Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works, Rayburn Blackmoore has given the Public Works Corporation (PWC) just three weeks to fulfill the contractual obligation of completing road works in the Carib Territory.
Blackmoore was addressing a ceremony commemorating the official opening of a medical facility in Salybia yesterday.
He expressed disgust that the works were lagging.
“I want to give the assurance that I, as the Minister [of Public Works], is frustrated with the slow pace with which this work is being executed. We had an initial contractual engagement between PWC and your government, to the tune of $472,000. We have made a variation to this contract to include an additional $480,000 because we believe that in some areas we need to seal the road. I have instructed that the PWC must finish all the work in the next three weeks,” he said.
The Minister threatened that any failure to fulfill the contract would have serious repercussions. “Failure to do so would result in the Government exercising options to bring in someone else to complete the work,” he said firmly.
The PWC has been riddled with fiscal challenges and in recent months, which includes late payment of salaries, and has been taking measures to address those challenges.
Residents in the area have been complaining for some time now about the conditions of the road. Just recently residents of Antrizle blocked the road in protest of its condition.
I am confused: I thought the PWC is a department of the government through which constuction of infrastructure is conducted. I also thought it is his department. Seems like if PWC does not perform it is a reflection of the Gov. We all know Governments have a history of ineffeciency.
He is also threatening to bring in someone else. Sounds like he has a back-up plan.
We need to encourage local civil engineers to start their own companies and go through a bidding process for construction obs. The PWD should act as the Gov. Regulators who make sure that permits are in place, construction plans meet a set code and any infrastructuer is according to State regulations. All bids should go through the PWD where it is reviewed by a small group of gov. engineers.
We keep identifying defeciencies and problems but never have sensible solutions.
I think that it was time that the ministers take that approach in dealing with the contractors. When people works for the Govt. they do as they wish. When they work for private companies they do their best and meet their contractural obligations.
Do your job Blackmore. Call them out and let them give us what we deserve. Whether they are foreigners or Dominicans.
About thet DIPCON story, they brought in equipments duty free to do the Roseau valley project but they are now engaged by the chinese with these same duty free equipments and sidelining our own brothers and sisters from PWD.What is really going on?
Why are we just bent on destroying our own in an effort to look like ther is no fault with Government? Blackmore knows fully well that to commence such a project you require mobilisation funds,I am just so disappointed with the continued attempts to lay blame at the feet of public works over and over again by the minister. The tarish is available for public works , but they must buy the other product to seal the road, where is that money coming from when the government is the biggest debtor and pays in thier ownn time.Blackmore have strangled the cash flow of public works by not paying them on time ,then he turns around for political expediency and gives PWC threats and ultimatum. Stop the bashing of Dominicans workers who have built our roads over the years. Look at the work that was done under the leadership of engineer Labassiere on the Warner road from the village to Sultan junction,the vielle case work that was done , these guys can work under pressure , but we are now taking advantage of these guys.
Maybe if you actually pay them, they will be motivated to work. How many times now they don’t get paid on Pay Day? Are you willing to do your work for free. Take away your big SUV and take a bus in the morning to work at a job where you may not even get pay. UNFAIR
MR MINISTER THE STONE THAT THE BUILDER REJECTS WILL ONE DAY BE THE HEAD CORNER STONE,REMEMBER I AM ON THAT ROAD ALL DAY AND PUBLIC WORKS WORKERS TRY THERE VERY BEST, I SEE GUYS TAKE JOY IN DOING THERE WORK WHILE A HAND FULL IS JUST LAZY ,OVER THE PAST DAYS I CAN SAY I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING ON THE ROAD A BIG DIFFERENCE COMPARE TO THE PAST MONTHS JUST PUTTING TARRISH IN HOLE AND LEAVE IT THERE I DROVE THROUGH THE VILLAGE OF ANTRIZLEE THIS EVENING AND WAS A JOY DRIVING THERE ALTHOUGH THEY DOH FINISH IT YET IJUST HOPE RAIN DOH FALL AND WASH IT BEFORE THEY SURFACE IT MR BLACK IT IS UNFAIR TO SAY THE GUYS ARE SLOW THERE ARE WORKERS THERE THAT TRY THERE BEST I SEE THEM REALLY WORKING HARD WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH HATS OFF TO THEM REMEMBER RAIN GIVE THEM A LOT OF BLOWS BUT THEY ARE WORKING
I CAN SEE IMPROVMENT FOR THE PAST DAYS THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF RAIN THEY ARE TRYING THERE BEST MR MINISTER BE FAIR, YOU KNOW RAIN WASHED AWAY MOST OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ALREADY
I need someone to help me understand what the acting Pm is trying to accomplish.Isn’t Blackmore the minister directly responsible of Public Works? If yes, why then does he have to wait until he gets to the territory in the capacity of acting Pm to let Public works and the Caribs know that he is fraustrated with the progress of the long awaited road and to give PW three weeks to deliver? To me that makes no sense because if a firm that is directly under his potfolio has failed to deliver, he needs to call them to a meeting and let them know how he feels and whatto expect. On the other hand, if pw failed to deliver, then it is a failure on the side of the minister who has failed on many other projects including Melville Hall Airport whereso much money was spent on and yet people that are departing have to form a line outside. He also failed with his promised dates for night landing and many other projects that public works have nothing to do with. The minister needs to swallow his pride and resign instead of blaming his failure on pW.
His utterances tell of the type of person that he is – Arrogant, vindictive, pompous, power stricken!! Another one who has to fall on his face!
wooooeee woooee wooooee wooeee comeS swiftly,
aaaayyyyyy
be not afraid dominicans our time will come, when they will throw themselves at our mercy.
but PLEASE!! DO NOT FORGET TODAY, OUR DAYS OF SORRY AND WOEEE
Three weeks maybe a lot of time to complete the work but then again with serious adverse weather conditions impeding progress, is mother nature a non issue?
I AM APPALLED AT MR. BLACKMORE’S STATEMENT. EXAMINE HIS STATEMENT CAREFULLY. HE SAID :”PWC AND YOUR GOVERNMENT”.
QUESTION; WHY ISNT HE INCLUDING HIMSELF?
WE ARE NO LONGER DOM IN CANS. WE ARE SMARTER THAT THAT. SEEMINGLY, WHEN DOMINICA SIGNS CONTRACTS WITH FOREIGNERS THERE IS A CLAUSE WHICH STATES WHAT BOTH PARTIES CAN AND CANNOT DO.
LET US JUST WAIT N SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
i am attempting to comprehend with the statements made by the acting prime minister.and offcourse as the norm Dominicans has always and will continue to be under the mirco scope as we are viewed as second calss citizens.dip con was in the roseau valley attempting to complete a road rehabilation project with extension given every other month by the same acting prime minister, i could have sworn that the dipcon road contractors work as extension officers at the ministry of agriculture. i cannot recall the minister having any thing to say, the chineese were unable to give a quality finish product on the west coast road, and the minister attempted to critizied the work done, and was directed to alter his statement. we are seeing at this stage that dipcon again has a sweet heart deal with the west coast road, again a company which was incompentent has another contract to re surface the road. the french man he has demonstrated incompentence on the first phaze of the road to melville hall and was issued with another.have u heard Blackmore comment todate?, hum time is telling.
I guess we want an excuse to give the Chinese the work. This guy thinks he is now the Prime Minister of Dominica he has been on the airwaves everyday speaking with such assumed authority.
I think it’s more pride and arrogance than authority.
Surely that’s what a deputy is supposed to do?
Or would you rather have him ‘on the airwaves’ singing a ballad?
Please.
Next, get PWC to finish the Morne Prosper road that’s been unfinished for months.
LISTEN TO ME, the PWC is being micromanaged by the same man that giving ultimatums, so in essense he is making dominicans chase their own tail, he has the board of directors and management of the corporation POWERLESS, not even refuse they can refuse to work when government dont pay, how is that fair?????? should public works employees put together to buy bitumen and fix the road, should they go and look for sponsor????? or do you think that government should pay their billlssssssssssssssssssss
ADMIN: COME ON ADMIN, AH AH AH AH, WHAT HAVE I SAID HERE THAT IS SO WRONG??? AM I EXPOSING TOO MUCH OF THE TRUTH????? ADMIN DONT LEAVE A CORPORATION FULL OF HARD WORKING DOMINICANS TO BE SLAUGHTERED BY THIS. NA MAN ADMIN NA MAN. I LAMENTING THAT…
U KNOW WHAT!! forget it, i should know better than to expect the truth to be told here. i will go post it on my face book and the UN website among others…
Man, You sound like a PWC employee.
and so WWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHAAATTTTTT if i am one…….is me that would know, to TELL IT LIKE IT IS!!!
and what if i am, if i am is not me that would know the truth to say it like it is???????? let them break their neck looking for where the leak is. THEY WILL FIRE EVERYBODY AT PUBLIC WORKS RATHER THAN FACE THE TRUTH….. IS SO THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE UNDER THE MANIPULATION OF ONE MAN.
I JUST LIKE YOU, I DEAD BROKE AND I’VE HAD ENOUGH…………….
I do not condone tardiness on the completion of any project, but reading Blackmore’s statement makes me sick. I am left to ask whether the minister has a Problem with local workers and PWC.
CO Williams work on point Michel sea wall falls behind time, Dipcon works on Laudat road went beyond contracted time, The Chinese work on the West Coast road is behind time, the French man phase one on airport road work was way beyond the contracted time yet he was rewarded the second phase and is behind time. Not one of these companies were threatened with a replacement of companies to complete the work, yet Blackmore threatened locals with lost of contract even though he knows that weather condition was not favourable for this kind work for the past number of days. Even the Chinese did not surface roads on those days. I sensed that you Blackmore gave PWC the contract grudgingly. What is more interesting is that he does not mind when PWC workers are not paid on time. BLACKMORE,DO YOU LOVE LOCALS? What have we done to you sir?
the problem is that the people he could manipulate not there anymore. AS HARD WORKING PEOPLE WE ARE TIRED OF BEING VICTIMIZED AND THEN STILL USED AS THE SCAPEGOATS FOR WHEN THINGS GOING WRONG….IS TIME FOR THE WHIP TO FALL ON THE RIGHT SET OF PEOPLE BACK…..
a lot of relevant stuff here. Dominicans must open their eyes and ears and see the truth!
when its an outside contractor behind time we work with them like on the first phase of the meville hall road when its our own home grown we………….
Oh i See. see how much hypocrite are. you giving them weeks to finish their project but you have a project going on in the other end of the island that’s month behind scheduled. why u not pressuring them. Oh i forget. Chinese doing that one. These politicians and just a bunch.
how can PWC work for government when government refuse to pay their bill????????????????????? answer that mister. petrocaribe dont give PWC bitumen for free and you know that…
Hmmmm….work without pay
Very quick to give comments on ultimatum of road works
But no comments on employees salaries.
maybe he should fulfill his ethical obligation to pay governments debt to the corporation which would better enable them to fulfill their contractual obligation to the roads in the Carib territory…..this guy is so blatantly disrespectful eh, it is beyond comprehension his double standards. because of government outstanding bill public works unable to even acquire a loan from the bank to pay wages, we waiting to see what happen this month end.
Blackmoore going out of his way to make public works look bad. Why he didn’t ask Gadacan to finish the Pocasse road in time
Because PWC are Dominicans, so it is, Foreigners before our people
OUT OF CONTEXT
BLACKORE DON,T LIVE IN THE AFFECTED AREA, WHAT THE HELL HE CARE
Hope mr. Blackmoore sticks to this. PWC have to perform and be held to account like anyone else. No soft options, the public interest has priority.Please guys, show us you are up to the task you contracted to do!
BROTHER DONT BE MANIPULATED, there is sooo much more to the story than meets the eye, and while bmore can fool some of us, he knows that some of us knows the truth of the story…
Yes, so what is the story?
If you know story then let’s hear it instead of spouting air!!
SO LONG I spilling my guts here, is DNO that didnt want to post my comments, else you would get the story earlier….
so long i answering, but DNO not posting my comments…..read higher up and u will get my posts
ADMIN: Whatever happened to your Facebook page which you said you were abandoning us for? Didn’t work out, huh? Hahahaha.
so ADMIN…i see where u coming from…u rather 1979 go elsewhere with his comments……u deciding who should comment on DNO…i remember when dis website was up for sale and i know the partisan attitude of the present owners…..its very difficult for u to hide your clothing…it is sheep’s clothing as i can see. whether it spotted, black and brown, all black or all white…..u can change de color of ur suit but it still a sheep suit u have on.
Public Works assisted C.O.Williams on the loubiere-Grand Bay road, i saw dem myself. I was wondering…..have C.O. Williams honored that bill??? Has PWC been paid for their work on that road Mr. Blackmoore? i know some of the crew men who worked. Ur brother the P.S can help us with that one…or our Chief Technical Officer. Last year i remember additional works programmed for the valley road project and an additional 24 million for the works due to the fact that it was underdesigned. How much overdue is that valley road project???? i notice the same DIPCON is paving the road under the canefield cliff? Is DIPCON in line for more projects despite their embarrassng record across the region of failing to complete their projects on time? Is PWC incapable of handling such works? I recently noted the rebooted road maintenance department in the Public Works Ministry, will the work be passed onto them or will u find a more efficient private contractor….it doesnt have to be local…u know what i mean.
like gardakan and the chinese or dipcon. i cannot recall these companies being under pressure from government for late completion of road works…
Boy, de dipcont road to Trafalgar have BIG holes already wee?
Boy if I self have to tell u about the tarish for community projects eh boy, …
I agree with you Mr Minister. Give them three (3) weeks or else take action. The government gives them work and they cannot deliver. It is high time that PWC put its act together.
They were paid almost EC70,000 in Riviere Cyrique to do a road. The only thing done was concrete drainage and tovtarish the road. Now is hurricane season and you should see the condition of the road.
This is a major road leading to the health centre, playing field, credit union and village council office.
dont be so quick to agree my brother……get the FACTS from PWC, and u might be suprised that this man has the audacity to make this ultimatum
you sure that not de nanton fellar from portsmouth
Your name suggest what you brain is, “dead”!
Shut your mouth,because you lying,
get your facts right dont just jump and blame the public works there is a reason thing s happen