The much-talked-about Dominica International Airport is 40 percent complete and ahead of schedule.
This was according to Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre during his presentation of the National Budget for the fiscal year 2025/2026.
“Since the mobilization and commencement of construction of Dominica’s international airport, we have made substantial progress in transforming this long-awaited national priority into a reality,” he said. “The scale and pace of work on this project are unprecedented in our nation’s history, and the airport is now over 40% complete and ahead of schedule.”
In fact, he said civil works are well advanced and major supporting infrastructure, such as four large culverts spanning more than 2,000 meters in length, have been constructed to ensure proper drainage.
Dr. McIntyre stated that it is anticipated that the leveling of the runway will be complete by the end of December this year.
“We have started construction of the Passenger Terminal and will soon commence work on the Cargo Facility, Air Traffic Control Tower, and Rescue and Firefighting Services Building,” he explained. “We will also commence construction of a tunnel beneath the runway to ensure uninterrupted, safe and efficient access between the communities of Wesley and Woodford Hill.”
To date, reported the minister, over $45 million in compensation has been paid out to 235 property owners, and 47 new homes have been constructed, with 31 built directly by the Government.
Dr.McIntyre pointed out that this transformative project remains on schedule and will serve as a catalyst for tourism, trade, and investment, reshaping Dominica’s economic landscape and global connectivity.
A one billion dollar contract was signed between the Government of Dominica and Montreal Management Consultant Establishment (MMCE), signaling the official commencement of the construction of the highly anticipated international airport. The contract signing took place at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium on June 9, 2021.
At the time, the prime minister expressed gratitude to the people of Wesley, Woodford Hill, and Palm Tree who facilitated the construction of the airport in their communities and vowed to the citizens of Dominica, at home and abroad, that ‘nothing and no one’ will stop his government from building the international airport.
the grass not going with mr.
my teacher has gone money mad
So the ppl of Marigot didn’t get thanks like the ppl of Wesley and Woodfordhill. The Airport construction has affected all and sundry on the North East.
The Road from Marigot to Portsmouth is nearly completely destroyed now, that’s expected but do too recognize the sacrifices made by those who didn’t vote for the DLP.
Now I commend the Gov’t on taking on this project and I do hope for the good of all Domincans that it comes to fruition in a timely fashion. There’s no doubting that DA needs a real economic boost and I do want expectations about this project to be soberly measured, 1 airport on it’s own may not have quick economic impact. In fact the Airport may run at a loss for a while before things pick up, bear that in mind. There need to be complimentary investments around the Airport. The Gov’t must also make sure that Dominicans have the financial capacity to take advantage here.
Dr. McIntyre
can the people of dca get a break down on what was spent so far remember its our money and we have the right to know and what is expected to be spent for the balance of the 60% of project
good to inform the public of expenditure
e.g
cement = what amount spent as of end june 2025
salaries = what amount spent as of end june 2025
equipment’s etc.
Dr Mc Intyre forget about telling us about what percentage of work has been done and what percentage is left on the airport laundromat because by now all our eyes are wide open, just as the eyes of Adam and Eve were opened after they ate the forbiden fruit. So instead just tell us how many passports/citizenship we need to sell and tell us who you and Skerrit plan to sell them to and how long it will take to sell them.
The tunnel under the runway idea was nixxed and discarded by MMCE engineers 2 years ago as a very bad plan. Unless the very bad plan is back on the table, I must disbelieve everything that he said regarding the airport project.
It is not smart to hastily post comments as soon as an article appears in the media in whatever form since one may not have done the necessary due diligence on whatever was announced. I believe in the wait and see approach, not wait forever as well as the trust but verify the contents of the things that have been announced. Dr McIntyre stated several things. He said that the construction of several structures had commenced which could have been easily verified with a short visit to the site.
Avoid making blanket statements on the matter with no supporting facts like “I visited the site” and no such thing exists. This will lend credibility to your post.
I am trying to understand why we need a new airport when Melville Hall can handle direct fights to the US and Canada now.
We are basically spending a billion dollars for direct flights to the UK. I hope it is worth the investment.
You know how much CBI money Skerrit have in bank account overseas,how come you don’t know who building the airport.Go ask Thompson Fontaine and Lennox Linton,they know everything.Negative blue losers.In 1997 UWP closed down the Layou 5 Star Hotel in the Layou valley to sell passports to international criminals,Anthony Slade and Al Massari.Corrupt political party,and their supporters more corrupt and dishonest than them.Everything done by DLP in the development of Dominica those blue crooks and traitors against.
Chinese building airport….my my my….I hope they building it to carry our people…heavy people….not light weight Chinese….everything they build…leaking….hospital walls already has cracks…I hope they are using cement and not tarish for cement…
Does any right thinking citizen still believe any word that escapes from the mouth of Dr. McIntyre and his other mendacious colleagues?
According to this infamous charlatan, every thing is on the up in Dominica. Agriculture is booming, the international airport, geothermal and new power plant are ahead of schedule. All other projects to be done are shovel ready. Of course, this is all false narrative to fool the gullible and the zealots.
A lying government uses hope as one of its favorite strategies of deceit. This is precisely what Roosevelt, Dr. McIntyre and the rest of the villainous enterprise do to the people of Dominica.
The propaganda of the DLP is targeting the people who are not living in Dominica. A set of false hopes, pretty, pictures and narratives while the people are sucking salt on a daily basis. Not even Haitians want to live in Dominica today!!! SMH
I’m not a fan of this administration, but get over your disbelief. The airport is building.
I want us to put this project into prospective. It took sister island St.Vincent just under ten(10) years from groundbreaking to commissioning. And the topography challenges are nearly identical. I don’t know how long it will take us to complete ours, but I have an inkling that it will be a way bit less than 10 years.
Like many of us, I naively thought that it was just a matter of getting bulldozers and dump trucks in to flatten the land and pave a runway. However, the amount of engineering and work that goes into just getting this site ready for an airport is crazy. I actually find the project intriguing. I now see why those before us decided to put the Melville Hall Airport in a valley. And why it took so long before someone had the cojones to actually attempt this project. Dominica has no flat land. At least not of the scale required for such a project.
So patience my fellow Dominicans.
The airport is being built and it will be completed, hopefully ahead of schedule.
45,000,000÷235 =191,489.36170213
that cannot build a home or get you property in wesley area.
we want to know from Minister of finance how many citizenship certificates have been sold thus far, how many new Dominicans we have since the funds for the airport are financed by CBI. what is the arrangement with these CBI folks and ownership of the airport since the pitch is to invest in these structures? are the sold on ownership of the airport? Are any loans or grants used? is the airport really being built by CBI or Chinese government? where is the accountability to the people of the country? stating 40% complete is not enough and shows a lack of responsibility to the citizens of Dominica.