Director of Sisserou Water Inc Atherton Martin is refuting claims that the company has not made any progress since it was granted a license in November 2009 to export billions of gallons of Dominica’s water.
The Dominica government has granted a license to the United States-based company to tap into the island’s natural water supply and export water over a 10-year period.
However minister responsible for water resources Reginald Austrie raised concerns about the matter at the last sitting of parliament.
He said Sisserou Water Inc. claimed that it shall provide full time employment for at least eight Dominican nationals at its water extraction and exporting facility at Clyde River and 16 Dominicans would be contracted to transport water on their vessels from Dominica from its first year of operations, but nothing has happened in that regard.
But Martin says plans are well underway to getting the services off the ground.
Financing
According to Martin, just two months ago financing was secured for the company in the tune of US$30 million.
“Our first target was to secure the funding that was necessary for the project and notwithstanding the global financial crisis that played havoc with some investment areas. Fortunately, water just happened to be the single most valuable commodity in the world today. The financial crisis also readjusted some the financial consideration for investment, the fact that our product was water people have become more interested in supporting and financing the venture,” he said.
He said the company also revisited the areas, countries and companies worldwide that had expressed interest in being a market for the product.
“From a marketing standpoint, our contact with our prospective buyers and customers in the region and hemisphere has indicated to us that the demand for our product is in fact safe and secure,” he added.
Martin said contact has also been made with the people of the Marigot, who will be affected by the project.
“I am happy to say that we have had two meetings where we have spoken to persons in the area of the actual infrastructure. It is going to involve crossing private land and we had to ensure that the people in the area understood the project and how beneficial it could be to them. We had to secure their willingness to cooperate with us because the project include the passage of a three mile pipeline that would have to traveler the property of four of five persons who are resident and farming in the area,” Martin said.
He said persons in the area are excited about the project and no resistance have been met so far.
Delayed plans
Plans are afoot to secure construction planning approval which requires the detailing of the engineering drawing for the three major components of the project – the construction of a damn across the river, a three mile pipeline and an offshore loading facility of the shores of Marigot.
“The drawings have been done and are being reviewed by colleague companies of ours who have experience in the matter,” he said.
Martin said there is a small delay that was unanticipated which has affected the timing of delivery for the financial drawing.
“It’s not a problem, just a delay. That has to do with the recent works at Melville Hall Airport. Since the parameter has been extended to improve the safety of that facility, it forced the original alignment of our pipeline to be now on the inside of the security fence of Melville Hall Airport when in fact it was on the outside in the previous configuration of the airport fencing,” he said.
That aspect of things he said is expected to be solved with permission from the relevant authorities to construct a private facility inside of a secure area.
Optimistic
“We are confident and hopeful that the permission will be granted to allow us to stick to the original alignment of the pipeline and when once that is confirmed we will be able to finalize our drawing and submit them to the planning division,” he added.
Public Utilities Minister Charles Savarin has said careful consideration was given to the request and government has decided to grant approval to Sisserou Water Inc.
Nice google Athie but you will not spin your way out of this one,,,,you guys seems to have the answer for every issue in government with plenty suggestions but now when is action time you have to wait so long to update the citizens—,you and comrade Bernard vehemently opposed the widening of the road next to UWI,-even wanted to file an injunction—anyone seeing the road now will admit that it is useful, with adequate parking allowance and no congestion—–talk is cheap so you can purchase a lot of that —we aare waiting for the action now—
This has got to be one of the dumbest fronts and con games that I have ever seen played on the people of Da.
Who in their right might would ever entertain the thought of transporting thousands of gallons of water from da as a viable means of making money? Only someone without a brain considering that if water was so scarce, a water desalination plant would be installed instead.
Then again, look at the cost of gasoline as well as a ship. How ridiculous.
Do you really think that the water in Da is that SPECIAL??
This is a UN affront on the water rights of Da.
Quit the BS Affie, you are a UN agent DOING THEIR BIDDING.
And I have the Brooklyn Bridge that I would like to sell you…………..
I am guessing the government review was done by a group of professional engineers that are experienced in this field and not the minister. Also the plans meet Dominicas Engineering Standards for Dam construction.
Bravo Athie. I wish the project well. I however have an observation. The global financial meltdown – 2 years ago did have an impact on the water project. Mr. Martin tells us so and we believe him. We do not have any reason to doubt it. When raising funds on the international market one has to be prepared for external shocks beyond their control especially when you operate from a small island like ours. What is worth noting however is that whilst Mr. Martin can cite external fInancial un-certaintiesy for the delay in delivering on his American project, by his inumerable media presentations/protestations, Prime Minister Skerrit as leader of Dominica ought not to cite the same international financial meltdown as causes for delaying, remodelling or even postponing certain government projects. International financial meltdown is true for Athie, but wrong for Prime Minister Skerrit. Infact Prime Minister skerrit may be responsible for the global meltdown – one gets the view form Athie and Co.
October/November 2011 is now the projected date for first shipment.Lets us all wish Athie well. Hope that nothing local or external get in the way. Prime Minister Skerrit, give Athie every assistance he needs. Do not give him any excuse to blame you. he can runhis mouth well. Don’t forget that.
Go for it Athie
why mr.austrie did not ask mr.martin whats going on with the water project.because those guys win an election they think they own dominica remember mr,austrie you work for us you need to talk to us before you open your stupid mouth your name is austrie not dominica
Is the name of the bottled water “Sisserou”? I hope not … I also hope they do some sort of marketing research before officially naming the product. What’s in a name? When it comes to marketing … a heck of a lot!
Now since this an American based company, I would like Mr. Martin to tell us how much of that money will remain in DA. I hope Mr. Martin isn’t just looking out for his pocket. It would be nice if Lennox et al could investigate and assure us that this project will bring a significant about of revenue to the country and not just Mr. Martin’s pocket. I raise this concern because Americans are known to take it all. Lets hope that Mr. Martin and otheres do not take us for a ride.
It is very interesting, a license was granted in November 2009 about 8-9 months ago and the Minister expected to have seen, more on the ground and even 8 Dominicans working!
I wonder how long ago was the license granted to West Indies Power Company and how many Dominicans are supposed to be employed. Furthermore I wonder if any of the 30 million USD are coming from our banks, be they local or otherwise, if not then it is a wonderful thing because WPC is getting funding from NBD in part, oh they will tell us these are “shares”. So let the people take their time, plan a proper project, with funding coming from outside Dominica and give an end product that will remain in operation for years to come, because it was planned properly and not the “sleep and wake-ip” projects that the Minister is use too and sadly never remains in operation.
Best of luck Mr. Martin to you and the company, and you have proven time and time again that you are a man of character and core and will not be pushed because of silly Ministers comments, so pay them no mind!!
I do not wish to play devils advocate,or be negative about it; Nonetheless, I hope that it is not another project similar to the one that we saw a contract being signed on DNO, when this grand announcement was made that ” a Dominica company, signed a contract with an American Recycling Company, based in Solvang Califorina.
When I viewed the signing of the agreement, and got an address, and telephone number of the so called company, the first thing I did was called the number, which all I got was an official recording from the telephone department stating ” you have reached a number that has been disconnected, or, is no longer in service.”
Having the address where this so called recycling company was supposed to be located in Solvang, near Santa Barbara, I invested my time and drove midway between Los Angeles, and San Francisco, arrived in Solvang, went to the address where this executive, owner of the company said it is located, only to find I was in a fully developed residential area, where no State, or Federal agency would issue a commercial, or industrial license for anyone to operate anything with the slightest resemblance of a Recycling Plant.
I would hope that Mr. Martin’s project does not fall into a similar category!
I took some pictures of the location in Solvang of the residential house which was supposed to be the recycling plant, I made the pictures available to even Athie Martin, I hope he did not delete my communication without reading the contents.
Nonetheless, Mr. Parry Bellot, also received a couple of the same pictures, and anyone interested in viewing the same can obtain a copy from me.
Seeing is believing, we could have obtained a hundred million ($100,000,000.00) dollars for this water project, unless we see some progress, as far as operation is concern, people will indeed continue to be skeptical!
There is a time for sweet sounding dialogue, and debate, and there must come a time when our words must be put into action.
We all should hope that this is not another wishful thinking, and the idea of a phantom in the night!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
The minister just vex that he will not get a cut from the profits. He know Martin will not play his game so he red vex. Keep on trucking Mr.Minister but remember governments come and go.
Minister Austrie as the person responsible for water resources, are you working hand with the group to make the project a reality or are you sitting by idly and watch it fail? Your tone of voice in the article indicated that you want it to fail. Did you even take the time to ask Sisserou Water Inc what the holdup is?
Instead of sitting and waiting and watching to see it fail, support, encourage and provide direction if necessary, alas this project is for the betterment of Dominica.
This has been the downfall of most Dominican businesses, it is like the people in office and other Dominicans sit and wait to see another Dominican fail just so they can beat their breast, as if to say “Moi te dee zout sa”. It is as if they take pleasure to see the failure of fellow Dominicans.
It is high time that we work hand in hand to strengthen each other. Each one help one, for Dominica to succeed should be our motto. Do not only seek for myself but work towards success for all Dominicans for in so doing we shall strengthen our Dominica. Let us come together in unity for success.
In the words of our National Anthem:
Come ye forward, sons and daughters,
Of this Gem beyond compare,
Strive for honour sons and daughters,
Do the right be firm be fair,
Toil with hearts and hands and voices,
We must prosper! Sound the call,
In which everyone rejoices,
“All for Each and Each for All”.