A team of officials from a Chinese firm are currently on island inspecting the site of the Public Works Corporation for the construction of a hotel at the Public Works Corporation site, a release from the office of the prime minister has revealed.
According to the release, the government of Dominica and the firm have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, for the construction of a four to five star hotel at the Public Works site.
The release noted that prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, had announced in the 2013/2014 national budget address “that design works for the hotel had been completed and an offer of financing and for the construction was being considered by the government.”
The construction of the hotel at the Public Works Corporation site is part of government’s commitment to making the tourism product more competitive and for enhancing stay over capacity on the island, the release said.
The name of the firm was not made public but Chinese company, ASCG, announced on its website, that it had signed a US$300-million deal when Skerrit visited China on November 8, 2013.
Projects to be undertaken under the deal include “reconstruction of an international airport,” a hotel to be built in Roseau estimated at US$70-million and construction of a new hospital, according to ASCG.
This in my view, is an attack on local construction firms yet again!! They are, for some reason, being sidelined for Chinese companies without even being given an opportunity to bid or submit tenders on these projects. What a shame……..
Good, somebody has to develope this island. Is there an ’employ Dominicans’ clause in the MOU? After-all it’s our loan involved.
pour quoi abîmée une si belle i lies cette bien beau comme sa mes bon
Chinese Chinese Chinese put Dominicans to work the people you suppose to be representing..remember
Just a bunch of speaking garbage containers u all
Dominicans are really ignorant
Just a bunch of fools throwing out garbage cause what they has inside is garbage ignorant bunch of garbage containers
Doctors are over worked and underpaid. They work more hours than they should legally. 24hrs shift back to back to back and still have to work again the next day. they cannot afford to hire more doctors and they have all this money to build hotel? and to waste to buy votes. JUST U WAIT
I think we should get as much as we can from the chines, America own the chines billions of dollars, Obama is not helping Dominica or any of the Caribbean Islands, we in the Caribbean are protected by the Monroe doctrine, for those who dont know of the Monroe doctrine research it, Remember Cuba , Kennedy stopped it , Grenada, Reagan stopped it so let the chines do what they wont , but at the end Dominica is for Dominicans period.
INCASE YOU ALL HAVE NOT realize Dominica belongs to China so the are going to build their airport ,hotel and hospital the chiness have a new island so they are developin it
Hear those Dominicans. And chinese clothes alone all you dressing in. Stupes
UWP lining up on DNO to Campain.They even fighting to click on the dislike symbol thinking that they will score points.Who cares about their thumbs down and thumbs up?
Socialism…..way way way….our Public work department dead now…..this G/ment has to go go go…..
The construction of a so called five hotel and the reconstruction of an election airport is nothing more than a political gimmick.This grabberment will fall the handwriting is on the wall.
I suspect is Penville they going to build that airport…. an airport on the hills.
I think something was lost in translation. for one, reconstruction of international airport? We do not have one. Chances are the original wording might have mentioned upgrade of airport for all you know. Unless the PM comes on the news and says construction of airport and give all details i am not believing that any airport will be created. airport talk have been winning voters for decades now. poor us dominicans.
What Dominicans fail to realize, is that China gives a loan, on the condition that the work is carried out by them. So what is happening is that they give it to us in one hand and take it back with the other, and we are left with substandard work, yet still we are indebted to them. Then we wonder why money isn’t circulating in the country. People wake up the only reason these so called agreements are put in place is because the people involved have something to gain, not Dominica!!!!
More work for the Chinese yea
This proposal is problematic. After the hotel and the airport is built there will not be enough funds to reconstruct an international airport that is not yet in existence.
The next issue with that is, who is going to be the guest at this hotel. Tourist do not see Dominica as a destination that is accessible, so due to that this hotel is likely going to be very moderately utilized. I am of the opinion that the International airport should be constructed first. THIS will create more accessibility into the country, then a hotel could be secondary. The government need to think before acting, this is an absurd decisions.
Reconstruction of an international airport? O-o umm we have international airport ner to reconstruct
We work for Chinese. Chinese don’t work for us
Dominicans need to research TIBET and the conflict with CHINA over the years.
Right now the CHINESE is in Control of TIBET and this is the very same thing that is going to happen to Dominica if we doh watch close.
The Tibetans refused to give in to the Chinese hold of power hence the reason they took over the country now and the Dalai Lama is in hiding,cannot even stay in his own country because the Chinese Government looking to have him arrested.
D/CA signed a memorandum of understanding with CHINA, yet not one of us know what is in understanding.
WE do this for YOU and YOU give us DAT,but still we have no clue what we giving them in return.
When we cannot deliver,they going to take over just because we could not hold unto our promise.NO country gives money like that to anybody unless there is a reason.Just watch…
Spot on. You said it perfectly.
Allu blind. Why would government want to help a foreign company to build a hotel in dominica to compete with our local hotel owners. Labour Power in allu skin. Something Happening!!!http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Dominica–China-sign–multi-million-agreement-for-hotel–hospital
I think this is just bad investment! Down the road I see tourism and hotel, but for now concentrate our resources on things we have more control over – agriculture, and the Dominican people. Hotels here on island are struggling as far as I know, so why would you made that investment at this time? What are you going to put in place to attract additional visitors? I am just confused by how this government operate. Additionally, that hotel will be constructed by Chinese while Dominicans stand aside and look for employment! Dominicans wake up and emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.
So Skerrit replaced Public Works with Chinese long time since Chinese are the ones seen building roads, drains, and bus stops all over in Dominica. To make that official, they want to replace the once upon a time Public Works House with a ‘One China Hotel’. Sorry for our lose dogs on the streets.
They owning PWC workers a month and two fortnight salary.
My children children children children has to help pay back that 300 million dollars. Fatherrrrrrr
While Skerro son scot free. Yes Lord
So out of $300 million dollar loan, a Chinese firm with their own employees will build the Hotel for $70 million, a Hospital for $200 million and how much is the International Airport again? It is mathematically impossible to build an International Airport with all the facilities and accommodations that comes with it for $30 million. I smell an election RAT.
u all need to read properly before commenting. The release said US$300 million. You need to convert it to EC to see how much millions we talking about. 30 million US is 90 million EC.
how r u going to build an internatioal airport with 90 mill.
Well, I smell election campaigning, galvanize, ply board, ham for Christmas, turkey and etc……….
u must listen more and try to understand hospital was from first aggrement
When Lennox said UWP will build an International Airport there was a loud continuous applaud from Workass;although the Novice never made mention of where the monies would come from for such a project;today Skerrit and his Government is thinking of building an International Airport they(UWP)have so much negative things to say.When Lennox said it they never said that this would be a debt our grand,great grand would have to deal with but now they are talking about Billion dollars for our grand and great grand to pay.That shows how jealous and greedy that opposition is.Is not they doing it so they have a problem with that.Well they ask for it they will have it.And believe me when that is done that is the end of UWP..They fraid too much is happening.UWP a party of hate and critics.
@fast n furious
Obviously you are either intellectually or mathematically challenged, because a feasibility study will not support the building of these projects with the acquired funds.
The point is the current government has been in power for 14 years and it was not done. The only people who are pleased with their leadership are the wicked ones who were getting paid through the years. Take out the trash!!
You can’t even make sense. have a wonderful day do not blow up!!!
Be innovative and use your God given talent or your initiation and write your own comment please don’t copy and paste
And DLP, a party of ignorant, blind idiots
When Lennox said UWP will build an International Airport there was a loud continuous applaud from Workass;although the Novice never made mention of where the monies would come from for such a project;today Skerrit and his Government is thinking of building an International Airport they(UWP)have so much negative things to say.When Lennox said it they never said that this would be a debt our grand,great grand would have to deal with but now they are talking about Billion dollars for our grand and great grand to pay.That shows how jealous and greedy that opposition is.Is not they doing it so they have a problem with that.Well they ask for it they will have it.And believe me when that is done that is the end of UWP..They fraid too much is happening.UWP a party of hate and critics.
Ok so dey say dey have $300 million for airport and Hotel and is hotel spot dey coming and look at first when are we gonna see dem with a report for the location of the international airport???
Next ting is, what dem people in dat hotel location right there by waterfront, gonna look at when dey look outside their window, and will they be able to walk to any attractive beach???
Garçon doh come trying to appease dem poor people nuh dat doh have no critical thinking capabilities,,,
Out of all pristine locations on Dominica dats where allyou want to put a 5 star Hotel???
Garçon instead of getting just a hotel why don’t you shoot for a resort and golf course nuh or build the 5 star in the same vicinity or close to where the airport gonna be,,,
Dat bizniss dere have too many red flags for Marn liking wi, Marn doh tink dat mista dem planning on doing anything but trying to appease the Dominican people just before the election season,,,
DNO allyou cannot get a PDF version of d MOU for dat project den, and post it on here or put up a link where Marn and dem people can see it,,,
It bewilders me when nonsense, lack of understanding and disregard for logical thinking is substituted for sound reason.Where do you get the idea that 5 star hotels are to be built near beaches.Do you know that some of the best hotels in the world are not built near beaches.Why would the Government engage the Chinese Government to build a resort with a golf course,where do we have the land suitable for a golf course knowing the geography of our country.Political partisan belief can do strange things to the mind.
Marn doh know what planet you living on nuh but when somebody come to the caribbean what they coming for not Beach, Sunshine, shopping and some Gambling???
Ok don’t have them tourist go to the beach and don’t build the Hotel next to the airport and don’t get the Resort with a golf course, don’t build some kinna Shopping venue for dem,,,
Have you been to Antigua Lately, garçon all that development dem Canadians built is ghostly now go to Jolly Harbour nuh and see for yourself D casino dey build dere is now abandoned sitting there with a huge empty parking lot wiff grass growing through d asphalt, ask dem who did dey build dat for and where dem now,,,
D only ting dem pardners say dat have Antigua going now is Race Week and is only dem boatman dem dat enjoying dat,,,
When you go St. Marteen or St. Thomas or any of the competing island that provide the same climatic conditions that these so called visitors will be coming for, what you see dem tourist doing when dey finish wiff d beach and sun-bathing, what you gonna have to attract them in Dominica after they do the little Echo tourist actives that they will be done with in a couple of days???
Gary garçon Is Marn like allyou dat have Dominica d way it is dere wi, allyou mind just small and cannot get out of the monotonous tinking dat dem albinos programed allyou with,,,
mark my words dominica the chinese is about to take over dominica there plan in on corse
the same Chinese lenoxx want to run to what makes u thing there will be a difference?
Nothing is wrong with China or a relationship with China. Something is wrong with the Kind of relationship with have with China and the poor policies of a mindless government
Planning? Planning you say wi! Boss they done take over already. The sad thing is we eh even realize it. Eyes wide shut.
America owing china over a trillion dollars and they never take over , all you to nieve countries borrow all the time its business and you get these deals when you have contacts, so ahead vote lennox see what we will get.
“naive”
I doubt America will stand by and allow the Chinese to take over Dominica or the West Indies for that matter. However, let us wait and see, if only the younger ones.
all i see is a chinese base in the making to take over dominica
Well if the Chinese can take over America, then who is Dominica.
As a matter of fact I would be glad if they did.
Actually it is the corporate globalists that are operating through certain countries to bring down the whole world in poverty and destruction. Countries are pawns as are people. They are known throughout history for pitting one country or civilization against another. It is the ignorance of most populations due to conditioning and “their educational system” that allows this to happen. When the media is controlled and peoples are brainwashed a take over is easy. Mind control is all around us. Apathy is far too prevalent these days. Slavery is alive and well.
Building expensive hotel in Roseau. What about the substandard roads/pavements and old building? What percentage of Chinese workers will undertake these works? Why not turn the next Government house into a hotel!
How will Dominica be able to pay back $300m US? Was this discussed with Parliament/people prior to agreement? PM is in charge of finance, enough said.
I thought the PM already had a loan for building of an international airport.
Sounds like another case of hit and run. Governement should get a 30 year guarantee for works undertaken by the Chinese.
UWP can also seek funding to help their country and work together with the government instead of against it that is one they can show us that they acre for Dominica as they say.
They do not have to be in government to do that.
so what happens to public works??????
Skerrit! – Be careful!
I am not a Dominican – thus not allowed to “tell” Dominicans what to do – But be careful!
The Chinese are not famous for sustainable things and above all not knows for healthy natural environment.
The area of Public Works Garage is contaminated. OK – the Chinese will help to seal this for now. But decades later this contamination will appear – the Chinese maybe off the island – and Dominica has to repair that thing! – Skerrit be careful!
It is only an advice of an european architect who concerns about THE natural beauty of the Caribbean – namely Dominica!
Judging from your profession, I know you’re a man of science and someone who relies on empirical evidence before you make a valid assessment. That being the case, what exactly is the Public Works Garage location contaminated with?
And how does it get cleaned up?
Petroleum products and waste.
@ Mr. Ismael
https://plus.google.com/app/basic/local/112383849384970017070/about?gl=at&hl=en
Since this area is being used as the garage for Puplic Works heavy equipment since decades one has to admit that service on heavy equipment might not be done correctly during that time. Therefore nowadays you will find a toxic mixture out of oil, diesel, brake fluid and iron – thus all kind of ferric oxide and ferric sulfate beside others deeply washed into the soil by rainfall.
I have no doubt at all that Skerrit administration might know about this contamination an it is a good means to have it repaired by a “foreign” investor. But the costs might exceed so that the whole project can fail!
Cleaning up the area is done by excarvating the spoiled soil and have it treated as a special refuse at a hazardous waste site – which Dominica does not have (at EU standards)
After excarvation one has to decide to refill and ramm it again or build a subterranean garage – close to the sea (!) or – and this would be my favorite – build an earthquake-resistant skyscraper – (20-30 floors might be enough for Dominica) since the hole for the necessary earthquake-resistant technical equipment is already digged!
Yeah – this would be a nice task for me as an architect! – Let’s build a LANDMARK for Roseau!
PM Skerrit, I wait for your call!
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.
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oh! – In the question of earthquake-resistant technique – the Chinese would have to talk to the Japanese …. (since the Japanese really do have experience in that field) – but nowadays talks between China and Japan ….?? In Dominica! …? Skerrit – the savior of a conflict about the Senkaku-Islands by changing a Public Works Area to a 5 star hotel with conference facilities!!!!
Mr. Ismael you see – all is politics! Maybe …
Yours sincerly
The Architect
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT? Where is the international airport in Dominica? Lord help us.
It’s sad that some of our people can’t see the positive in anything!Travel to other islands and you will see several four five star hotels, what’s wrong with Dominica trying to strive the same.Be proud of your country and think big!stop being negative.
Maria do yo live in DOMINICA?iF YOU DON’T JUST SHUT UP.
No, I don’t live in Dominica. However, when I visit I do see a lot of potential for the island . I’ve visited other small islands and they have big developments so why can’t we? Are we not good enough?
Wow! Talk about blue vex!
Is this really the oposition talking?
Time to wake up.
Why not build a shopping mall this would be a very good location more jobs more buses on the road young middle age youths will all get employment and Dominica will progress that’s Development
I like that Shopping mall idea
When the build the mall they should also import people to shop. Sometimes we don’t think before we speak.
So you trying to say Dominica do not people to service one good mall.
Yet you have no problems with what’s going on otherwise?
Your thinking level tells me why?
have a good day!!!
hmm.. so u agree that dominicans have no money.. wow u guys are unbelievable…
Dominica does not have the population to support a shopping mall. They must depend on tourists and they would need places to stay. Come on guys.
There is plenty of spending going on by the general population. It amazes me how many people have money on this island. Tourists don’t spend that much money here.
Why do you respond to these UWP ? They have no sense of reasoning.
Very good idea. Why don’t you build one. Or get funding to build one. A shopping Mall that is.
Come on people – a hotel on the site of the former Public works? Are you people serious? Do you know how close this is the the garbage dump not to mention the commercial port. Is that the kind of hotel development that Dominica needs?
People this Government is screwing up the country. This is NOT the way to approach hotel development. This is another disaster – white elephant waiting to happen. The hotel in Portsmouth is the first – this is the second.
When – just when – will Dominica get it right????
Fort Young Finish
I am all for development … but PLEASE MR Pm – the one China policy isn’t the way. We will have sub standard work done, it will all fall apart in a few years and we still have to pay 300 million back.
SO Chinese that will be building that hotel there? Alas PM and you know Dominicans already crying about jobs and contractors cant find work?
And Dominicans still saying ‘development’?
We have to be critical in our thinking Dominicans this is further development of the Chinese people not the Dominicans.
i dont know what u are talking about, there are no contractors. all are busy , can’t find one to do anything!!!
yes I Skerrit–you not easy Papa. When will we wake up and give you a one way ticket to China?
I only hope that there’s a clause in there for the workforce to be at least 60% local in the construction works.
Labour all the way
what dot you mean ?
and yet majority of us are still gonna say that nothing is happening smh
You don’t pay attention or you listening but not hearing- its not a matter of nothing is happening – its a matter of who its happening to. Of course PM, build road and planning hotel, hospital, school in new town, airport – but the fact will remain that Chinese will do it, give us substandard work (like they do with their merchandise in town- most of the things they sell to us would not be accept in the US nor UK because of quality control)and then disappear with the money – yes we will have the facilities (for a few years) but where are the local contractors going to get funds to pay medical bills? to send their kids to school – thats the issue – the PM is doing infrastructural development but at the expense of Dominicans.
We are left with buildings at the end – all the money left the country (they are bringing in their materials)and we STILL have to pay them back and god knows whatever else is in their MOU.
@friend
You can’t argue with people who are the recipients of the RED CLNIC. They could care less what the facts are.
man go to the us see Chinese that are there the majority of things in stores come from china please travel and see for your self
Take a hike, put your blue colors aside and support development.
Sorry but if you give Dominicans the project thé hotel will be done in 2025, our people love party more than work and when rain fall they dont want to Work, they dont work pass 4pm, so hate me but its the truth maybe thats why the chiness sends their workers from china to get the job done.
On many occasions you hear Government lamenting that the Opposition has no plans to move Dominica forward but whenever the Opposition would make recommendations to the Government those recommendations are thrown into the garbage bin. The hotel occupancy in Dominica is on the decrease, we don’t need another hotel. What we need is a project which can bring more jobs to the people especially in the Goodwill Constituency. A project like the one that was proposed by Mr. Danny Lugay of the UWP. He proposed that Government use the land at the Public Site because of its closeness to the major Port as a small Tourist Resort. The Trade Expo could have a permanent home on that site. When the UWP talks about 5000 jobs in three years, this is one of the creative ways it can be done.
lol
I know we all have our opinion , let us see if these projects will become reality, this gonna be a huge development for our country, my dream is my country will be among the top oecs country soon to come.
you are right, but i dont think that this approach will be the driver of nothing sustainable. investments where grassroots are taken into consideration will create the environment as well as ensure a fair portion of the cake stays on island. Imagine take this very project, if it was done properly just the invitation of bids from the government in itself would have generated some economic activities as firms compete to get the project. they would have needed to contract architects and quantity surveyors and all sorts of structural engineers, mechanical & civil engineers to design, cost and prepare a bid lol. by just telling the chinese go ahead and build you missing out on that. secondly, even though the chinese are the ones to build or have overall responsibility ensuring that locals are part of the management and construction, is a nice way to build capacity among our own professionals, but instead their approach means this is another lost opportunity. we should be learning and cooperating wtih the chinese to build or import machinery and production models which suit our unique situation to build our economy from the ground up instead of constantly taking loans that benefits china with an outlet for workers and materials and influence while we footing the bill… tell me exactly how the current state of affairs, which have failed for a almost a decade and a half will miraculously cause us to be the envy of the OECS??
I’m an architectural Engineer based in NY. I believe the way the government is doing business with the Chinese is totally unfair and illegal through my own experience when dealing with the construction of state funded buildings. There should be a public bidding process so that any company could bid on the project. All these information should be made public. The Chinese also have a bad rep. For producing inferior products. I remember while I was in college one of my Chinese classmates ask me , if I was going back home after I graduated. I said yes, but I needed to extend my experience in the US first. She said let’s go back to. China with me u don’t need a license or any experience just have good ideas and they will let you build it. The idea is these people just build. let’s pray that we don’t start getting earthquakes and hurticanes let’s see how long these buildings will last. They give us the loan and it comes right back in there pockets and we still have to pay them back for it.
I am very much for the development of Dominica but let’s do it the right way. It shouldn’t be about a One China Policy.
Sir, when the opposition asks questions in parliament, the PM refuses to answer their questions. He is so proud that he just allows the speaker to adjourn the house without answering. When questions are asked where he gets the money from, he tells the nation this is none of their d–n business. He does things without consultation. That is the kind of person we have. He is nothing but a dictator and thinks that Dominica was an inheritance given to him and he only must rule.
I am no supporter of the PM but DA. what u r saying is nonsense.
I am an engineer practicing in the US also, and I am in total agreement with your statements. I just don’t understand why Dominicans seem so blind to allow things like that to continue time and time again.
What makes you think that being an Architectural Engineer from NY makes you correct about your comment regarding how The Government of Dominica and The Chinese Government do business.How silly are you to suggest that what they are doing is illegal and unfair.Why are you trying to be authoritative regarding the matter when you are not.Your experience regarding procurements procedure for contracts in the State of NY is not the same between two Governments who have a bilateral agreement between them,especially when you are dealing with a country who has the second largest economy in the world.What you expressed is your opinion,that does not make you an authority on the matter as you wish to think.
It bewilders me that you as an Engineer make a general statement quote “The Chinese have a bad rep. for producing inferior products” Why are you believing this to be true about China engineering marvel. This,I’m sure are products made for consumption. Do you know that the Bridge connecting San Francisco to Oakland was built in China and shipped to the US.Did you see the stadium built in China for the last Olympics.Do you know that China is the envy of high speed rail in the world.A report by Engineering News Record,say’s five of the world’s top 10 contractors, in terms of revenue, are now Chinese, with likes of China State Construction Engineering Group (CSCEC) overtaking established American giants like Bechtel and let us not forget the construction of The Three Gorges Dame in China.The worlds largest dame ever
constructed.Don’t you read engineering journals,stop being ill informed with your silly opinions believing them to be true.You also need to know that what that one student in your class conveyed to you about China and you accepting that as gospel truth shows how little you think.
Now what is going to happen to Public Works employees. These people have no respect for the employees. Nothing has been said to them regarding that situation. Shame Shame Shame
what are u talking about public works should be moved from that location long time
Another hotel – Brillant …….
We are used to seeing that. This is all make belief to catch votes. Why is the PM involved in wanting to build hotels. They are taking away bread from our hotels that is already suffering for lack of business. There are so many empty rooms and they are just surviving. The hotel is Portsmouth will be a white elephant and putting another one. Why put such a burden on our backs? Our tourism industry is not doing well. For who is this hotel being built? This is really a waste of money and an additional burden on taxpayers. Nothing will come out from this. This has been said for so long. The hospital should have been built already but the Presidential house was more important to the people of Dominica. So many people are dying at the Princess Margaret Hospital because of lack of medicine and equipments. Yet the Pm saw it more important to build the state house than the hospital. Is it any wonder why he sent his wife to have her baby in the US. Dominicans, we had enough. There is a better team in the UWP to manage the country. Vote this present Government out. They will doom us to hell. We deserve a better management team than this to manage the country and bring jobs to its people and economic development. Most of the jobs are done by Chinese. What is the benefit for us than just to pay taxes? The PM is desperate and will do any thing to stay in power. He is afraid of what will happen if he loses so out of desperation, he will do any thing to stay in power. Lies, lies, lies, and the truth will be found out. Don’t be fooled again by this promises. We have a team in waiting that will form a much better government that will bring us confidence and hope again. Better days are coming under the UWP team. You were there for fourteen years and just cared about your families and friend who became millionaires. What about us Dominicans. Very little is there for us, only the Chinese that will benefit.
Four and Five Star Hotels actually bring business to the smaller hotels, they take away nothing.
I quite agree
Which begs the question? What happens to the Public Works Corp.? Little physical activity has been observed at the public works garage location as off late, with road patching work being carried out by private contractors. Has the company been sold, because no mention is made of an alternative site for it to be relocated to?
Too may questions for a Govt. that is supposed to be democratic and transparent.
See me thinking that there was some protest or whatnot going on because of the visit….smh…this photo made me open this story
Skerrit and his administration have successfully made the PWC extinct.
They should be exticnt .As soon as they patch the roads they break up again.. no engineering.
they redid a road between petite Soufriere and castle bruce and if you see it now. the quality of their asphalt work is much left to be desired.
Well with the conditions workers are subject too. Cannot get salary on time. Lack of proper equipment etc. It is reflected in their work. And thats goverment fault.
keep it up.. Dont try to create you own economy and see what happens.