will hear dem again,boy dat road smooth i cana wait to try it,boy,i burn tire on dat. u tink if is dominicans dat was doing dat job, dat will do neat an tidy and fast so,dominican man hav to take how much time off,dey hav to run woman on de job,drink all kinda ting b4 dey get sumting done,dey doh wana wrk on sunday,in de night ,neither holiday,dominicans. get ova dis mental slavery.progress iz good 4 evryone.doh matter who u support.u cana like eryting ting in life,but if u doh have nothing good to say keep allu black mouth shut!!!
Who killed Bob Marley?
Ha ha …I was wondering the same. Maybe “cancer” is a human being because that is what Bob Marley died of!
First let me baptise you again.From to day on you will be known as Cancer not (excellent work well done chinese) that’s sounds like an oximoron coming from a three quarter Moron . Inform your parents ,brothers ,sisters your extended family and the whole nation, your name is now CANCER.
Do you have the gull to ask why? I think you should treat yourself with your own medicine ,the last line of your post.
You are either confuse,ill informed ,stupid or just the typical s*ithead who just say anything that comes to mind or all of the above. In your opening sentence, you said they killed Brother Bob.Who did ? Idiot! I thought it is clear to all and sundry Bob died of cancer with metastasis, he had his great toe amputated then things got bad the cancer had spread. How old are you and where do you obtain your false information ? Ask any rasta man of the 70’s they will tell what they know.That line sure does not sound familiar. right?It’s from Marley himself.:”Bend down low ,let me tell you what I know.”
You have made some valid points in relation to the work ethic of Dominicans,something which we in the caribbean should address urgently;The rest of your comments however, are rather silly.
How for example, can you blame anyone for Marley’s death when he died of cancer? Didn’t labour and freedom run their mouth about the UWP plan to build a stadium at the same location, Did that mean that they were/are haters too?
Let us all pray that theses roads last a very long time in a good state because we will be running to China for money to maintain and repair them and then you and others will understand that nothing in life comes free. Isn’t it nice to be able to go the bank and secure a loan to buy a car, drive around town for the next few years with your loud music and pick up girls? but when that car starts to demand repairs and maintainence and you cannot find the money,well dog bite you.
Always talking about haters? Keep your red snout shut too sheim.
Always talking about haters my foot. Keep your red snout shut too she-im.
the reason for the three lanes didn’t comfort me one bit,,,, i mean what purpose would the middle lane serve if not for emergency vehicles,,,, so are we having a 3 lane road for having it sake????? what’s practical about the 3 lane roads,,,, why didn’t the journalist asking the questions bring the concern of the populace that this 3 lane might cause lots of accidents and then really get a practical answer from the gentleman,,, all in all good job by the chinese gov’t,,,, but i do hope that m.o.u get released for the public to see
Shut up!
You gonna look pretty approaching the city.
The middle lane is called a turning lane. It is done all over the world. This will prevent traffic from backing up in busy sections where there is a lot of turns. As you see there is no 3 lanes in the other areas just the Major dense areas where that is more city like.
The only way it makes some sense to me is to think that the two sea-ward lanes would be express lanes since no one would generally be swinging into the sea (lol), leaving the cliff-ward lane for traffic approaching the town to easily make stops our go up into the side roads. It would also make it easier to join the express lanes if well done, I guess too we will see the re-introduction of traffic lights in Dominica since it would be impossible to safely pull off this three lane road without it. Then again I can point out many intersections in need of traffic lights but our ppl do not seem too concerned about it. We rather wear the badge of best drivers in the world (meaning once you are a Dominican driver you cannot just go and drive anywhere in the world since even Antigua as small as they are have traffic lights.
smh, you’ve only driven in d/ca…
I am grateful and happy for what the Chinese are doing for us. To the ungrateful haters like king who said “i think those maqn was going to straighten the road, prisoners that there for true man” Nothing will be so good that some hater, somewhere, will not hate.
are we satisfied with today or looking for brighter days tommorow. what about our children and grand children. why if i give my opinion am political. the road should be graded and prepared before asphalting and we all know that. why did the government try to stop them? they know better and we all know too. no hate cause i need that road to last a lifetime. do you know who i voted for. lets be real here. the chines work is shitt. no standard, no skill,just look at the wall at tarou and lespoint. can you imagine after all the talk of high way and byway we gonna be passing under the same tarou cliff. wonder if our pm skeritt knows whats on that mou.remember what we were promised? highway from possie to roseau. and what did crazy say/ he knew he knew ports mouth. haha. all of this gonna be writing in history not by hony church, but someone will.
everytime someone questions the manner of construction some people here thumb them down…But people truly …
why wasn’t the road dug,graded and rolled???
the humps and bumps can still be felt under the newly paved sections …I am no roadway engineer but it doesn’t have to take one to see that sooner than later this road is gonna be the same bumpy west coast ride we are all accustomed to.
It would be way better if it was graded, but it is not bad as you make it out to be. They are doing what the negotiated amount will allow. Let’s thank them anyway, for our resurfaced road.
very true , the same old weak base
you are so right. you don’t polish an old wooden floor without sand-papering it and cleaning first or else you will see bumps and dirt and everything that was there before.
True Yout. All now my back is hurting me from the bumpy road.
There are no drains being built . however i suspect that the road are being resurfaced with a slight gradient that will allow the water to run off the road.
Once again thanx to the people of china and the government for a very timely project..
Why does it take the Chinese to get the road work done? Why aren’t Dominicans doing it?
Because it will never get fiinished
because Dominican workers are lazy, feckless. display an I dont care attitude towards work,are unproductive and the list goes on and on,Just take a look at the length of time it is taking to complete the Roseau Valley Road compared to the time it took to build the stadium.In my opinion all construction should be done by the Chinese,only then would our people change their attitude towards work.The haters claim that the people working on the road are Chinese prisoners,if that is the case then send our idle prisoners to work on the road too,maybe that would keep them from getting drugs smuggled into the prison
dats why black man will never rise. hear a man criticizing his own people callling dem lazy and all dat. boss pay man if allyu want man to work. de problem in dominica is pay. dey want people to do all kinda ting for 600 dollars a month. personally i rather pull up and hustle some drugs dan undergo slavery (mental and otherwise) that a lot of our people seem to be suffering from. what some other people doing always better than what we can do in their eyes. give black people their chance to shine. why they take us all the way from africa? cause we can work harder than the rest just need some justice and equality for us to make it.
Kryptonite, you are just guessing. At any rate they are taking directives from our Public Works people.
only, I suspect you are Dominican , Why didn’t you start the ball rolling? After all Dominica is your responsiblity to build – fund
because dominicans will take 50 yrs to complete the road project and there is not so much time to waste…
I recently returned to the USA from Africa as a US-D/can born based engineer.My firm has contracts in Zambia,South Africa and Tanzania. The rumor of chinese prisoners working on projects in Africa and elsewhere is well known on the continent.I have not tried to varify the rumors but it’s a constant in conversation at the han out sports.i have a blend-in advantage as am black and cannot easily be singled out more so my wife is Zambian.As a constant visitor to my homeland I have another advantage of just liming around the rumshops make a few drinks and get the inside stuff. It’s amazing the depth of sh*t this gov’t and those before have put us in with this economic citizenship BS.I see the events of Kenya 2-3 yrs ago can easily occur in DA i feel the negative emotions stemming from unemployment, loans, child suport, school fees food etc. while some people are squandering$ others just walk to the red clinic etc. Some are building mansions etc the time bomb is ticking it will explode anytime.haitans and chinese are doing better than the natives. In kenya I saw neighbours rise against each other (tribal war.) We read about it in the Balkans in the mid 90’s in the Congo currently Haiti not too long ago.Grenada and Nicaragua,Hondurusvs Costa rica in the 80’s.It’s just a matter of time.The UWPees the weak Greens and the infiltrated DLP want it all and now.
i ddint get that sh*t u said wat does dat have to do with the road. talk u like to talk or what sh%t u talking talking bout u this and u dat ki diab ou say engineer. engineer me ras hush your mouth
You say that you are a Dominican engineer working in Ghana, a non native but yet you object to Haitians and Chinese in Dominica, what are you doing in another mans country when you object to someone in your land. I boldly ask you what are you doing in another mans land so far from home.if you you are so concerned about these foreigners COME BACK HOME to fill the void which they occupy and you could so easily fill
stupid. we cant do it
cause… they will take forever… and the road will mashup… in a years time LOL
I pass on that road everyday. What the Chinesse are doing is better than nothing, but it is not a good job. They should have graded out the old road and then resurface it. They are resurfacing over the old road and all the bumps are starting to come back already.
true that
hmmm thats picard? that looks like a corner before Bioch on your way to portsmouth anyway by the look of this pic here its nothing new they are just resurfacing over the old asfault,in two months time back to same bumpy roads and potholes,and you know what that equals to= defective shocks,steering ends Bad tires. Folks what i am saying is,at the end of the day the cost of doing business to and from portsmouth will remain the same.
and carl, al motors mc millan and other auto part sellers will be all happy for dat lol
anything is better than what we currently have ……..thank God.
This West Coast Road is a Fiasco. Went to Possie on Monday and guess what, these Chinese are basically rehabilitating roads without doing proper drainage. I hope i am not wrong, i am waiting for January 2012
NOT SURE HOW GOOD THIS THING IS , CAUSE IVE NEVER SEEN FRESH ASPHALT BEING LAID ON A ROTTEN FOUNDATION. NO GRADING OF EXISTING SURFACE . GUESS ITS NEW TECHNOLOGY. OUR ENGINEERS SHOULD BE WORKING ALONGSIDE THE CHINES TO SAVE THE GOVT SOME MONEY. GOOD AS LONG AS IT LAST.
How would that save money?
dats good..I’m very curious as to how are they gonna do mahault, whether they are gonna push the sea back or wa.. I know in the community of Mahault the houses are in the road and there is no way they can extend the road other than pushing back the sea to build the road..(just a thought)
Other than that I am happy the road is progressing and that all Dominicans will enjoy the comfort of the new road .
Yes. nite, it would be great if they could rebuild the Mahaut road by the sea. We know that was tried in the past and the sea reclaimed the road.. The only way to do anything there is to move all those people who live on the road and build a proper road. But that has always been said to be too expensive. I hope it will not take a tsunami to move them.
The Correct spelling is Mahaut, and it is a name of a place, so it being with a capital letter not (mahault), Shame on you.
and wat the hell is your point everyone understand the damn word i doe see your reason of comment sh*t u doin hush your mouth
ya u have a point. ive seen it to in mahaut. but let me remind u there were some discussion about moving the people and houses. but dont ask me where they gonna put them. i dont know.
The mahaut section is a stress when driving but really it is problematic when there are vehicles parked alongside the road. This should be one of the roads with absolutely no parking, (30 secs to 1 minute max. for passenger pick up and drop off) once the road is clear it is not that horrible to drive.
i think those maqn was going to straighten the road prisoners that there for true man
So what you expect? You think you guys are the USA nor?we have to send our top spies and skill persons to USA.we have so many people we are scattered all over the world,so that what we will give You,kaka wat that’s what you get. You do not have too much natural resouces. Check what we doing in Africa , that where our intrest lies.so hush your mouth and take that.)
BOUY WA WRONG WIF U DUMMYNICAN NA?
I thought the road was being widened, and a sidewalk area zone with drainage built? The photo does not seem to indicate this happening. Anyone has answers?
I am like you as well…….it looks like they are just resurfacing
you expect sidewalks on the entire length of road?
Not sidewalks, BUT good drains you punk!
so far, what u see there is what we getting.
good job well done
good job the chinese people in the region should learn from your skills and committment
Skill? I does not take much skill to pour asphalt over the existing road. They had Dominicans doing the same on the Grand Bay road. Please tell me what level of skill and technology is required to do that.
Am impress, but what about the by-pass from Massacre to Mahaut? I haven’t seen any move on that, is it still happening or the current road is just going to be rehabilitated??
Anybody with info please educate me…. thank you.
I think that as the gentleman says above … what you see is what we get. It is not happening.
It is too costly I guess. There were no practical ideas.
Did anyone have a good idea for Mahaut? It really is THE biggest problem I feel. They should have started with that. Now extra traffic (because new roads always bring extra traffic – fact) will be going down that small road. I feel for the people there, it is a bad place to walk for them. Also I feel for us drivers … meeting a cement truck or Mr Big Stuff coming the other way.
there was a discussion to move the people and houses to another location. but i dont know where. there was also a discussion to push back the sea wall to build the road so that the houses could remain. but if the people and houses cant be moved, its only a reserfacing that we will see. thats what i know and was told.