Works to begin at Douglas-Charles Airport in December

The Douglas Charles Airport after Erika. Photo Credit: GIS
The Douglas Charles Airport after Erika. Photo Credit: GIS

Minister for Public Works and Ports, Ian Pinard, has said that works will begin at the Douglas-Charles Airport on December 7th.

The airport facility was severely damaged on August 27, during the passage of Tropical Storm Erika due to flooding by the Melville Hall River, which according to the minister, caused every piece of equipment at that facility to be destroyed and therefore, had to be replaced.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Kendell Johnson, had reported during a press conference in October, that damage suffered by the Douglas-Charles Airport is in excess of $41-million.

According to Pinard, who was speaking on State-Owned Radio DBS, following an assessment of the damage, the necessary design works which were expedited for the rehabilitation of the airport and the proposed works were packaged in two phases.

He indicated that phase one is in excess of over $31 million and includes, “repairs of part of the western end of the runway, repairs and resurfacing to the air front, repairs and resurfacing to the taxiway, restoration to the runway shoulders, drainage along the runway, repairs to the access road and retaining walls, restoration to the runway drainage and rehabilitation of the damaged road leading to Wesley.”

The construction works for phase one are expected to last six months.

Pinard did not say when the second phase would begin.

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47 Comments

  1. Face the Facts
    December 1, 2015

    TS Erika gave Dominica a huge blow and cost it millions of dollars. Due to this, it will take a while to repair the airport and the other half completed.
    The airport will be repaired. Patience!
    Probably some day Dominica will get the much-needed international airport. The next generation or a few more will see it completed.

  2. The Architect
    December 1, 2015

    see again: http://www.plangut.at/uk/airport.html

    Project of 1988 (!) lifting the apron/runnway to get split-level for arrivals (downstairs) and departure (upstairs).
    Side-effect would have been to combat Melville Hall River and keep the runway off weather conditions, extending the runway overcrossing the road in front …
    Mamo was out of state that time I presenting – Allenye Carbon (R.I.P.) was fond of the tower when Dominica is going to build an international airport! – Where? – Portsmouth Cabrits – Skerrit’s Marocc-Hotel meeting the needs for the tower? – Another hotel in the pipe? Kempinski? – Crompton Point in the middle of nowhere? NeXt to Melville Hall (Pierre-Charles)
    Hey – Dominicans wake up – the key for future is: “Small is beautiful!”

  3. UserName
    December 1, 2015

    Some decisions like this one in particular may just warrant a national referendum. A prudent Govt. as well as a watchful electorate would pay notice to such a move. We the citizens for many times denied to right to exercise our civic duty through such a motion (e.g. Land issue at Cabrits National Park) now demand that given the magnitude of funds required, a National Referendum is duly warranted in order the the present Govt be given the mandate to undertake such exercise. $31 million for phase 1 and we there playing REHAB!!

  4. unemployed
    December 1, 2015

    Who is the contractor for the job?
    Where can i call?
    Who should i talk to?
    I need to work.

    • Face the Facts
      December 1, 2015

      Contact Ian Pinard or someone else in authority in his department. They should know. Good luck!

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        December 2, 2015

        The Facts, what is the difference in a chicken thief, and a dog that sucks eggs?

        Just a question, I am not calling you a dog, nor a chicken; I used the terms metaphorically! A Leopard cannot change it\’s color, so too we cannot change the way we are born.

        So my question to you is what is the difference in the name Face the Facts, and The Facts: no matter what fictitious name you use, and jump up and down on DNO like a phantom in the night; I know it is you the one and only, both you and Elizabeth have your trade marks which cannot evade me!

        And Miss Elizabeth (doh send me anymore of you ting cause I doh going an open them eh). So watch it now because if you do, I will tell you some thing about me Almost Nearly Cousin Skerrit that you would not like to hear, it will make you fall out of love with him! is a crapo

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

      • brass
        December 2, 2015

        Ian pinard is the minister.
        Call de ministry yourself.
        They are not giving out de information.
        Is there a secret as to the contractor?

        WHY WON’T THE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY WHO IS THE CONTRACTOR!
        if you not red you dead???????

      • December 4, 2015

        @Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque December 2, 2015–“it will make you fall out of love with him!”

        I knew all along that is what is eating you up; you better give it before it destroys you completely–because my mind is made up–in that PM Skerrit is a man of God–his attitude and work is demonstrating every day.

        You can never understand that because you are not of God; your conscience is dead; my regret is that I did not give myself time enough to discover that before interacting with you.

        Your jealousy and envy against people whom I choose to be my friend will kill you–you need to overcome that stupidity of yours.

        Your mention of me in everything which you write here, on DNO is another reason I know that my spirit is haunting you–that is what you get for your filthy lies and make believe, just take it!

        Now tell me the story of PM Skerrit but I won’t believe you anyway!

  5. Untouchable Dominican
    December 1, 2015

    I\’m a DLP Supporter but REALLY REALLY REALLY? We need an International Airport. This Airport area is still not safe.

    • Face the Facts
      December 1, 2015

      All of us wish that Dominica had an international airport. More of us would travel to Dominica frequently.
      Think how much an international airport will cost and consider how long it will take to construct.
      A suitable location for this airport is also needed. Dominica is mountainous and this has also been a hindrance for a suitable airport location.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        December 2, 2015

        Facts, how hypocritical are your kind, for more than fifty years the Labor Party told Dominicans that we are too poor, we cannot afford it, besides Antigua, and Barbados have one already. Ask yourself what does an Airport in Antigua and one in Barbados have to do with Dominica, and the economy of Dominica?

        You see, you Dominicans like to talk about God will; indeed he will help, nevertheless, he help those who make an effort to help themselves. Dominica could of had an International Airport operating more than twenty years ago. Edison James Administration had one in progress, the Labor Party under any other name such coalition government led by the late Rosie Douglas: Athie Marten, Pierre Charles, Roosevelt Skerrit, Ian Douglas, Charles Savarin, and the rest of the cabal shut it down!

        The government of Trinidad & Tobago was under- taking 80% of the total cost in the form of a loan; eighty percent of a four hundred million dollars is approximately three (320,000,000.00) twenty…

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        December 2, 2015

        Now, the Taiwan government gave twenty million, the Chines contributed more than twenty million dollars, okay; so in reality James need to find another forty million dollars. What did Mr. Me personal friend Rosie Douglas say? The money China, and Taiwan gave was not enough. Ian Douglas, said the interest on the loan is too high. I know for a fact Taiwan gave ten million as a grant, and ten million as a loan, with an interest rate of 4%. The labor party said the interest of 4% was too high. Ian Douglas continued: \”what Dominica need is a soft loan with no interest, and how they the Labor Party can build an International Airport in the country for a fraction of what James was spending!\”

        Ian Douglas, Skerrit and company used up more than twenty years, of our country\’s future; however, to date they cannot produce that soft loan, that interest free loan, and has yet to build an International Airport for a fraction of what was been spent by the UWP.

        These people went all…

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        December 2, 2015

        These people went all over the country telling people how bad an International Airport will be if build, and besides James only want International Airport in Dominica in order for him to bring more cocaine into the country. Can you imagine how dumb a statement; and the good old folks like you Facts, and all of whom are talking crap, do not know half of what transpired from the time Rosie Douglas took over until now Skerrit is in command!

        Running off your mouth is one thing but if you are The Facts, the facts evade you, every time; you do not know what you are talking about. The International Airport the UWP was building cost less than five hundred million dollars, Skerrit on the advise of Ralph Gonzalez spent moor than five hundred million dollars on that swamp, he spent two hundred million dollars more than the UWP was spending to build a new, installing landing lights, and digging up the river bed which cause greater flooding in the vicinity of his pink and green Elephant. All…

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        December 2, 2015

        All of you hypocrites supporting Skerrit has aided and abated Skerrit in the demise of our country.

        Sad to admit that I aided him in the past; sorry Dominica I was a fool then oui!

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

      • December 4, 2015

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque December 2, 2015

        If Dominica should ever build an International Airport, it won’t be during your existence in this world, because God will never allow you, or no man for that matter to be glorified above Him–but that is what you would do.

        And every good work that is done in Dominica is by the Will of God, through the hand of His chosen servant–right now this servant is PM Skerrit, until God is ready to hand the job over to another servant–you will be long gone by then.

        And the reason for saying that Antigua and Barbados already have international Airports is because it takes only 30 minutes from Antigua to and from Dominica; about just the same for Barbados.

        I know this because I have used both in the past few years. Also Dominica cannot afford to build maintain an Airport like Antigua and Barbados in 2015–not even that one of St. Martin which is much less advanced–you know not what you are blah blahring about–so drop it!

  6. UserName
    December 1, 2015

    Damage suffered by the Melville Hall Airport is in excess of $41-million.The proposed REHAB works were packaged in two phases. The construction works for phase one (in excess of $31 million) are expected to last six months. Work to commence 7th December. No time-frame for second phase. And we still ALLOW good and scarce resources to run down our rivers. Old time people use to say that where there is no vision, a people shall…..

  7. Tj
    December 1, 2015

    Make Douglas Charles operable and keep your election promise mr, Skeritt and build a new airport with long flights capability. LiAT will then improve their flights because like many Caribbean islands there will be competition.

  8. JUST A DOMINICAN
    November 30, 2015

    u idiots do we really need an international airport if the airport is not repaired where are the ppl arriving going to land u dominicans that come home once every 3 r 4 years wants an international airport r ppl running to come to da for an international airport r because of u all selfish convience airline all over the world r cutting flights but yet still u crazy dominicans wants an international airport ask puerto rico about it the kept expanding the airport all the time now half of the airport is not in use do u all want a white elephant just my 2 sence

    • December 1, 2015

      DO u really know how hard it is to get a flight to Dominica? To tell u the truth I do no like coming to DA. but i come. It is a hustle.

    • john paul
      December 2, 2015

      shut up u idiot.go back to school and learn economics.

    • john paul
      December 4, 2015

      U MEAN U ARE R GREATER IDIOT. SHUT UP.

  9. Older Man
    November 30, 2015

    seems like awful lots of money for what it is. the clean up is done, planes and landing, and now – six months down we need so much money to keep the thing alive? and it does not even mention night landing systems costs?. so – tons of money to keep the poor thing alive. how many biddings were received? who did the assessments? because it sounds like this will be the most expensive airport in the region – while we all know how inefficient it is, not to say about location risks. hire a professional consultant from overseas if no one here can really deal with it in an efficient way?
    or it is just easy money for some?

  10. judge
    November 30, 2015

    really this is nonsense even the marigot people don’t think the airport should be there they have constantly warn the gov but they wont listen. Clyde river/melville hall river will come again and it will be worst because the strong the force they put against it the stronger it will come back. set the airport up in the palm tree area the lands has already been purchased.

  11. November 30, 2015

    that is good news we must fix something when it brake because in the mean time what are we going to do other countries in the Caribbean will be moving ahead lets fix this then in the mean time work on international airport. I still say that the government should relocate the people of grand savannah in Salisbury because that land was already survey for an airport and it is ideal location from the mountain to the sea.

  12. Fagan Hogan
    November 30, 2015

    It is foolhardy for the Government to embark on any significant investments at renovating Melville Hall Airport. No better lesson could have been taught than that which Erika gave to us. Therefore it would be prudent to forget about Melville Hall at this time and direct all resources to developing a Jet Airstrip- International status can come later. Really it doesn’t matter whether its Labour, Workers or Freedom site. Just as this restoration is planned to be phased so too, can the international Airport, with the first phase being the Jet Strip. Melville Hall can continue to function as is; thats the sacrifice that must now be made- the temporary inconvenience. Mr Gregor Nassief told us that it took St Kitts and Grenada 10 yrs for operation of their International Airports to brake even or to come of age, so what is our Government waiting for to start?

  13. November 30, 2015

    Thank you Jesus It time.

  14. November 30, 2015

    Sadly, we cannot afford to disban this Air port, cause we cannot keep throwing good money after bad as it relates to the location of our Air port which is the river bed, and sadly as was evidenced by T,S, Erica, the River will reclaim its path. Its not a matter of if” but when.

  15. john paul
    November 30, 2015

    look ralph is laughing at you now skerrit.

    • Face the Facts
      December 1, 2015

      Who laughs last will laugh best. Save this for future reference.

  16. Discombobulated
    November 30, 2015

    Really? We still going to fix this airport? Really? Day landing is ok. Secure funds for a real airport and leave dc airport as day landing only. No repairs unless necessary. Reading those news articles get me so riled up.

  17. socaman
    November 30, 2015

    I can not believe it has taken 12 weeks to assess the damage at the major entry point to Dominica.
    With limited flights coming and going surely work should have begun earlier than this. Money has been pouring into Dominica from all over the world and only now work is beginning. The work is scheduled to take 6 months, whats the betting it takes a year.
    Come on the powers that be, get your fingers from up your anus and move Dominica forward.

    • MY 2cents
      December 1, 2015

      As usual a duminican talking about what they don’t know about. Here is a bit of advise to you and other duminicans, if you care to comment about something get the facts as to why something is not happening yet before commenting and making a fool of yourself. Stop relying on beff or people that that just say the first stupid thing that goes through their head.

      • LawieBawie
        December 1, 2015

        Man you can take that advice and stuff it. More and more I am seeing through the lies, deceit and ineptitude of this government. I will be the first to admit that I once supported them, but they have been doing too many things wrong, they have been to blatant with nepotism, too corrupt with many dealings, too vicious to the constituencies that don’t support them and to full of bull generally.

      • Crab and Manicou Hunter
        December 1, 2015

        I guess that wicked woman Erika didn’t damage an airport, whose runway is in the path of a raging river. So after such a simple lesson by nature herself, let’s ignore the lessons learned from this last disaster and repeat the same mistake to the tune of some $40 million dollars. I swear, you’re a genisus beyond genius. With your brand of thinking we’re definitely heading in the right path.

        Let me go back and hunt my Crab and Manicou.

  18. Bwa Bande
    November 30, 2015

    Yah……. go ahead and waste more money in that airport. By the time allu finish the money spent upgrading and repairing would be equivalent of what could give us a good start for a better airport

  19. Tjebe Fort
    November 30, 2015

    There is no such thing as Douglas Charles airport. It is Melville Hall airport until Skerrit change the law. I fed up with him doing things just as hew wants.

    • Malatete
      December 2, 2015

      Tjebe Fort is right. Regardless of what our government says the name “Douglas Charles” is not internationally recognised for the Melville Hall location. Its airport codes DOM (IATA*)* and TDPD (ICAO**) are still officially listed as Melville Hall by these international bodies, both recognised by the Govt. of Dominica:
      * IATA = International Air Transport Organisation
      ** ICAO = International Civil Aviation Organisation

      I have no objection to them renaming the airport but they should do so in the correct manner.

  20. Jeffrey
    November 30, 2015

    FYI, there is a very large sleepy river just above the airport that has a history of aggression and breaking its banks during heavy rains. Just saying in case no one is aware.

    We might need to put an airport rebuilding tax like the highway maintenance tax because we may have to rebuild very often. Just saying ..

  21. s6
    November 30, 2015

    What repair story that? what about the international airport ?

  22. john paul
    November 30, 2015

    stop wasting you money on useless projects.

  23. john paul
    November 30, 2015

    lets talk about international airport now

  24. Barbara Saunders
    November 30, 2015

    Good news! One day at a time considering what we went through. The phase two will come with the help of God. My country is in the Father’s hands, hence my spirit will not be daunted.

    Love and peace to all Dominicans!

  25. November 30, 2015

    Can someone explain why the restoration of the main /almost only airport is done phases. This is not JFK or Luis Muno . We talking about a 3X3 facility. But when lies prevail much must be given to nurture deception. There was an airport promised before election. We were told that an MOU was signed and design in progress. So if that was or is true is it worth spending another $100 million at Melleville Hall ?
    Should the money be spent to fast track the “promised airport project. But if the new airport was just comfort to fools(a promise) then $30 million at Melleville Hall may be worthwhile .

    • Peter Potter
      December 1, 2015

      Election lies and more deceit by the DLP.

  26. Hmmmmmmm
    November 30, 2015

    yes so we like it, fix the bobo.
    DA not getting international airport any time soon.
    Every time it fix is something new and we do not see the need for better. Yes I am aware that we need this airport for air travel in the meantime but damn we need to make a move in upgrading to bigger things. These politicians see the need to build their mansions, why they ain’t fixing their old home. Its the same thing you want your personal improvements well its high time Queen Dominica get her own too. You all tired patch her man.

  27. AA
    November 30, 2015

    Lots of questions in relation to this. was the works tendered? how many bidders, who is funding t his are you guys that stupid to go spending close to 50 million on a has been facility? is this just another mismanaged bobol skeem to reap off the states resources?

    this labour administration is a bunch of irresponsible small minded unintelligent thugs who put there pride and interest before that of the state.

    Isn’t it time that you guys cut the crap and lay down the run way for the international airport? get the venezuelans, the nritish or the us to contribute the construction of the run way, this is all that we need. you idiots continue to dump resources into a facility that has been proven to be or not meet our requirements. when are you little boys going to grow up

  28. lightbulb
    November 30, 2015

    you really should not show old photos.
    gives the impression that the airport is not open for business.

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