Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that the much-talked-about international airport will be completed by the end of 2027, despite what he says are attempts to impede the process.
He made the announcement during a Town Hall Meeting held at the Newtown Primary School on Sunday, March 15.
“As solid as Ms. Charles was, may her soul rest in peace, she tried, she couldn’t build the airport for us,” he said. “Every government from E.O Leblanc days, even back in Frank Baron days, history will tell us, tried to build the international airport for Dominica, because it wasn’t easy.”
Skerrit argued that no bank in the world will give the government money to build an airport.
“But as I said many times to you, we started saving to build the airport,” he stated. “I used to save 5 million US dollars every month to put in the International Airport Development Fund, and by the time when Maria came, we [had] $260 million in that account.”
The Prime Minister explained further that had it not been for Maria, his government would have had enough cash to fund the building of the airport.
“And by the time this airport would be built, you, me, our children, and our grandchildren would have nothing to pay back for this airport,” he noted.
According to Skerrit, the airport is being built at the most difficult time, “and now you know what they are trying to do, they are trying to stop it.”
“Nobody in this country is going to stop no airport in Dominica,” he remarked. “The people who want to stop the airport, they are either retired, their children are overseas, or they have no children in Dominica.”
Skerrit added, “The airport will be completed by the end of 2027.”
Presently, there are over 100 Dominicans employed at the International Airport Development Project.
dat nasty attitude stinks
like you are all authority
this will end one bright day
attitude and people like this not on this earth forever though
I can rest easy on that truth
who vex loss
thumbs down won’t help nor prevent de inevitable
Every Dominican should support this international airport development project which will transform the future of Dominica for the better.
Roosevelt: you always take the position that nobody in Dominica can prevent you from doing as you wish: you made a similar comment to the effect: no law can prevent you from being prime minister of Dominica, whereas you are an naturalized French Citizen. You claimed that your mother afforded you French citizenship when you were a baby!
And so here we are again “Nobody in Dominica can impede the completion of the Airport,” again; I say it would be stupid for anyone Dominica to attempted that, as it would not be in the interest of the nation. Nevertheless, if it is not built according to a certain standard! The Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which sets the global standard for Airport Safety, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States which certifies that an International Airport is safe for landing, can leave you standing with a multi-color Elephant, if that airport Runway is not surfaced with the appropriate building material! Don’t clap so fast!
You are correct. It is the international airport authorities that have the last say.
And it’s not just the surface of the runway, but the stability of the ground beneath.
Therein lies the fatal flaw in the enterprise.
Roosevelt; I doubt any Dominican with a minute; “a small amount” of commonsense at this time would attempt to thwart the building of an International Airport. Fact is I believe that every Dominican, illiterate, semi-illiterate, academics, and pundits regardless of political affiliation knows that the airport will be an essential part of our nation infrastructure, which will play a vital roll in boosting the economy of the country. Nevertheless people are concern about the methods used in the construction: i.e., the damaged the Chines has done to the Village of Wesley, definitely to Deux Branches, and the rivers in the country. Whereas the citizens of Dominica cannot prevent the completion.
The powers which grants permission to operate can leave you standing with a Green Elephant! The International Civil Aviation Organization, which sets the global standard for airport safety, and the Federal: not finished!
In any event, no amount of thumbs down nor verbal sarcasm, and sarcastic remarks can suppress the truth!
There is also a high power, and whereas Roosevelt may think he has might and power, tell him to use his power and relieve the visa situation, let the world see and feel his power.
There was a tyrant in Venezuela: in less than a night he was, and is no more;sooner or later under orders Roosevelt will eventually have to tell the Chinese to phase out of Dominica.
He might have to account and tell a mighty power why Dominica entertains the largest Chinese Embassy outside of China, at least in the entire Caribbean region!
Mr.Point the Cassandra there are thousands of small businesses in Dominica.Tell her there are thousands of Dominica made products for tourists to buy.Ever year check NDFD creole in the street,NBD has also started something like creole in the street,local,local,local.Another one who knows nothing about Dominica,just running her mouth.
How strange!
All of a sudden you getting plenty of thumbs up.
Ah wanda waa-dem coming fram so nuh?
How can an idiot get so many thumbs up, when you are the most idiotic lying Skerrit puppet contributor to this forum?
So, you think we do not know more than half came off your nasty fingers, and that of your collages you pay to support your garbage? wheal around, jump and prance and come again: I boy got you covered; you dishonest little ole whip, you ole weasel!
Hahahahahahahahahahah!
I like honest and robust discourse in general which I see as a clear way of knowing what’s on people’s minds.
I must say, though, I was shocked to hear this recent bold and emphatic declaration on the continuation of the airport construction project from the Prime Minister who is not known for spewing many words.
I may not agree with every policy position or directive coming from the current administration but the truth is that has always been my sentiment towards all administrations near and far. In this case, I must ask what is there not to support about the new airport construction?
Prudent ideas and projects are not respecters of political or party affilliation. Progress and convenience should be politically neutral no brainers.
The sad and unfortunate truth is many would rather see national stagnation and regression instead of meaningful progress just to have fodder to lay blame and score cheap political talking points.
speak for yourself
de opposers of de project still have an impact and input in de development of dis country
Skerrit doesn’t push money away
all is welcome
if he could identify the dollar as dlp, UWP, DFP and others would he only accept dlp contribution?
I would like to hear from him personally.
I wanna know if I would get my money back.
if I would be banned.
dat nobody reference will come back to bite
time will tell
Yeah sure, build the airport so tourists can come and buy imported goods from their own countries at double prices; that’s inviting, isn’t it?!
Where are the local products you’re welcoming the tourists with?
Is that airport priority right now?!
I hear there’s war happening; that airport would make a nice US military base, I’m sure trump administration is very happy about how Dominica is spending money!
Ambulance, fire and police services already linked with the US, now you want the airport – ready for occupation you are!
Who’s your boss, trump?!
Did the US manage to infiltrate all Dominica’s health, police and information services yet?
Any awareness of the risks you’ve exposing the country to, PM?
Or you think you know better?!
Can you see the upcoming wave?!
dissident went to school in August when teachers were on vacation,unlike me who went to the Dominica Grammar School when Cecil Goodrich an J K Gough were head masters.This guy dissident has a PhD in aholism.But again his leader has a PhD and cannot get a job.
There are extra classes now during the August break for some who have fallen behind. You need these extra classes more than all others. You are an old exe police officer in a juvenile body Your chronological ahe may be 70 years bit your mental age is that of a pre adolescent.
But kindergarten graduate, how can you say this “dissident” attended classes when the school doors were closed; when you went through a similar process.
You went into the front door at nine o’clock in the morning, and exit the back door at three o’clock in the afternoon with your masters, and PhD., degrees you know!
So, how can you coitizes someone better educated than you!
You never saw the inside of Grammar school in Dominica, if you want anybody to believe you state if you went when Grama School Off River Street, next to the old Bridge, or when Baron Built it up there near Bath Estate.
You claim to have live on Figueroa Street in Los Angels, you claimed you are military, as you served in both the United Stated and Canadian Military simultaneously.
I even hear you were Roosevelt Skerrit professor, and when you through teaching him, he then became you professor too!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
“So, how can you coitizes someone better educated than you?”
I need to make a correction: the word “coitizes” was not intended; it is an error. I don’t even wish to define it, one can do that for themselves.
I simple intended to write “criticize,” sometimes when the spell checker on some computer make unaware correction, incidence such as this do occur, if one is not into the habit of editing their comments; such are the results!
Every time you challenge, which is the essence of democracy, the PM twists things to depict you as anti development. It is actually possible to be pro development and pro airport while at the same time questioning the method. Deux Brances has the makings of an environmental disaster and the Chinese are quarrying in an area known to have copper traces. Whats wrong with questioning that? There are alternative and better places to quarry. Its the duty of every Dominican to ensure thhe PM is answerable for his actions.
Stop hiding behind democracy to talk your rubbish. This Deux Branches site was used as a quarry before, where was all the noise then? This airport has been talked about for well over 50 years by every administration, it was the cornerstone of every manifesto at election time but poverty was the enemy and the airport was a reality only on pages of political manifestos. In 2023 construction started and opposition forces were in total opposition to this airport, they claimed the airport was too long, the location was bad, destruction of the environment etc. Those in the opposition who championed the move to build an international Airport are now saying that The Douglas-Charles airport is good enough for Dominica. A former Prime Minister who himself while in office made a failed attempt to build this airport now has the government in court trying to stop the collection of materials for the continued construction of the airport. This Deux Branches issue is just opposition obstruction.
‘hiding behind democracy’? Are you serious?
Dr.Dr.The Right Honourable Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit(2004 to present)has the support of the Dominican PEOPLE to build the international airport.
Labar Powerless, since 2004, all manifestos have on them to build international airport.
Up to this day airport can’t build yet..
Saving money 🤑 to build Airport??
A great Liar, is a gigantic Tief.
The man is right. Build it, and complete the geothermal plant. Best wishes!
As the Prime Minister stresses facilitating family connections, may I suggest that if the government made Dominica an enviable place for Dominica’s living and working aboard, they would choose to return permanently, rather than flitting back and forth.
Hence, less demand for an “International Airport” in addition to the one we already have.
You have got to be kidding me. So you think if most of the diaspora return home we won’t have any more need for an international airport? So only dominicans would use the airport? What about tourists, international travellers, visitors etc? What about dominicans who want to travel to other areas of the world without having to take multiple connecting flights? What about if a new international airport opening in the middle of the Caribbean basin becomes an attractive spot for connecting flights to different parts of the world? What about the fact of just having an international airport raising our profile as a viable destination for travel?
See this is the kind of thinking of the people opposing progress in the country – just braindead and backwards. smh
Thank you for reminding them, PM! Now, let them all toofay on that.
What’s a temporary environmental disturbance compared to an international airport construction? And what’s the viable alternatives? I am NOT a Laborite. But I support our prime minister. Let nothing or no one stand in the way of completing this project. God bless you Skerrit!
Which is more important the airport or the environment? Bulldozing a mountain, destroying rare fauna and flora, contaminating the rivers, negatively affecting people’s health and wellbeing, cannot be justified in the creation of a concrete structure.
Not enough planning and consultations were done before declaring war on the pristine environment. This one-man-ism must stop.
Man stop..The project is too far along to abandon.
Let us as Dominicans band together, get this completed as quickly as possible so the environment can start to recover, and the country to as a whole can start to enjoy the airport. Let us stop this pulling apart for the sake of Dominica.
Whether you guys like it or not he’s right. All the people protesting and making a fuss can do nothing to stop the project. He’s also right about a lot of these people having very little stake in the future of the country. It’s a bunch of elderly people, people with children that either live overseas or have dual citizenship, people with no children etc. Those are some of the most prominent voices that oppose every single development in the country
I’ve read your post.Bad judgment on my part.Perfect nonsense!
Opposition Liars,the Jolly good fellow was on radio telling the media whore that is is ready to bet $25,000 the international airport will never be built.There were several meetings and demonstrations where the people of Wesley and surroundings areas were advised to oppose construction.When the contract for the construction of the international airport was being signed at the Windsor Park Stadium,there was a demonstration outside,against the signing,Edison James former Prime Minister of Dominica went to court to STOP quarrying for construction of the airport.The enemies of progress,development and the people cannot say which river will be affected by quarrying at Deux Branch.To say nobody is against the airport is a deliberate lie.That move is political,for those who say Skerrit believe Dominica is his,let me remind ALL YOU Skerrit and LABOURITES built Dominica after hurricane Maria,with their blood,sweat and tears,While enemies of the state were rejoicing Skerrit was working.
For someone who is always so verbose and keen on debate I’m surprised you didn’t even bother to point out where I was wrong. That alone says a lot.
Skerrit is the god of Dominican and therefore He owns Dominica and everything in it. Dominica was made by him and for him and therefore there is no law, no constitution, and now nobody can stop him from destroying the country. Bravo Skerrit
Nah, he is simply the leader whom most Dominicans trust to handle matters such as using our resources to create jobs and increase economic growth. He is just the “people’s choice” for the stewardship of the nation. So, don’t ascribe to him any title that does not belong to him and that he, himself, would surely NOT accept.
Oh, by the way, you know that he was proven correct by the Court when he told you and the world that ” no law or constitution” could prevent his nomination as a candidate for a particular general election, right? So….. eat your heart out and toofay!
Nobody in the country is against the airport Mr Skerrit. But you can’t be doing things upside down to facilitate China and their internet, in the name of international airport,
Dominica is not your estate as you think. It belongs to all of us and therefore it cannot be right for you alone to just get up with a plan and start to execute it without thoroughly discussing with us and answer our questions. It’s no secret that you and China have a secret plan that you signed with them without and up to this day you have not made the MOU available to us, That secret MOU has already taken Ross University from us and many more. Am I, as Laborite, now believe that one of the secrets is for thie Chinese to come and daykalay our country looking for copper, and blind us with international airport Mr? Again, as a Laborite from your constituency, iwho voted for you in 200, 2005 and 2009 even after the departure of Rosie and Pierro, I am now very concerned about you and your Chinese agenda
Why write such imaginary silliness to support what you believe
lol, before being very concerned about a Chinese agenda, you should learn to distinguish what is factual and what is perception, stop antagonizing yourself with Chines hysteria, look at world events taking place, and you should see the agenda you should be concerned of.
Imagine that $260M being invested in the people of Dominica so everyone could better their lives. Leadership often likes to build monuments to themselves rather than seeing their legacy in the human lives they’ve been entrusted to care for and lead.
Wow, “Imagine that $260M being invested in the people of Dominica so everyone could better their lives” really what an illusion you are advocating. Your shallow cliché statement of what you think of Leadership is somewhat ludicrous. Why would you think that human lives should be entrusted to a Leader to care and lead them, such a sheep mentality.
So investing in an international airport for the people and the economy is not investing in the people? What exactly is it you want? To literally place the money people’s pockets as opposed to creating opportunities for employment generation through this project? I’m confused.
I’m pretty certain that not even the ones making the most noise about accessing materials for the construction of the airport, are seriously opposed to seeing its completion. That would be like shooting their selves in their foot especially for an opposition seeking to convince the Dominican electorate that they can offer better than the current administration. Environmental impact in any major infrastructure construction will always be a talking point and opposition parties always latch on such opportunities to try and persuade people that they care more about the environment, that’s why their noises matter more. Emo news has focused more on the views of those opposing the completion of the airport than those more enthusiastic about the successful completion of this vital infrastructural project. That’s why they give so much coverage to Nasio and his band of disrupters. I love Emo news but I would like to see more balance in their coverage – like DNO does.
When you seek to use every excuse possible to try to stop something from happening then it makes perfect sense to conclude that you don’t want it to happen. Of course they will never just outright come out and say that because the international airport has been one of their hallmark promises since the last days of their adminstration so they would never just outright say that they don’t want the labour party government to be the one that actually builds the thing that they promised and broke ground for over two decades ago
Well, the PM has spoken!
Roosevelt fully well knows that most Dominicans wish to see the completion of the international airport. I strongly believe that in this age of modernity an international airport is a necessity.
On the other hand, no matter how significant the new development, this should not justify the wanton destruction and pollution of the environment. The nearby residents should not become sacrificial lambs. In this case, their physical and mental health should not be adversely affected.
Roosevelt is a pathological Liar and a notorious con man. He uses specious lines of argument to dupe the simpletons and the unwary.
The man behaves as if he is infallible. He conveys the impression that he is perfect. The only perfect person is a fool. Perfection is for God and He alone.
you will get to be the topic of a book……. don’t worry
de ting is……… how you will benefit from it with your overbearing pride
Are you going to publish your book, lol, you are so laughable. Instead of asking how Dominica and Dominicans are going to benefit from this Capital Investment your boxed mind driven
by Partisan political beliefs is focus on how the PM will benefit
so sad. Looking forward to the Publication to your book.
your ignorance is your bliss
skerrit cuts a clear line between who supports and doesn’t support his party and his initiative……… your partisan king……. small K.
blinded by sweet words and trinkets.
why does skerrit make de unprovoked admission that no Bank will give his government money to build an international airport in Dominica?
his words…….. don’t stone me.
again his admission…… Hurricane Maria stole our ready cash and put de children of Dominica neck on de block to finance the airport
Does any member of skerrit government have any children who reside overseas……. besides himself?
hubris on steroids??????
Mr does lie like is a cup of water he drinking….over the 20 years he have become professional at it…just remember a great liar is a dam good thief…
Ever cross your mind why no bank will lend money for it?
Bankers aren’t stupid.
Yes I Rastaman, I personally have not heard anyone say they don’t want the airport or they are going to STOP the construction of the airport. STOP fooling the people bro. What they are saying is you are destroying our island needlessly for material that is NOT needed to complete the airport. So STOP twisting people’s words because you are cornered. But be reminded that EVERY rope, as long as it may be has and end
It is impossible to construct any significant edifice in Dominica without “destroying” a hill, trees, homes for birds and manicous, or polluting a river/stream with sedimentation. Impossible! Even Athie and Nasio had to “destroy” hills and forested areas to build their castle. Ever had a good look?
Y’all cyan stop reggae!
de authorities never said a word…..no authorities stepped in to stop anything.
I have been looking
we will agree that they would have loved to show their presence and authority
no warrant
no stoppage
no court action
facts are sometimes stubborn