Work on the ground will soon begin in earnest as a team from the World Bank arrives in Dominica to implement a $103-million Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR), Environment Minister, Dr. Kenneth Darroux, has said.
The project, which was approved by the government in 2012, will address many key issues that have been affecting various parts of the country.
Road rehabilitation, cliff stabilization, storm drains, capacity building, improving and expanding of climate change and seismic monitoring network are some of the areas targeted by the project.
Speaking on state-owned DBS Radio on Tuesday, Darroux said the project is one of particular importance.
“This project is particularly important because we know that climate change is probably one of the most global problems that we have and of course over the years, we would know the impact of climate change and its significance to small island developing states such as Dominica,” he said.
He added that Dominica’s location within the hurricane belt and its geo-physical make up makes it vulnerable to climate change.
According to Darroux, the government is already in the process of putting together a Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) and has already employed a Coordinator and is about to recruit a Program Engineer and Consultant.
He mentioned further that the one of the projects on the to-do list include the West Coast Water Project, and storm drains will be constructed across the island.
“I can foresee the benefits for the number of citizens and communities around the country,” Darroux noted.
Some of the projects which will be given priority (from previous publications) are:
-Pont Casse to Bois Diable road at EC$ 7.4 million
-Bois Diable to Castle Bruce road at EC$ 7.3 million
-Castle Bruce to Petite Soufriere road at EC$ 13.7 million
-Castle Bruce to Hatton Garden road at EC$ 15.8 million
-Dubique Phase I Cliff Stabilization and Road works EC$ 11.9 million
-West Coast Water Project Storage Tanks/Water Inventory EC$ 8.1 million
-Capacity Building for Adaptation to Climate Change EC$ 3.78 million
-Formation of Spatial Data Management System EC$ 4.725 million
-Improving, expanding of climate change & Seismic Monitoring Network EC$ 0.976 million
-Agroforestry, food security & soil stabilization EC$ 6.074 million, Sustainable Land Management EC$ 1.63 million
-Construction of Storm Drains EC$ 5.285 million,
-Project Preparation Advance (PPA) EC$5.434 million
-Contingency Component for Emergency Response EC$2.717 million
The program was initially expected to begin in May 2014.
Francisco, you are such a negative person. If you know so much, why don’t you go back home and contribute in whatever way you can? You seem to be a very bitter individual.
You see I will not go back home and contribute, because I am not crazy!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahh!
I know many people who went back to contribute, only to loose every dime they took home by people ripping them off. My uncle returned from England years ago. He began building a house, the so called builders ripped him off so much. He decided to stop work on the house. I went home found him living in one of my father’s house, I ask him “why are you not finishing the work on your own house.” He told me, the reason I had no work done on it for over one year, is to pretend that all my money is finished, to avoid the continues rip-off by the builders. If mentioned Ron Abraham, my friend; he went home to contribute, what happened to him is my lesson, Remember Marpin, that belongs to Ron Abraham, Jealous and thieving Dominican did not rest, until they stole Marpin Television from him okay
I doh going Dominica to all that I work for, at least not under Skerrit’s…
I guess you will be waiting for along time because evidently Skerrit will be in power for a long time.
Is Darroux the Minister of environment affairs, also the Minister of Health and also the Minister of ” bling money affairs” hahaha wow!!
Masons being Masons
In response to blogger Mahaut, here is some feedback.
The credit application is subject of Worldbank appraisal document, report PASD659 of 2 April, 2014. for a total of U.S.$.38 million. in mixed soft loan- &m grant financing I am glad the Worldbank will have a presence on the ground here in view of the concerns the bank has about our financial stability t. I quote just two abridged excerpt from their assessment to highlight this, especially in light of recent developments:
1) Dominica is a small island economy, highly dependent on agriculture, especially bananas as a proportion of GDP and source of foreign exchange.
2) Dominica has UNSUSTAINABLE DEBT levels, largely resulting from INADEQUATE FISCAL MANAGEMENT…! (in direct contrast to claims made by our P.M.).
Note, these are the Worldbank’s observations, not mine. I would strongly recommend we all acquaint ourselves with the stark realities contained in this report (search for it online, it is in the public…
Francisco and others who are talking there just want their boys to be the ones ‘handling’ those millions they hearing here. Even though I am not a big fan of everything Skeritt, fellas it’s climate change help, and you all see who it’s coming from. Instead, just be focused and contest the close seat lost by Thompson, I think it should be contested, voter ID cards, important things political, so stop mixing apples with oranges. Your boys just want to be the ones handling the money, but when they were running things they could not find money to even pay civil servants. just stick to the election issues, these fellas are running things now.
Madam/sir, that is a ridiculous statement to make! Remember the shoe could be on the other feet, what if Skerrit and the labor party had lost the election?
If they complained or their supports complained, do you believe concerns would be because they want their boys to be the spender of the millions? Remember this: Darroux came out with that same pile of rubbish years ago, we have yet to see the World Bank give Darroux a single hollow Dominica one cent to spend. Darroux is simply been repetitive. I mean they lie so much that they believe their own lies, forgetting what they said in the past, and keep on repeating it.
As long as you remain alive the nonsense Darroux keep repeating year after year, will never materialize, because his claims are unfounded and untrue!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
now thats progress . it does not matter which party achieves it!
This climate change business is becoming more like a religion.If there is a severe winter,we are told “It’s the result of global warming.Come summer with a heavy drought,again global warming.If there are no hurricanes from June-November the same old story and if there are one or two major hurricanes they repeat the same mantra.Typhoon in the Philippines and twisters in the mid-west (U.S.A) the experts blames it on man-made global warming.
One thing I am happy about is Dominica is cashing in.So give Dominica a few more millions,and I say THANK U
I view that as good news 103 million can do a lot for da. I just wish that some that money would have gone to relocating some people e.g. Petite Soufriere. We tend to put a blind eye on this village claiming the people are not interested in relocating. We should not allow things to happen before we take action. We should not allow some body from outside of Dominica to tell us that Petite Soufriere village needs relocated. I am asking that a team from the disaster preparedness with some engineers visit Petite Soufriere preferably after a good rainy day.
what about the tourist route. layou road
Dr. Darroux, this is almost an exact repeat of what you said in Dec. 2013 (see DNO of 18 Dec, 2013). You think we have forgotten? Give us something new please. Maybe you can confirm the little bird’s whisper that it has already been decided to give the road habilitation programme to Gaddarkhan? I hope not, because that is the same company that got noisy and empty threats, but no bite, form Rayburn Blackmoore for non-performance on the Point Case- Hatton Garden road.
All hou really showing your ignorance bravo
And what happened to the Portsmouth to Melville Hall road?? I guess this is not important. Voters in the North take note: the government continues exactly there where it left of before the election – totally neglecting the needs of the North, even though they got most of the votes from there. That is the way Skerrit thanks you for your loyalty. You are all a bunch of fools and Skerrit very well knows that.
Peter, even if people take note; the election is five years away. By the time elections comes around again, all Skerrit will do is tell plenty more lies, and bribe Dominicans with food, money, and plywood.
Our people are very shallow, with very short memory! Dominicans in all their sufferings that Skerrit, and the Labor Party brought on the people, they will vote for him five years from today. When a Prime minister boast that he feeds thousands of people rather than boasting how many jobs he created, and like a bunch of lambs taken to their slaughter, they vote that man and his party back into power, that tells me perhaps our people are the dumbest, the most backward, and lazy people God created. They prefer to kiss the butt of a man for their survival rather than work for a living!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
I guess you are right.
And you are a fool to make such a foolish comment. How could you do that? Do you have any sense at all? Negative as always; no suggestions as you stir up trouble in the land.
You know what, I’m not gonna bother with you at all. I am for change for the better and yes I vote blue. You on the other hand are are red and… No, I’ll leave it at that I’m only wasting my breath.
Any feedback from the critics out there?
“Road rehabilitation, cliff stabilization, storm drains, capacity building, improving and expanding of climate change and seismic monitoring network are some of the areas targeted by the project.”
All well and good Darroux, nevertheless, such programs with the exception of the talk about climate change, history is repeating itself. To the day the world ends the focus will be on road stabilization, that’s all the Labor Party, and Skerrit are talented for! It is ridiculous to take about Dominica’s involvement in climate change. First of all Dominica is not an industrialized country.
We have nothing on the island bellowing Co2, nor any pollutants into the atmosphere, so unless you shut down DOMLEC, and your asphalt pit, what can you do about climate change. Where is the International Airport to employ local people, and boost the tourist industry. You people are a bunch of sick backward people talking nonsense every time, you can spend a hundred billion on Roads, it will not…
Although I typically agree with your point of view, I disagree with you on this one.
Yes Dominica is not an industrialized nation who making any sizable contributions to climate change. However, Dominica is in a region (North America & South America) with industrialized nations who do make a sizable contribution to climate change, which ultimate will impact small Island states throughout the region.
Second, from a business perspective, I believe the government is doing the correct thing in focusing on improving the infrastructure (roads, bridges etc.) around the country. building an international airport before upgrading our basic infrastructure would triple our debt and leave us in the same position. I do believe long term a international airport (jet capable) is required to take the country forward.
I agree with what you said above: I note you agree Dominica is not an industrialized country, you have actually agreed with me that we are not remotely contributing anything which can effect climate change. If this is the case is the government talking about some which we have nothing contributing to the problem. The problem is North America, and not so much South America. Venezuela, Trinidad and Barbados are contributors due to their oil refineries.
You emphasized that it is paramount to ensure the infrastructure is properly maintained. Indeed that may be necessary, however the government is devoting all of its time on the construction of new roads, and the upkeep of outers that has been going on for more that a hundred years as I said. No need to draw to your attention that An International Airport, along with Hospitals, and other ventures are also part of every nation infrastructure. Where is our International Airport, and why is the Marigot Hospital closed, the PM Hospital…
“building an international airport before upgrading our basic infrastructure would triple our debt and leave us in the same position. I do believe long term a international airport (jet capable) is required to take the country forward.”
Sorry I had to take a rebound, I do not know who gave you that Idea in the above, but remember, the UWP within the four years they served started construction on an International Airport. More than 80% the cost in money came via a loan by the Government of Trinidad & Tobago, this is a matter that was well looked into okay, if indeed the three hundred plus dollars it cost would tripple our nations debt, the Trinidad government would have considered that a risk
And if you believe it would triple our nations’ and Ralph Gonzalez of St. Vincent how come Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent has not tripled their debt, however, he advised Skerrit not to build an International Airport; think about if for a while you may find your theory…
well said. for those who can understand; dominica was never a threat to the world atmosphere.
Nowhere in that news report does it talk about reducing carbon emissions or reducing pollutants. Look up what the word “resilience” and “impact” means. The program is being implemented for us to be prepared for the effects of climate change, not to try to reduce it. Are you really that bad at reading – comprehension or are you just determined to criticize?
What about La pointe to Soufriere road.
John you not living on island right? come home you will see, everything cannot happen all at once!!!!!
You seem to be the chief spokesperson for this form of propaganda.. Which World Bank? Are you referring to your new Bitcoin drop in March masked as a World Bank? Hope you are also willing to answer questions on the Bitcoin fraud that you have subjected Dominicans into.. Shameful!!!!
As for you.. the election is over and Dominicans are moving along. Go write your nonsense somewhere else. I hope you are advising your buddies in the UWP about Henley and Partners.