Truckers working on the Melville Hall airport road report having stopped work over non-payment of monies owed to them.
According to Truckers Association Treasurer Arthur Shillingford, the truckers are owed “hundreds of thousands” of dollars.
He told local radio Q95’s morning talk show programme on Friday that Jack Garddakhan’s company which is rehabilitating the portion of the road from Melville Hall to Pond Case, is blaming the government for not having paid arrears owed to the truckers involved in the project.
“We received part payment for February, we have not received anything for March, and we still have a bill that is outstanding to send for May,” Shillingford said.
He also called on the government to clear the air on that matter, one said to be affecting the rehabilitation work being undertaken on the road.
“We have had meetings with the company which says government is not paying it and that’s why it is having difficulties paying the truckers,” Shillingford told Q95’s Matt Peltier.
Efforts by DNO to get a government response to the matter did not immediately yield results.
Dear admin. U refuse to put up my post. Is it that I am too informed. Am I hurting ur conscience?
Thanks. I did a superb job. Keep running and hiding.
well mr. government ,tell the people why did you accept the contractor who bidded for 3 million dollars a mile of road? let the people how much kick back went to the big boys in this government from this huge sum of money. i know long time the project will stop because the bulk of the money disappeared in kick backs.
Government is not owing Gadakkhan on the project. As a matter of fact it is not Government paying Gadakhann. The Company is paid directly by the French Bank Agence’ Francaisse’ when claims are submitted and approved.
Gadakhan draws his money in Euros and is paid to a French Bank.
Gadakhan money is being deposited in a French Bank in Euros. That is the condition of the contract with Agence Francaisse,
So you saying Blackmoore talking nonsense then when he said that Govt. asked for and received an additional $19 million from the French? Boy, don’t we even have a say whether work on the project is approved or not? I cannot believe this, for all the noise Blackmoor is making he looks in charge.
So why is the government not resolving the issue. The government is the client not bank francaise. The bank is suppose to inform the client of yhe problem whatever it is. The government ought to know wjat is going on with yhe project and production has stopped. A concerned owner would try to find out what is going.
not last week the pointmichel pple protested and the pm say they complaining too much.he eevn ask them if they want him to stop major project to fix potholes.he will good for them .we no he always gets his way
18 to 3… Take it “just like dat!” Is dat all u say in 2000, 2005 and 2009
That’s the issue with this country. The money not flowing. Stuck somewhere. Oh well so y’all like it.
the money is there but going to the wrong venues dont forget we have to build the multi million
government mansion , and of course this road is going right through Marigot.. so i am wodering?
you do the maths
i just read this and ask myself,why would the government recently spend so much money to upgrade the airport and spite the road leading to it?with that i come the conclusion that you are just another political stup.
We always talk about we are in a middle of an economic crisis but some fine it hard to consider others concerns. With the extraordinary cost of fuel and spare parts, it is difficult for the truckers to maintain and sustain business under this impulsive circumstance. Pay the truckers their money, go with the flow and see the project go through completion.
things have to wait, election is too far for work to be completed,or there are pressing matters that need to be diverted so that is just political concert.something big is comming out soon,brace yourselves for that.
Is a trick to give Govt. excuse to pass remainder of contract to someone else to finish and have them agree to buy asphalt from PWC instead.That expensive PWC plant standing idle. You’l see next month.
This road project has a lot of interesting twist and turns- It is clear that the government is trying to hide some of the obvious and suspicious mismanagement of this project. Why did MR Blackmoore make those threats to the contractor demanding the completion of the project no later than June when the contractor is allegedly not getting paid. Is it that the contractor is not telling the truth or is it that Blackmoore is somewhat out of the project funding loop? All I know is something smells like a rotten fish. If we recall the Melleville Hall project saw the same level of mismanagement- the project was delayed for more than a year not withstanding the night landing equipment fiasco. At the helm was Charles Saverin – it was not blackmoore, an indication that the financial mismanagement of those projects is not just the fault of the minister responsible but the that of the supremo –the man “ wheeling and dealing” – the so call best negotiator
A contractor selected through an honest rip and read biding system should have met the bid qualifications. Most importantly that contractor would have had to provide proof of the bonds required- bid/ performance bonds thus if Mr Gadakkan cannot finish the job then the bonding company would be responsible. We should be hearing from the government that the liquidated damages are in effect and that the government is working with the bonding company to address the situation. We are now hearing that the government is owing the contractor. Where did the money go – to pay the bloated salary of ministers , advisors, ambassadors, those going to school under the disguise of overseas mission; did the money go into the 400 US dollar a night traveling expenses; to pay for hosting women in hotels; hotel rendezvous charges for overseas operators.
Is this a payroll problem or the funds are not there? Recently the PM was bragging about how much money that’s available for road reconstruction. If the funds are readily available, so what’s the issue here?
thats why the chineese didnt emply the local truckers…..
Why? sa kwe sort
Mackack when are going wake up. Stop blaming everybody else but the lame government. You denegrate public works to support outside interest. Now you blaming truck drivers. I hope you are aware that it is not only truck drivers who are not paid the craft men are also not paid.i guess you idiots will say that is why the chinese did not hire locals.
jack learn to spell
if these hard working truckers aren’t getting whats due to them, i say give the owners a taste of their own medicine…don’t go to work until you see a check. Its real difficult to see people working so hard and not get paid accordingly.
They used all the moeny from Venezuela to pay for the elections, Now they do not have enough money to pay for the projects that was promised during the elections!! That is a real mess we have in D/ca.
But as they say we get what we paid for. The Gov’t is a reflection of the people.
Don’t cry because we put ourselves in this mess.
Yo Yo YO…Chill out…Don’t talk about Venezuela money here…you all opposition hate Venezuela…So please chill…come again…This is not Tawain money.
You are so correct and this is just the begining.
27M
1979, 1979, what u fellas waiting for!!! Too much
Injustice the poor is punished and the powerful
Go free 1979 -1979
True!!!!!!!
But why Aurthur making ? Don’t cry my brother what you crying for? Is your people .
NO RESPECT TO THESE HARD WORKING MEN WHO HAS TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY ….WITH WHAT WILL THEY TAKE CARE OF THEM IF THEY ARE NOT PAID? NEXT TIME TALK ABOUT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ALL THIS MIGHT LEAD TO THAT….THEFT,DRUG AND TRAFFIC OF ALL TYPES.
Government pay Jack Garddakhan
Jack Garddakhan pay Truckers
Simple equation
Lets just wait and see what the government says.
DNO, the quality of news reporting seems to be at an all time low, thought you guys were going to be more creative in making this news website more interesting and keeping up to 21st century reporting, my yeras of study at university with a minor in journalism taught students that we ought to be creative as journalist and make things happen i.e. why cant there be a head line GOVERNMENT SPENDS $xxxxxxxx.00 SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE RED CLINIC and from there the editorial through indepth study can highlight to the Dominican public that this program was or was not successful in decreasing the levels of poverty in the various communities, these headlines that am viewing recently just does not make me want to read any articles on this site, Pl accept my suggestion as honest, some of these hesdlines are for the radio in local palance we say too much beff.
Hey Smartie…..why don’t you go built your own website and use your minor in journalism and make it big….just mouth alone all u have. DNO is doing an excellent job…If it wasn’t for DNO, the majority of Dominicans out there would not know what is going on in the island.
Just because DNO doesn’t follow all u agenda, all u just like to come here and blabber. If I were ADMIN I wouldn’t even approve your dumb comment.
to who talking about “dumb” comment. hahahahahaha
Look who talking about dumb comment. lmao
How they have guts so nuh in that country
CIA On The Watch you sound like someone who SENSATIONALIZES issues. LEAVE DNO alone. They report hopefully the facts and that’s all we want.
If you don’t like their reporting you and you ‘minor in journalosm’ can start CIA NEWS ON THE WATCH ONLINE!
Journalism ..pardonnez-moi!
DNO is doing a fantastic job Please keep up the good work :GOOD JOB !
Here is a midum where people can critisize the government and raisse issues,where people can agree and disagree without fear of repercusions consequenses or victimisation.
The only thing is that D N O should encourage the focuss on ISSUES and not people .Name calling and insults should also be discouraged.
I personnaly would like to see issues on private sector activities,particulally what is being done in manufacturing and exports.
Full funds for a project even after approval are not necessarily sitting in a government account and readily available. Secondly, there is the possibility that government is trying to put pressure on the contractor who already seems to be behind the work. Thirdly the bureaucratic process often means it takes months for approved payment to happen. Fourthly what is the contractual obligation by government to pay? Its probably after satisfactory completion of certain parts of the contract, right? Either way, Government should shed some light on all of that. It could be that both Government and Gaddakhan both have some responsibility why payment has not been made. Finally for projects of such magnitude financial stability of a company has to be factored for selection, not just ability to do the job for the price. Maybe Gaddarkhan was never the right contractor for the job anyway, but the government should give some answers. Unfortunately if Gaddarkhan is truly lagging behind then maybe they can thank the truckers for helping their cause. I am in solidarity with the truckers. But government needs to oil its PR machinery and keep the public better informed!
Who needs to hear lies – we are big boys and girls , we can figure out what is going on.Pure corruption and deception.The project was funded but the money is diverted to other areas.The country is not making any money so the money cannot be accounted for- sort of like a pnzi scheme gone bad.
Jump high jump low you must go back to the soil. Ladies and gentlemen you can put putty and paint on the devil that still wont make him a saint. Our country has been in economic turmoil for 10 years and within this period all we’ve had is lies lies and more lies. This government never had feet to stand on instead they’ve been walking on stilts “Babwa”- make belief. How long can this government continue to pretend that things are working out or will workout when they have created an economy based on handout. Now that the China dollar is spent, Venezuela and Gadaffi no longer supplying finance what do we have? The babwa poowi and the no legged man is fully exposed.
To date the Melleville Hall road project is 70 million and the project is not even near completion. What is happening ? Seem like a lot of coco makack going on. Too much conflicting interest. It is well known that the contractor helped finance the campaign .
This government know that laborites are ignorant there the MO of this corrupt administration is to bite the hand of the voters instead of the hands that finance the campaign and lavish government ministers with goodies -the gadakkans, CLICO, those importing juices and vegetables; those who evade taxes and stop IRS from seeking prosecution.
I pray that one day Dominicans take that red lassy out their eye, wake up and start behaving like 21 century people.
All u 2 ungrateful go to work all u cannot see is highway the govt building?
Is not highway I see Govt. building, is Govt. spending money I see.
This road project has a lot of interesting twist and turns- It is clear that the government is trying to hide some of the obvious and suspicious mismanagement of this project. Why did MR Blackmoore make those threats to the contractor demanding the completion of the project no later than June when the contractor is allegedly not getting paid. Is it that the contractor is not telling the truth or is it that Blackmoore is somewhat out of the project funding loop? All I know is something smells like a rotten fish. If we recall the Melleville Hall project saw the same level of mismanagement- the project was delayed for more than a year not withstanding the night landing equipment fiasco. At the helm was Charles Saverin – it was not blackmoore an indication that the financial mismanagement of those projects is not just the fault of the minister responsible but the that of the PM –the man “ wheeling and dealing” – the so call best negotiator
A contractor selected through an honest rip and read biding system would have met the bid qualifications. Most importantly that contractor would have had to provide proof of the bonds required- bid/ performance bonds thus if Mr Gadakkan cannot finish the job then the bonding company would be responsible. We should be hearing from the government that the liquidated damages are in effect and that the government is working with the bonding company to address the situation.
Skerro will show up on the job, make some threats to descipline the workers, send Parry on GIS to call them lazy, Letang will threaten to have his union support the truckers and within a few days the truckers will receive the balance for February with an apology from Parry and all will be cumbaryah again. Oh brother!
its true my brother is a trucker who works on the road and he claims that months pass and they don’t get paid.. i mean don’t people have mortgages, bills to pay? what is the government doing about it? and then you read that aid bank want to clamp down on delinquencies.. how can people pay bills if they aint getting paid.. where’s all the money going to that the received to fund these projects
Something is amiss here.This phase (lot II) of the Roseau to Melville Hall road project is financed by the French. Minister Rayburn Blackmoore, during a site visit on 24 August (DNO report of 25 August), 2011 stated that whilst the original, contracted cost of the project was $59 million, “Govt. asked for and received an additional $19 million from the French”. That makes the total received from our French partners so far $78 million to complete the stretch from Pont Case to Melville Hall. If messrs. Gaddarkhan are now claiming that they can not pay their sub-contractors because they themselves have not been paid by Govt. the big question is:”What happened to that money, where is it?”. Can we give account of it to those,who provided those funds? I hope, for our sake that the contractor is wrong in his assertion.
Lets Not Forgot That those funds are borrowed . all of us and our kids has to payback for it.
WHERE THE HELL D MONEY GONE.
if there are variation in the work causing cost overun then tell us that.
Will Mr.Blackmore ( aka minister of year 2011) please speak up.
Ted Bundy you people right here as if what you say is correct. Why do you guys waist electricty to turn on your PC just to right passhi coco
@ malatete. It seems like the money is going towards RED CLINIC to continue buying the votes?
The people need to know.
Thanks malatete.
The youngest P M IN THE WORELD sure knows how to get money.$M100 for west coasy road,78m FOR AIRPORT ROAD ,27m for state college ,some more ms fo point mitchell seawall .
I hear there are plans for an east coast road and a new hospital and even have money for the red clenic.And this money comes from all kinds of counties.WOW !WHAT A SUPERMAN
You mean a minister of government is actually going to sites to inspect projects to give himself first hand knowledge so that he can answer to the people.So why dont we ask him for the M O U
Truckers work hard for their money, so you better treat them right.
From my knowledge the contractor must be financially equip to complete the entire project.
Government only reimburses you for your expnditure.
Jp
seems like ur knowledge of procurement procedures is totally incorrect. The contractor need to provide a perfomance bond security, and a bond insurance , upon signing of the contract.
Then the contractor in most cases must be able to cover the cost of mobilisation though that cost is later billed to the government by the contractor.
After certain amount of work or if the work is subdivided into component or stages, is completed , the contactor sends a bill to the engineering company attched to the project who then prepare a cerificate for payment . Then a claim is made on for the amount on the certificate on the government ( the executing agency of the government) for payment.
so normally a contractor should be able to meet the cost of wages betweens seperate claims but not for the entire project. where claims are not honored for more than 30days an intrest rate will click in and normally where two or more claims are not honored the contarctor may demobilized.
There are too many increasing grievances in Dominica and it only takes one tick and Dominica may end up being like what happened in the UK (riots).
Is this what we want my people? It is not good the way things are going.
Authur, park your truck and send Anti-hate, Proff Wikileaks and the crew to work for free.