Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said the construction of a $10-million abattoir in the Layou Park area will significantly reduce the importation of meat on the island.
The project is said to be right on target to meeting its October 2013 completion date.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and members of his Dominica Labour Party Cabinet paid an official visit to the Venezuela-funded project on Wednesday.
He told reporters that the abattoir is being funded at a time when the world is going through an economic crisis.
“Often times people say government isn’t doing enough for agriculture, but here it is there is an important project geared towards reducing the importation of meat into Dominica. You can have as many birds and pigs as possible, but if you don’t have the correct facilities of slaughtering them, they cannot find themselves on the market shelves,” he said.
Parliamentary Representative for the area, Kelver Darroux, says the facility will enhance the community and provide employment for several individuals.
“We have one of the largest farming constituencies on the island. I believe a number of farmers will benefit tremendously after it has been established. We have several small farmers who are interested in livestock and pig production. Once we can give them the start up funds, we will see their contribution to the facility,” he said,
Darroux said the facility is also ideally located.
“When it is completed, we will have office workers and security guards coming to slaughter the pigs. I believe a number of persons from the St. Joseph constituency will be employed once the project is completed,” he added.
Acting Agriculture Minister Ivor Stevenson, said the project could be deemed as one of government’s massive investments in the agricultural sector.
The abattoir has the capacity to slaughter 500 birds per hour.
Soon office worker won’t smell like office workers no more. They are the ones designated to KILL pigs and birds. Will they need a license for all that KILLING?
Another thing, don’t push no knife in the throat of the animals. Kill them humanely.
Hey everyone, look I just ‘again’ secured 10 Million Cuban Dollars to boost our Dominica economy. A factory will be errected soon to make Baby bottles. This project is expected provide 500 new jobs. Another loan is expected soon my people. Another factory will be built in the Canefield area to make condoms – rubber and plastic ones. This project is expected to generate over 1,000 new jobs. I’m trying my best my people.
How comes that labour part takes so long to implement a project. This abattoir thing have been banded about for about 10 years.
This is a good gesture.. but should the abattoir be the starting point? What about production? is there enough livestock being reared on the island in order for the abattoir to be efficient and profitable? The persons with the authority to approve of these projects needs to take a better look at the planning of these projects cause it makes no sense spend $10 million on something that will not be able to sustain itself all because the vital links of the chain especially production is not up to par. I suggest they take this money and pay the tax they claim that we the tax payers owe the state.
500 birds an hour, in maybe 5 hours all our birds on island will be slaughtered what happens to thefacility for the next 364 days; nonesense project.
“Is there enough livestock?” sure! what are you talking about? we are also going to use the Cloning method at this “Abattoir.”
The Birds will fly from Venezuela to be slaughtered in the abattoir.
@ Pedro
But hold on! I thought in Antigua dem birds dem staying wee. So if is these birds then they will be taking de LIAT to land.
My African friend told me he is coming to Dominica…if people dont want the meat, he has plenty of other Africans in his village who want meat.
He asked me to tell the people with negative view what is their favorite meat and please dont say fish.
yeah we know IPO, bush meat.
Lol @Jay….you into that too nuh? I see is in Pentecostal you are these days
Wha go?
I sent a comment to DNO on this story.It was not libellous. Was not slanderous. Did not call the Pm a liar or corrupt. the comment in good taste even if it sought to chastise soemamong us. It was written in very good English at that. I did not misinform. Did not call Dominicans stupid.The comment was s or twisted the facts. I was imply pointing to the inadequacies of our private sector and their very domant role investing in the productive sector and pointing out that project, like the geothermal is a good opportunity to put their money where their mouth is after government has taken the risk to dothe all the preliminary and investigative work. I submitted that the private can come together and present a management proposal for the facility to government as the private sector is the best outfit for such an investment. Even though I cited the cry by some businessmen who claim that nothing is happening, the economy is crashing,has crashed, no hoe for Dominica, yet they have invested millions in building ugly buildings in Roseau (no name no warrant) to continue their buyingandselling. Is that enough reason DNO to refuse publishing my comment? See the volume of very distasteful, ugly,unfounded comments that are published every day here – even if a few are “hidden”. What was wrong with my comment?
Yes, why is the private sector so dormant?
thanks for that, however I have a question,
1. will the price of meat produced here compete with SAVE A LOT prices?
since doctors are telling everybody don’t eat meat, we may have to look into bananas, the famers need help with fertilizers, atleast bananas are still good to eat.
Be real. Why subsidise bananafarmers that don’t pay tax? I’m don’t have to subsidize Save a Lot and Govt. gets import duty and VAT from them. I can grow my own bananas thank you, and if not me my auntie, nennen, neighbouror friend.
The Labour Party is busy, they know that Dominicans want a change of government, so the coming up with all these half hearted Projects, There are a million questions to be answered, I doubt they are taken into consideration.
Dominicans that’s catch a vote project
WE WON’T FALL FOR THAT, BUT NICE TRY
You opening statement is great. “The Labour Party is busy” as they have always been. Judging from your grammar, I have to assume that you are an intelligent and resonably well educated person. However you are falling in line like many other Dominicans who are opposing every thing the government does just because it is not their choice of government. My humble opinion is that we should give credit where credit is due and only oppose issues which warrant opposing whether it is against the Labour Party, Workers Party, Freedom Party or otherwise. Don’t you think that is only fair to any party at all? Lets all be prudent as we try to move Dominica forward.
my people think, why do we see things seemingly happening every 3or 4yrs? Its only when election is close you hearing the voice of the MPs. 4yrs they moo moo. Come on people these people only want to win election to enriche themeseleves. they do not care about true development. Time for change. do not let the man get comfortable there as if he owns DA. Change and then if needs be after 10yrs we can put him back. Be careful how we vote this election. Grace , mercy and peace.
All I am seeing in these deals is another garbage bin type scandal.
Moneys will be sent to all different bank accounts.
Dominicans are really unconcerned about their tax dollars
Who are we going to be selling the meat to? If it’s going on an international market, its going to be subjected to alot of scrutiny, including the condition in which these animals are cared for. My main concern though is Bird Flu, Swine Flu Mad cow disease. One string of H1N1 in Dominica can wipe out the entire Dominican population. Our medical facilities are not prepared for these situation. I pray this never happens but that factory could present a major health issue on the Nature Island. The ministry of health really need to take a look into that.
How do the Skerro regime come up with their ideas? That money could have been invested in factory to manufacture our own juice. We have so much fruits wasting in Dominica. These fruits are already here and ready to go, instead you want farmer to start rearing animals for slaughter. Venezuela funded, are they going to maintain it too? Because we are not going to be able to rear enough livestock to keep it going. Also, which office workers and security guards are going to quit their jobs to go work in a place that have such a bad smell except if the pay is just way up there.
i really thought they would put a water park layou wii boy…
Patriots.. St.Lucia wins best island in the caribbean for investment.
http://www.investstlucia.com/news/view/saint-lucia-wins-best-island-in-the-caribbean.html
So long skerrit is prime minister, and we cannot get any investors, just a bunch of cuba & venezuelans.
St lucia has a growing economy with a montainous debt that would make the Pitons look like a plateau.
I support them, take all the loans younwant, they cannot take the pitons from st lucia
Maybe we need to the same in DA….they cant take Morihei Ueshiba from us
i smelling an election .but all jokes aside good idea st.joe people need work
people you all are amazing commenting on a project that has not gone to parliment, I am just refering to your comments because Dominica has not move an inch since hurrican David in 1978-79 we are the poorest country in the caribean and you the younger people has not done anything to make it better, stop looking at the goverment and educate yourselves be productive, learn a trade in other words raise your own chickens plant your own food and stop analizing work togerther for a better D.A
The location for the abattoir does not seem suitable! We need a good water source and the Layou valley has many running ravines and Springs that actually all run into the Layou River. If this water system is contaminated in the long run by the abattoir it will ruin the water system and could affect the health of animals and humans. Also it is a difficult location to get to with animals on board transport! I am reading all the comments that it is good to have the abattoir and no doubt it is but it needs to be put in an accessible area for transportation to easily take the animals that are going to be slaughtered. It is also important that anyone thinking of rearing pigs, chickens and goats have to no how to keep animals clean and properly fed! Keeping animals is not easy! Basically we are a island of produce farmers. The abattoir will have to have properly trained butchers, it will cost a lot to train people and the cost of running such a large abattoir will be phenomenal! Who is going to foot the bill the electricity needed to run the abattoir will be very expensive. This seems to be a project that will not succeed for very long!
Hope is not the money for Newtown Primary School you all are redirecting to build it. It is a good move. However, this administration has no respect for some constituencies. Newtown is one of them.
Ok – I have supported the Skerrit government in many areas. BUT???
500 birds per hour? Where are those birds or flow or chicken coming from? Where in D/ca we have a farmer or farmers producing 500 birds per hour?
How many pigs per hour?
Is this over capacity an overbuild thus an overspend of 10 million dollars?
Venezuela
The correct figure is 1,000 birds per day, i.e. 150 /hr. for an eight hour day as per GIS (Govt. Information Service) in Feb. of this year
If i was Skeritt, I’d sell pork $25.00 a lb. and “birds” $15.00 a lb. Feathers $10.00 a lb. blood for pudding $40.00 a gal. Is not Government nuh that controlling everthing here! A meat business should be a private business run by a local business man. What Government doing in meat? just now they will make Cool Aide…don’t drink it nuh!! “Jim Jones.”
Once nothing is happening in the country, Skerrit
comes up with a fantasy project.
agrees all the way
True!
Bondieu!!!i am confused!What kind of coco makac going on there in my belly nor?all of a sudden so many projects,are being talked about.i am bar-zou-dee,seems like something’s up man.
I just want to echo that saying;
Many are called but few are chosen,(successful)
IS Me MaDominique that say so.
Do As Much As You Want;You Will Not Do As Long As You Want.
hope to see the juice or jam factory in the making soon;…good job guys..forward we going….
I not eating any chicken skerrit involved in, name me one thing dem fellas do that working even roads they build falling apart muchless for chicken, better mister give this to a private foreign company. I have no confidence in anything skerrit doing, night landing not working, roads falling apart, hospital in shambles, stadium need repairs.
Even the opposition he touched has fallen apart and can no longer stand…the opposition is in shambles and cannot be repaired…not even blessings can save them.
Then get your chickens, build your roads,build an airport, and repair the hospital and the stadium. D.A !!!!!
And your contribution is what exactly???? Have you been doing anything to help enhance or maintain any of these. I guess when you to go to the hospital you thought it was freeness because Skirrit did it? When you drive on the roads you throw rubbish out the vehicle window cause you thought Skerrit would send his boys to clear it out after. You don’t pay you car license and insurance bill cause you figure Skerrit should pay for that too. I clearly don’t see a reason for you taking a trip out of the island cause I know Skerrit not going to pay your departure tax for you…unless you cry poverty. Which Stadium is in shambles I pass there everyday and hadn’t noticed that. If I could see inside the stadium from where I pass then I can agree with you but I see nothing.
Maybe just maybe you should consider contacting Skerrit & CO for a small farming loan to grow some pigs not like you but those we can actually eat. Then even though you just get a dollar a pig when you sell it to them, then you will understand what their aim is. Your one pig cycle is like this…you sell, they buy, a fella from St joseph working there gets paid, he goes to the shop and buy lights, bread, sugar which has gotten two cents cheaper since the cost to import those has gone down by a cent see where I am going …IDIOT it’s a CYCLE that won’t work if we as citizens don’t play a small part in enhance. So stop idiotic comments and do something constructive for the betterment of your children and their children future if you can even manage to have a child at that
You are right Anonymous “YOU SEE NOTHING” (your own words).
to “Corrupt Bastards”. It is perhaps because you are so inundated with thoughts of corruption that you cannot think of anything else but corruption. you see “corruption” in everything so you speak corruption at libre. your mind is so full of corruption. It takes a mega thief to identify a petty thief from long distance.
One thing I agree with you though is that such a project would be better suited for management by the private sector. However, history will show that our private sector operators are very timid with investing in production business. Those who venture therein are ENTITLED to certain concessions. They often take advantage of the concessionary period and then close down when the concessio period is over or coming to an end.
Here is an oportunity for the private sctor to come forward and take management control of the facility because it ought not to be left in the hands of government to run. the Civil Service is not suited for that kind of activity. We wait to see how many business peopel will want to pool thier resources, form a company, a fresh meat company, and submit a proposal to government. Government can then focus attention on assisting the farming community to increase their production of chicken and other livestock to keep the facility going. Again, the private sector can take the lead. Will we see that. Will the business men around Roseau who claim nothing is happening seek (but are building monstrousities in the city of Roseau and tree house at Governor) to take advantage of the present opportunity?
Government’s job is to create the enabling environment. Just like the geothermal project, government is spending all the money to do the exploration. Will the private sector take advantage, form a consortium of interests to manage and make real the project beyoind the exploratory stage into the production stage?
If we see corruption and more corruption in any and everything government does, then it means that we are all corrupt to the core. The salvationof a corrupt society start with the “man in the mirror”. If when I stare into the mirror and all I see is corruption, you know what thay means? I am corrupt indeed.
Don’t forget, Dominica is tropical, and when the stench of all that and animal waste take to the air, people living in close proximity of that abattoir will know what day it is.
But Frabo you have close neighbours and no one has complained…so don’t be scared of some bird slaughter
well you know what, we have to start somewhere
It appears that some people are putting on their thinking caps. Investment in the form of creating employment is more viable than giving people things for free. It`s time to send Dominicans to work in order to develop the country
The government should give free benefits, such as schooling, medicine, and housing. It takes so much from its citizens, in the forms of taxes and high prices in necessities. Besides, a socially responsible government should not be advocating for the slaughtering of animals, especially pigs, since they’re one of the nastiest animals to live on this planet. That meat clogs the digestive system and important arteries. Hopefully, his medical equipments at the clinics/hospitals are updated to combat the surge of people who will need medical care after eating such filth.
I have been working hard saving some money to start up a meat processing plant. Now i have to compete with the Government. This may sound like a good program and i agree it has good intentions. However, i will never understand why a government will get involved in such projects. Our Government is getting involved in Hotel development now Slaughter house and some of us sit by and think it is a good move. What ignorance!
Do you guys realize, the place has to be run and maintained by the Gov. therefore it is the responsibility of the Tax payers. Who is going to be responsible for the profits generated from such projects and who is doing the oversight. How can a local business man compete with the Government when the Gov has the power to set prices and rates? We yet to understand that whatever the government builds is for the people.
These projects should be runned and developed by Private citizens. we depend too much on the Gov to do everything. It would be better if the Gov encourage citizens to develop such ventures (Hotels and Slaughter houses etc) by giving tax and other incentives to encourage private business development. We are so blind to realize. If there is a need for Juicing plant farmers need to learn to put there resources together, form coperatives and start a business. I want to know who is going to benifit from the profits from the Hotel in Portsmouth and the Slaughter house. I hope we can wise up one day and be able to make wise choices.
All you don’t already have a State run Radio Station nuh!! it seem as though all you are accustom with the communistic way of life. All you didn’t stop him whiles all you had the chance; so he take off tan!! “Ain’t no stopping us now.” Is gone we gone. No brakes…..
LCM: “Our Government is getting involved in Hotel development now Slaughter house and some of us sit by and think it is a good move.”
No, LCM, many of you who have the capital sit on it and warm it up instead of investing in it in order to boost the economy.
LCM: “These projects should be runned and developed by Private citizens. we depend too much on the Gov to do everything. It would be better if the Gov encourage citizens to develop such ventures (Hotels and Slaughter houses etc) by giving tax and other incentives to encourage private business development.”
Good idea, LCM. This is why the government has provided money to the AID Bank and the NDFD. This is why the Youth Division currently manages various youth entrepreneurship programmes. This is why the Business Gateway project was launched. (Are you aware of it? Ask the UWPwee’s prospective candidate for Roseau Central.) These are the facts of your government working, doing exactly the things that you just ask it to do.
Now, what should your government do for you when those with the capital refuse to make the most of these opportunities? Should the PM and his Cabinet sit by and moan? Well, you surely would be right to damn them for this. Or, would you not prefer that they lead from the front, taking the bull by the horns to start-up businesses that private partners will operate? (By the way, this model of management is practised internationally in developed as well as developing countries.) Of course, you would also damn them for this.
LCM, give Jack his jacket. This model embraced by the Skerrit adminsitration shows an industrious government, a creative and entrepreneurial government, and a government that refuses to succumb to an inhospitable global economic environment. It cannot be perfect but it is a great move.
I have been working hard saving some money to start up a meat processing plant….you can’t start a project like this on savings…you would be saving for the rest of your life
So cut the childish crap…you know what is required, good credit worthiness to face the bank and a good damn business plan.
In the absence of credible man and woman to invest the govt has no choice but to jump start these thing for you all slick talkers.
Now if you will only get off DNOand Q95 and get some of your loud mouths to put their money where the mouth is, maybe we can move this entrepreneurial stuff forward.
Now end of…enuff already
Some very interesting points. If Govt. operates an abattoir it can restrict the import of meat in order to make that facility viable. However, this will inevitably lead to price increases as it creates a monopoly for local livestock producers, who would be protected by such measures at the expense of the consumer. For the livestock producer this would be especially attractive as no tax is payable on the proceeds of agricultural enterprise, which includes the rearing of livestock. It would also become very attractive for suppliers of feed, the import of which can also be restricted under OECS protective measures giving another licence to print money. We are seeing this already with our flour supplies coming from St. Vincent, which enjoys a virtual monoploly in our market with little or no competition resulting in high prices, limited choice and mediocre quality. We have to be very careful of Govt. any government, getting involved in running commercial entyerprises. The results can be seen in the problems befalling our friends in Venezuela today and an ultimate collapse of an economy, such as lead to the break-up of the old soviet union and forced our friends in Cuba to allow the return of private enterprise. These are real-live scenarios and we should draw our lessons from them.
Farm your animals and sell to the slaughter house. What is so hard in that? You have money to build and mentain a slaughter house?
Helloooo!! Look how many years DA has been around and no one has come forward to build a meat processing plant. Please tell me how much longer you wanted us to wait. The truth is that if the government had done it 10years from now, people like you would still have a problem with it. You talking fouchette!
I doh give a damn what people say but you trying
@who vex vex. What is your point what is he there for? just to draw a salary and get rich or develop the country? It appears that he is there for good looks but you lie he is there to develop the flipping country.
I hope it will not be expensive like import meat,
i have no confidence in this project,this abattoir should have been built at a lower altitude, for sure. wast water will sip into our the layou river,what dos wake rollers have to say when pig waste mixing with the tourist product
not forgettig we the local
ALL YOU FOOLED THE LADY FROM CHANCE, now you are on a campaign to fool more people. This government lazy, greedy, incompetent and insultive, has impoverished Dominica to the point where we are the darn poorest country in the Caribbean.
VOTE THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enough Koshonyee!!!!!!!!!!!
GO PROVIDE A functional CT SCAN at the PMH that will give the same poor people of this country that all you are taking for fools there service. These are the people who cannot afford to go to Martinique or Guadeloupe for healthcare.!!!!!
ARE YOU A LOBOURITE SIR?
HEALTH FIRSRT ABATTOIR NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!
100 000 000 0005 SUPPORT TO THAT!
VOTE THEM OUT!
and put who in?
Vote the Blue Machine in
You sound like a uwp
“This government lazy, greedy, incompetent and insultive, has impoverished Dominica to the point where we are the darn poorest country in the Caribbean.”???
Okay, First of all I know they have their sore points but I would not be so hard on them.
Secondly, we are not the poorest Caribbean island. Please do your research. And every country has its hangups so as part of your research do some travelling too.
All the best to you.
Yes, we are not the poorest in the Caribbean. We coming behind Haiti. Be proud of that.
While I applaud efforts to have an abattoir in Dominica, I question the rationale for government’s involvement, or should I say, further involvement in an industry where the private sector should properly be involved.
The alternative would have been for the government to source the funds for lending to the private sector through the AID bank for the establishment of the abattoir.
When you consider that government has entered the hotel business with Morocco funded hotel at the Cabrits, you have to wonder whether government is about to take over the economy. Their calculation must be that they will consolidate their position with the electorate.
My position is that it is dangerous to democracy when governments compete in the economy with the private sector. That’s what socialism is all about and with socialism, especially the variety practiced in in Venezuela, and to a greater extent, Cuba, we often have economic stagnation and dictatorial regimes.
I believe Skerrit is carefully implementing a strategic plan laid out by Chavez, which is, to control jobs in the economy by establishing State enterprises to provide jobs to their supporters, to the exclusion of the opposition.
So don’t be fooled, people, for what we are witnessing is the laying of the foundation for the construction of a public sector economy. And my suspicion is that there is more to come.
BTW, what happened to the commercial coffee roaster that Chavez donated to Dominica?
Well one solution is for the govt to sell part or all of their interest in those ventures to private enterprise.
How many times have successive governments sought out and place money at the AID Bank for the private sector. Every government since the establishment of the bank has created such opportunities. This time around there is money for the private sector at the said bank. But wil the private sector take advantage of the same. In Eddos time, he got so fed up with the tardiness of the private sector in this regard that he himslef formed a company and sought to take advantage of the Venture Capital Fund to establish North eastern Quarries. Remember that. In hindsight we wil never know what might have happened if the election results of January 2000 had gone the other way. Think before speaking. you might just be kicking into your own goal.
But wait, is there any law stopping the private sector from doing this, or any other project.
They have NOT done it, but complain when the gov’t step in.
Or can the private sector ONLY do projects with PUBLIC money???
What you describing is Private government. – the WORST case scenario.
Really don’t know how to please DOMINICANS….An attack on everything even if they ask for it and you give it to them.(but is one Set though)!
SOOOOO TRUE!!!!!!
Great move. Now we need one to process our fruits!
“When it is completed, we will have office workers and security guards coming to slaughter the pigs. I believe a number of persons from the St. Joseph constituency will be employed once the project is completed,”..never knew security guards slaughter pigs…uneducated fools that are in charge of this sad country
Local meat ? God help us
U know foreign meat contains steroids right
@CZa “Foreign meat contains Steroids?” The local meat may contain human sperm. As many Dominican Men are riding Pigs and Goats. I won’t eat that meat for nothing.
Some of you all so called Dominicans i think that it’s time that you all come to grips with development ,can any one say or ever remembered anyone saying or even opposing when the so called International Airport was being spoken about by the present Opposition did they ever spoke about the farmers that were going mto be displaced ,and some of the schools that were to be relocated,also the houses that were going to be constructed infront of the Atlantic Ocean were not all these a waste .To every time some development is being contemplated there has to be so many negative comments.Just last year for the fith time if i can recall theHillsborough Agricultural Station had been damaged by Hurricane or some serious floods ,now that Station is being re-located to the one mile station you see negative comments ,come on people what ever that is being constructed on the Island does noe belong to any of the Govt.,Parliamentarians,when they are gone subsequent Govts.,will make use of them there are so many comments about why not use monies for an international Airport but if next week the Govt., says they have receiven monies for that purpose there are still going to be negative comments .It is ample time that those unworthy comments stop being rtead about on these blogs.
Stop your garbage. Let the people talk about the BAD GOVERNANCE of this country, and the way in which poverty has descended upon the majority. ARE YOR REAL? It would pay you rich dividends to
‘Shut the Hell UP”, especially when you are just spewing filth.! Almost 15 years I personally think with such a useless government, the electorate needs to VOTE THEM ALL OUT. THEY EN GOOD.
ITs people like you who hinders development. You are an enemy to the truth and a state terrorist to development. Stop letting you intelligence deficit dominate your social consciousness and patriotic wellbeing. control your animalistic emotions so that society and you don’t become victims dogmatism. seek they conscience and find a life.
Your talk of bad governance will not hold because Dominicans are seeing a development push in the country which they never witness in their life time. It matters not how much you talk and continue to talk. From the east, west, north, south and in-between development projects are ungoing in D.A. Who have eyes they will see.
with this comment I can agree with u a 100% but we also have o look at the time we have been living under this gov its all about taking away not giving back. so wen we as a people and human we see a problem with the gov and I personally say they lie a lot by always saying or imposing words such as world economical crisis. this nonsense has to stop people. now this airport tin listen we have to take every coution nessary to see it exsist cuz the gov which ever one need to come real planned out cuz in my books we cant handle this airport tin without rooms to stay and economical balance of scale ok. becareful people ask question don’t play momoo!!!
Mr PM what we need is a press conference so all members of the Media can get a fair chance to ask u the necessary questions on behalf of the people..we need answers,,,
Great move! Bring on the Agro-processing plant for our fruits next – or should that have been first? Either way both are desperately needed for the farmers on a cooperative basis.
Fruits is ok. but don’t touch my nuts.
I have read the comments and the views expressed and questions asked tells me that very few if any pay attention to the othe news – (news other than politics related or controversies)because most if not all the issues raised have been addressed. There have been a lot of information on GIS and other radio, TV programs.
Also from the blogs and not only on this article, i have come to realise that their are a lot of prophets on the island who only prophesise doom and gloom and not because they have dreamt dreams or seen visions but because the wish for our island to become “a failed state”, “bankrupt,” “poorest island,” “dead economy,” “corrupt,” and they repeat it so many times that they have convinced themselves that it is so.
Octo, it should be obvious from all the questions asked that whatever the Govt. has put into the public domain regarding this project has not got through to the populace. That, to me is a failure to communicate. As for GIS, one can not but see this as a propaganda tool for Govt. Everything they portray is rosy and the praises for Govt. are repeated ad nauseam. That is is a pity because their programmes do contain gems of information but the way they are presnted gives them little credibility.
A great idea, however, who is responsible for ensuring correct technique of dispatch, and more importantly do we have qualified meat testers and inspectors on the island.
why is the abattoir being built in layou park above the residence water system… is a good ting i not leaving their..
no consultation, no feasibility studies… allu will hear..
i’m all for development and progress – but does Dominica have the capacity to handle such?
Kudos for the govt but i find myself asking – isnt there something else more needed than that? Could they invest in another thign that can produce goods to be exported on a wide scale?
I guess its really damned if they do and damned if they dont because I can think of other more necessary investments
like what, name some nuh?
Pardy, we advancing one step at a time. Of course I too can think of dozens more.
Such as??? Let’s here your valid contribution please
u kno there is no real way to please some people. we gettin stn to decrease the import bill and also lower to cost of puchasing it locally. its a win-win. in the not too distant future we can export meat to the region and possibly the world. when we get stn, we always want stn else! smh!!
I respect your opinion but I still disagree with it.One look at the quality of the imported chicken we get here should speak for itself.
If only for the health benefits, I believe this is a great initiative. We have only the dates printed on the packages to determine when the poultry or meat has been slaughtered and packaged, and sometimes they don’t even exist. When the dates are present, who’s to tell weather it’s truthful or not. A lot of this imported poultry has been killing us slowly.
Right now we’ll have at least a fair idea of what is going into the meats we’re eating.
Jason, you are right. I never, repeat never, eat imported chicken. I buy local chicken but in truth, it is more expensive.
Wow you are very ignorant.do you know how much millions of. meats we import
Yes, at least three times more than we export in bananas. And have you ever figured how much fish products we import too? But remember, government making plenty money on imports.
we can be so negative! be thankful for opportunities!!! it’s a good move and next a juice factory!
“Westgirl” you mean OJ factory? that would be the day.
Oh, and what happened with these juicing machines in Dublanc? I challenge anyone to produce local juice cheaper than we are buying from Barbados. Only if I’m guaranteed that it is unadulterated, fresh local juice will I be prepared to pay more. For that I want a certified label listing all the ingredients with percentages and a production & expiry date.
Hope they don’t start injecting the animals with hormones and anti-biotics like they do in the States!
this is against the law. the federal law to do that so dont say they inject the animals.
Well, that would be good for those politicians who prefer chicken breasts, not so?
It’s about time. Well overdue. Dominica have no right to be importing meat.
Well my dear, as long as importing meat is not illegal and I pay my import duty and vat I don’t see why I should not contribute to the island’s revenue that way and import the meat of my choice.
That is more than farmers are contributing, who do not pay tax and get help with their inputs and vehicle purchases at the tax payers’ expense.
I in full support of a national abattoir…. but we still need to cut down on our meat consumption per capita. This will translate to less greenhouse gas emissions and a significant contributor in reducing the effects of climate change. Thats according to the global scientific community not me!!!…… but Wow!!! an abattoir in the Layou Park. No No No No No No NO, Now this has to be the icing on the cake of negligence and a downside towards environmental stewardship. Have we considered what impact that will have on the layou WATERSHED one of the most important, IF NOT thee MOST IMPORTANT watershed in Dominica coupled with the fact that the area has a hard pan, a high water table and to include the highest rainfall average on island. We do understand what we mean by that. Where did the government get that technical advice from and to make matters worse we hear the parl rep for St. Joseph, Mr. Darroux saying that the facility is also ideally located. On what tehnical ground are we basing these arguments. I guess purely on economic aspects, but what about the environmental issues to be addressed which have been noted. According to the government the facility has the capacity to slaughter 500 birds every day. What amount of waste does that translate into and how will we manage that waste. Can the experts please inform us. What is the capacity for pigs, goats, rabbits and cattle. What is the integrated management plan for the offals, feathers and other waste generated from that plant. Are we just going to dump it at the back of the facility. That cannot be right and the area is not ideally suited for such a venture. And this comes on the eve of we wanting a greener economy!!! That IS a back to front upside down move.
From an environmental perspective I have to agree the location is not ideal. The other issue I have is the fact we import more than 90% of the feed to rare chicken and pig at a high cost and some of these feeds come laced with antibiotics and hormones so in short we are killing ourselves with unhealthy meats, ruining the environment and running ourselves broke all at the same time. when the antibiotic from mass producing meat gets into our water streams it will create problems for generations to come. We are stuck in a develop and plan after mode in DA. I really wonder when we will begin to plan and then develop.
This might be THE most sensible comment ever put on DNO ..on what grounds are people disagreeing with it? The abattoir is but one piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is our $50M meat import bill. Somehow we need to reduce the price of meat from the current $8/lb to 4 or 5. Shops in Roseau are selling imported chicken at 2.50 to $3/lb. What is our plan to source local (organic) food for the volume of meat that the abattoir can process?. These are things we need to be thinking aboYut. Having said all that .. the facility is VERY welcome and the Government and the Government of Venezuela should get its kudos for providing it.
Britbob, no issue with vegetarians or people only wanting to eat organic. That is their choice but other people should have their choice too and not be dictated to or forced by policies to follow the vegatarian/organic agenda.
This is totally ridiculous!! Firstly they are building the abattoir on the water table of the whole of the Layou Valley!! This is fact! The Government never had a meeting with the people in Layou Park and the surrounding area. We Dominicans are farmers of the soil not animal farmers!!! In order to look after pigs and chickens you have to be educated to do this. Animals have to be kept properly or they can spread disease and die of disease bringing the farmer no profit a lot of work and headache. The abattoir idea is ridiculous in Layou Park!! First of all to get to Layou Park you have to get there up windy roads and hills! The location is totally wrong! The abattoir needs to be near the coast on the flat. The impact on the beautiful Layou valley and river are incredible! Yes, there will be leakage over time if not directly! Who is this going to benefit?? Perhaps two local well known farmers of pigs and chickens close by with Government huge connections as usual???
Why do they need such a big abattoir who is going to buy the meat. Also this area is of beauty for the tourists who travel the road. What on earth are they going to think when coming across the abattoir!! Oh yes, then they drive down the Layour valley and see that terrible Tarrish pit that is making the people in the Layou valley sick. So the Government is killing the tourist industry of the Layou Valley and one of the biggest rivers in Dominica for the benefit of who exactly?? STUPID STUPID STUPID!! I do support the Government and Prime Minister Skerrit but this time I do not think our Prime Minister has been properly provided with the information and has not taken into the fact that this is NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR A ABATTOIR!
Offal, offal idea. Was there an EIA done that is available to the public? Was planning permission granted?
If i could like this comment 2000 times i would.. As a country we still in the begging mode for any thing we can get. Instead of the building what we need. That money could have been spent on education, in growing your own food and livestock and fishing, and dished out in small grants for creating backyard animal husbandry, farming and fishing. We are the nature Island, all time we not embracing that as who we are first and foremost, we will continue to be lost as a nation doing stupid “development” things..
The “feathers” will be used to make pillows. The entrails will be fed back to the animals. So, do you see the cycle? it’s a re-cycling animal plant to feed people.
What does this government have to do to please people like you? Negative, negative,negative……I suppose if they had done something that u and only u wanted or supported, it would have been all well and good. Right?
Yeh!
If commnents are so negative, as they generally are, the worst thing for Govt. to do is to dismiss them as coming from political oppositon or malcontents. They would be well advised to establish the real reasons for his festering groundswell of dissatisfaction and tackle it. That is far more urgent an important than the kind of self-congratulation dispensed by the likes of GIS.
People, there are many ways that offal, feathers and all waste matter can be treated. Actually, these methods are pretty simple and will guarantee non toxic pollutants into the water shed and rivers and streams.
The use of BOD and COD methods are widely known and for “intelligent people that always complain but never offer solutions, you guys sound pretty uneducated.
Having the plant away from the population is ideal as the treatment process will include various sedimentary tanks where micrograms breakdown every part of the animals and the first initial tanks will release CO2 and other gases through the natural process( that may have an off odor) but can be controlled.
Do you know that the waste water from the pigs is excellent for maximum crop production and development ( flowering and overy development) of plants?
I believe that having the Government effectively ( if they can) operate this facility, standards like GMPs, SSOP and SOPs and HACCP can be fully implemented to meet the regulations (cfr’s) of ISO standards for local consumption and more so exportation.
I have been a strong advocate for this and any type of added value operation in DA and I do understand when people have genuine concerns but before you criticize with untruths, half truths about the operation, please do a little research on how waste water from effluents of animals are treated.
I challenge the Government to increase its Standards throughout the Beareau on all aspects of this venture, especially Food Safety and Quality. There are so many factors that one has to consider, just imagine, Trichinae free meat is so important but how many of us are concerned about the potential deadly Microbs from the sourced meats? Do we know that we can only kill Trichinae @ temperature above 160F? Do we know how deadly this is to our health if not dealt?
This is an opportunity in the making to have our own feed plant. I believe that these complimentary auxiliary facilities should be done in sync with the abbatoir and added markets of Soy, corn and legumes can be new commodities that farmers have to invest to run these operations.
I fully agree with you that the intentions of the government is positive but the way they do these” tou pas tout “projects, the personnel in charge and lack of a comprehensive marketing strategy can stagnate the operation in its infancy stage.
Training, training and more training MUST always be on managements daily agenda. Continuous improvements are needed and should be mandatory as Food Borne Illnesses emerges daily and possesses a great Hazard for the consumers and especially by the practices of Humans. We need government trained Inspectors at the facility every time it is in operation. That is a MUST. Every carcass must be inspected and approved. MUST.
I will be more than happy to offer myself and my services to my country to aid in the effective implementation of any processing facility.
Gentlemen, if you guys are truly serious, we will need much more than security guards and political diarrhea to score points. We need a serious plan.
Rather than investing 10K on a slaughter house. Wouldn’t be best that the PM put the donated money into building an international Airport in this country.
Get off the International Airport kick. It’s not gonna happen. Forget it and move on already!
Damned if he does, damned if he doesnt
My Father just call me and say that, he has much Manicou in his fig plantation. He wants to know whether he can sell them to the abattoir. I told him I don’t know. Only birds and pigs i told him.
Bes we slaughter Manicou for true wi boy
This would be good if it will create jobs and reduce the importation of meat, but there are other factors like pollution from the granno, animalswelfare, are they taken into consideration? I hope it’s not all about making Money
I’m just skeptic when come to Skerrit and his government
I’ll take the chicken poop for fertilizer!
the antibiotics in the chicken poop will destroy your land and overtime you and the people who consume the food produced on the land will become resistant to antibiotics which is a nightmare
If is skerrit and his government then don’t comment cause it’s nothing to do with u! It’s not your government and not your country. U people! Get with the program!
What about the import duties they are going to miss from imports. And I expect them to have to put in subsidies for local production too. Somehow we are going to pay for this, trust me.
– will this mean that meat imports will be severely curtailed and subject to restrictions and additional taxes so local meat can compete with imports?
– who will sell the meat from the abbatoir?
– will Govt. guarantee a subvention price for animals offered to the abbatoir and control retail prices?
– will live-stock farmers be obliged to deliver their animals to the abbatoir?
– will I no longer be able to buy my fresh meat from small holders in the villages at a price negotiated directly between myself and them?
– will this programme stop people from raising their own cattle, pigs, goats and poultry for their own consumption?
– how does Govt. ensure that enough animals are delivered to the abbatoir to make the venture viable?
– how/when will suppliers of livestock to the abbatoir be paid? Or will they simply have to pay a processing fee for their animals to be slaughtered?
– who will arrange the transport of animals to the abbatoir and ensure that this is done in a humane fashion?
Maybe all these questions have already been addressed but if so I have not see the answers. Could the Ministry of Agriculture commnent please.
Just nice talk…but in the end that will be a high ended failure…
who is going guard the guards, where is the training are there enough birds around, will folks get concessions on inputs etc…
these are the facts, was there a serious outlook, layout and findings when coming up with that project how viable will it be etc…
boy oh boy dominica again just doing things on bling and emotions to pull wool over their highly ignorant citizens….wow
You talking fouchette.
And while you are at it Mr.PM see to it that the inefficient bureau of standard is up to date with the procedures and standards of slaughtering meat and the up keep of the abattoir
Great initiative..These days I find my government launching nuff projects, do I smell ‘election’???
Hold on!! Was this project only launched a couple days ago? From my reccollection this has been in the works for a while. You talking Fouchette!!!
Skerrit Labor Government can build as many abattoirs as it wants,unless certain high powered business men in Dominica are refused import licenses on poultry or increase the duties on poultry,fixed the economy, so that the people can find jobs, many of the 500 birds they expect to slaughter every day will remain on the selves.One doesn’t have to travel far from the Market to see what the importation of certain vegetables are doing to the vendors at the Roseau Market.
Kelver talks about the slaughtering of pigs.It is alleged,a Minister of Government who is involved in a pig farm is ready to resign or will not be contesting the next General Elections.
What does that have to do with the abattoir?
Because if Govt. has its way pig farming could become a gold mine in a protected market. More money in that than politics, trust me. And you don’t have to worry about rebellious and unruly subjects, just take them to the abbatoir.
Another white elephant project just give it 6 months and let the ants bring the news for me…
nothing will prosper once this regime stays in office….they don’t have a clue how to re vamp this dead economy they create..
labour is so silly..they going to have that project targeted for the red party folks only..
and this is the main cause why dominica is at present the POOREST IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN.
Just like that coffee plant in Portsmoouth. Where is the coffee? Even Bello can not get enough local coffee for their small production. Nobody had the balls to the tell uncle Chavez to give us the money instead.
Then go to the richest and stay there
Poor reporting DNO….why say members of his labour party cabinet????? Too many useless words…Simply say the Prime Minister and his cabinet and that would suffice, thank you.
Well, i must try and understand what I read. Did i read that “office workers and security guards are the ones who will be doing the slaughtering?” I thought they already had a job!! And “500 birds will be killed daily!” That’s appx. 183,000 birds a year? wow….how many “PIGS?” tell us nuh!
Thats all you got from an important development…I hope you are not a bird
Pork is the main export i Denmark, they got to Slaughter 25 million pigs a year
Skerrits project is only for dominicans consumption
Not only for domestic consumption. In a GIS press release of 5 Oct. 2012, Ricky Brumant , Dir. of Agriculture is quoted as saying:”…with the construction of an abbatoir an export market to include Europe, Martinique and Guadeloupe will be persued”. He furthermore states that:” ..there will be a development of a feed mill”.
We have not heard recently about that feed mill. Would it be a private- or a govt. enterprise and what would the current importer of feed have to say about that?
The message gets confusing, however, when in a susequent GIS press release of 23 Feb., 2013 Hon. Kelver Daroux is quoted as saying that the abbatoir is intended :”…to supply the local market with pork and chicken”. In any case the abbatoir’s output capacity, given in the same press release as 1000 birds/hour and 50 pigs/day would not be sufficient to meet local demand, leave alone exports.
I was wondering that myself. I guess they’ll have to get some training first, lol. I remember reading in a past article the number of pigs they will slaughter (can’t remember what it was, but it was more than the chickens) and I wondered where they were going to get all those pigs from. Maybe China!
That’s great news!! Hopefully this will create lots of employment and help boost the economy!!
Be realistic. How many people you need to slaughter max 1,000 chickens a day and 50 pigs a week. You will see, they will have a whole administration to manage this little abbatoir. Manager, secretary, receptionist, messenger, driver, office clerks, security guard, vehicles financed by the tax payer. And then chickens made available to staff at concessionary prices. Wonder what the ultimate cost of one of these chickens will be?
“When it is completed, we will have office workers and security guards coming to slaughter the pigs.”
Really? Office workers and security guards to slaughter animals? That’s very interesting.
Well, Maggot, look at the bright side. There should be plenty new job openings for office workers and security guards since they all now going to have jobs at the abattoir to do slaughtering. LMAO
You know, I was just wondering the same thing. Either DNO have it wrong or somebody needs to explain this to we the waiting public or it is just very interesting as you said, and plain hilarious too!!!
… in which case I sure won’t be eating that meat!!! 
…
Does anyone in Da know how to cut meat instead of mashing it up with a cutlass?, and is there a qualified meat cutter in Da to cut me my T- Bone steak?. Anyway great project.
Mr Royal George (Royal Meats) studies butchery in London and is a professional. He also sells T-Bone steaks, pork chops etc which are not ‘mashed up’ but instead machine cut ok.
And where is Mr Royal George located. I would like some nicely cut pork chops, instead of the mangled mess I usually get!
You can find Royal George at the Fond Cole Industrial Site. Good, professionally cut meat.
Show off…T-Bone Steak…..we eat lots of fish here….continue eating your cows
ipo,,, what fish do you eat down there? is it KaYe ?
IPO why be so negative? If Roosevelt Skerrit can aspire to a state palace nothing wrong with us aspiring to a t-bone steak, is it? It is called the next level remember!
Now that people will have a reason to raise more animals, there should also be some animal protection laws put into place to prevent cruelty and bad conditions. Are you listening, government?
You are perfectly right. government needs to put laws in place for proper rearing of these animals for consumption by people. Sanitary conditions and what they eat is important. WE NEED TO SET STANDARD IN FOOD IN DOMINICA AND ALSO STAAND TO MEET MARKET REQUIREMENT. HOPE THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE READ THIS .
Well, first animals to go to abbatoir will be these “ownerless” cows causing a hazard on the public roads in Portsmouth. Catch them and give the meat to the underprivileged. A good vote catcher.
Kelvar please,what number of persons from st.joseph..
000000000000000.1
LOL
ya man now allu talking!