Over $31-million have been spent on infrastructural development during the period January 1 to June 30, 2014.
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement when he presented a motion to the House recently seeking approval for Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the period January 1 to June 30, 2014 amounting to $45, 056,927.22.
A substantial part of the supplementary estimates of expenditure,$31, 453,146.23 or 69.8 percent was spent on infrastructural development undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports.
Prime Minister Skerrit stated that over $10-million was spent on the Geothermal Project during that period.
“An additional $10,921,510.79 was approved to be spent on the Geothermal Project, specifically for the preparation and drilling of the reinjection well. Earlier this year, flow tests to determine the generation capacity of the production well were undertaken and these were successful. The funding was made available by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD),” Prime Minister Skerrit stated.
Dominica has been highlighted as a leader in geothermal development and the Dominica Labour Party Administration continues to take productive steps to convert this energy into lower electricity cost.
Encouraging results obtained from the drilling of the first production well have advanced the delivery of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy to Dominicans.
“Due to the increase in cost of the utility services, the sum of $2,400,000 was appropriated. The cost of electricity is still of concern for the government and the geothermal initiative is expected to bring some relief in this area,” the prime minister said.
A grant of $3,501,322.59 to assist with the improvement of road infrastructure affected during the passage of Tropical Storm Ophelia and which suffered further deterioration as a result of subsequent heavy rains. That amount was appropriated to road rehabilitation projects.
These included road and drainage rehabilitation in Grand Fond, Loubiere and Morne Prosper; road improvement in Giraudel/ Eggleston and Copthall; rehabilitation and asphalt surfacing in Campbell and Lalay Coco; and construction of a concrete road in Massarce.
Two million, sixteen thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars was spent under an immediate response rehabilitation loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to undertake emergency works and clean-up operations following a trough system which caused flash flooding, landslides, rockslides in the southern part of Dominica on December 24, 2013.
“While there were no reports of death, several homes and business were flooded which resulted in damage of property and loss of personal belongings,” Skerrit said.
Following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Friday, December 27, 2013, Prime Minister Skerrit announced that the Government of Dominica would assist those affected in the following ways; provide 100 percent of the assessed value to repair dwelling houses; provide 60 per cent of assessed value of personal household effects destroyed through flooding; replace textbooks, stationary, uniforms and other school supplies; provide limited assistance to businesses which suffered damage; pay rental cost for a limited period for those who have to be relocated. The total clean-up cost was estimated at $830,000 and included clearing of roads, drains and dredging of rivers.
Rehabilitation of infrastructure and mitigation works were estimated at $45-million.
$7,395,345.93 provided the loan from AFD to meet all contractual works for the bridges and other activities to enable the completion of the Roseau to Melville Hall Road Project.
An additional $790,620.66, which represents Government’s contribution to the project, was also spent during the period.
“Despite the many challenges that have been faced on this project, it is nearing completion. Our citizens have already praised the efforts of the Government on this undertaking and users have indicated the enhanced driving experience,” Skerrit stated.
The Government of Venezuela provided a grant of $2,429,631.81 to meet contractual obligations for the Penville/ Vieille Case Road Rehabilitation Project.
An amount of $1,998,564.45 was approved for the Petite Savanne to Boetica/ Delices road rehabilitation project to meet contractual commitment with respect to ongoing works.
When are you going to improve the road from Portsmouth to Melvill Hall? It’ s full of potholes and being overtaken by grass. It’s been neglected for years.
Money for the geothermal well did not come from the govt, but from the company going to make the facility. “The funding was made available by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD),” Prime Minister Skerrit stated.”
Pointe Michel to Champagne road is still subsiding and the roadworks will not solve the flooding issues when we do get more heavy rains.
All the money available and being spent is in the form of grants. Grants need to be repaid, Looks good doesn’t it? we still broke and begging as a nation however…
I think a $15 mil needs to be spent on the roads and sidewalks renovation in Roseaue wi pal.
When you travel all the soothly paved roads and get to Roseau you feel thrown back to the 1940’s riding and walking on cobble stones. That should also create some jobs.
All that spent and we still hungry, unsecure and hopeless in this country… Stop promoting “Some Shall Eat All” in the policies and program you support and implement Mr Prime Minister. The labour we knew and loved slogan was “All shall Eat” not what we facing now. Re-evaluate or we will Re-evaluate what works for the country or not.
Layba working,
Layba working,
Layba working,
Layba working,
Laybaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
You made me laugh.
31 million in yen!
31 million, look debt boy no wonder somebody son born in America
You mean to tell me that Reginal Austri so sure of reelection he refuse to fix his road even though we are weeks from a general election.
He will win by default, there is NO OTHER CANDIDATE!!!!!!
UWP will not be able to fill that slate….. History in the making…
Joe you may well be right but Reggie will feel awfully isolated in the minority in the House.
Well, the man was always cocky, you have to give him that.
Edward Oliver Highway – $100 million ???? is that for real? check it out people we really need an audit done on that road to get a true determination of value for money then we can start talking accountability.
Duckwell must be laughing out loud. Wonder if he has hugged Christophe yet,
It is a good thing your money was not used. You could never live to make that amount of money unless you owned a business and if it were successful.
31 millions? Mr Skerrit it look like you and ur ministers using a different currency than the ones we using.
Skerrit, who believes your figures? I don’t doubt $31 million left government coffers. What I do question is where monies really went to. We all know that Skerrit, Transparency and accountability have nothing in common. Furthermore, we do not have any honest and independent accountant to really confirm your info. yes, you may have drawn $31 million in the name of infrastructure but how are sure that 50% was not pocketed? I mean this is a time when almost all ministers are issuing checks to party friends for votes and no one is telling the nation where money coming from. I mean how can we forget government is deliberately giving contracts to highest bidders who are friends of the party. So I don’t believe Skerrit’s corrupt information at all.
Itassi Too,
Are you saying that all government monies are placed in an Account where the Prime Minister can WITHDRAW at his wills and fancies???
I think you need to educate yourself my friend, I am an Itassi Too so stop making us look Foolish!!!!
I can tell you are part of this TEAM DUNCE!!!!
This is such a silly post that I should not even be responding but any way I can’t resist. This is foolish because with your own words you are admitting that you are only believing those parts of the article which you want to without any proof to back it up. It is true that you may not be able to substantiate how the $31 million was spent and therefore you are entitled to doubt that but on the flip side of the coin you also don’t have the evidence to prove that $31 million was actually withdrawn from the treasury. However you are quick to believe that part of it and even go on to suggest that half of it was pocketed. I guess the point that I am trying to make is that when we argue we have to do so objectively rather than emotionally.
this is the power of your vote people. just look what the PM has done in six months…kinda makes you wonder what he has been doing all this time right smh …maybe we should have elections every year lol #justsaying
Hon PM does that $31 million spent reflect on the communities affected? How many sustainable jobs did such expenditure create? If such is the case why all this desperation in this charged political environment?
The thoughts came to my mind. When money is granted or loaned, it is not for the purpose of the jobs per se or types of jobs you are thinking of. You knew very well D/ca was in need of good, motor able roads. Constructing roads do create jobs.
It is expected that everyone should seek their own job. People do not sit back and expect the government to get jobs for them. Already, there is progress in this field. Today more nationals are employed through a training program. This, too cost money. Therefore, you should take this into consideration.
Whereas Skeritt can scream and shout the amount of money he can spend for infrastructure, he cannot do the same about the public servants who have to set up the programs and projects. Wouldn’t it be beautiful if he could shout at the top of his voice,” I will be giving public servants an increase of 1.5%,1.5% and 3%, if UWP Team Dominica can do it, I can also do it , too.”
u an ur team dominica magee,,tink uwp getting labour vote all u lie,keep feeding d apetite of uwp supporters an uwp will win..listen to blessings,skeritt hav the population,
Yes, Skerrit will have illiterates like you!
team dominica isn’t doing it.they are promising to do it.hey that’s politics
The money for those projects is not meant for staff salary increases. He cannot use the money for that purpose. Furthermore, in some countries, employees get no salary increase. I am not advocating that they should not get an increase. However, why are they not satisfied with a small percentage of increase the government has offered?
not last year’s budget but the recently passed budget for the period July 2014 to June 2015!!!!
That was supplementary to LAST years budget!
All this was spent in 6 months?? How many jobs were created for Dominicans?? How much of this benefited the ordinary man on this island? Many of us are still dirt poor and frustrated. Are we really better , with all this infrastructural projects and no real jobs created. I am losing hope
Boaster kaka-ches! The road from Pont Casse to Hatton Garden is still not complete. Two years ago Blackmoore said the would do all kind of things if the contractor did not finish that road by the end of 2012 but is silence we all are hearing about that one. Deal with that first before I even can listen to your bragging.
That should not be news. All that should be in last years budget address. Right now we should hear “according to last years budget estimates of 45 was set for spending on infrastructure. Today we have completed all planned below budget by 15 million.” Then I would say well done pm your ministry have been prudent in handling country finances.
How could this be included in last years budget? Who taught you accounts a mathematics teacher?
Are you lacking commonsense. A budget address was completed about a month ago for the 2014-2015 financial year. Any money spent on projects from January to June of this year should have been on 2013-2014 budget. That would be last years budget.
Further more in the past two months DNO have been providing stories of projects like crazy that the government has been putting out. I bet my life if we go back and read the stories and add up the numbers we will be shocked, well probably not, to see it is out of sack and grossly different from what was presented in this years budget. We will all be scratching our heads.
Dunce.
who taught you accounting? I believe it was a maths teacher
Skerrit taught me prudent accounting
would give your comment two likes if i could.