Leader of the Opposition of the Federal Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas, has stated that cost associated with the possible establishment of an international airport in Dominica is very high compared to that of St. Kitts, and so must require “substantial international support.”
He said the highest level of technical expertise must be relied on, there must be a high caliber analysis to assess the viability of the project and an economic and financial analysis would be needed to make sure the island put in place an infrastructure that is viable and flexible to respond to changes in technology.
Douglas was the featured speaker at the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) ‘Chew On It’ luncheon on Thursday afternoon at the Fort Young Hotel, where he discussed the topic ‘An International Airport as a Development Strategy- St. Kitts Experience.”
Douglas said that the cost borne by St.Kitts in the construction of its own international airport was “minuscule” compared to the ” expenditures and efforts that will be required” for Dominica wanting to take the venture, and so support must be sought in order to establish airlift.
He therefore, suggested that in order for Dominica to construct this international airport, “substantial international support” would be needed.
“In addition, there would have to be a concerted national commitment at the highest levels, to the success of the project because unforeseeable contingencies can and will emerge, significantly complicating the effort and making the challenge even greater than it was,” he stated.
He also highlighted that many obstacles have to be overcome including natural disasters and the global financial crisis and the highest technical expertise is needed.
“Permit me to stress ladies and gentlemen, how very crucial it is that only the highest level of technical expertise be relied upon. There must be a high caliber undertaking to analyze and assess the viability of any such project,” he said.
A “requisite economic and financial analysis”, according to Douglas, would also be needed so as to ensure that Dominica puts in place the infrastructure that is economically viable and flexible enough to respond to changes in technology.
“Fortunately there is international assistance to be sourced through various national, regional and international aviation agencies and this resource is often invaluable in preventing costly project overruns and long term inefficiencies,” Douglas explained.
He noted that according to indications, Dominica’s development prospects are “favorable.”
“Its tourism continues to expand, carrying brand Dominica to an even wider audience,” he said.
According to Douglas, there is a need for many conversations on the costs and benefits, and advantages and disadvantages in undertaking something “as massive as the construction of an international airport.”
He also advised that the international airport must go hand in hand with air lift development “if it is to be a sustainable tool for economic, social and political development as well.”
“You would need to attract airlifts, you would need additional hotels, and so the formula, in my opinion, is already being worked out. It is very difficult for a small population to support international airlift, but a small country like Dominica must see airlift and airport as an investment in its own economic expansion, hence, Dominica’s time has come,” he remarked.
Barring in Bechtel and allow their experts to review the site, conduct a new feasibility study and witness the construction of this airport within a reasonable time frame. We act as if mountains can be shelved. Look at Colihaut. The quarry operator blasting rock seven days a week there. Give Paris Williams the contract and witness that mountain disappear.
U Ass Backward people ALWAYS seem 2 put de cart b4 de horse & this will 4EVER b DOMINICAN’s problem.
All u want international airport but All u doh have hospital! PM hospital is a clinic disguised as a hospital 1st. 2nd, the bike trails that we have all over the country that u call ROADS; in the deplorable states in which they r is in NO WAY attractive, NOR safe enough 2 sustain the kind of traffic that comes along with having an international airport, Especially the so called bridges that can BEARLY sustaine a liccle water without being washed away. 3rd, the silver lake fire proved that the fire department isnt well trained enough 2 handle an electrical fire, much less ready 2 handle jet fuel fire; as a worst case senario. I mean come on, when a veteran fire fighter COULDN’T administer CPR 2 a drowning tourist who was pulled out of the water in Portsmouth how do u people expect 2 convince any 1 dat de island is ready 4 an international airport. WE HAVE POOR MANAGEMENT RUNNING TINGS
it looks like you never travel to see the struggles people go throught to get to dominica and your PM main focus is tourism, you want them to fly to gwada and take boat to DA? get real, its been 17 years Skerrit there eating money getting fat, that hospital should have been there 10 years ago, Dominica Developing just like how we getting a leap year lol cant u see?
Dominica needs an international airport but Dominica is not yet ready for an international airport under this corrupt Skerrit government. Same proven that Dominica was not ready for the Douglas Charles renovation and big flair of the opening of a structure which was outdated before it was completed. It is just Skerrit playing bobol with Dominicans as if we are dumb just like his government stooges.
Thanks St. Kitts Prime Minister for your kind words.
Sir, we have a rotten, corrupt government in Dominica and Skerrit and his gang must go.
Why is this man telling us how difficult it is to build an international airport? Are you serious? St. Kitts has one! This is why CARICOM will just be in words and not in deeds. Every Caribbean leader and island is for itself – selfish. He is worried about competition. It is not just St. Kitts that don’t want Dominica to have an international airport. Dominica has a lot to offer and definitely will give competition. It’s only when their backs are against the wall they know CARICOM like Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad. These bigger islands treated the smaller islands and their people like trash when they were booming and their dollar worth much. Now the smaller islands trying to walk on each other to reach the top. When will we learn?
Fellow Dominicans an airport can be built at Crompton point in Dominica the land is there the survey is there the location can sustain a full length runway. All we need is come together use some of the passport money to invest in the airport, go to every international body and Governments with the plan and proposal use our own local people and resources to start, it does not matter where we get the money from we can’t afford to be selective talk to the rich countries in the Middle East and offer them a 20 year tax free holiday to invest in hotels and other businesses, turn Melville hall airport into a regional medical center, demolish it and raise it 20 feet of the ground build a parking garage and use all the debris and rocks to back fill the sea at Melvillehll. Train our first responders in CPR and other life saving techniques to be able to help, an international airport is possible and we will have it we just need to stop been political about it
Clearly there is a lot of fear in people talking about operational cost to the country, everything has a cost and we do not expect it to operate for free, just look at the taxes that we are now paying today to pay for moneys that is sitting in foreign banks that has done nothing for the country, yet we are paying it mouth shut. In 2014/2015 we were told that our national debt stood at 1.4 billion $, none of us questioned how this debt came about, the Radio talk show host warned us, telling us that two loans were taken from China totaling over a billion $, we sat there and accepted that life must go on, Couple years ago the bomb burst in the house of parliament, our national debt all of a sudden stood at 1.4 billion $ and to repay that national debt a road levy was put on vehicle owners; we are satisfied paying that with no query, why then Cant we pay to support an airport that we are all going to benefit from.
Dominica is in the central Caribbean archipelago,
Dominica is located in the center of the eastern Caribbean archipelago, it is the nature island of the Caribbean, the only Eastern Caribbean island with a thriving population of indigenous people, has the most fertile land for agriculture, land of rivers, valleys lakes and mountains, spouting out with hot sulphur springs, has a wide variety of bio diversity making it unique and outstanding in the Eastern Caribbean, don’t we see the potential in Dominica becoming the central hub for the eastern Caribbean islands? the good book tells us the first shall become the last and the last shall become the first this is our opportunity, the only obstacle in the way is Roosevelt skerrit and his corrupt administration; time up pack up and let Joshua lead the way.
I would have liked PM Douglas to explain why St. Kitts share of their airport was “minuscule”. His words sounded like he was discouraging Dominica from getting its own airport.
Because they already had a strip that met international standards. The terminal is where the real money was spent. I know, because I lived there.
That’s right. The big cost is the terminal; not the strip. That does not explain why St. Kitts cost was so small.
The amount of money that it would cost to build and MAINTAIN an international airport would be outrageous for a small population of 70,000. It would be financial disaster for Dominica to embark on such a project. And imagine how it would change the country… for the better??? I am not sure. Ask yourselves why Dominica does not have any of the international hotels? Conventional tourism requires long white sand beaches, night life and shopping… all of which Dominica does not have… otherwise all of this would have happened long ago. It would make more sense for Dominica to invest in its own small airline which could ensure easy access to the island on its own terms, with efficient and manageable aircraft.
Dominica HAS pristine beauty and MANY untapped natural resources which it can profit from and preserve for generations to come with PROPER STEWARDSHIP. There are many more ways for Dominica to prosper, other than tourism. Open your eyes. Think outside the box.
But why Skerritt like to get people to speak for him nuh? Denzel had his issues made his islands look like something.
What did we get? Poverty, ghetto run down city and a bunch of thick neck politicians who just talk amd amass wealth.
Hmm ! Population hs notin 2 do wt I-airport. Wenevr we gt dt jet airport, Liat & cruise ship wodnt cut style on us & we’ll b very popular…
Denzel should shut his . St Kitts and Vincy is not better economically than Dominica, we have more to offer than what people think. These so called head of states is doing and saying all they can to sway the Government of Dominica from investing in an airport. They know very well they can get competition if Dominica is to have an airport instead of a port of entry.
Dominica sits right in the middle of the Caribbean which could be the gate-way to the rest of the world; but we have been talking about an International Airport for God knows how long. How is it that nowadays Dominica seems so comfortable in being last kakarat except in the things that can take us no where; i believe them fellas to bright but they can’t run the country right; too many so called INTELLECTUALS.
Yawn…this discussion has been going on since 1979 in Dominica!!!
Chris Brown, with all respect to you, it goes back further than that. It was in 1974 the Right Hon. PM Patrick R. John, then premier, allocated the area between Wesley and Woodfordhill, call TEMPLE, for this project of an International Airport. This was supposed to be one of the major post independence projects. Unfortunately, he was kicked out before he could put such in place. Since then all our politicians have use it as political milestone to keep themselves re-elected. Is there still a chance for us. When will our politicians wake up and become leaders instead of followers.
As I have said before … no one .. I meam NO ONE- has ever put numbers in an article or a discussion that I have seen which makes the economic equation for an international airport in Waitkubuli work. All I have ever seen is wishful thinking and qualitative (as opposed to quantitative) hypotheses. Until I see those equations I remain unconvinced that we should be looking in that direction. And the political carrot that parties dangle in front of our eyes by every party at every election should not blind us to Dr. Douglas’ major caveat “A “requisite economic and financial analysis”, according to Douglas, would also be needed so as to ensure that Dominica puts in place the infrastructure that is economically viable and flexible enough” .. I do not believe such infrastructure exists or can be made to exist. What does exist, however, are 2 fully functioning international airports less than 50 miles away in each direction…
Amen!
You are soo naive . I guess they have schools , hospitals , stadium , sea ports etc to , hence we don’t need ours?
What is the logical extension of your post? … they have air so we don’t need ours? Understand what I am saying. How does prudence over the life cycle cost (and return on investment) amount to naivety? The textbook definition of naivety is when you jump into something without considering the factors I outline above. No one is disputing that a Waitikubuli with an international airport is a better tourist destination than one without. But hanging you hat (nice though it might be) where your hand cannot reach is stupidity itself. You might feel you want to subject your children and theirs to that economic trap .. I do not.
You speak the type of nonsense that will keep Dominica in the dark ages forever. Maybe we should just give up and abandon the island because there are international airports on others.
At this point it is a purely small minded, short term vision to use economics as a reason not to have one. It fails to accomodate the development of our infrastructure over a longer period than your lifetime or consider the relative worth that if all around are progressing then maybe we should not get left behind.
If you really want figures then go ask Mr Gonsalves the cost of the newly opened St.Vincent Airport. He was brought here before to convince us we dont need one by Skerritt. However, bright fellow that he is saw an opportunity going to waste and got the deal for his island instead.
Yet here we are still having this shameful debate….
It really doesnt matter if it takes 200 years to pay for the thing as it will be there for future generations to use and bring further value to the island.
Your comment and points are so fair and just. International airport on its own does not make sense, it has to corresponding with other economic matters like access to Dominica. access around the country, entertainment, tourism, realignment of structures of government and Skerrit is NOT that visionary to even understand what this word means let alone pick a site for the airport. Skerrit see here and now. just like those who surrounds him. Dominicans, please do not place this international business in the hands of Skerrit, like Melville Hall, it will be a failure and flights cancelled.
TO my DOM-IN-CANS I just laugh when I hear this man I need to know who paid for this man to go to Dominica to talk these (S) what in this man words that the right thinking D/A people have not spoken about boy every day as time gos am getting to see how some DOM-IN-CANS a under some kind of EVILL come on whats new to us that this man talk about is it because his last name is DOUGASS ?next thing I hearing the young pm at the school talking to his young kids telling them they a the first his telling that his thinking of putting a new Airport in d/a o boy that’s what they call ( children looking out for children )Dominica is just a big JOOOK and bark to front! I would think as a PM the first people that you should talk to is the business people on island and the working people then the young kids LOL LOL
This man is speaking sense Dr. Douglas. Maybe because it is not what you want to hear. but he knows exactly what is being spoken about. I think what you need to focus on and play very close attention to is going back to school to learn how to write and spell properly.
To make it worse, in St. vincent, which recently opened its doors of its new international airport, departure tax has now risen from $40 to $100.
http://www.iwnsvg.com/2017/02/07/svg-departure-tax-moves-from-40-to-100/
Oh how you people would make noise and scratch your heads when all the accompanying fees and expenses come along with your new international airport.
Dominica needs tomake itself exclusive and refine its product into a fine high end jewel. not the rough abrasive cut of a rock that it is right now, like san trope or st. barts so that a specific target market (rich high end tourists and investors) will realize our true potential as a real hidden gem of the caribbean; making our difficulty to get here even more alluring and mysterious, making them more want to come, but it has to be more than worth it once they arrive. We cannot boast “A-1 class” and deliver “z-10 class” with excuses, then get vex with your guests when they criticize. Good marketing gives…
Notice that in St Kitts its another Astaphan in power sending a crony to fool simple Dominicans.
I wonder if a few West Indians had emigrated to the Middle East when these people arrived, would they have wielded such power amongst the Arabs? Too many black people still stuck in worshipping any foreigner with a few coins – Are you listening Skerritt? Monfared wants his flying carpet back.
Hope Edison doe write letter to anyone. Afterall, anyone who tries to help us is interfering in our politics right? Smh.
He apologize for this letter
Williams you are a fool!
In what way is Denzil a nobody is trying, or is going to help us? Can’t you see it is the same old nonsense, talking as usual rather than our people talking the bull by it horns, and do for ourselves?
Can’t you see this is nothing more than another Ralph Gonzales situation reincarnated; where this man came to our country and has already kill the idea, when he said to discuss the “possibility” of an International Airport. Why did he not say “the probability” of an International Airport?
A probability, is a far cry from a possibility, a probability means for sure that something will materialize, a possibility is just that it may, or might never happen. And as for the rubbish you talk about Edison James and letter. Even if he wrote a letter as you claim which is a lie; he was building an International Airport between Wesley and Woodford Hill; it was actually started when your Labor Party government shut it down when the UWP lost the election…
Continue Reading Williams:
It was actually started when your Labor Party government shut it down when the UWP lost the election.
The Airport cost just a little over three ($300,000,000.00) hundred million dollars, in 1999/2000. The government of Trinidad loan us 80% of the cost. Taiwan government gave our people ten million dollars for free ( a grant) and they loan us ten million dollars at an interest rate of 4%. The Chines government contributed the same amount. And mind you they gave St. Vincent government the same amount, Gonzales was smart enough to use his money to build Argyle, while Skerrit used ours to build Douglas-Charles, and in the process spend two hundred million dollars more on what is at Melville Hall than it was costing to build a new International Airport. In reality Skerrit spent more than one half of a billion dollars ($500,000,000.00) dollars installing landing lights, and digging up the river bed to make a parking lot which to this day is not yet…
Finally Williams:
In reality Skerrit spent more than one half of a billion dollars ($500,000,000.00) dollars installing landing lights, and digging up the river bed to make a parking lot which to this day is not yet finished.
Had your labor party not shut down the construction of the Airport, the UWP was building; commenced building, and chase the Trinidad & Tobago contractors, and engineers out of Dominica, we would have an International Airport operating in Dominica for more than twenty years now!
Shut up about Edison James and your lie about write letter; write letter to who? If you people were not dumb you would realize Dominica is an independent sovereign country, nobody outside government or people can come into our country and do anything unless they invited! You people are so stupid, you do not even know when you are talking nonsense!
Real facts about our international airport situation.
The actions of the DLP show, that in halting the previous construction, their intentions were all partizan malice to the UWP which in turn is spiteful to the people of Dominica.
If not for the actions of this administration, we would have had an international airport 20 years ago.
\’In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king\’
It is a good thing for the DAIC and other interest groups to organize sober discussions on our development. Kudos to them for the initiative.
I will say though, that based on the article, Dr. Denzil Douglas has not put anything new on the table. All that he said is true but we know this a thousand times over. We know that we need “economic and financial analysis”, we know that the facility must be adaptable and respond to changes in technology, we know that we need “substantial international support”. WE KNEW THAT SINCE 1967.
What we need is the mechanism to mobilize the resources, a champion who thoroughly understands the economics, technical, environmental, social and community and societal impact ramifications of such an undertaking so that it can be sold effectively to the donor community and the “NUMEROUS FOREIGN FRIENDS THAT WE HAVE”
. Call Dr. Ralph Gonsalves – this is a textbook example of fund mobilization that UWI must teach in all its Government Courses.
I had a tour of AGYLE International Airport in St. Vincent by a Vincentian Colleague during its near end construction Phase. I have landed there twice since its opening, the last time being Tuesday afternoon (7th March 2017). Splendid facility. St. Vincent is already seeing greater interest in its tourism product. And guess what, they are putting all other infrastructures in place. I was there (as UN/ITU) to help them launch their Broadband Policy and Sectoral Strategy – an essential platform for development in the Tourism Sector.
We need our own airport too but we must not just wish for it and clamor for it. we must think very carefully.
WE HAD SINCE 1967 to think of all the alignment issues, the technical and engineering issues, the economics (this one is fluid). If these areas are not yet lucid to the aviation experts assisting us then we will never get there. What we should be focusing on now are mechanisms for mobilizing funding and institutionalizing a management model.
And your point is ?
The cost of operation is a factor to consider Mr. Cadette. Not just how splendid the facility is.
We are virtually starting from ground zero despite discussions since 1967.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Convention_on_International_Civil_Aviation
We are one of 3 nations in the world not signed up to this. It shows how serious this subject has been taken in the last 17 years. Yet we are still talking….is it election time again?
We agree. His Excellency Dr. Ralph Gonsalves Phd. must be engaged in immediate dialogue on this issue! He built his International Airport without compromising the integrity of his country’s citizenship and birthright!
Yes but now Vincentians are asked to pay a departure tax that rose from $40 to $100 dollars. And that is just one fee. How will that affect travel? This will mean, for many, to leave dominica, it may be more than $200 (taxi + departure tax) not inclusive of your plane ticket. Now when we begin to recieve more tourists, what else is there for them to enjoy? we need to take tourism seriously. We are acting like we are ready but we are nowhere close to it.
Verbose senseless chattering from you. Have you considered the full implications of the SVG Airport on tax payers ? How was it built state your researched specifics ?
Ok
If you think what I said is senseless then you as a lover of country and self should enlighten your compatriot. I love to learn.
I notice though that you prefer to criticize than to educate. Probably because you have nothing enlightening to offer?
Joshua see my comment above.
“the “NUMEROUS FOREIGN FRIENDS THAT WE HAVE”
. Call Dr. Ralph Gonzales – this is a textbook example of fund mobilization that UWI must teach in all its Government Courses.’
I wonder if that is meant as a sarcastic remark?
I hope it is; because this nonsense about discussing the possibility of building an International Airport in the country is nothing more than child’s play foolishness.
We are in the twenty-first century; and even in the days of hunters and gatherers, people were smart enough to know when there were not enough food in one place, they move on to another, or the population would split in order for everyone to have enough to gather and eat, to survive. They did not call on other tribes to tell them what to do.
I cannot imagine that after the experience with Ralph Gonzales, there are ignorant people in Dominica calling in a nobody like Denzil to tell them wether or not Dominica should have an International Airport; that is stupidity in its highest from!
Indeed, our time has come. We are the largest Winward island, ideally situated in the centre of the Caribbean chain, yet we have no international airport. MR PM should cease from listening to the detractors and ill-wishers and move along with the plan for the establishment of an international airport. The hotels are coming up nicely, soon we will boast three to four new ones that will significantly uplift our coastal areas, foster employment for locals and encourage tourism. We’ve been playing along with this project for far too long, let’s get on it!
If we keep looking at reasons why it should not be built then it will never be built. This international airport planning thing is like the expired milk on Tony astaphans shelves. For all skeritt cares we do not need an new airport. As the political . demonstrated earlier this year, he feels quite comfortable flying in at night from guada on a single prop plane when accused of selling our passports to criminals thinking that it went unnoticed. Yet the red fools are laid back believing that a Chinese megastructure is on its way. Wait for it!!! We are doomed to fly liat forever because the great visionary, the red clinic surgeon, jack starter of all trade but finisher of none, the poster well dimpled sexy Indian doctor has Dominica going in circles while the other islands are next level. This denzil Washington or doglast rather must be of low standards too seeing how our pm loves to associate himself with friends in low places
you have said nothing
Hey it’s just a long runway after all. St. Vincent just went ahead and built a long one. But first things first, do the geothermal first, and hope Domlec plays well to pass savings to Dominicans (and accept less profits, without new legislations and possible pay offs? Sweet dreams). Electricity costs are a major factor, like it or not. Complete the geothermal plant first so as not to be stretched too thin. Then you build it.
but a small country like Dominica must see airlift and airport as an investment in its own economic expansion, hence, Dominica’s time has come,” he remarked.
But Doc you referring to Dominica as a small country? You know how many times ur country can sit in Dominica and yet St. Kitts has international airport? Our problem is Dominica has too many PM’S and no one seems to know who leading and whose advice is better. A few years ago it was Ralph Gonzales and he told us we don’t need airport and we listened to him. Now it is Denzel telling us we ready I guess because he brought us money, so yes, our time has come. Skerrit screwed up this country and knows he doesn’t have voice and can’t command respect
Mr. Douglas sounds more negative than Positive …Interesting !
Could the man in the mirror stand up? If so why can’t we?.
Denzil, my advise to you is simply this; shut up, and go home to your corruption in St. Kitts! We have enough of that in Dominica, and be advised on your way out take along with you the clowns who brought you to our country to spew garbage!
There is nothing to talk about, your advise is not wellcome, who the hell are you; and what authority you have on the building of an International Airport?
What are your qualifications in this respect? Have you forgotten had it not been for Paul Southwell a Dominican born in the Village of Castle Bruce who in 1963/1964 initiated the building of an International Airport in St. Kitts, during his brief tenure as Premier of St. Kitts during the West Indies Federation, when the then Premier Robert Bradshaw went to Trinidad the then capital of the West Indian Federation to represent St. Kitts.
When clowns and incompetent people invites clown like you to our country for their fifteen minutes of stupid fame the best thing to do is decline their…
I am saddened at the approach which you have taken . It is indeed pathetic that your sickening posture continues to find disturbing comfort through DNO. You have gone on a disrespectful tangential man hunt against a leading and highly favoured Caribbean national who was invited to Dominica to speak on the International Airport for our country . The DAIC invited him. His discourse was relevant and knowledgeable .
People like you suffer from ACADEMIC PHOBIA SYNDROME.Joshua Francis who is on his way back to the tops of Team Dominica (wait for our next UWP Delegate’s Conference where we will be) was subjected to this fear by Northern based blues.The political pendulum has re shifted back to Joshua . The UWP is not the MARIGOT-WESLEY-BAWI UWP.The Roseau seats must work in union with all others for us to win elections . Linton lacks unity capacity wheres Francis is a proven unifying force :a people’s person . The North Eastern of Dominica will immediately benefit from Airport y hate.
Joshua! If you are talking to me Francisco, I advise to you is simply this: shut up; you are also a nobody like that Denzil!
You can put him on a pedestal, I do not have to because I know his character; he is a nobody! Just because one is in politics, that does not clean them and make them somebody. If you were born a scoundrel you remain one to the day you die!
Have nothing to say about me because you do not know me! I do not know you, and certainly do not wish to cross path with your kind; I suspect you are beneath me intellectually. I do not waste my time on ignorant people like you! Kiss Denzil butt if you wish, worship him if you wish, I do not have too because I know his character, he is irrelevant, and a nobody to me!
And by the way you do not even have a name; you are phony fictitious bit of garbage; so who are you to contend with me, keep talking crap, when you go to beg from Denzil or Skerrit, when they tell you to bow, and kiss up to get what you looking for free, ask them how low they want you bow.
I suggest you fall on your knees, and kiss their behind, you might feel more comfortable!
We already know that….
All fool’s day is less than three weeks away and the so called visit of Dr. Denzel Douglas might just be an early all fool’s day tricks. It’s a pity like Monfared he too is a diplomat that can come in with briefcase of money knowing he will not be searched. Everyone is free to have an opinion and my option is, he may have brought in Bank of St.kitts & Nevis in his briefcase
Dr. douglas isnt investing in Dominica. He is the former Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis. He was invited here by the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce to give his views and opinions based on HIS EXPERIENCE of developing an international airport in his country. That was his purpose for being here. It shames me that our level of ignorance is continuously shown on forums like DNO and Facebook from nonsensical inferences, assumptions and baseless uninformed statements. Dr. Douglas never applied to any country for a diplomatic passport. He received one through him being elected as a head of state.
IS MR Douglas discouraging an interational airpor in Dominica after St KittS. He reminds me of some people I call mighty discouragers.
Hench forth Dominica time has come [quote on quote] so when can we start Mr. P.M.? , let’s see the money from all the over seas homes , and condos, apartments, galvenize, cement brikes plywood, pay as you go electric, and water payments to the laborites not including groceries that money can go towards building the airport, so we as Dominicans don’t have to look so stupid in the eyes of the rest of the Caribbean , and the world , getting stuck in Barbados, Antigua, over nite is not fun trying to get home .
I hear Skerro talking about “American Consultants” Yes I they not Imperialists again? I expected He would have looked inside ALBA to find Consultants to work for Him
With this being said, I can understand the problems associated with the building of an international airport. Sadly, this government does not have the capacity, financial resources, honesty and business prowess to accomplish this task. Lets put this project in capable hands.
Are you so simple and ignorant?
What problems are associated with the building and construction of an International Airport? Are you an expert, on what it takes to construct such a project. I am not an expert on the subject, but as far as I know all it takes is a site, which we already have.
All that is left is to allocate the money to finance the project: Contractors, and Engineers trained to build airports are contracted for the job. What problem is associated with that? The only “problem associated ” is your backwardness, and that of the rest of many of our people.
Mind you the location where Argyle International Airport is built in St. Vincent is more rugged, required more work to complete it than it will take to build an Airport where the UWP was building the one which the Labor Party shut down twenty years ago! Some of you memory are short.
There should be no stupid talk about Building International Airport, it is a necessity in the country. Build it!
Another point why Dominica is rated as the fools paradise….
you need a ex PM from St.Kitts to advise them on a international airport in Dominica
Wonder if Ralph in Vincy brought in a EX PM to advise him re Argle? smh
So means its only dunce educated People that reside in Dominica..hmm
Well the answer is YES, as if dominicans were smart thinkers and cared about their island they would not be the Poorest Island in the Eastern Caribbean….
Skero has a right to give the Public Servants only zeros as fools only accept that!!!
Nice sounding words, now what?
I need to applaud this venture. Many of the issues articulated by Denzil are consistent with the ideals of Mr. Joshua Francis. His removal as our Deputy leader was an error. Its clear that he as an accomplished Economist is better positioned than both Linton and arguably this Pm to forge a workable frame to raise and manage capital for this airport.
We must not be hypocritical . Dominican people will not vote for our UWP under Mr. linton’s leadership . Joshua ‘s is a multi-trained intelligent professional and has longed established key linkages within the local private sector to raise contingent funding for this initiative. The DNO ADMINISTRATOR must stop the blanket polarization of issues . The people must be told that Dr. Douglas was a former Prime Minister of St Kitts Labour Party Administration. Students working on their SBA will find that useful .May I conclude by saying that Joshua must be amongst the best UWP to join a bipartisan national think-tank body on this…
I don’t know why people always look at the negative things before the positive.
Dominica is mountainous but of course we can blast some mountains and take the same rocks to build the airport.
Countries like the Dominican Republic will take down a mountain in less than six months . It amazing to see .
So get a grip . We have enough places to build it and in my opinion . The coast area would be the best closer to ports mouth.
Wouldnt it be easier to resume at the site in Wesley? Why waste money and start from scratch again? There is no point in reinventing the wheel in this case
Sounds like an attempt to inflate the real costs of building an international airport. Dr Douglas has no experience in procuring an international airport for his country as it was Sir Kennedy Simmonds who created the international airport in Stkitts. He seens to be a very frequent visitor to Dominica one wonders
why? Perhaps he requires a diplomatic passport.
” but a small country like Dominica must see airlift and airport as an investment in its own economic expansion, hence, Dominica’s time has come,” he remarked”.
Bravo Dr. Douglas. One thing though, Skerrit will be kicked out of power just as you were kicked out, and our airport will be built by a group of fine men and women that will put Dominica first! By the time our airport is built I hope you will be able to go visit Skerrit where he will be spending the rest of his life.
why from Denzel douglas a loser, why him? why do we need some ….. to come tell us , u mean we so uneducated and backward,
I don’t understand the rational for this exercise. It’s either a concerted attempt to distract us from the issues at hand or disrespect for the effort and money put into the prospects of an international airport in the past. We can be so gullible as a people and so display such inferiority complex.
hmm .. a fool and his money are soon parted…
you are a disappointed labourite so get hard work to do.