Linton describes DLP talk of an international airport as “an old movie”

 

The Douglas Charles Airport at Melville Hall

Leader of the Opposition, Lennox Linton, has described talks of constructing an international airport by the Dominica Labour Party (DLP)-led administration as an “old movie” with a familiar ending.

Responding to the National Budget in parliament of Thursday, Linton said proper air access to Dominica has been the biggest setback to tourism growth which has been manifested “through the government’s failure, after 18 years in office and more public money per year than any previous administration had ever seen, to embark on the building of an international airport.”

“The empty election season promises of an international airport is an old movie with a regrettably familiar ending,” he stated.

According to Linton, in the fiscal year 2016/2017 the Ministry of Finance spent $1.6- million on “consultancy for the international airport” and an additional unbudgeted amount of $2-million dollars “to meet expenses relating to preliminary investigations for the construction of an international airport” – a total of $3.6-million.

“Yet, notwithstanding this expenditure of public money more than a year ago, we still do not know where the international airport will be located, how much it will cost… nor is there as much as a clue about likely commencement and completion dates,” he stated. “According to the Finance Minister, monthly amounts of $13.5-million have been transferred from the CBI account to an Airport Development Account in fiscal 2017/2018. But according to the 2018/2019 estimates, there is no plan to spend any money on an international airport in the three fiscal years commencing July 1st, 2018.”

He stated all that is being received is from the administration is “loose-lipped, election campaign babble about contracts coming soon and an airport terminal from empty cargo containers.”

“Enough kicking of the airport election campaign football already,” he remarked.

Linton said his United Workers Party will build an international airport in Dominica as a matter of top national development priority.

“We started the process with a feasibility study, an environmental impact assessment, agreement on a comprehensive financing package and the purchase of land in the most suitable location for an international airport in Dominica,” he stated. “Under this cannot-do DLP government, the country is now much further away from having this critical tool for economic growth than it was 18 years ago.”

During the presentation of the budget, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit vowed that his DLP administration will construct an international airport in Dominica.

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22 Comments

  1. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    July 30, 2018

    We all know the ending to this story. There will be no airport or Roseau improvement at all. Labor will fool those blind Red Supporters like sheep, while Skerrit and his carnival band will just eat tax payer’s money and travel the world. Welcome to the next level. What about our parrots? When will they be returned to Dominica?

  2. RhellyRr
    July 28, 2018

    Mr Lennox Linton will retire and never will he become prime minister of this nature island

  3. My little take
    July 27, 2018

    14 years since Skerrit playing the international airport movie. Before Erika and Maria when our porpulation was around 75, 000, we we’re shipping tons of bananas to Europe, our coconuts were selling which means farmers we’re self employed, Ross University was booming, American Eagle had a daily flight to Dominica and at times two flights, this same lazy brought Ralph Gonsalves to Dominica, in the DLP potato Garden, Portsmouth to be exact, to tell us Dominicans that we couldn’t afford an international airport and we applauded him; only to find out that shortly after that trip Ralph took that international airport to St. Vincent and opened it earlier this year, in the face of laborites! Today, our population is around 55,000, we can’t remember when last we exporte bananas, we don’t even have coconuts to make a sancoach, no Ross no Eagles no Amerjet Skerrit talking airport? That’s an old old old movie that makes no sense man. Come on Skerrit we not that foolish man

    • RBD Cinema
      July 27, 2018

      But where is Skerrit going to build the airport now? On the roof of one of his buildings? Maybe either on top of Morrocow Hotel or the Coffee Plant or the capet factory. How much more can we take? Have we become damn….. to even think Skerrit going to build airport? I was so damn upset yesterday afternoon when Matt brought the so called young man on his program to talk about the budget and had the audacity to ask him about his political affiliation. The young man who sounded like a messanger of Skerrit’ said on Q95 that he believes Skerrit will build it because Ian Douglas said so. What is wrong with my brother Matt boy? Now what was so clear is, Matt asked him that question before he took a break and when callers called to interact with the young man Matt said he was on his phone and later he stepped out. I am sure it was at that time an opperative of Skerries told him to talk about the international airport since many callers were giving him kudos. They using Q95 to spread…

  4. %
    July 27, 2018

    Skerrit please Papa Bondieu,you owe us airports like tower::::
    One in 2004
    One in 2009
    One in 2014
    One in 2018.
    Where are they locsted Skerrit?On the head of the minister from the North? I know that ugly head has a lot of real estate!

  5. Drellon
    July 27, 2018

    Who can build international in Dominica? When we were exporting bananas we couldn’t build it is now we will build it? Even if Linton come in power he still will not build it. The economic model of our country is not working. The problems we face will always be there if it is not changed.

  6. $300 MILLION for hotel, hospital, international airport
    July 27, 2018

    Where is that $300 MILLION loan that Skerritt signed with that Chinese Co., nuh?

    Dominicans please remember that an official from the Chinese Embassy here was quick to inform Dominicans that the Chinese Gov’t had nothing to do with that.

    https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/chinese-embassy-clarifies-us300-m-deal/

  7. Ibo France
    July 27, 2018

    The PM has proven himself to be a congenital liar. The lies this man tells are legendary. Let me mention just two of these monumental ones. The generation of electricity using geothermal energy and selling to neighboring countries, titillating indeed. The accusation of an attempted coup d’état by the main opposition and followed through by arresting prominent members of UWP, hypocritical Joseph Isaac, included. Politics makes strange bed fellows. This man (the PM) and his do nothing party have lost all credibility by consistently distorting the truth. It completely baffles my mind how any decent minded individual or anyone who professes to be a Christian could throw their support behind this mendacious man and his failed totalitarian regime. Little wonder the country is presently in its worst condition in its storied history. The ruling DLP has dragged a once proud country to the abyss, a culture of mendicancy now prevails.

  8. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    July 27, 2018

    “According to Linton, in the fiscal year 2016/2017 the Ministry of Finance spent $1.6- million on “consultancy for the international airport” and an additional unbudgeted amount of $2-million dollars “to meet expenses relating to preliminary investigations for the construction of an international airport” – a total of $3.6-million.” (Lennox Linton).

    The question Dominicans should be asking Roosevelt is what is the purpose of spending ($7,2000.00) seven million two hundred thousand  dollars on this crap, “consultancy” when all of that was done long ago? The fact that an International Airport was in the first stages of construction when the Labor Party government of which Roosevelt Skerrit was a junior minister shut it down, means that no consultation was needed anymore.

    Would anybody with commonsense believe the government of Trinidad would have loaned Dominica more than two hundred eighty million dollars to build an airport without doing their homework on the matter.

    Why…

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      July 27, 2018

      Conclusion:

      So, the conclusion here is why would the Government of Trinidad & Tobago loan the UWP government more than two hundred eighty million dollars in 1999/2000 which was eighty percent of the cost to even commenced construction on a International Airport if they had not done their due diligence?

      It does not make any sense at all: that seven plus million dollars spent by Roosevelt is suspect, and I believe that money went into the deep pock of some people in Dominica, and was not spent on any form of consultation!

    • Mind Your Damn Business
      July 27, 2018

      You so damn smart, you can’t even write(7,200,000). seven millions two hundred dollars in figures?
      You are really suffering from Skerrit Derangement Symtoms.

      • LawieBawie
        August 1, 2018

        The figure that you just posted (7,200,000) is equal to seven million two hundred thousand dollars you dunce. Not “seven millions two hundred dollars” as you are claiming.

  9. Real!!!!
    July 27, 2018

    Agreed…….This is an 18 year Old Movie. ” A Dominican Airport in the Sky”

    Get this DLP party off the backs of the poor people.

  10. LaPlaine Observer
    July 27, 2018

    Over 8 years ago, the PM said that he was embarking on the construction of an International Airport and he had SECURED the funds for the Airport. Now 8 years later, he is proposing that $13.5 million be transferred from CBI account to an Airport Development Account. I thought you had already secured the funds Mr. PM?My people wake up and smell the coffee and recognize the misleading and conflicting information the PM is propagating.

  11. jinjin
    July 27, 2018

    but how much international airport they have to build so na,too me i tired hear about that.?

  12. derp
    July 27, 2018

    every election season promises to fill you all minds with false hope smfh

  13. Unknown
    July 27, 2018

    Linton in order for you to become the PM of Dominica you need to think more positive about and for the country. Stay the way you are and will NEVER become the Prime Minister. Take this advise for the betterment of yourself.

    • jamie
      July 27, 2018

      how can he think positive,i supported this guy for years and the same lies and empty promises ,Dominica is doomed and will never move forward under this regime.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      July 27, 2018

      Why don’t you shut your stupid mouth; you are a damn fool: are you suggesting  Lennox should bury  his head between his legs, and agree to the crap Roosevelt is talking, clap his hands and say thank God for Skerrit that will make him positive!

      It is because of idiots like you brainwashed by Roosevelt to believe his lies you all are so damn poor and miserable, while all the islands and people around are flourishing,in prosperety and wealth! 

      If I had the power to simply make people dissolve, and evaporate into thin air, you would be  one of the first I check out on the planet; people like you are just to stupid.

      If it is ordained in Lennox destiny to become Prime Minister of Dominica, nothing your kind say or do will prevent it. He does not have to thief, lie bribe, or victimized anybody to accomplish what might be in his destiny!

      Shut up fool! 

      • Sakah Boy
        July 27, 2018

        @francisco.
        Francisco I am echoing your words…

        “Why don’t you shut your stupid mouth; you are a damn fool: are you suggesting Lennox should bury his head between his legs, and agree to the crap Roosevelt is talking, clap his hands and say thank God for Skerrit that will make him positive!”

        My brother you sound like a CANCER VICTIM.

      • Bouche Cabrit
        July 28, 2018

        It is amazing and unfortunate that the management and admin of Dominica News Online would have you describe someone as a damn fool. I thought as contributors we are advised to watch our tone. You must be the smartest contributor on DNO since you seem to be knowledgeable of every topic and discussion. You must have a few doctorates. My advice to you would be since you seem to be Mister Know-it-All you should run for political office in Dominica.Maybe you willl be able to do more work and less talking and typing..JUST SAYING…

        Fed up with these so called smart educated people sitting in their comfort overseas and think they can use DNO and other media houses as their platform to spew hate and anger. Come your tale back to contribute and stop peeping from the outside line a thief…

  14. Sams
    July 27, 2018

    Lol you are the best you so right :lol:

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