Blackmoore explains delay on Airport Road Project

Blackmoore said additional funds had to be sought for the project
Blackmoore said additional funds had to be sought for the project

Public works minister, Rayburn Blackmoore, is defending the slow progress on Lot 2 of the problem-plagued Airport Road Project pointing out that funding had to be sought for additional work.

Blackmoore told the inauguration of the Marigot Village Council earlier in the week that historically many sections of the road have been prone to land slippages and much of the work being done was not part of the original contractual arrangement.

“We said, as a government, that it makes no sense to do a job of that magnitude partially,” he stated. “Consequently we had to get additional funding…”

Blackmoore pointed out that a vulnerable area being worked on is next to the Belles School. “In the original contract not enough provision was made for a retaining wall and excavation,” he stated. “That is being done now …that is why you see the work taking a little bit longer.”

He pointed further that work is being done on 14 bridges which “was not part of the original scope of work.”

“That is why we are doing for you a proper job going forward…” he noted.

He also took a shot at past governments for not placing a single culvert on the road “for so many years.”

Lot 2 of the Airport Road Project runs from Pond Casse to the Melville Hall Airport.

It is one of the largest infrastructural projects on the island.

However, it has been plagued by many problems including protest by truckers for non payment of monies owed to them.

Blackmoore had personally given a number of deadlines for the project’s completion, going as far as threatening penalties to contractors if they were not met.

However, none of the deadlines have come to fruition.

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88 Comments

  1. Emile Zapatos
    March 17, 2014

    I am happy to hear that government is doing something about the roads in Dominica. It seems that we do not have the technical support required.
    We need to get technical assistance for projects from other countries and international organizations. They normally give personnel and equipment that we do not have to pay for.
    We need motivators also. To modernize the infrastructure of the country is no easy task.
    Blackmore is showing good leadership in not pointing fingers and shouldering the blame, but we all know the part civil servants play.

    • Pwais Poule
      March 17, 2014

      Simeone again making a fool of himself- garcon hush your mouth sakwais sort.

  2. dissident
    March 15, 2014

    I will make my comments on another news website from now…….your disrespect has now cost you…..you won’t see my money either

    Good riddance

  3. Native & indigenous
    March 15, 2014

    This road is called the Norway road, and the song to that road goes ” si’oo, tae Norway sa’woo tae ke’ fe’?

  4. Native & indigenous
    March 15, 2014

    Even when they lye they are confusing themselves, you cannot tell me that you are rehabilitating a road and excavation works and bridges were not in the package; are you laying the blame on the engineers, was not the road re surveyed so as to determine the estimated cost? if what you are saying is true then you are telling the nation that this government is highly incompetent, to solve the wastage that is hemorrhaging in the country, cover up your shame and call the election now

  5. anonymous2
    March 15, 2014

    Same old story in DA. Can’t get anything done here. Always peddling backwards and costing more.

    • Emile Zapatos
      March 17, 2014

      The mind set of civil servants and public workers have to change for us to ever get to the point of completion on time and on budget. The blame or glory always stop at the top. And in this case Mr Blackmore. If he could fire or fine those responsible, he would not have problems. The Americans and Chinese are known to provide their own workers where and when their money is involve ( grant or loan) so that they do not have costly delays.

      • Pwais Poule
        March 17, 2014

        How it is that under Labor Party the bank took your house. So while you running your mouth for the crooks in government they building mansions , buying multiple houses , vehicles etc and bank take your vehicle and you end up abusing a certain agency vehicle.
        Is the joiner tell me too much bwois powi.

  6. Malgraysa
    March 15, 2014

    How comes I get the feeling this project is beyond the control of Mr. Blackmoore, beyond his competence? I do feel for the man but he certainly does not help himself by presenting such feeble excuses and trying to play the blame game. It is his govt. that has been in power for the duration of this project., his govt. that trumpeted the glory of undertaking this project and nobody else.
    Somebody told me the Channel tunnel between France and England took only six years to build, a tunnel at 250 ft. under the sea for more than 30 miles and “only” 80% over budget!
    Mr. Blackmoore, we will sure break that record with upgrading an existing road that is shorter and above sea level. Looks like it is more challenging than the Channel tunnel after all, malgraysa.

  7. Doc. Love
    March 14, 2014

    As usual, Blackmoore and the Labor Party Government are back in their excuse mode. This road will not be completed for another nine months. It is alleged the money for completion is finished. Their is no more money to complete the remaining eight bridges. They are talking about the largest infrastructural project on the island, they must be forgetting the Delice/Petite Savanne Road which was completed in minimum time by the United Workers Party.

    6

  8. March 14, 2014

    GREAT JOB MR. BLACKMOORE!

    BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS AND SIMPLY DO YOUR JOB RIGHT, BELIEVE AND PRAY, AND THE REST WILL BE HANDLED BY THE ALMIGHTY FATHER!

    GOD BLESS, VINCENT ROLLE

    • hans
      March 16, 2014

      Well Vincent if they are doing their job I guess the almighty father sleeping or he has a hangover cause for 4 years that project is underperforming and those arrogant idiots never take responsibility.
      Thanks Vincent for informing us now that is God that fail in his responsibility to the project. SMITH.
      Blind bats like you is the reason why these idiot s are in government.

  9. ##D.A.##.
    March 14, 2014

    Once their mouth move you can tell they lie, typical politician. LIE.LIE.LIE. And BLAME<BLAME<BLAME# SMFH" Sell me the new market bridge??/????

  10. stuckky
    March 14, 2014

    Excuses and more excuses, Oh dear, its very much like a circus indeed! Please Mr Blackmore come better than that, let the people know the real reasons. Only fools would buy your excuses! Come better than that, its a sign of bad management.. If you guys cant handle such a simple project, who would trust you all to run a country…. This is unacceptable behaviour ………..

  11. Plan Dominque
    March 14, 2014

    This again highlights the incompetence and mismanagement of this government, particularly the Minister of works.
    Mr Blackmore is either an outright liar or the most incompetent minister in the whole of the cabinet, and owes the Dominican public an apology. Is this not that same Minister who was ranting on the radio last year that he and his government had given the contractor up to June 2013 to complete that same road? Did he not know then what the scope of work involved and what variations were needed to the scope of work?
    How can a Minister of works tell us that there was no provision for reconstruction/replacement of culverts and bridges on such a major road project during the original design stage. Who is he fooling or is he trying to pass the buck to the design engineers?
    The most vexing problems on the road were the narrow corners and water course crossings including main bridges. Why did he not ask the consultants for the cost of bridge replacement at the initial discussion phase. Again we see the mismanagement when we place square pegs in round holes. which is what Mr Blackmore represents.
    It is no wonder that he had one hundred million dollars in his hand to spend on the E O Le Blanc highway, which is what his government said it cost to rehabilitate the west coast road, yet he could not come up with a solution to the most critical problem on this length of road, a by-pass for Mahaut and Massarce, communities in his constituency.
    Change is therefore not an option but a Must.

    • March 26, 2014

      Plan Dominque.

      Hello and good morning to you. First we should debate issues but we shouldn’t used derogatory words. Now Mr Blackmoore is not qualify to hold such important position because he don’t have an Engineering background. I would like to know who submitted the construction plans and who approved the plans because this is a gross over sight.

  12. Yambabawoolais
    March 14, 2014

    Well if building a retaining wall and a few bridges is taking 2 years then why shouldn’t the ministers, their brothers and shadows use their company to build those bridges and one retaining wall on a Time and Material basis.
    when Hunter political party was not in power he sang a song ” They sucking the country they sucking the country dry” Now the same Hunter singing Ochonii** about Collin when we have higher level soukoyan”’ sucking the bones of the dead cow.

    • FORKIT
      March 16, 2014

      lol good one

  13. Rule
    March 14, 2014

    I’m confused, because in November Skeritt said he received a loan for $300 million to build an International Airport, a Hospital and a Hotel, so why funding should be sought to repair the Airport road. These guys really think they can fool us!!!

    • forreal
      March 15, 2014

      come on what is is your point,if they were given money to build an international airport,does that make it easy for them to get money for other projects,well if morne dabloutin have a money tree plantup sorry i did not know about it,what world all you living in buddy

  14. Anonymous
    March 14, 2014

    I would like to commend the Dominica Labour Party for taking on a project of this magnitude. The last time I saw the project I predicted that it would take more time to complete than the the time given. I guess the contractor also underestimated the magnitude of the job. This was a very necessary project which no other government had the courage to tackle and for that I applaud the DLP government. Keep up the good work.

    • Native & indigenous
      March 15, 2014

      you know reading through your lines it tells me that the slavery mentality is still very deep in your system, your expectations are limited, you are easy to be contented, properly brainwashed and fooled by the simple bribes you may have received.

    • Pose Passe
      March 16, 2014

      Dear Anonymous: The schedule for this most be assest by the technical team of the ministry of Public Works. If the contractor after submitting his tender document, the technical team realizes that his time frame is not realistic then they must negotiate.There nust be a limit positive or negative to work with. So therefore the contractor is not the cause.Secondly why should a Government venture into such a project and forgetting bridges and not realizing that this area is prone to landslide. Is’nt there called “WET AREA?”
      You guys need to stop playing politics and say it as it is. This Government lacks planning!!!

      • .
        March 17, 2014

        You are not taking into consideration the magnitude and technicality of this project. Are you familiar with the area? If so then you will know what i’m talking about. Why do you think that no other administration was willing to touch this project although it was very necessary? I think the DLP administration should be commended for their efforts.

  15. Frenz
    March 14, 2014

    My friend pedro that project is stained with dirty underhand deals; Ministers and Permanent secretaries have their hands digging into this project from all directions. It is corruption of epic proportion. When truck drivers cannot get paid those who are providing other services and are somehow politicians, family of politicians , girl friend etc are racking up unexplained bills and submitting invoices for quick payment.

    Well there was enough money to complete the project the first time around . The problem is that no allocations were made for the avaricious ones who act as political directorates and who conveniently position themselves as service providers just grabbing as much as they can with their contracting equipment, contracting companies etc.

    • Anonymous
      March 14, 2014

      That is not true where on earth do you get your information, things are really really slow but before you make such slanderous accusations provide DNo with copies of these fraudulent transactions, then you can go ahead and accuse people of wrong doing .

      • Frenz
        March 15, 2014

        Prove me wrong- please do. Tell me that ministers and their families, girlfriend s are not service providers.

      • Pose Passe
        March 16, 2014

        Dear Anonymous- Do you know who are the share holders and B.O.D of “Offshore Marine?” Did’nt you hear of the disclosers made by lennox of monies delivered to individuals? Don’t you know that one of them is a share holder of Offshore Marine?
        Stop playing politics, you might enjoy your little dollars given to you,but it is your kids and mine who will have to pay.

      • Change is a must
        March 17, 2014

        You better wake up because this is the modus operandi of your government

  16. D/a Lover
    March 14, 2014

    What the hell is he talking ’bout saying that there were no culverts on the road. How could that road not have a single culvert. Mad man

  17. Media or Midear
    March 14, 2014

    Man this time I am in support of Blackmoore wi. Brother take all the time in the world doh forget to ask the contractor to bill a little over the amount so you can get your cut….DFP didnt put culverts UWP did not put and all them man leave office brokes; garcon doh do that nah;;While you at it the see if you can employ the child your brother have with my sister so I can get my cut too; Blackmoore is the hardest working Minister in the government even if he getting vex when the PM doh share the stash with him and he is left to threatening the contractor….Viva Blackmoore….

  18. AA
    March 14, 2014

    This is a classic case of incompetence poor planning lack of strategy and mismanagement. And all of a sudden you come to blame others for your blatant mismanagement. And this is why the states resources is being wasted at every turn, This country is not getting value for money and this occurs at every turn and still under the table payments occurs

  19. Penville
    March 14, 2014

    Time and time again we have heard excuses for the lack of planning on the part of those lazy DLP ministers.
    I think they should all take a break and let UWP come in office before the summer.

  20. St.Joe
    March 14, 2014

    It is a shame that we have to bear all this burdens from a bunch of ministers who are just there to get paid and do no work.
    Blackmore you should resign immediately!

  21. Massacre
    March 14, 2014

    Incompetence will always breed incompetence, and we are seeing it in this DLP and its lame ministers and leader.
    The entire road network in a small country like Dominica should not even take 4 years much less for that small project.

  22. March 14, 2014

    Hello and good morning my people. Well I am not surprised by Mr Blackbmoore statements because on prior articles I ask for His qualifications to hold such important position. This position requires someone who has an engineering degree who would be able to give good advise to the Government on such big and important construction issues. This location is very wet therefore you must provide a way for the water to pass without eroding the foundation of the road. I can’t understand how Mr Blackmoore expected to build this road without including funds to build a number of small bridges when there are heavy rain. I hope this project is completed by Independence.

    • JoJo
      March 15, 2014

      Independence Tony? What independence? Independence from China, from Venezuela? We’ll have to wait a long time for that independence my friend.

      • Simply the Truth
        March 17, 2014

        JoJo you made laugh. lol: :lol: :lol: Dominica got independence from Great Britain but in effect it is not an independent nation. I wonder when this independence will take place. Maybe never or at the end of the world.

      • Simply the Truth
        March 17, 2014

        I meant, “you made ‘me’ laugh.” I find it strange. I have noticed that whenever I type certain words on this Website, they are eliminated/disappear. I have written about this a few times. I have to check and re-check what I write. It occurs too frequently and costs me time. I am ever so careful when typing. Is there a rat which does that and willfully eats my words, the letters?

    • Mamizoo
      March 17, 2014

      No Tony one does not need an engineering degree to hold the office of minister of communication and works. Allergen..Carbon was a very good minister of work and was without a high school diploma.
      The minister has a team of engineers/technicians whose responsibility it is to provide technical advise to the minister.The problem is whether or not due process is allowed instead of paship, greed, corruption and self service.?

  23. Engineer
    March 14, 2014

    Mr. Blackmore I understand the reason for the delay. What I don’t understand is how you and the engineers could have missed so many vital details. I don’t know if they were rushed, but as professionals, they need to plan properly. While I understand that a lot of unforeseen problems arise, especially where earthwork is involved, I can’t see how they could have missed 14 additional bridges, and some of those retaining walls. These are going go be major additional cost. I will further add that sometimes politicians like to rush the designers to get the project completely quickly for political reasons, but from working in this field, I can tell you that some designs require a very long time if they have to be done properly- some several years. I think you and your whole technical team need to be replaced. This is just totally unacceptable.

    • March 15, 2014

      Engineer.

      Hello and good morning. Well Mr Blackmoore represents what’s wrong in Dominica because many people have positions they don’t qualify to hold. This position requires a person who has an Engineering back ground and their sole respsibility should be road construction. We also need the Inspector General to conduct an audit of how the dedicated construction funds were disburse in regards to this project. If that can’t do that then we need to bring an outside firm to audit the funds disbursement.

  24. vi massive
    March 14, 2014

    Hope when the airport road project is done, the people Marigot will fix all the derelict on the side of the road….

  25. JoJo
    March 14, 2014

    Oh Mr. Blackmoore. Since 2000 your government don’t see there are not enough culverts in that road? The contractor who quoted for the project did not see there were not enough culverts? Maybe nobody did see that road was too narrow either? That is not even a lame excuse, it is pathetic and not fit for a govt. minister.

  26. Francisco Telemaque
    March 13, 2014

    “that historically many sections of the road have been prone to land slippages(Blackmoor).

    Blackmoor, one of the reasons I will forever call you and your colleagues in government idiots is because of the remarks and statement such as you have made in the quote above. If you and the rest of your colleagues are aware that Dominica, is historically prone to landslide which you term slippages

    One would anticipate that the appropriate way to resolve such historical, and expected events would not be the continuation of spend money on the same path knowing fully well that Dominica experiences heavy rain fall on a daily basics, which can cause the same events to occur over and over again. Anybody with a small amount of intelligence would perhaps consider a detour, or deviation of the road the troubled areas, buy cutting a new path.

    To continue repairing the same old spot is stupid! You will become an old man walking on a cane, and those who come after you will engage in the same old crap, repairing the same old spot, wake up man and squandering the peoples money.

    You are trying to be so sophisticated, talking nonsense about slippages; I believe the definition of slippage is: “an act, instance; or process of slipping as when a human slip an fall. A land-slide is indeed rapid downward movement of a mass of rocks, earth, or some artificial fill on a slope. When it rains in Dominica, and the soil on an elevated piece of land or on a mountain becomes saturated with water, huge pieces of land brakes away, and slide downwards, that is term a land-slide.

    What nonsense are you talking about slippage? Traditions can be change, if it is traditional for every six month you have to repair the same the area of a road, your commonsense if you have any should dictate that you change the direction of that section of the road,

    I am illiterate, not as smart as you, but even if I am a dumb passant my resolve would be to take the roads around all the danger spots which will be cheaper in the long run.

    Marigot people are quite familiar with the English language, so too are the people of Wesley, if you find two people in the villages of Marigot and Wesley speaking patios fluently, they are not Wesley or Marigot born, they came and dwelt among us!

    Talk to the people of Marigot about land-slide, and cut you crap about slippages out!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • DA Man In the USA
      March 17, 2014

      Go check the meaning of SLIPPAGE from Merriam-Webster’s dictionary before you bash Blackmore. And for your info I am neither RED, BLUE nor GREEN. Just a humble DA Native living in the States like you.

  27. March 13, 2014

    Mr Minister, you are one of the few best on your team, you are a worker. But why do you all always have to take cheap shots and compare with past governments. Just do what you all have to do and let the praises come from the electorates. By the way, I remember the last Marigot inauguration, roads were promised, including Finegrass. Is that done yet? Catch the flies with honey.

  28. true
    March 13, 2014

    “He pointed further that work is being done on 14 bridges which “was not part of the original scope of work.””
    Tell me that statement was a joke, what ,and you are a minister of communication and works? A road from Airport to Roseau and bridges not included?

    “He also took a shot at past governments for not placing a single culvert on the road “for so many years.”” and what have you done?, past government not in power, you are and the bucks stops with you

  29. None Voter
    March 13, 2014

    Never voted and I am 43 years of age. Not sure if I will vote this coming election although I believe that this country need a change from this Roosevelt Skerrit malaise. I am not totally convined that the level of corruption will not reoccur with any other administration. The team Dominica has not yet convinced me that everything will be done to bring the existing criminals posing as government to justice andito bring back the hidden lots back to the poor people of Dominica.
    While I appluad the UWP team for dwelling on the issues they must convince people like me that we will never ever see such blatant corruption and total disregard for the people by self serving aniacs like Tony like Tony, father priest etc
    I am still waiting to hear how the UWP team will seek to prosecute crimes committed against the state by a very corrupt regime. Convince me and my vote in a very important constituency is that of Team UWP otherwise I would rather die than to vote for the biggest bandits our country has ever seen on the ground in Dominica

  30. Frenz
    March 13, 2014

    I don’t even want to talk about the corruption that exist on this road project but I will laugh at yet another attempt to blame everything and everyone else but themselves.
    The level of maturity in this government administration is kinder garden like.
    Mr Blackmore we need to see the back of your shirt and preferably a blue shirt and blue dungaree shorts. Not just yours but tat of your colleagues and one or two permanent secretaries.

  31. Gingertea
    March 13, 2014

    Whatever. I’m fed up.

  32. Ah non knee must
    March 13, 2014

    That public works ministry is just a hopeless ministry. None of their infrastructural projects ever finish on time and within budget.

    All projects they do is short term solutions to long term problems. No foresight. Maybe they need a minister and a ps that not related.

    Who will guard the guards.

  33. toy box government
    March 13, 2014

    He pointed further that work is being done on 14 bridges which “was not part of the original scope of work.”

    When a country has a government with no vision, no planning, no insight and foresight, what do you expect?
    Here with have a government building what they themselves refer to as “Airport Road Project” in the 21st century and yet they DID NOT plan for bridges, I mean 14 bridges that were totally ignored by them. These toy box government just need to vacate office immediately and let somebody that understands Dominica has 365 rivers, very mountainous with a very heavy rainfall run the country.

  34. .
    March 13, 2014

    I would like to commend the government of this Dominica Labour Party Administration for taking on this very necessary project of great magnitude. When I last saw the project I predicted that it would take much longer than the projected completion date. I understand that there were unforeseen circumstances due to the nature of the soil in this area. I guess the contractor also misjudged it. Needless to say, I do applaud your effort to undertake something that no other government saw it fit to do which was so necessary. I admire the spirit of doing a good job once and for all. In the end Dominica on a whole will benefit. Keep up the good work.

  35. Lang Mama
    March 13, 2014

    Two other contractors were brought onto the project in 2012 and one of the contractor is Offshore Civil and Marine Inc. my people guess who are the board of directors for Offshore Civil and Marine. Maybe Mr ablackmore want to tell us who the directors are; maybe his brother the permanent secretary to his brother can tell us who own Offshore. What about the other minsters like Timothy – would they know who the directors of the Offshore Civil and Marine comany. What about the Francis E that was included in the slush fund does he know who the directors of the Offshore Civil and Marine company.
    Well Dominicans if you think that is additional bridges and a retaining wall that is the problem with the road project then be happy in your ignorance and naivity.
    Let them kee bilking the poor tax ayers of this poor country that they say s without resources. No resources yet their personal resources growing lie gremlins in water bath. The long arm of Karma will do it do.
    I don’t know about DIPCON and my integrity won’t allow me to make any accusations but Offshor Civil ad Marine you better believe that Lang Mama know exactly what he is talking about.pluis ta pluis twist

  36. Roy Williams
    March 13, 2014

    Viteevi Government, not surprised.

  37. d paro kid
    March 13, 2014

    These contractors must be among the happiest set of people on earth to give your price for a job and not complete that job. Then each time call for more cash and magically or rather unethically just get that cash! What a thing in this corrupt dlp country! However blackmore and skerrit the longest rope has an end! 99 days for the thief and the master will have his 1 day! That 1 day soon come I hope to see some criminals loose all what they have stolen and spend a lot of time locked-up!

    • Lang Mama
      March 13, 2014

      Paro Kid guess who is the energy of Offshore Civil and Marine and verify whether or not that company was added to the contractor list together with Gadakan and DIPCON. When you understand the corruption that is rampant in this administration you will understand why the project is out of money. Those grabernent ministers jane their operatives are just raping this country my friend. That makes me sick and angry

  38. John Paul
    March 13, 2014

    Remember the PRO /Ambassador had said that A Party cannot be too absorbed in the truth !Persons will always sin,they will always make mistakes etc. Well we are tired of those lies from this administration.Mr Blackmore had told us that there would have been a raised concrete sidewalk under the canefield cliff now He telling us a whole bunch of new fabrications related to the Belles road! Las menhtee bah nou!

  39. %
    March 13, 2014

    I do not expect anything better than the poor planning from Blackmore and his failed party. Isn’t he the same Blackmore who stuttered “My party is always debating them, and we are winning all the time”? .blackmore you sounded so absurd and dunce,i laughed at your inability to understand basic english. THIS SHOWS LACK OF FORESIGHT AND PLANNING. YOU and your technical staff KNEW fully well that the area is vulnerable to slippages Blackmnore. What was done? NOTHING! That’s why the electorate will fire you all soon. You all have failed the country.
    SHAME ON THE GANG!

  40. Fair play
    March 13, 2014

    You accept a contract that fails to include bridge works for a road that has to cross many rivers ????
    Poor planning.poor governance,and then you take a dig at a previous government . ?….

    • Gingertea
      March 13, 2014

      And the bridges have to be wide enough for 2 vehicles to pass in opposite directions. Come on man.

  41. Mamizoo
    March 13, 2014

    Really? So the first time when the budget was blown Blackmore told us that additional funding through a loan was added to the cost to complete and that two more subs ad been included to fast track. At the same time Blackmore told us of the additional bridges and retaining walls. well that was in 2011 and he gave use a date of completion December 2012. Since then we found out that the budget including the $50 million loan went up in smoke.
    Now i can see people like Marleyn 1 and 2 , Mamies, korkom and Simeone Albert taking tHat bag of horse manure from Blackmore and putting it on their refrigerators for Xmas – what a travesty.
    If lying so easily , arrogance, hubris and deliberate deception is the requirement of a politician then I must highly recommend an honorary PHD for this Labor Party operatives with Tony as mentor, Hartley as advisor. What an institution of deception. Never seen that level of fraud in our country

  42. Looking in
    March 13, 2014

    I agree with you but I have a different take on this. I will join you in echoing that after 4-years this project should have been completed and it’s passed acceptability. I would urge the Minister to produce the contractual terms such as date of original completion, dates of extension and milestones set to date if any.

    Give me a call Hon. Minister and let us talk this over because this is an embarrassment. I am extremely frustrated that every time I travel to Dominica which is quite frequent that I have to pass on that bad road and in some cases, the road is not accessible to vehicular a traffic. This is nonsense Mr. Minister let’s do better

  43. TS MABOUCHE
    March 13, 2014

    Just another example of how things are done in sweet Dominica

  44. faceup
    March 13, 2014

    Man those Ministers run a companies within the Government. I was in Da recently and saw that the Ministers of Government have Dump trucks, caterpillars and all kinds of construction equipment belonging personally to them, to have the road projects, building projects, and all kinds of projects that ordinary citizens of Dominica suppose to have. That is what you call corruption.. Plus why is it slow? well what he explains is TOTAL NONCENCE. Money talks BULLSHIT WALKS. WHERE HAS THE MONEY GONE Mr MINISTER??? A CHANGE IS A MUST.. TO much corruption, and that’s the reason the Airport Road project is not done!!

    • faceup
      March 13, 2014

      LABOUR MUST GOOOOOOOOOOOO ! 8-O 8-O 8-O

    • ____________________
      March 13, 2014

      @faceup I refer to the as a GANG, not a government.

  45. technical person
    March 13, 2014

    i totally dissapointed with mr blackmore statement about the reason why the project takes so long .this show over poor project management.There is term know as feasibility. I will explain the term to you.

    Feasibility study- Feasibility studies aim to objectively and rationally uncover the strengths and weaknesses of an existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats present in the environment, the resources required to carry through, and ultimately the prospects for success.[1][2] In its simplest terms, the two criteria to judge feasibility are cost required and value to be attained.

    So mr blackburn with all the technical person available to you none of them and you as the lead as the overall management knew this area to prone to high rainfall as result of this during evacuation some area will be less stable.secondly how you can do a road project with such magnitude seeking funding for bridge rehabilitation we all knew that the bridge were not build such high capacity of vehicular traffic come on. this show that overall that you are inefficient has not no vision andcant control of your ministry and also it shows that only theoretical technical person are in your ministry who cant apply the knowledge learnt i am ashamed of this ministry
    and how can we as people accept those lame excuses deadline after deadline not met

  46. a nice guy
    March 13, 2014

    This shows that this contractor will do whatever it takes to get these contracts, including undercutting a project to be cheaper than it actually should be, then later ask for more money due to unforeseen hurdles.

    It is unfair to the people, to the local businesses and to the tourists, bus drivers. Legal Affairs, public works, these ministries have failed the public on this project. A proper survey of the area and proper design from the outset would have shown these difficulties.

    moral of the story = Incompetence

  47. Morihei Ueshiba
    March 13, 2014

    You look at the growth of Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation & Belarus from 1991 – 2012 and u ask yourself why is Ukraine so much poorer than its neighbours, one word Bad Governance and we are experiencing it now in Dominica, hear this additional funding for tax payers to payback. Geez! 8)

  48. March 13, 2014

    I understand what cause the slow progress, is this project will compete this year?I driven on this road numerous time and its a good job , I hope the bridges will be able sustain the heavy rain.

  49. March 13, 2014

    This man for PM or UWP only joking lol

  50. Anonymous
    March 13, 2014

    someone butter hos bread and shut him up.

  51. Irontaytay
    March 13, 2014

    Boss, I don’t believe a word you say. Because it’s now election time, you find yourself in marigot, now you talking bogus. Please let us have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The ppl who traverse this road daily are to blame really, riding and saying or doing nothing.

  52. reader
    March 13, 2014

    He also took a shot at past governments for not placing a single culvert on the road “for so many years.”

    Wait a minute na…DLP in office for almost 15 years! LOL

    lame excuse blackmoore

  53. Lougaoo Mem
    March 13, 2014

    This is Blackmoore’s version of debating. So please give him a break. He already knows that the comments on DNO are not debatable in his opinion. (SMH)

  54. Pedro
    March 13, 2014

    Poor planning mr minister, not to mention poor communication. Most of the road issues are known to many people and did not just happen. We all know the route was prone to slippage and heavy rainfall. Obviously these all should have been part of the initial designs, and allowances as far as realistic time completion! Did your technical team fail you? Did we set out just putting new paint on and old painting? What are the implications for the motoring public including visitors? Do they deserve such inconvenience? What about the public image?Why have you become the toothless tiger, promising retribution or legal action on the contractor which seems to now be excused? Why were not the issues considered from day one. Why didn’t you pick a more financial and managerially competent contractor? Why shun the truck drivers and their interests? Why the poor overall project management? This is now the fourth year!

    • real possie
      March 13, 2014

      Pedro guess u never build your own house or if u did u were lucky cause any time u have to do any earth movements u will find what looked good in parts where u never thought u would find problems that’s where u find it I have seen people dig 2ft and find there’s a big boulder there and it cost them thousands just to blast it, maybe these guys who always gets pressure from the likes of u just thought they might be able to work around what they thought was ok but when the sinkhole happened and the guy died they realize that this would be the same outcome so they had to fix it at least when they are done our grand kids wont have to worry about it I pray to God one day it will be done.

      • March 13, 2014

        but Possie if you have a history of the environment then these discoveries will not overly surprised you- its years now we know the characteristics of this particular road our engineers long ago worked magic to build it using local technologies – tree trunks etc to build up areas that was water logged – now with modern technology there should be no reason for four years of arrogant excuses but if we should tell the Lord minister anything he may want tell us what to go play with especially with our hands between our legs.- this is Dominica for you -what can I say.

      • Posse Passe!!
        March 13, 2014

        @ Real Posse: Let us not try to put political spin to things and let us look at the reality. All Dominicans know that (1) this area is prone to landslides why then should blackmoore use this as an excuse. (2) All Dominicans know that all bridges on this route is a one lane, I MEAN All. Can you image that with such a project that Mr.Blackmoore Engineers forgot to widen those Bridges? Is that proper planning? In any project there is an sum of money allocated under what we call ” CONTINGENCY” what happen to this sum. The Truth: This money for that project comes under an investment scheme and after profits are made Dominica receives monies for that project. Blackmoore stop telling lies!!!
        How can a funded project not have monies to pay it’s truckers, contractors? Dominicans do not be fooled. Ask Offshore whether they receive monies already?

      • real possie
        March 15, 2014

        @ posse passe am happy to see u kept things in a respectful manner, a lot of times there are poor planning in DA but in this case most of where this road sits bounding with people property rarely do u find Dominicans willing to give up any of their land for the betterment of the country hell some of them would jack up the price because is Government so when I speak on here I put all of this into perspective cause am sure all of these ministers travel and they do see how wide other country roads are, ask vi massive how small St Thomas roads are there are two-way rds that u have to pull on the side so the other person can pass, I will give flak where its due like the bus stops they had those guys build angled so high is no way that would have worked but all in all we cant bash these people all the time like that, so with all that said do u know for sure where the bridges sit that they expand the bridges on lands that are theirs? PS part of what u said made a lot of sense people like u I like talking to cause like I said before u kept a civil tongue.

      • Engineer
        March 16, 2014

        Possie in the context of the issues we are dealing with here, your argument is irrelevant. Did they discover the water crossings after they excavated? Did they discover the need for retaining walls after excavation? What happens when different soil type than anticipated is discovered during construction is the foundation type may change, but the rest of the structure can essentially remain the same. In some cases where the foundation is too unstable, or unsuitable, a relocation may be warranted. I understand that there was a relocation from the original alignment at the area that usually settles. However, that was done a long time ago, and I doubt it resulted in the building one additional bridge, far less 14 bridges. With proper design, the location of retaining walls can be anticipated to high accuracy. I wonder who did the design – if an engineer did, I think they totally violated the engineering professional code of conduct by design something in which they knew they were incompetent in doing.

    • faceup
      March 13, 2014

      Pedro Plizzzzz ! Stop smoothing it out!

    • Anonymous
      March 13, 2014

      oh gush … a textbook case you are; a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Welcome to the real world. :mrgreen:

    • Michael
      March 13, 2014

      All good points, Pedro

      • 1 Period
        March 14, 2014

        Running to where

    • Lang Mama
      March 13, 2014

      Pedro we can talk about all the niceties of construction management, budgeting, unforeseen circumstances. We can say definitely that poor planing and management is the problem but I can tell you without a doubt that the core of the problem is corruption corruption corruption. Where there is corruption there will be chaos and decay. Giving Gardakan an unproven contractor the job was corruption mistake destined for disaster and failure. Well guess what the project blew the original budget. Then we ad the recruiting of Offshore Civil andMarine companyas a parallel contractor to Kadakan and Son and there you conflicting interests from all sides. I would like somebody to tell me who are the board directors for this Offshore Civil and Marine company. When you guys find out then some of us without glass eye will see why the project money is blown up in smoke.
      According to Booplais – money magicians. Where thee money gone.m

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