In light of severe damages suffered by the Douglas Charles Airport during the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton is on the opinion that the country should focus on securing funds for an international airport.
He said the present airport should only be reconstructed as a temporary facility since the storm has shown what the river in the area is capable of doing.
“So we believe that we cannot go back into a situation where we are investing significant sums into the rehabilitation of that facility as opposed to finding the money now to go into the construction of an international airport,” he argued.
He stated that in reconstructing the airport as a temporary facility, focus must be on spending “the absolute minimum” while funding is sought for an international airport “in the most suitable location that has been identified so far.”
He pointed to the Wesley/ Woodfordhill site that was selected during the government of 1995 and 2000.
“That site from the standpoint of science, from the standpoint of all of the observations and assessments that have been done is the most suitable site and would expect the government to accept that and to move on to the development of that site,” Linton said.
The Chinese are good at building new offshore islands; let them start piling sand a few kilometers off the west coast for the new airport. When it is built, hydrofoil shuttles can ferry passengers to Roseau.
For crying out loud. Is it wrong that someone or anyone present government or opposition to want to see development and infrastructure restored at the highest level? An international Airport is not bad idea and it should be considered. It may just happen. “Give a man a fish he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish he will eat for life”.international Airport means progress and Dominicans as a whole will be empowered. CTBC Cool to be conscious. Be blessed
I believe Lennox is aware of government’s decision for a new location for the airport but he is running out there with the idea so he can claim credit when it happens.
If you believe your foolish words; you are a fool: First of all Roosevelt Skerrit has no plans to build an International Airport! The Labor Party, has absolutely no plans to build an International Airport; you and the rest of your kind need to put that in your head.
More than ten years ago, an official in the Chines government told Skerrit, “the only time Dominica will beginning to make some progress is when he build an International Airport!” That came out in the news on DBS Radio once in a news broadcast. We heard it once; by the time the news was over, one of Skerrit boys in the cabal called the Radio Station, and asks the guy who read the news “who are you working for; the government or the opposition?” It was never repeated in the news again.
Rather than taking the advise of the Peoples Republic of China, Skerrit took Ralph Gonzalez advise and spend half a billion dollars on what you find at Melville Hall this day!
So, when Skerrit got up and ran to China last…
So, when Skerrit got up and ran to China last year talking about he was going to ask China for help to build airport, he had another agenda. The Chines would not give Skerrit one dime to waste; considering t they had already given the UWP tens of millions of dollars for free to invest in an airport, the one that Skerrit and his circus shut down. You all need to know the of your country before you talk crap. There has been a site for that purpose, where the hell is Skerrit going to select other site, when where the UWP was building it is the best suited location on the island!
Some of you are so sick, you babble simply to stay alive, all of you are the same, you make it all about Lennox, nevertheless the man who is screwing up, has screwed up the country, idiots like you continue to kiss his behind while taking his crap! In another country, even in the Caribbean Skerrit would long become history!
“You all need to know the of your country before you talk crap. ”
And that should read: ‘You all need to know the history of your country, and may I add the conduct of Skerrit, and his Labor Party, before you talk crap!
So why is Mr Linton taken to task about the international airport when it is Mr Skerritt who has assembled a task force on reconstruction? Is it possible that the construction of an international airport will be looked at? I think if Mr Sherri brings that topic on the table all Mr Linton ‘s critic will say otherwise. And by the way rehabilitation and reconstruction go hand in hand in dealing with disasters the likes of Erika.
Maybe you need to stop using some of the medication of yours, while you add alcohol to those doses., because not only are they contributing to your extreme madness, they have turned you into another creature, which has nothing to do with the human species, perhaps it is already too late for you.
Your mind condition is plagued darkness, wickedness and evil–you do not belong with human beings. All of those things that you are speaking against us, human beings–you are speaking about yourself whatever you are!
Why can’t you accept the fact that not everyone will agree with your opinion; your name calling and the rest of it describes how uncivilized you are–you have no social etiquette, whatsoever, even Tarzan had more of that than you can ever have.
“I do not understand why Lennox would use a time like this to bring up concerns about International Airport –in the first place it is not his place to bring this up, especially that this initiative demands”
Everybody do have a right to express their opinions, in whatever way they deem fit, however it frustrates me when I read stupid, and un-call-for ridiculous comments from people who has no idea of what they are talking about except, they wish to jump on the bandwagon and attack Lennox Linton!
Some of those people, I know personally; the live with one foot in their grave, and one foot out of the grave, they are not concern about Dominica, and the situation in which the nation finds itself. Anybody who writes nonsense such as in the quote above, is someone who is demented; they are helpless, to themselves, and useless to society.
And when I say “demented” that is not as it is construed in Dominica vocabulary, it has nothing to do with being crazy!
Lennox this; and…
Lennox this; and that; it is the man’s responsibility to be involved in the reconstruction of the country. Anyone who shoots down the fact that an International Airport is at the moment a factor in the reconstruction of the country is nothing more than a disgusting backward fool!
Some of you need to take care of your personal life, before you start talking crap about Lennox, what is he supposed to do? Are you people suggesting that he advises Skerrit to spend another five hundred million dollars to clean the mud, and remove the debris from Melville Hall Airport, when that same five hundred million dollars could well build a new International Airport?
Most of you have lived in your stupidity, and backwardness, for so long, even if God, were to print in the middle of the sky; it is better to build a new airport than to repair that green, and red Elephant at Melville Hall, some of you so called Christians would tell God, he is wrong! Take it as you people wish, St. Vincent is a…
Take it as you people wish, St. Vincent is a more difficult place to build an airport, the proof and fact lies in the amount rocks they had to cut into, and bulldoze, to accomplish their goal; unlike Dominica. It did not cost the government of St. Vincent two billion dollars to build Argyle International. We Dominicans are so damn stupid we place obstacles in the way of our own progress simply to say, it did not happen, and I played a part, in obstructing progress.
I wish all of you, fools would simply drop dead today!
“however it frustrates me when I read stupid” <<<<<<<<<from comment above
And who are you to complain about being frustrated, reading a person's opinion! You write the most stupid and frustrating comments here–don't you notice that the majority of your comments are always in pink because people don't like it.
You are claiming "full of yourself" but you are nothing but a noisy barrel, full of darkness, wickedness, lies and evil–your noise is deafening to the human ear, so you are the one is frustrating to others, so why don't you, shut up! And keep it that way!
Can’t you understand what I mean when I told you, do not respond to anything I write on DNO?
Nu write notton ander wa me say:
I do not like you; you are nothing more than a pest, who cares wether what I write is covered with red, pink or green? I am not looking for credit on DNO. Any credit I needed I earn them when I was in high school, College, and University; that is the only recognition I needed.
By then your were a twelve year old little girl teaching school: and doh let me talk Miss Elizabeth, cause I know what you did to get your teaching job at twelve years old eh!
Nothing is worst than a scorned woman oui! You are the devils wife, leave me alone; I doh want to have anything to with Lucifer’s wife eh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
i dont understand how a sensible person can see the state of the airport and continue to believe that we do not need a new site and new airport. what if we have two major storms in a year do we then spend 30 million then another 30 million to reopen the airport? Dominicans we need forward thinking
I wonder if the ministers of the cabinet and also the opposition read these comments on DNO. I think they should. Some of the comments are worth reading, they might get some good ideas.
On Facebook (with images) I have suggested an east-west landing strip up in the “saddle” east of Portsmouth, parallel and close to the existing road and what I am told is “Bourne” (and is marked in Google Earth as Dos D’Ane).
About 1983 I suggested the current location of the Montserrat airport, but the politicians were not interested and it took a disaster to get them to realise that I was right.
I have suggested that the ground be prepared for a strip 12,000 feet long – like Barbados – but for now money only be spent on a runway surface 8,000 feet long. That would 1. prepare the ground for the future and save money, 2. provide adequate runway for the smaller jets, and 3. provide the impetus to escape the eternal triangle and kick-start development of infrastructure – hotels, tourism facilities, etc.
If the ground is prepared properly, with adequate foundation and culverts to allow water and animals to find their own way, no amount of rain or hurricane would affect such…
The same set of ppl jumping down lintons throat and talking crap,about cost of international airport..didn’t the primeminister say he had investors and that a site had been located for one in the last year elections campaign? Why not us this opportunity to push forward that plan rather than waste 35 million dollars to restore melvillehall? It shoes how disingenuous this government really is….about 140 million wast spent to upgrade melvillehall , now another 35 million is need to repair damages from eureka…that’s a 175 million that cud have gone towards an international airport..next election pm skerries will bring up international,airport again and all them labourites who,are against it now will be running with the idea…something I’ve noticed about us Dominicans, an individual proposes an idea but because we don’t support him we shelve his idea even if will benefit the country…dominica will never move forward with that kind of thinking.
The only other politician I know is as lie, as Skerrit, is that man name Romney. And even at that Skerrit tell more lies than him.
Skerrit will never make an effort to build an International Airport in Dominica, because for more than twenty-five years they told Dominicans that an International Airport is not necessary; and that sort of mentality dates back to the old labor party clowns, such as the late Edward Leblanc, Wills Stevens, and even in Patrick John days.
When such people were ask why not build an International Airport, they contend “we doh want it, because Antigua, and Barbados have one already.” Any idiot should have realized that the money Antigua and Barbados benefit from their airport, not one dime goes into Dominica’s treasury!
I can state for a fact; had it not been for the International Airport in Antigua, the country would not have an economy, Antigua could not survive if they did not have an International Airport!
How do I know: say Francisco…
How do I know: say Francisco Telemaque told you that his former wife Violet Ophelia Matthew was an executive in the Antigua government treasury, for more than twenty years, and the info I gave to you came from her! As for Dominica, the “Barbados, and Antigua have one already we doh want it” when that saying got stale they complained “well it is to expensive to maintain International Airport; that was the saying to last election, some fool wrote that on DNO.
How can someone conclude how much it is going to cost to maintain something before you even get started, the way things are in Dominica someone say something, and others simply follow, that is stupid! Dominica could have had free public Television as far back as 1962, Labor Party “we doh want it.” Hence Antigua got it. the British wanted to build Windward islands Broadcasting Service in Dominica. Labor Party “we doh want it;, hence Grenada got it. Dominica cannot afford Radio Station until 2001, the Labor Party said…
We however got more than one prior to 2001. The labor party is destine to keep Dominica backwards forever, unless all of the present players die, and another generation takes over!
It is all about timing, both parties see the need for an international airport. It was mentioned in their manifestoes. However to ignore the douglas-charles airport to the point where it might not beable to withstand the effects of a tropical storm would be plain stupid as building an international airport will take years and we are nowhere close the to starting. So we have of necessity to protect the Douglas -Charles in case another storm comes and leaves us without an airport.
patriot if you are aware that mr linton wants to see dominica’s economy fail under mr skerrits watch i charles joseph from newtown is not aware of that. speak for yourself and others like you who put party before country.if you want to talk about burden talk about the state palace that was built for 27 million dollars we as dominicans has to pay back to the chinies when they were the only ones who made money on that project
Caretaker the magnificent mr weeks,a joke nuh ?chuuuups
end of time under who’s watch was the airport built?
That would be a wise idea Mr Linton, but as you know this upside down thinking DLP government will not take a good advise from you. They built the country infrastructure on political decision, not on wise economic and financial policy. So for the people who say we cannot afford the international airport. This skeritt labour government have spent 539.5 million dollars in the last 10 years on 81 miles of road thats 4 million 850 thousand per miles. Ok it gets better. in this coming years budget. on road, bridge, seawalls, all millions now. roseau 21, layou valley 36.1, roseau valley 16.4, york valley 8.2, white river bridge with cliff rehab 21.2, bells & geneva bridge 8.4, stockfarm & yampice road 8,4, newtown & greenvalley 2.3, wotten waven 5.5, over 127 million. if the people are happy with that, i have a chinese friendship bridge too sell
My argument all along fogey Douglas Charles and built an airport capable of accommodating long rage aircraft. It do not have to have an elaborate terminal. If we do not expect another fiasco.
Boy look a set of backward people in the Caribbean. I see nothing wrong in what Mr Linton is suggesting there. It will take Dom Dominicans 40years before they can realize what Mr Linton seeing. Is a set of people that love to suffer before they finally realize that they are suffering or in need.
It is a wise idea but at this point when nationals must be relocated and new bridges and roads constructed, to mention a few, should the PM be concentrating on an international airport?
Where is the money coming from? Probably some months from now when the situation is stable and hopefully back to normalcy but not now.
Let’s pour in $40 million dollars each time the rivers destroys Douglas Charles Airport
For me, the key question now is whether investing further in the existing airport is a risky proposition, given its susceptibility to natural disaster. Are there any risk reduction measures that can be implemented, at what cost and to what degree would risk be reduced–in other words, does it make sense??
Looking forward, will the existing airports continue to be able to serve Dominica’s air access and transportation needs (for transport of people and goods), how well and for how long? These questions can only be answered in considering an existing development plan. What is the development scope of these airports and will the benefit of further investment outweigh the cost?
Whatever you do, please consider what type and size of airport and indeed the number of airports Dominica needs only in the context of a full, long-term, strategic development plan for Dominica. Airports are essential keys but won’t do it alone.
zuma there’s a word called vision and there’s another one called understanding if you had any vision at all you would see a little further than our present situation, and if you had any understanding at all you would understand that although we are in a bad state of affairs after erica and has a lot of work to do to put our country back where it was we must also be mindful of spending millions of dollars on an airport that nature has shown us to be in an inappropriate location.what’s wrong with looking beyond our present situation that the honourable Mr Lennox Linton needs to get phsychiatric Aid now? Justice D did you say politicicking?If so you you are visionless and have no understanding
Lennox is a Dominica like all of us and he is entitled to his opinion about the international airport… I’m fed up of you short sighted labourites in Dominica. It is so sickening BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE AFFECTED NOW AND SUFFERING…
If the Labour Party had listened to Edison James in 2000 and continued the airport plans, we would never be in this situation that we are today. I remember Mr. James warning labour not to dump millions of dollars in the sea at Melville Hall. That is exactly what was done…
Everyone in the North East knew the Melville Hall River would reclaim its course and of course its NAME. That is a massive river whose source is in Morne Diablotin, just about 1 mile upstream from the airport….That river overflows when the sun is blazing down on the neighboring villages. This time the impact was worse because the river course was tampered with to extend the airport….MADNESS.
DOMINICA CAN NEVER GO ANYWHERE UNDER LABOUR. ONE STEP FORWARD….TWO STEPS…
I do not understand why Lennox would use a time like this to bring up concerns about International Airport –in the first place it is not his place to bring this up, especially that this initiative demands an enormous cost or expense. The ruling Government has an Agenda to follow–opposition can only accept or decline–their decline still doesn’t mean the plan will not go through–but they cannot force in their own plans.
First it was his big deal about Gordon Henderson to head in organizing “relief concert”–talking big about him brining in “international artist etcetera; without thinking about the cost. Now it is about International Airport, when there are people out there without a home, to sleep on their own bed. Does this man think carefully, before he speaks?
I have know Mr Linton for quite a while and am wondering is he getting more stupid or maybe i THOUGHT i knew the gentle man?
The Douglas Charles Airport as it is now known, is under used with few customers coming and going each day. This may change in time however the cost of a “International Airport” i.e. one that medium or large Jets can land will take twenty years or more to pay for. The Island cannot afford these immense costs just to boast that we have a “International Airport”.
so can we afford rehab costs of 35 million dollars to sit and wait for the wrath of the rivers once more?
The cost, yes but how long will it take to construct?
I will say again idiots like you will have to die before Dominica can make some progress. It is backward people like you who sit on your behind waiting for a hand out from Skerrit, or begging, something,it fools like you who like to complain to people, especially foreigners how “Dominica hard” we doh have the money, as you are using you filthy mouth at this time talking crap.
One has to spend money to make money; people as well as government invest money into projects that will yell profits on the money they invest, you all run to other place in the Caribbean, to small places like Antigua which are more developed than Dominica, have you ever wonder how the Antiguan’s does it?
You can run your stupid mouth off talking about what we have, and what we do not have: but let me remind you over the past thirty years the majority of the population of Antigua are Dominicans. So what we see at V. C. Bird, International Airport right now Dominicans might be part of the major…
Lenox can’t you see you are making matters worst than how it is right now. God is trying a get you all attention and you are still not getting the message. Can someone talk to this man.
There will never ever be an airport of the size that you all are demanding. It is impossible to build an international airport in Dominica. Research has proven this even before the freedom party came into power. Geographically it is impossible. UNLESS all the MOUNTAINS are blasted. And even this will cost triple times the amount that will be spent for the airport even before it is started. It is Im pos si ble. It is a hard pill to swallow but it is the truth stop making these politicians take u all for a ride. This is why one was not built During world War one. The Americans saw it practical and easier to build elsewhere.. No politician in the Caribbean were responsible for any Airport. the Americans were.. And sue me if u like but it is the hard truth…
Zuma you’re correct with your historical facts, however what is the solution for Dominica? We cannot pour $40 million dollars into Melville Hall each time it rains.
Why we are so narrow-minded? Dominica’s malaise is due to our collective lack of vision and lack of foresight. Any suggestions that are outside some people’s narrow minded mentality are shot down on site. We can’t build an airport. We can’t construct a proper hospital. We can’t shelve cliffs and create suitable housing lots. We have too many mountains. We can’t and we won’t. Is there anything that we can accomplish as a people let alone a nation? Let’s abandon vision and foresight and spend $40 million dollars each time Melville Hall is damaged by floods. Why rebuild bridges and roads? Let’s just go back to riding donkeys like we use to. How can we go wrong? How can we ever go wrong with such brilliance?
Lennox don’t you realize by now, that your role as leader of the opposition is one or minimal power and authority, and that you are in no position to command, or make demands on the government? When was the last time did you get any of those silly demands fulfilled? You are very antagonizing, and political in everything you do or say, even when you pretend to be working with the government. Are you really serious about Dominica seeking funding for an international airport right now? Really Lennox? Don’t you think that every single penny we can muster right now should go towards the rebuilding and rehabilitating of the country? Now I understand why you are in the opposition, and with that attitude and mindset you will surely remain there.
You have very short vision. You sound silly
@give it to them, how is this airport going to be financed. Before the storm, according to the oppossition Dominica’s economy was collapsing. Now that our infrastructure is damaged to the tune of close to a billion $$, villages destroyed and hundred’s of people left homeless, I guess that is a sign of a huge economic upturn and we should now invest over half a billion $$$$$ in an international airport that will take millions to maintain. That in my opinion would be a recipe for poverty. This is no time for pet projects, we must fix our country first.
I hope yours is 20/20
you visionary is surely blind!!
When in the opposition (any opposition, not just in Dominica) the goal is usually not to influence government policy, it’s to build a track record of policy statements that voters can consider whenever the next election is.
Besides, surely you don’t expect silence from a politician, regardless of their position!
I live in Europe and I have not seen one touristic brochure of Dominica in any of the travel agencies which I have visited…. Maybe the international airport will be targeted only to North American visitors, just an observation… As opposed to Martinique and Guadelope which is featured in every Caribbean holiday brochure. Food for Thought
Boo Boo Martinique and Guadeloupe are 2 island which are part of France(a European country) What do you really expect. Duuuuuhhhh
Good advertising on their part.
The thought crossed my mind. Dominica had a lot of brochures. I got some when I last visited. I also gave to some people.
What happened to them that they were not sent throughout the world.to travel agencies? Do they have to ask for them? This may be a reason why D/ca gets few tourists and overnight ones.
obviously you do not read mate. I see dominica in brochures and hear of it on radio almost weekly. i too live in the uk.
Is that the best you can come up with, disaster will pass it by, Lets get our people back to a home a life ,stop looking for stupid points NOW… You are worse than I…….
hahah continue to display you brilliance mr Linton. Expose this inept , dunce and corrupt enterprise
More like display his foolishness. At a time like this to talk about International Airport. Some of you really have a pea for a brain and nothing else. Do you really know how much an Internatinnal airport costs and how much to maintain it. Secondly most of the international airports in the Caribbean were not built by politicians most of them if not all were built as hubs for the Americans during World War One . Go to read about the history of the Caribbean islands and their airports and learn a thing or 2″ instead of sniffing every foul breath of Lipton… Even today in 2015, Dominica is still being mistaken for the Dominican Republic. When the world Tourist and holiday seekers will be able to make a distinctive difference between the 2 then and only then we will have reason for an Internatinal Airport, until then be satisfied with what we have and who we can accommodate at that level
Only a few people know the difference of Dominica and Dominican Republic.
Two days ago, in speaking to someone, a non-D/can, I had to emphasize that I am from Dominica, West Indies; not Dominican Republic and that they are two different countries. I informed the person of a bit of the history of Dominica. Many people need to be educated about it.
Christopher Columbus discovered Dominica. At first it was named Sunday Island, then Trinity Island. I think the word Trinity Island would have been appropriate. If this were the name, we would not have that problem of consistently correcting some people that we are not D/can Rep.
In the past and probably today, some of our letters have made a detour to Dominican Republic. Fortunate, if they were re-directed to Dominica.
If the name were Trinity Island, we instead would have that problem of consistently correcting some people that we are not Trinidad.
This position seems to be a reasonable case for an international airport. At this stage the country cannot continue to sacrifice its limited resources which amounts to economic waste. In the long run the opportunity cost will be justified in savings for the national economy. I concur with Lennox that spending what might amount to unnecessary spending might jeopardize long-term potential developmental opportunities for this country. Granted, acquiring such funds is going to be challenging for any government.
What is the present day cost of construction? How is it going to be financed-grant from “brother” governments or from a further “re-engineering” of the Economic Citizen Programme? What quantum of subsidy is he prepared to grant the airlines and for how long?Where r the loads of passenger coming from and for what?
Be careful what you wish for Mr. Linton. The present airport can be cleaned up and repaired and the riverbank above the runway can be reinforced so that this type of flooding will be prevented in future – as it should have been in the first place. Big money needs to be spent on bridges, roads, relocation and reconstruction. A new airport can wait. The world economy is in a longterm downturn.
The Wesley / Woodfordhill site is impractical for aviation purposes, and if used will turn out to be yet another Caribbean “white elephant” waste of taxpayer money – as Argyle is, and will be, in St. Vincent.
Even with land reclamation, Dominica will barely get 6,000 feet of runway into Wesley / Woodfordhill, with no room to expand, not enough runway to get a jet on the ground – and with a hazardous crosswind – just like Argyle.
Dominicans need to stop trying to wedge a strip of flat terrain onto a slip on the edge here and there and go inland, just as Barbados, Antigua, Trinidad, St. Kitts and anywhere else with a long runway has done.
Add in now the recent flooding experience,, and you must recognise that some kind of deluge will want to sweep across just about any runway parallel to the shoreline.
I wish you well, but in spending this kind of money at least do it properly, do it for the future, and do not just jam it in somewhere unsuitable because you want it quickly.
I should not dignify such idle talk from Lipton with an answer, but never the less I must speak when I hear such
Utter nonsense, given light to the situation of Dominica this is the best defensive that Lipton can come up with.. . What about the persons who needs to be evacuated, have you suggested where you will house them NOW.? The many roads which have been destroyed, have you thought about how they will be built NOW? The gainful employers who has to stay home, have you thought about how they will regain a normal working day NOW? The many agricultural fields which have been destroyed have you thought about how the owners will be compensated NOW? Once again playing politics, looking for brownie points, man why don’t you use your energy to seek aid for the country, you sound like a real desperado,,, and out of control u may need to seek phscharatric aid NOW,
Lennox let’s rebuild the country and put politicking aside. Where are we going to find the resources now for international airport. Don’t you guys get the message that God is trying to deliver. Elections are over and politics has the island divided so he used nature to show you guys how upset he is with the division that you and Skerrit is creating in Dominica. Now is the time for nation building and nothing else. Stop your madness.
That airport was put in the wrong place from the beginning. Whose idea was that? Not that there’s ever going to be money for another airport. There is no forward thinking in DA, that is the big problem. just wasting money at every turn. Waiting for a disaster to happen. They need to always be thinking in terms of wind, rain (floods, rivers) and hurricanes and basing decisions on what would happen in the worst scenario.
The area and construction of the then Melville Hall Airport had much to do with politics in those days.
Whether we should get an airport of not should not hinge on what happened two weeks ago. If the river is the issue, it would be far cheaper to tame that river than to build a new airport.
We may indeed need a new airport, but to use that storm as an excuse is a bit of a stretch.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ATTEMPT AND SUCCEED IN TAMING MELVILLE HALL RIVER
Yes relocation is a good idea for the progess of the island and it’s islanders. Geographically I to see that the Wesley/ Woodfordhill area to be and that was selected during the government of 1995 and 2000 be great location.
“That site from the standpoint of science, from the standpoint of all of the observations and assessments that have been done is the most suitable site and would expect the government to accept that and to move on to the development of that site,” Linton said.
Point made:)
Just a islander from another island loving his caribbean neighbors:)
Mr.Linton you surely have the good ideas I like a leader with positive ideas, A lot of funds coming in to Dominica, Venezuela is donating 300 hundred homes for those loss their homes, I strongly believe even Mr.Skerit received enough assistance for Dominica he will still use Erika as an excuse just for him not to build the international airport,He mentioned he will divert funds that were available for other projects before the storm to assist those the storm victims, I would like to know if Dominica received enough funds to help Erika victims will he still divert the funds, If international airport ain’t start to build this term we will elect a leader with ideas and a plan to move our country forward.
Linton is making matters and he is the one causing all that problems on the island. UWP should desolve and make a new party exclude linton, thompson lugay.
I do not think there is any disagreement between the P.M. and the leader of the opposition for the need for a new international jet port for Dominica. We should not forget that on 21 Nov. 2004, when the island experienced an earthquake, the river at Melville Hall also came over the wall, flooded the car park and rendered the airfield inoperational. This is bound to happen again.This, plus the fact that we can not the runway length and the shortcomings of the nightlanding system should prompt us to to bring forward the plans for the construction of the new airport with the least possible delay.
Gocon go back in the box ginne .The PM of Dominica is Skerro. While you are trying to score political points, tell us what you have done to elevate the suffering of your people. We need unity not division, Election was on December 8. Stop campaigning and work for the betterment of the nation. Who do you think you are to dictate where the airport should be built. Where’s the jobs you proposed. YOUR PANTS ON FIRE.
what about the portsmouth/dos dane area whih was identified a long time ago, check out jim lynch face book page with his view . I believe the opposition leader correct though time to rethink the airport issue this present airport is a waste of money
He’s got a valid point..
Mr Linton, can you fine 1$ to help in the disaster we are in please and stop saying what should be done and please do something to help out.
Boy this looks like a river or sea port and not an airport!
Good suggestion Mr. Linton but it should not be done under the evil watch of the Skerrit led DLP, because if anything, Erica revealed to us that projects engineered by Skerrit and his corrupt team were the first to tumble down. For example, the Douglas Charles Airport. Recently built and one would expect it to survive but low and behold, it is a river and part of the problem. Then we look at the EO Leblanc Highway. Less than two years old, and that thing broke just about everywhere. I guess if Erica had aome wind maybe the palace would go too. So yes, Erica reveled the projects of Skerrit and I don’t think he is the right person to build an international airport. 1 Cor. 1:13 says, Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. Erica tested Skerrit’s corrupt work and exposed its weakness.
“Erica revealed to us that projects engineered by Skerrit and his corrupt team were the first to tumble down. For example, the Douglas Charles Airport. Recently built and one would expect it to survive but low and behold, it is a river and part of the problem.”
lolololololololololololool… Joke of the day. So Skerrit just recently built the Airport. hahaha ignorance or stupidity?
Nah man. We need that airport in the next 30 years. We can’t afford it and we just might want to build another palace. A bigger one with more borrowed money and paint it red.
Brilliant point honourable Linton.
This is not the time to argue “we doh can afford it, or we doh want it!”
We have two option; the first is to utilize Canefield full, which would be a waste of time, due to wind-share, which presents serous danger on landing and takeoff, life’s are too important to risks, the second option is to clear the debris from Melville Hall Airport, and use it temporally while an International Airport is begin built, there should not be any opposition to that by any of red devils at this point and time.
Spending money to do anything lest than building an International Airport would be criminal!
And by the way, I have yet to hear Ralph Gonzalez pledge solidarity to Skerrit as of yet, nor has he declared how much he intends to give Skerrit to spend on his brain child the now demolished landing lights, and dug-up river bed parking lot! We should now change the name from Charles Douglas, to Ralph Gonzalez International!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah; oh, what a thing!
Mr, Ralph Gonzalez is in fact the Prime Minister of St, Vincent, where do u think that these bridges which were promised to Dominica came from? St. Vincent ofcourse, I think that was some sort of pledging.
BEB: A promise is a fools’ pleasure!
St. Vincent has an International Airport; where is Dominica’s International Airport? Thanks to Ralph Gonzalez; Charles Douglas airport which was his brain child, is now in ruins, it cannot even accommodate LIAT aircrafts, which he forced Skerrit sink tens of millions of dollars into in order to prevent him from allowing LIAT to fly to Dominica.
It’s always the right time to acknowledge when you cannot afford something, however much you might want it. That’s part of being a responsible adult.
You list two options, but that’s a false dichotomy. A third option is that we make better use of well scheduled, fairly priced short flights from both Canefield and Melville Hall to nearby large airports like St. Martin and the French islands, so that tourists travellers from far afield can reach Dominica in a single day without either them or us going bankrupt.
You got to be kidding, have you not got it through your head, a big plane coming in, with few people, are not going out with none.
Nice! Oh how nice. An Island is a piece of land surrounded by the sea and water. It becomes a country when you have people living in there. At present we have the people sad,,agrieved,and painful sorrow,LOSE,Their HOMES and belongs, living separate from each other, Don’t you think we should attend to this situation first? When you don’t hear from the magnificent Mr. Weekes, that means he is hard at work. Good idea but, this can wait. Try again later
The suggestion made by Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Honourable Lennox Linton, for the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica to strongly consider the construction of an international airport is a good one, especially in light of the serious devastation caused to the Douglas-Charles airport during the recent passage of the Tropical Storm Erika.
As part of the rebuilding process, the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica should establish an entity that would be solely responsible for the development of an airport capable of accommodation long haul flights in an area that is safer than the current location at Melville Hall River.
Let’s put our country first as we all contribute to the rebuilding of this island we call home.
DNO, the photo of the airport above looks very much like that of a ship in the ocean.
Concerning the subject matters, I disagree with the Hon. Linton that our focus should be on securing funds for an international airport. Under normal circumstances I would have supported the opposition leader, such has not been the case in Dominica for the last ten years, as playing political games seems to be priority these days.
In light of the fact that Dominica is seriously destroyed and needs to be rebuilt, I humbly believe at this time our main focus should be on a bye- election so Dominicans could decide if they want The New Dominica to continue in the same old same old way that Mr. Skerrit has reduced us to, or a new Dominica established on righteousness, truth and justice for all, regardless. I don’t care if it is under a UWP, DLP, DFP, pappy, or another party, as long as we are on the right track. I believe God spoke to Skerrit during the storm and maybe he would want to change his…
As I state before, the location between Wesley, and Woodford Hill is perhaps the most suitable, considering that in the history, of our country that area is not know to succumb to floods. In reality it would be a mistake to spend millions of dollars at Melville Hall to repair the airport, only to have it damage again.
The Melville Hall Airport is located between two branched of the same origin of the river, and for hundreds of years floods has been causing the same amount of damage to that area. Even prior to the building of the airport, farmers were reluctant to utilize that strip of land for the planting of agricultural products, because each time it rains heavily they usually lost everything, although some grapefruit and coconut were able to survive.
Our nations best option at this time is to concentrate on the construction of an International Airport, which will not cost much more than it will take to reconstruct Melville Hall Airport, this is not the time to say “we doh…
I am sorry, Lennox. It was the wrong choice before Erika and it remains the wtong choice. I have not yet seen an economic argument that makes sense in building a US$2 billion white elephant simply on the basis that other islands have attemted it. Read and understand Gregor Nassief’s notes on this. Erika changes none of these arguments. Even worse now that we have so much hotel stock to replace and renovate. Why do all oppositions in this country continually dangle this illusory ‘magic bullet’ to our people.. you are looking in the wrong direction! To plagarise James Carville..”It’s the Geothermal,stupid”
Do u travel ? You don’t know how hard it is to get a flight to DA.How much meziere u have to see to get to Da form Europe America Etc
So you would put our country under an economy crippling debt that our children and their children will have to carry… just so that you have not to deal with the minor inconvenience of travelling here? If you plan you travel right the inconvenience is trivial…. far more than the serious problem of higher taxes and reduced services for decades to come.. and it might still not have the desired effect of vastly improved visitor arrivals … think about it
“I have not yet seen an economic argument that makes sense in building a US$2 billion white elephant simply on the basis that other islands have attempted it.”(Idiot With No Name).
You see; had it not been for idiots like you that piece of nobody from Calibishi Dominica would not be in the sort of predicament in which we now find our country. Scum bags like you are the ones who supported the Labor Party for years, against the building of an International Airport!
If not now when?
“We doh want it; it is to expensive, besides Antigua, and Barbados have one already.” Edison James had one on the way, more than twenty-five years ago. The Labor Party shut it down, and chase the Trinidad contractors and engineers out of Dominica. The Trinidad & tobago governemt undertook 80% of the total cost; of less than four ($400, 000,000.00) hundred million dollars, it was costing to build the airport; even Skerrit said it was too expensive.
However, this same Mr. god, honorable king,…
However, this same Mr. god, honorable king, dictator, mighty, illustrious most notorious Mountain Chicken; crapo brain Roosevelt Skerrit took the advise of Ralph Gonzalez and spent more than half billion dollars to install landing lights, on the runway, and digging up the river bed at Melville Hall Airport to build a parking lot. The river reclaimed what rightfully belongs to the river!
Half of a billion dollars is five hundred million dollars. That means Skerrit and his clones spent more than hundred million dollars than what the UWP was about spend to build a new airport from the ground up. How stupid could that be, he did that on the advise of Ralph Gonzalez who has laughed in the face of Skerrit, in admiration of his stupidity!
now you a nobody, a piece of nothing, with no name comes here talking nonsense about economic argument, where do scum’s like you come from; don’t you know that an International Airport will boost the economy of the country, no matter how expensive…
Don’t you know that an International Airport will boost the economy of the country, no matter how expensive it is? That is why Gonzalez ensured his nation an International Airport. You stupid bastard!
If only you could see passed your puffed up flat nose you might be able to see how imperative it is to build an International Airport, rather than talking fart, about economic argument, as if you are somebody!
What is your name, another recipient of Skerrit’s handouts!
Nobody should dignify his rubbish with a response, regrettable I had to exposed his ignorance and stupidity!
Anybody who cannot see it would be more beneficial to the nation to build an International Airport at this time is a damn fool, because this is the appropriate time to build one, rather than spending several hundred millions of dollars on something we know is going to be destroyed again, an indeed very soon in the future!
Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself Lennox ? Don’t you think we should secure funds for repairing our roads and bridges, building homes for our displaced, improving our own disaster preparedness rather than have to rely so much on others (and I’m thinking specifically about our own helicopter and supply of Bailey bridges), improved and more secure telecoms, water catchments and electricity distribution. I can think of a very long list of things that are vital to this country (how about improved social services, facilities for the homeless and addicted, school houses with no holes in the roof or floor etc etc) before I get to ‘international airport’.
“I’m thinking specifically about our own helicopter and supply of Bailey bridges), ”
But you are so stupid, what purpose will your own helicopter serve you! You are like a chicken, which lay it first egg, in that you saw a helicopter flying over Dominica for the first, time, in your miserable, so we must own them, and forget about an International Airport.
Why, are you people so dumb?
Can you fly three hundred or more people from Dominica to the United States, Canada, or London in a damn Chopper? I suspect you are one of the idiots who would rather Skerrit rebuild that flood basin, only so that you skin you dirty teeth, and say, we fix our nice small airport we man!
When you go to places like Antigua, the use helicopter to take tourist sightseeing over the island, that the purpose they serve.
I wish the flood would have washed some of you stupid Dominicans away, and free the nation of fools like you!
Mr Linton, what are you scared about Sir, we the Dominican People will get the int’l airport when you become PM,,
We are all aware of the fact that you would like to see the economy of Dominica collapse under the leadership Mr Skeritt. Any other bright ideas to burden the economy in this time ?
What is the difference between Compton point site and the Wesley/Woodfordhill site? What science is Mr. Linton referring to? Could the scientific and assessment report for both sites be made available?
Well said Mr Linton, couldn’t say it any better, Douglas Charles Airport is already in a place that should have never been place, in the river mouth, Mother Nature doesn’t joke around when it comes to acquiring what was her’s.. and I don’t want to sound or make bad opinion, however, it’s true.. I wish not see or hear that the river open her mouth up and swallow the placement of our current airport.. it would be very bad.. I know I am from abroad, but I will say, I love my country and I want to see more advancement in Dominica (La Dominique) my and our beloved country really do need a reconstruction of its infrastructure.. let’s move forward.. we really need to move forward and preserve and explore greater things for Dominica, the nature island of the Caribbean and I say it pride, and I am proud to be a Dominican..!!
In most situations i am on the other side but this time i am with Mr. Linton 100%. Forget about fixing this airport and secure funds to build a better one.
Simply put, an international airport built in Dominica for an estimated 200 million USD, cannot be maintained by the current population and per capita income levels. Please focus on building a solid infrastructure and modernizing Roseau first. State of the art medical tourism second, with Heli pad. Then just maybe we can afford that international airport…..
This thread will generate intense passionate conversations that will outline both the pros and cons of either constructing a new airport, or repairing Melville Hall Airport. While we’re at, let’s just keep these figures in mind: Approximately $110 million dollars was spent upgrading Melville Hall. An additional $40 million dollars is required to repair it after the passage of “Tropical Storm Erika.” That’s 150 million dollars if you’re counting at home. The river has shown us that it will always return to its natural flood-plain no matter what. Let’s hope that a courageous attitude prevails and the right decision is made.
I am in favor
If there is time I agree with mr Linton is now. We should focus on building an international airport.
And where will U put the homeless in the airport I suppose talk about the cart before the horse syndrome. U know if u want a donkey to move u must put a carrot on a stick and Dangle it infront of the donkey. This will keep him moving. Picture the image. This is exactly the political gimmick which is being played over and over again. With the airport. Whilst some of u seems to think having an international airport will make u reach America quicker think first before u are fooled. It is not pocket change to build neither to maintain. We talking MEGA BUCKS
Linton it looks like you did not listen to you comrade Izac this is not a time to look for points , now is a time for rebuilding and coming together.
He is not making points, he is simply giving Ideas to the PM. If you build an International Airport the people will come, more trade will come, the Country’s economy will increase from those institutions also planes tarrifs and above all More people will get much needed jobs. Don’t keep being fooled by people who is not or does not see the Big Picture. Keek your eyes on the ball, and stop the brainwash. We have to start with positive thinking in D/a. and stop repeating what we are made to believe. Do you think the islands with international airports got everything at once, they started small. Dominica is at the bottom of the barrel, these islands are 50 years ahead of us, the same way we borrow to do other things we will get the money if the PM really wants a prosperous Dominica. Remember Positive Thinking.
I AGREE 1000% it would be a waste of money to spend on melvine hall now
what is a melvine hall?