Work has commenced on the new Goodwill Secondary School (GSS).
The contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), began the demolition of the existing structure on Monday, November 13, 2023. Construction activity is expected to continue over several months, and residents, motorists and pedestrians are advised to exercise caution when traversing the area, particularly during the demolition phase.
The Government of Dominica, in partnership with the People’s Republic of China, broke ground on September 6, 2023 for the construction of the new secondary school. Upon completion, the GSS will be designated a Center of Excellence for Technical Vocational Education and Training with facilities for Food Preparation, Electricity and Electrical Installations, Garment Production, Fabric Design, Technical Drawing, Auto-mechanics, Visual and Performing Arts/Music, Industrial Arts, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.
Other features include counselling, pastoral care and special education rooms, sickbay, fully-equipped library, science labs, auditorium, canteen, staff quarters and a multipurpose hardcourt.
A number of Dominicans are employed in the pre-construction phase, and more employment opportunities will become available as the project progresses.
The new Goodwill Secondary School is one of six schools which will be built under the China Aid Project for the reconstruction of schools post-Hurricane Maria. China will fund the construction of five primary schools- the Sineku, Calibishie, Bellevue Chopin, Thibaud and Tete Morne Primary Schools.
I remember the days when local contractors and construction companies like E.H. Charles and Company, Donny Boyd, StewCo, were building the schools all over Dominica. Today every little piece of construction in Dominica under this Roosevelt Skerritt Labour party government must be given to a foreign company, why? Is it to guarantee kickbacks, bribes, under the table payments to the government and Prime Minister?
Please help me out, why must we give these little local projects to foreigners? There are local contractors, engineers, construction workers, architects, builders in Dominica struggling to get work? Why do we support this? We are supporting a government to destroy us! If it is not China, it is MNC! Madness!
You don’t know if it’s loan,you don’t if it’s grant.You don’t know if it’s free money from China,but you running your mouth.UWP liars,propagandists and aholes.Read the last paragraph of the report and if you can underststand,blind Jacka.
So local contractors, construction workers, do not have the capacity or competence to build Schools, Health Centres, and other National projects?
It is Neo-Colonialism, a new kind of domination, which further excludes locals from participating in their own development. Total disrespect and shameful. For decades upon decades, our people have built their Schools, Hospital, Homes, roads, bridges and so much more, today foreign workers are awarded contracts, without even allowing locals, giving them the opportunity to tender/bid.
Don’t the local construction workers and their families have lives to live, bills to pay, put food on the table, send their Children to School, among others? Has our beautiful Dominica been sold to foreign concerns?
let us as Dominicans see how we can go to China 🇨🇳 and take some of Chinese bread from their families mouth see how that will work out
Why does a construction company have to come all the way from China to build a school in Dominica? Don’t we have construction companies in Dominica? After 45 years of independence? How will our local companies and professionals ever develop if all the significant projects are being given to foreigners?
Another thing, how is this being financed, loan or grant? Either way a Chinese company is coming here, enriching themselves, and we lagging behind like kakarat. Who is our government working for? Do they hate us? Are we deliberately submitting ourselves to Chinese colonization?
Aks I aksing.
well, buy your ticket I guess. As a technical construction worker myself, its getting tough. Projects just ‘happen’ and it makes no sense seeking employment anyway. They come with all equipment and their skilled workers, only employing laborers who get next to nothing. All the workers I’ve seen on this company’s projects are either Chinese or Haitian laborers and even Haitians are complaining about pay. I haven’t heard any complaints about treatment but I’ve seen the Haitians getting yelled at and dragged by their collars, because apparently there’s a language barrier and they feel that’s ok to do. I believe I speak for most Dominicans when I say I wouldn’t take that kind if treatment for less than $80 a day, 60s after tax. That’s 2usd/hr or less, equivalent value after duties and conversion, we manufacture nothing.
I wish them all the best, those who choose to stay but I’ll be out of the country before it’s finished, hopefully for at least 10 years. I’d advise…
@Dreadidiah, it’s grant aid, it is not a loan. And what is wrong with a Chinese company constructing the school? After all they are footing the bill, it is Chinese taxpayers money. We were never colonized by China and like England and France they have no obligation to correct the wrongs and neglect committed against us by France and England. Thank you China.