Bridge construction to provide jobs for locals – Blanchard

The ground breaking for the 18 million-dollar project was held on Friday
The $18-million project will include construction of the West Bridge and dredging work

Minister for Public Works and Ports, Miriam Blanchard has assured Dominicans that the construction of the new West Bridge in Roseau will provide employment for locals.

She made these remarks in light of public criticism of the hiring of Barbadian -based company, NSG Management & Technical Services Ltd.,  for the project.

“It is expected that significant employment will be generated by this project, as the contractor has assured us that local skills and talents will be used as much as possible,” Blanchard said at the ground-breaking ceremony for the 18 million-dollar project on Friday. “Ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt that this project will stimulate economic activity, create jobs and ultimately, lead to an improvement in the citizens of this country.”

She also revealed that the Ministry of Public Works has assumed some smaller-scale, rehabilitation projects, valued at EC$7-million.

Contracts will be signed soon, the minister said.

“…in the last month, thirty small and medium-sized projects were tendered, totalling in EC$7-million. And, we expect to continue the signing of contracts to execute these works, as early as next week,” Blanchard stated. “In general, these works, at the community level, will focus on the construction of retaining walls, river dredging, and pavement of roads.”

The Minister announced that the government will again partner with the People’s Republic of China for further infrastructural work.

“Moreover, in the next few days, we will sign an implementation contract for the construction of the York Valley Bridge. This project will be grant-financed through the generosity of the government’s strongest ally, the government of the People’s Republic of China,” she divulged. “Once that contract has been signed, works will follow in approximately four months.”

The West Coast Rehabilitation Project is also to be financed by grant-funding from the Chinese government.

Another major project expected to commence soon, will focus on road restoration and river defences, west of the Hillsborough Bridge. The tender process is ongoing.

According to Ian Fields of NSG Management & Technical Services Ltd., the project will commence on May 2, 2016 and will be completed by April 2017.

Apart from the demolition and reconstruction of the West Bridge, other works include the replacement of the river retaining wall, and dredging work (removal of river deposits).

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33 Comments

  1. Joan
    April 25, 2016

    grant? name me a grant we received from china. the palace?you dumb dominicans

  2. Anonymous
    April 24, 2016

    this lady speaks of jobs for Dominicans but seem to forget that this company, during their assessment of the road, brought in people just to record the traffic flow, so how will they now pass the real job on to us locals?

  3. Concern D/can
    April 24, 2016

    The locals don’t just want jobs, but they want to get paid for the jobs too and not 9 months after.

  4. illogical
    April 24, 2016

    According to the Hon Min, Senator Blanchard, 30 projects at a grand total of EC$7m were tendered last month …….an average cost of EC$233,000.00 per project. What the is the logic, therefore, for not tendering an $18m project? And worse yet simply awarding it to a non local company. What inconsistency! How illogical! How unfair! It does not smell good.

    Additionally, how has the repair of this particular bridge become a national priority? There are three other bridges providing access to the city. Traffic could easily be diverted along the apartment building and then down into River Street. Couldn’t that money be put into some productive activity/sector and allow it to generate some income for the country? Once again the authorities are showing that there seems to be no logic, no plan to their actions.

  5. John Francois
    April 24, 2016

    “local skills and talents” mortar carriers, labourers…. shameful. IN 1983 the EC Loblack Bridge was built by a local and has been standing firm ever since so Why is this Government designed to shelf the local expertise, talent and technical labour?

    why are they running to foreign companies whenever a substantial project surfaces , If the AIM of this or any Government is to rebuild an ailing economy then why ship all the project funds overseaes?

    JUST DOWNRIGHT DISRESPECTFUL AND HEARTLESS.

    • mosquito 1
      April 25, 2016

      John Francois,stop being two FACE most Dominicans prefer foreign than local produce, Labour government doing what is best for Dominica so layoff toe rag.

  6. Anonymous
    April 24, 2016

    how is it that construction is be started 2nd May, without recruiting of workers and this lady comes talking about work for Dominicans! where has there been any advertising of employment through this firm on this project? Lady every major Government contract in this country is out sourced to oversees consultants and or contractors. where is the opportunity to allow local firms to grow into large entities? we are the ones paying the taxes and responsible for paying back the loans so why is it that foreigners must be the ones always reaping the benefits?

  7. Blache
    April 24, 2016

    Wat about the promenade they was going to build? They forgot about it? The roseau side walk and rehahabilitation.. The ground the break in the north for the hotel.. The Moroccan hotel…. The sea port in canefield… The marine base… The hotel by public works there… The hospital…….. The boat to carry food…. The geothermal…. The marina they promised…… The international airport they say they goin to start…. Cotton hill in Portsmouth they cut road……. The hotel in the south…. The jobs they was promising…. Hotel in the east… All you people still supporting them wicked lieng fellas therr?

    • Face the Facts
      April 24, 2016

      Recall TS Erica and what it did to that area where the promenade was to be built.
      Follow the News you will eventually find out about the rest.

  8. Truth be Told
    April 24, 2016

    Be careful, China built bridges falling down in China and across the Third World, and that is for real not any nursery rhyme!

  9. Tetcal
    April 23, 2016

    I thought that project include some rehabilitation works for our roads and sidewalks in the city :?:

  10. Pure Possie
    April 23, 2016

    Yes madam minister, the bridge will create employment for Dominicans, for 12 months but the big money will go to Barbados and stay there for many years. It would have been better if the big money was staying in Dominica along with employment for one year. No wonder Bajans not selling their passports; they allow unwise PM’s like Skerrit to sell his nations passport, know the proceeds will help Barbados economy. Didn’t Sparrow write a song about ” Fools make the money but the wise man spends it?
    On another note madam, why are you referred to as Minister for Public Works, when Skerrit did away with public works?

    • Face the Facts
      April 24, 2016

      Surely, you cannot expect them to be paid the same as locals and vice versa?
      The locals who will be employed should spend the money wisely.

  11. Doctor of corruption
    April 23, 2016

    Stupess. First thing you should do is apologize on behalf of the Government and reinstate the Public Workers. Ah, malgray sa!

  12. Face the Facts
    April 23, 2016

    These are huge undertakings which, as it is stated will provide many jobs.
    Dominican residents of all should be elated.
    Jobs for those who are in need of according to their capability and energy to diligently work for pay.

  13. Just Me
    April 23, 2016

    Girl shut your mouth!!!. You expect local to be hired … that is your expectation. I will wait for the reality. And small jobs are tendered but big ones are not?

  14. April 23, 2016

    PM said Dominica is not a real country and I don’t blame him for saying that, because today was a good day for Public Work workers and the rest of the Dominicans who care about the Island to go down to the bridge in large numbers and let PM see they had enough of the nonsense , instead they keep complaining to MATT on Q95 people he cannot do anything because he is just as frustrated like everyone else.. I just cannot get over the fact that the PM by past Dominicans and give the contract to a company in B’dos, his action speaks louder than words the PM don’t care about the people and he will continue to do whatever he wants because the people just talk they have no actions, again he is playing the games set out by the people on the ground..

  15. KID ON THE BLOCK
    April 23, 2016

    While We(Labor) working others(UWP) fighting!

    • AAGabriel
      April 25, 2016

      Working on what??? Selling passports and thinking about new schemes to cheat the country? When do all you Labour guys see the light?

  16. April 23, 2016

    we are not fools in dominica like you people seem to think we are

  17. April 23, 2016

    Blanchard, the criticism level at you, your ministry and your government, is that we in Dominica and elsewhere around the world , is that we want to know why this project was not advertise, so that our locals who tender/applied to, do the job. Do you know how Dominican are being treated when traveling and in transit in Barbados, if not go figure it out. Why You and Skerrit did not give the project to a Dominican Company?, since there are Dominican who are capable of doing the job. The 18 millions dollars is too much for a local, and is the crumbs that is good for us in Dominica. Do you think in your mind that this is fair for Skerit to be treating We Dominican like noboby /low class citizens in our country the land of our birth. We all know that he called us Global Citizens which is a disgrace and shameful, is it because Skirrit is a Frenchman he is treating us this way?. Anyhow enjoy it while is last, for what goes up must come down the cries of the oppress with fall on you all

  18. FORKIT
    April 23, 2016

    but the bulk of the money is going to hartley’s country

  19. Fact
    April 23, 2016

    This is the most incoherent Administration I have ever seen. You have Public Works Dept who are capable of performing these duties and you’re awarding this contract to a foreign company where at least 80 % of the $18 million will be taken out of Dominica, and to cover your ineptness you are giving Public Works 30 small scale projects simply to be pretentious. If after being in office for the last 15 years and you have not feasibly determined how to stimulate the economy and create jobs for our citizens, that explains why the unemployment rate remains at an all time high at 26%.

  20. Thankful
    April 23, 2016

    In that case, where should locals apply for jobs. What are the positions available?

  21. Dominican
    April 23, 2016

    Miriam, you have to say what them P.M. tells you to say, we know that. You are not allowed to express yourself independently. All the Ministers are in the same predicament. So we listen to you but make up our own minds.
    PS. Is it true that you owe your appointment through the intervention of Harley Henry??

  22. Dominica_Is_Ours
    April 23, 2016

    Give Nanthan de job.

  23. Norm
    April 23, 2016

    How many jobs will be created for the local population, Miriam? Let us have the numbers.

  24. mi
    April 23, 2016

    ok

  25. AAGabriel
    April 23, 2016

    We shall see and find out in due course. At the end of the day we probably find that it’s just propaganda as per usual.

  26. April 23, 2016

    People want long term employment in order to make a change in their lives and their families.

  27. %
    April 23, 2016

    Madam Minister did this project go through a bidding process?If not,can you please say why?How much did the entertainment cost the country? Wouldn’t it be more prudent if this money was spent to dredge at least one river in one of the vulnerable villages? Does this regime/gang called the DLP of which you are part of, value the lives of our citizens? I keep on asking the question why are we contributing so much to the Bajan economy…This evil DLP did so in a HUGE way during election 2014 when many party paraphernalia were done in Barbados,and we are seeing something similar happening in 2016….SHAME ON THIS REGIME!!!

  28. Doc. Love
    April 23, 2016

    It would appear Blanchard has joined the untruth team. I have always respected this lady. I am beginning to have a problem with her credibility. The stimulation of the economy and the creation of jobs are for Dominicans or for Bajans. Recently, we heard a PWD employee on Q, telling Matt that it has been three weeks he has not gotten paid. He also disclosed , it has been two months, the monthly paid workers have not gotten paid. This was a tremendous opportunity to tell the fired workers of the PWD that every effort would be made to have them returned to work. I though this lady would make a difference at Public Works, so far, mem bete mem puiel.

  29. White Plains Rd
    April 23, 2016

    that’s why Dominica will continue to have the slowest economy and remain the Poorest And Unattractive island in the region….they lack any brains in Dominica…thinking small..

    Would it not be better than the Company was Dominican based thus the majority of the Funds remains there…any fool will know that the project is highly overpriced thus ensuring that at least 3-5 Million will be gained by the Company…

    A few local folks pushing a barrow here and there and passing a few buckets can’t create any buzz..i could be wrong but the Co will bring in the BIG TRUCKERS, thus the truckers on island may get the crumbs, how much did it cost to bring that ceremony on, if the project was funded by Dominican Passport sales, why isn’t a Dominican Co,given the chance to do the job!! time to wake up u silly dominicans…

    it’s all trickery and deception by the DLP to fool their highly ignorant base!!

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