Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has vowed that a Morocco-funded hotel now being constructed in Cabrits Portsmouth will be completed by October next year and “not one day later.”
The fifty-room hotel will comprise seven major buildings including a conference facility to accommodate 200 people, duty free shops and a Spa.
During a site visit on Wednesday, PM Skerrit said construction is on schedule. “It is on schedule… taken into consideration our climatic and weather conditions here in Portsmouth and Dominica,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister, 49 Dominicans are presently employed on the project and instructions have been given to take more in order to accelerate its completion. “Our friends visited us from Morocco and they said look, October next year, not one day later,” he said in terms of a deadline for completion.
Mr. Skerrit went on to say that when the hotel becomes fully operational at least 100 Dominicans will be employed full time. “Based on the services that will be provided – at the spa, at the gym, the security personnel, staff management, it estimated that we will need at least a hundred people employed on this completed spa …” he said. “This is direct jobs, people who will get their salary directly from this facility.”
He pointed out that many people such as fishermen and farmers will also benefit indirectly from the completed hotel project.
The Prime Minister thanked the government of Morocco for what he described as a ‘gift.’ “We are very grateful for the Kingdom of Morocco for this most generous gift to the people of Dominica. This is a multi million dollar facility completely financed by the Moroccan government,” he pointed out.
He said when the project is completed it will be ready to receive guests immediately.
Everything in this country seem to be a big joke.
No one is responsible and no one is accountable.
I hope is really morocco giving the hotel.
Please investigate.
why does everything go to the north?
hotell hotell hotell. so when we getting the state of the Art hospital?
Could they not have built an Eco Friendly Hotel something of class and better outlook for that section of the National History site instead of that old fashioned block style..Prison cell Block H it looks like..and looks like a block of residential flats (apartments)somewhere in Europe. The design looks wash out for being at the foot of one of our Noted National Parks!And, who is going to operate it, what incentivies are they going to offer to have people stay there? Jobs will be created but will there be guests to be served noting the struggles of Hotels on the Island to put bums in rooms..Mister PM, now is time to think of building an International airport..all Belle hall Way is land for that..it may be swampy in some parts but you the head man to get the place sorted. It costing folks an arm and a leg just to get DA, with an International Airport Dominica wouth strive like some its neighbors…bring us up in line….now for the Marina in Portsmouth, Botanical gardens in Bawo, and our very own boardwalk..we tired vote Labour and are the back bone of where you are sitting today and we getting the rough end of development! We not asking for much just development to bring the town up to Pah and give the youte man dem some job incentives…
Hint hint; lawn grass right next to the sea shore?Don’t match believe what you hear and only half of what you see. This is how they treat the populace – like the ignorant people that we are. Not one environmental impact statement. A wharf and no geotechnical report. The structure is going up and no signs of marine construction equipment for piles. What are they goi g to tell us? The warf will come later? What about the wave breakers- rocks. Where are tbey coming from?
I wish our people would smarter and hold those crooms in government accountable. We all know this is a to sho tu flam project. What we called a vroop vroop.
Is there public records providing information on sewave handling; what about garbage handling.
Our people are so gullible it is sickening.
As a pensioner paying two hundred dollars from marigot to roseau lives a big hole or void in my pocket,i really thought that there were plans in place to build a new airport,building a new hotel is good for Dominica and Dominican’s but oh it cost to much to get there.
thus that mean, the nite landing thing is dead? since that was to complement the project,as said by the PM in the bigining when he disclosed that we were getting this hotel from morroco.
this large scale construction project and only 49 dominicans are working there! how are dominicans benefitting from these construction projects that are being under taken in the country? i wonder what percentage of the work force is that?
Currently 49 workers employed out of a construction crew of how many and from where? wouldn’t a hotel in Marigot be better placed to cater to delayed flights, and air crews overnighting? Or is this outside of your blinkered horizon?
forgot to add….. no sight of any solar panels, just like the State House, are we eco-friendly or not? Solar power should be prevalent on any new construction, especially since the Chinese are going to start reducing the numbers of companies manufacturing the panels from next year. Buy them now and in bulk so there is a stock of them here for purchase.
I am totally disgusted with the mentality in
Dominica,and that is why the people who are positive are leaving,and those who are overseas
do not want to return, while those who return
to Dominica end up leaving because of the negativity of the populace, even the amount of cruise ships are way down. These people will criticize anyone who is trying to do something positive on the island, yet these same people can’t say what they have done to make Dominica a better place. While growing up in Dominica my parents use to say that some Dominicans are like crabs in a barrel. I abhor the total disrespect
of people who are contributing to the island.
This is the only place where people sit idly by waiting for Government to do everything for them
even to putting food in their mouth. Please grow up. Like John Kennedy said “ask not what your country can do for you: but what you can do for your country.” Untill you accept these truth the Island will be doomed.
Stupes, good news for hungry dummies.
I’m so tired of this ignorant hillbilly country and this “bon bon” politics its not funny.
Suckers just like sweetie. Didn’t yall mamas tell yall, beware of strangers bearing gifts.
I swear, left to some black people. We would dive straight back into 1 million years of slavery.
My policy now is to sell those ignorant sweetie lovers before I get sold.
I smell a rat that has “RAMPANT CORRUPTION” written all over it, such as who got paid under the table to bring this hotel to fruition. DOMINICA FOR SALE? Folks all that glitters is so not gold.
You are politically biased. Should the government have said no, to this gift which we very clearly need? Should they have said we need a juice factory instead? I respectfully disagree with you that government should concentrate on juice factories. This is for the private sector but if some donor country offer one I would say yes, take it. There is no success without effort,learn that.
@ Roseau Valley
With all due respect, we are all have our personal biases. I have a bias in favour of efficiency and high quality, and against inefficiency and ineptitude. Therefore, please do accept my apologies, if you were to find that I am critical of what I deem to be the latter.
You would appreciate that not all gifts are worth accepting, especially as in the instant case, the gift is most likely the result of a specific/official request. The Kingdom of Morocco would not simply make a gift of a hotel to Dominica, if we did not request it.
But you are actually correct on one point. A juice factory, as an example, falls within the category of commercial activity that would normally attract private sector investment.
However, the general point that I an making is that some activities are better left for government, while others are better undertaken by the private sector. At least, the government could seek to establish joint-ventures with the private sector but it ought not seek to compete directly with those who invest in the private sector.
What I have learnt from the current administration is that the next level of success achieved is only to the extent of the limited vision and effort that is put into the thought process.
Have a great weekend citizen
Respectfully
Roseau valley
Hotel my foot International Airport and Honesty in Government is all we need to develop Dominica
why didn’t the King of Morocco give a hospital or a secondary school as a gift.Why a hotel? Is it going to be their nestling place for all those communist friends of skerrit? Dominicans keep a close eye on that hotel when it its up and running.
With all these negative sentiments this is a
country going nowhere. This is like the tower
of Babel some want school, some want Hospital,some want Air Port,some want juice
factory one wonders what the hell do they want.
Every one knows confusion brought down the tower
of Babel, and that is what is bringing down Dominica.
well i’m a steel worker on that project and i’m proud to say that next month will be giving me a year since i have been on this project and i am thankful to the cans /moroccans for this generous donation this is surely a blessing for all of us dominicans and if all goes well this resort and spa will be completed by october 2013
I hope they drain the swamp opposite the new hotel. The mosquitoes and sand flies in Portsmouth are vicious because it’s below sea level. I stopped spending time there with my relatives because of that. Still love Portsmouth though.
Build the marina next! This will definitely help maintain high occupancy.
Is that a hotel or a school?. Is the design inspired by the 70s?.
Development ? That’s sad. We need I first keep our citizens alive by having a proper hospital well equipped I handle all situations. Can’t believe what some o the ppl in our hospitals are dieing from. Can I get a private room when I’m in the hospital? Instead some ahole. Asking what u there for.
If the hotel will be up and running and taking guests in OCTOBER 2013 the management should now be in place.Recruiting and training staff.or is this another wish list.
Some time ago, the Tourism Minister called on the local hoteliers in the private sector to do all in their power to make Dominica the best tourism destination in the Caribbean. He advised that government was working tirelessly to ensure all accommodations and properties were compliant with internationally recognized standards.
In reacting to the story some readers commented that the private sector needs to seek ways for service/product enhancement but noted that business owners would only be willing to invest in enhancement and expansion when the business environment created by government was more conducive and accommodating. They called on government to be humble in acknowledging that it has failed miserably in bringing tourism, agriculture, manufacturing or the economy on a whole to the Next level as it has succeeded in doing for political and constitutional turmoil and corruption.
Basically, there is no quarrel that any hotel will provide a serious boost to our tourism product, create some employment and provide for linkages for development of other sectors in the economy such as agriculture, taxi operations, fishing, and other services like hair braiding and vending.
Furthermore, there may not be an argument to be made about chick-egg situation re access to Dominica and the need for hotel facilities. We need both and both must take place at some point even simultaneously to the extent that funds are available. The fact is we need more hotel facilities now and we will need more when air access to Dominica is improved.
However, one cannot dismiss the points made by other contributors like Coco, Malatete and Dissident. One must be concerned that government is now involved in activities that ought to be left for investment by the private sector. Government’s role is to create the enabling environment such as facilitating access to affordable funding to generate private sector investment, which includes joint-venture financing.
Ideally, government should focus on non-traditional investments (like the juice processing plant) or more public infrastructure projects such as the development and improvement of the road network (feeder roads for farmers, connecting roads to communities, main roads and streets), the educational sector (schools, teachers, scholarships etc), the health sector (training and paying descent salaries to nurses, building hospitals and ensuring that they are well equipped).
The concerns with regard to the lack of details on the ownership, management and operation of the hotel are legitimate, especially after the bold, shameful and frightening admission by the PM on the Next Level program that if he has a job and two people are competing, merit would play a secondary role in the selection decision to Party affiliation. The unanswered questions include, who will gain employment? Who will manage the hotel? Labourites and Party apologists!
Respectfully
your writing sounds educated; but lacks commonscense,and partisan politics which makes you suspect. you want feeder roads,infrastructure
decent salaries, and a host of other things.
I would like to know where does the Government get all this revenue to do all these things when your population is not increasing, agriculture is dead while tourism is limping, and the private
economy is non existant. Like I tell my friends
Dominica has a civilservice economy no one is creating anything to employ people. And yet every
one is always suspect of countries that want to help. like the saying goes “you should not look a gift horse in the mouth”
well i need a job in that hundred so where do i send my application.
When this hotel is opened it is my belief, Dominicans will see an increase of Moroccians,Venezualians, Cubans and Chinese delegations also many more Caribbean leaders, people from Caribbean government institutions visting Dominica and all that traffic will be moving straight to the hotel.Their is a saying in Dominica,” the evil that men do lives with them,” it will be very interested to see the reactions of the owners of a favorite hotel in Roseau which Government used regularly with no regards to the other hotels.
My people don’t get fooled by a picture!! Any body can draw something like that and present it as theirs.
This is another scam by the fake DLP to blind-fold the Dominicans who can’t think for themselves.
I know this project is not going anywhere.
Be smarter than that my people.
Awesome! Awesome!, Well done, PM Skerrit. Makes me proud to be a Dominican. Future prospects for the tourism industry looking GREAT.
I will be coming HOME soon.
“Be Empowered”
the hotel have not even opened yet but you guys say that it will fail, come on man, learn to appreciate what they are offering. Everything that this prime minister does Dominicans has an issue,what will investors think? they will not want to invest because all u guys do is criticize. with good management this hotel can be a success.
U boasting about 49 Dominicans employed on this multi-million $ project.
Gardahkan has far more workers on de Pond Case to Melville Hall road. Ace Engineering had as much or more Dominicans on de Pointe Michel seawall.
We have a population of 72 000. We have 65 000 on de electors list (huh? How did that happen? How many people under 18 live an island. That means 65 000 18 years and older and u want to boast of 49 workers on a project?
U want a medal of honor for dat?
Who is going to use this hotel? Won’t they be impressed to arrive by going through Lagoon!
Great vibes.
Why is the Government competing with the private sector?
Thanks Mr. Prime Minister for continuing to develop our country. Now if we could only have a decent airport more visitors will want to ccme to our lovely country; but everything takes time and i understand it will soon come. For those who cannot see the good in this eat your heart out cause this man cannot please us Dominicans doh matter what he does. Ponda on that who doh like my comment go fetch a bone.
man just give your political one cent and HUSH ur ………
u see a political platform here on dno??? who cares if you want the whole world to love your prime minister, if he didn’t want to face opposition he should not have taken the job, maybe YOU need a job to read his JOB DESCRIPTION to him. chhhhaaaaaaaaaa
thank you prime minister for asking for things on my behalf, but I would also like to HAVE A HAND in the development of OUR country, the efforts do not have to fall squarely on your shoulders, after all it is not your estate. WE the LAZY people of Dominica should be ASSSSSSSSSISTING you in developing Dominica as it belongs to all of us all….
AND BESIDES BY BACKSIDE HURTING ME FROM SITTING SO LONG DOING NOTHING AND GETTING EVERYTHING…
help enable me to fulfill my PATRIOTIC DUTY to contribute to NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BY creating the economically and intellectually sound environment for me to do so.
Ponda on that who doh like my comment LAZYYYYYYY
i like. Tell it to them self.
I like!! and agree.
who write that SKERRIT?
If this isn’t a total receipe for disaster I do not know what is. Governments have never run any hotel successful – that is not the role of government. Government is and should be seen as a pump primer – in other words if they have resources that they wish to invest into hotel development they do it – ONLY in tandem with a hotel management company. So for example a hotel chain like Four Seasons should they be interested in Dominica – what the government can do is use their resources to build to the specifications of the hotel chain. That way you are being assured of a quality product capable of changing hands in the event that becomes necessary.
This hotel is heading for total disaster and will only serve to do more harm than good to the Government, the tourism industry of Dominica and the overall image of the destination.
Another case of people not understanding the tourism industry. What a shame
Four Seasons? really? Some of he first things they will probably check on:
1. What is the budget for tourism
2. What is the budget for tourism
3. What is the budget for tourism
4. What is the budget for tourism
5. What is the budget for ytourism
6. What has the budget for tourism been over the past 5 years. 10 years. 15 years.
7. Current arrivals
8. Trend of arrivals – is it downard or upward
9. Trend for crime
10. Is there a training school or is full burden of training a very unskilled and ill prepared human resource base, on them
Air access is not an issue for four seasons as they set up in Nevis years ago and had the likes of Princess Diana stay with them back in the day.
Anyway so keep dreaming with this project. Further, this project will be opened in one year and still no possible brands being listed as having shown interest? We havent heard anything about a team from Four Seasaons or whoever coming to research the island and the project?
I remain very skeptical that this is not just another avenue to cream of millions of dollars and leave us with a white elephant.
Surely the potential hotel chain should be in from the design stage?
All doom all day.
In other words.. nothing can be done without foreign management and giving foreign companies a piece of the pie.
The truly Evolved know a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step.
Now Dom 2013, what is this? Is this not a venture with one hundred percent foreign involvement? If you guys just allow what you see to cloud your independent judgement, you will be led down the path to the cliff with a rope around your neck and will keep denying that there is a rope around your neck all the way to the edge! Wake up and ask……….WHAT ARE WE GIVING AWAY IN EXCHANGE FOR HOTELS, ROADS, STADIUMS, SUPPOSEDLY GIVEN TO US LOCK, STOCK AND BARREL AT THE EXPENSE OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS FROM HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD????? Do not allow personalities to take away your ability to think for yourself and to question actions and demand accountability! Be Dominican…….by putting Dominica’s longterm future first!!! ask yourself, when those in power are out in thirty years time, what is the deal that they would have left us with???? Are these agreements so far into the future that we can be fooled now but suffer the consequences in a few years or generations???????? ASK THE QUESTIONS AND DEMAND THE ANSWERS…..THE MOU, WHY CAN WE NOT SEE IT ALL??????????
@ 100% Dominican; Sir/Ma’am, a 100 thumbs up to you. I have never seen a more complacent people who refuse to ask questions of their elected officials. The worst part is, they take pleasure in vilifying fellow Dominicans who do ask questions. I pray God open the eyes of my people and give them the boldness that they once had.
How exactly is this a Gift? Wont the Hotel still be owned by Morocco? Or will it be owned by the Government of Dominica? Where do the Hotel profits go? Is the Hotel going to be put on the market so that Dominicans can buy it?
Please explain to me how this is a gift to us and not to them, because it seems like we just sold 20 acres of Dominican real estate to Kings in Morocco.
@Anonymous
what else is there to explain? A gift is a gift, and it belongs to the person who receives it. Do you know of anyone giving you a gift and to still claim it as their own?
Surely you are not suggesting this belongs to Roosevelt Skerrit in a private capacity??
I’m really glad that this is being done there and hope that the entire beach head is further developed. However, does the design have to look like one of the 1980’s !!
I agree with you. such an ugly looking building. why does Dominica always get cochoni? and they feel is the best we. Is a shame.
I have one thing to say to you, be grateful for goodness sake.
Dominicas development is a case of the chicken and the egg. Which one came first, was it the egg or was it the chicken?
Will the International Airport come first and Everything else follow? Or will Everything else come first and the airport follow..
Where there is no vision the people perish(suffer)
For those of you thinking that this hotel will be employing anyone once its finished you are really living in the clouds.
Whatever the “cost” of the hotel a good portion of that will be syphoned off and that’s what this hotel has ever ever ever been all about..
You must ask yourselves – how serious are these people when their budget for tourism is laughable? A couple million EC$? lololololol
WAKE UP DOMINICA!
All good…some progress.
Thanks to the king of MOROCCO………….now let us work on increasing visitor numbers by enticing moroccans to visit DA
This looks similar to the Teacher’s college at BathEstate…
Lmao cuz you hit the nail right on the head. That is exactly what it looks like. I thought it looked familiar but couldn’t put my hands on it. Lol you got it. hahahahaha
The concept o government owned hotel properties in the caribbeaan was tried and ailed from way bak in the seventies and eighties The bobol starts from the start poor design Pleaase compare Secret beach design or rosalie bay resorts. it continues in the earth moving where cronies get the contract. then it is either given to a party boy/girl to operate or wors the government tries running it itself. you can guess the cycle. it ends in disaster
now, the hotel spans the logical acccess to the development of a marina in the cabrits area and i think that a marina is much more important than another failing hotel
I THINK IS A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN, I ONLY HOPE THE LOCAL PEOPLE WILL BE CONSIDER FOR THOSE JOBS!!!!
Yes it’s a form of employment. But a couple of secondary schools or a hospital would be better because at the end of the day , it might be only security guards working looking after a building without guests.
Skerrit is the best. He is so lucky people just love him so they shower him with gifts
1 million likes
He is, isn’t he. IIknow you would finally see the light.
I know you would finally see the light.
@Aye Dominique
I imagine that you are being sarcastic, but we cannot dismiss the fact that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is indeed a man of charisma; and his youth as a Leader is what attracts the older leaders around him. They love him, just as most of Dominicans do.
God wants us to love people, and that is why He will blrss our Prime Minister for our sake–it does not matter with those who cannot see that–God knows about it. He knows what He is doing in our lives! Like someone said already, Mr. Skerrit cannot please everyone of us, and that is a fact!
I can also perceive other virtues and characters of Mr. Skerrit that is good for our Dominica, but for now I will keep it to myself. Until then may he remain in the guidance and teachings of his Ruler–God Almighty.
Great for Dominica. Please PM Skeritt improve the infrastructure and landing facilities and Dom will go clear. Beautiful island and you are doing a brilliant job. Keep improving Dom and God bless Dom everytime.
very beautiful hotel,kool i like that we getting there.
De only people u giving jobs are red labor followers. I dare u to not consider political affiliations before u reward a Dominican citizen a job.
I am looking at the same timeline for de Pond Case to Melville Hall road. Considering all de excavation left at Belles, work at Gleau Gommier (all u better not leave de road sinking like Antrim), stone blasting at Pagua and all de bridges how is it that u allow Blackmoore to go on national radio giving us de impression that the road will be completed by end of December 2012?
I have no faith in u neither Blackmoore
Who disinged that? that looks cheap !! one love any way !!
you cannot please all u Dominicans no matter what you do….
It blends into the environment.
Hotels don’t have to to be humongous glass and marble structures. I don’t believe that we need hotels more tha 3 storeys high.
Excellent comment!!! Low rise, rustic yet luxurious has to be the watchwords for Dominica tourism infrastructure ..This is what this hotelwas aiming for … and I think they have it ! This is Dominica .. not Miami ot New York ..(see Kandalama Hotel , Sri Lanka for Dominica’s model)
Im glad for the project, but what kind of 1980’s design is that !?
Whilst wishing this new development every success I have the following questions:
– Given that our existing hotels are struggling with low occupancy where will the guests come from to fill this new development?
– Assuming that the State has ownership of this hotel, will its employees be Govt. employess?
– If not, does it mean that the business will be run by a non-government company and if so, who would that be?
– Given the lack of skills in the hospitality industry where will the new employees be recruited from?
– Given that the facility is located on land that is very close to sea level, which does not alow for traditional soak-aways what are the plans for the disposal of sewage and grey water? Will the facility have its own sewage treatment facility or simply have an open run-off into the sea?
There are many people who come to the Portsmouth
area to visit their children at Ross University.
so this will be a great place for them.
Negative people are very shortsighted.
October 2013 not one day later. Ah ah ah. Is it October 31 at 11:59 PM. Bringing more people on the project does not necessarily Boost the schedule but politicians must say the things to keep people hopeful.
So the Morocan gave us a hotel and SKERRIT can talk about hiring more people whereas we took a loan from China and Chinese are the ones working. Wow wow.
I must also point out that our hotels are on the brink of collapse because yet we are building a hotel and giving the impression that the hotel will create jobs. Now party apologist say to us we don’t need an international airport until we have people coming to Dominica but we find it very important to build an additional hotel even while those in operation are struggling to keep the door open.
What a lost administration
Does politics cloud your mind?
Well thank God for the hotel and employment etc. it will bring, but i can’t say i like the design and attractiveness of the structure. Believe it or not how it looks also has a lot to do with who it attract as guests and.
So who will be managing this hotel?
Labour Party
Details, skerrit. Details
More looks liek a guest house
Excellent!! I am eager to see the completionn of this great project. But can we be told of the plan for occupancy?
this is very good for the people of Dominica
we wil all benifit from that.
again thank you.
100 full time employees for 50 guest rooms? This does not sound correct in terms of hotel industry ratio.
Can we have the ratio for those who do not know?
two people to a room plus guess, it sounds like DASPA, impregnated with potential farmers doing security
hope it will not be a pink elephant.. cause dominica right now is closed for business.
Just wait a proclaim smart ( low IQ Dominican) must comment something smart
Yessss sweet
I am just wondering how the hotel will be operated. Has any reputable hotel operator been selected yet? Was the operator involved before the construction started at the design stage? All operators have their specific requirements in terms of design and furniture, fixtures and equipment. The quality of the operator can make a BIG difference in terms of larketing the hotel.I think this needs to be clarified before we confirm the stable hundred jobs.
Awesome! Awesome! Well done! PM Skerrit.
Great prospects for Tourism Industry.
So Proud to be a Dominican.
I will be coming HOME soon.
“Stay Connected”
sounds interesting. i hope Dominican students will be able to go to morrcco for free too and if the Dominican Governement has to give anything in return
Will this be a luxury hotel? A five star?
Gov’t at work again keep this up
i dont think so, infrastructure development is good but the local small businesses are seriouly in problems..they are the growth drivers..cant you see and feel it now. de place dead, no tourism, agriculture and the government service cannot be the main job creation medium.
remmember we cannot eat concret and ashphalt