Dominica’s parliamentary opposition leader is urging the government of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to put the construction of an international airport on the front burner.
In his rebuttal to the national budget presented by Prime Minister Skerrit on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Hector John noted that St Vincent and the Grenadines was in the process of completing such a facility, and observed that Dominica too needed to construct an international airport to significantly boost air access to the island.
According to John the government has “wasted in excess of $300 million trying to improve Melville Hall Airport to accommodate night landing”.
“Dominica is properly located in the centre of the Caribbean and the land for the airport construction is available, with runway of over 10,000 feet and a modern terminal. The facility should be a one-stop shop for airport services in the Caribbean,” the opposition leader said, explaining that a United Workers Party government would make that a priority.
Opposition MP Norris Prevost who also zeroed in on the international airport issue, said this would also benefit the country’s farmers through the exporting of agricultural produce.
Opposition leader John during his presentation made a case for agriculture to be given “much more priority, to be given much more resources”.
Agriculture has been allocated $9.46 million of the $437.6 million.
John told parliament on Wednesday that that was grossly inadequate.
“We are not providing enough resources to ensure that the rural communities are relevant. Put people back to work, put the farmers back to work – give them incentives,” John urged.
After complaining that he found it difficult to properly critically analyze the budget because the opposition had only been given 21 hours by the Prime Minister to respond, John laced into the fiscal package, suggesting that “the budget presented lacks innovation”.
He expressed the view as well that the fiscal package didn’t make adequate provisions for measures to stimulate economic development.
” In the end, the question remains – CAN WE SUSTAIN AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT if one is built?”
Why would anyone with mere commonsense ask a stupid question such as in the quote above?
Perhaps that person should go and ask St. Vincent Gonzalez, how are the people of St. Vincent going to sustain their International Airport when it commence operation in the interim.
Someone should remind that person that it is Gonzalez, the very one and only who advised the late Prime Minister Charles, the late not to build an International Airport in Dominica, and he gave Dominican’s that advise, while he was negotiating to get financing to build that which is under construction this very day in St. Vincent.
To the silly small minded person, I say go and ask the people of Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts, and soon Tortolla, how are they sustaining their International Airport, ask the same question to the people of Guadeloupe, and Martinique.
Dumbness cause backwardness anyway, some people just do not have the ability nor the capacity to understand or learn.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Dont forget st lucia .. we want to build a new Terminal as well , the new government in power said they will continue the process.. have anyone seen the designs of both antigua,st vincent new intl terminals.. antigua has plans to add 3 jet bridges..st vincent terminal will be a little smaller than antigua though,–antigua’s terminal is a replica of princess julianna airport
I agree that there is a need for improved access to Dominica. But I don’t agree that you build an international airport because your neighbors are building one too. Look at what the visitors are going to these other islands. Do we have it? Will we have it once the international airport is built? So don’t compare apples with oranges. We need an international airport because we need better access to and from our island. Period.
you sound like an idiot.
I am Dominica & I want an International Airport!
I think the International Airport is one of our answers…and yes we can sustain it once its built…we have to open our minds and broaden our horizons..loosen up people…
We do need an International Airport to increase access to our Island. The problem is who will pay for it and do we have the infrastructure in place to accommodate the potential it entails?
This contention has been discussed and at times, argued vehemently over the years.
I am for it and agree it would enhance accessibility, hence benefiting the GDP of our Country.
The question is who will pay for it (at what cost), and where will it be built?
Dominica is a jewel in the Caribbean which has not benefited economically because of accessibility; that is a gimme!
Chris my friend, there are more than one location in Dominica where it can be built, remember the UWP actually commenced the construction on one; the project was shut down all credited to the Dominica greats like Athie Martin, the late Rosie Douglas, Ian Douglas, and the rest of the former coalition government.
Yo must remember that a team of workers, including engineers from Trinidad was in Dominica for no other reason than proceeding with the building of our International Airport, when Charles, Douglas, Martin, and including Ian Douglas chase them from Dominica and closed the project down.
As for whom will pay for it, Dominicans will and must; we cannot expect to get everything pro bono (free).
We spent more than three hundred million dollars on installing landing lights at Melville Hall Airport, which is nothing more than a waste of money; the wasted three hundred million dollars could have built a brand new International Airport which was just about what it cost when the UWP was building it!
So, all the people who are complaining about cost, and cost of maintenance they are just creating conversation, blowing off steam, in the form of CO2.
And yes, I forgot St. Lucia, and now I must also add Grenada, International which has not failed yet due to the lake of money to maintain them.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
I keep hearing American closing in D/ca but where is the proof? I know the St Lucia workers already got their letters but not the D/cans. From what I understand, Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique are the only destinations that will be kept as they have always been the most profitable destinations for AA in the region.
I said it already and will say it again: we are too quick to judge in this country.
Mark my words: “Saka says, Eagle go still fly in Dominican sky”
To the UWP:
Please read these comments carefully.
PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING MORE!
The goal of a Politician is to manipulate public debate and that is exactly what the Hon. Hector John is doing. It is time the UWP stop trying to play on peoples emotions and lead with reason.We all know the importance of having an International Airport this cannot be denied but getting such infrastructure built is not as easy as we all think it is, making speeches on the subject is very easy, but the reality of such accomplishment is different. The UWP had the chance to put the International Airport on the front burner but instead we had this fiasco and allegations involving the Hon. Edison James.Mr. John should also get his figures right regarding the funding to improve The Melville Hall Airport to accommodate night landing.
As to Agriculture I do think we are utilizing this industry to it’s full potential at all. Is it the Government to blame or the Farmers?I think both parties are to be held accountable and the politicking should stop. Mr. been John mentions that the new budget shows no innovation but he to shows no innovation with his outdated idea of Agriculture regarding the farmers saying that “Government needs to get the Farmers to work”, how out dated is this idea again Mr. John must stop the politicking using the farmers. Why Mr John thinks he has solutions.We should always doubt career politicians with solutions, because they got us in the mess we have today.
I wander if the writer is fast asleep and snoring. Stop the party politicing. How do you expect to boost ecomonic activity in D/ca without access to air travel. An International airport is one of the best ways to get D/ca forward. You need to wake up and smell the bush tea. I long for the day when Dominicans will stop seeing the part they support and look at what is in the best interest of the country.
When you make comments like this on the internet, I wander if we should be going to England by boat. Why do you fly to Puerto Rico to get an airbus to travel to the US or Canada. Dominica has NOT ADVANCED FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS because of people like you. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! seem to me that you love PARTY more than COUNTRY. Remember, Government is continuous. STOP THE BLAME GAME AND MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD.
Why are you pretending to understand something and show ignorance. Where did you get the idea that I do not recognize the importance of an international Airport through my comment.If this is the understanding you get from reading my comment pity you ignorance. Regarding your accusation of me supporting Party before Country is very absurd, and again it shows how little you comprehend what you read. Making accusations is easy and cheap but worst of all is when someone thinks he understands something and then displays ignorance, that is very sad.
In the end, the question remains – CAN WE SUSTAIN AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT if one is built?
Would it not make more sense to improve and develop the mode of transportation which we already have – the ferry service?
Why not bilk the service so that there can be increase services and promote it as a means of getting to Dominica safely and efficiently.
So we do not have an international airport, so what? Why not work with what we have?
How about setting up the ferry services – I know that we have from Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Lucia – why not operate from Barbados and Antigua, the other main ports to the Caribbean?
It may be the most logical thing right now because we do not have the funds to build an international airport.
Let’s suppose that the government decides to maximise the use of ferry service to Dominica. They can create work with the government of the other islands and the Dominicans in those islands to organize and operate some sort of taxi service that transport people to the airport to the ferry docks and back again.
Ok – to some of you this idea is farfetched…but I’m thinking, if we cannot afford to build an international airport right now, think, what other ways can people come to Dominica?
We do have the ports/ docks to facilitate this.
Outside the box much, I DEFINITELY THINK SO!
The idea is not farfetch, the only thing is this is a private sector innitiative and not for the Government. The ferries from Guadeloupe is Privately own so everything is not government responsibility.
If you can raise the funds it will be a lucrative business venture why not think of it… you can always make special arrangements with taxi operators in these islands to carry persons to and from the airport… also realize that we in the caribbean do travel around so this will provide a cheaper mode of transportation for us all, is not International tourist alone we receive, just remember that… especially during Creole Festival..
Speaking as one who has longed to visit Dominica (being married to a Dominican for 10 years), I’d like to impose my $0.02: I have yet to enjoy the beauty of this island solely due to its inaccessibility. We have made several trips over the years to other islands/countries that provide a direct route! This is key to those visitors who cannot spend 1-2 days traveling to their destination with only a 5-7 day vacation. It’s inefficient and cost ineffective.
We have made a commitment to visit next year but this has required immense planning which is not always desirable when one wishes to simply ‘get away’. The taxi service could be a good idea for those who wish to spend hours traveling to their destination but will not satisfy those who want to be there in 4-6 hours direct.
This is why places like Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica (which are not as lovely from what I understand)…etc receive a multitude of travelers from the US/Canada daily: you can have a 3-4 day vacation…which is impossible without an international airport in Dominica.
Even if we do not agree with all the government is doing but come on man. Did’nt you see the contries debt? that is one of the smartest move the govenment made by not trying to build the international airport. I would welcome it if they could do it, but now it don’t look like the smartest thing to do. If we’re gettign one donated to us, that would be good but not going to take loan to contruct one now. Not because Mr.John is in the opposition he should oppose everything good or bad. I think that is why they’re not in power……. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TIYANI……where us the new party…
NegBawi (UWP – Opposition Minister Number 2)
American Eagle is due to STOP flying to Dominica and it is an International Airport you want Government to put on the FRONT burner?
And you expect people to vote UWP with this level awareness of what is important NOW for Dominica.
Come 2015 – NO CHANCE.
As for money spent on Melville Hall, you can not even get that right.
The EU with GRANT money (negotiations for which was started by UWP in 1996) funded Terminal improvement, Runway extention and Night Landing facilities for Melville Hall.
Come 2015 – NO CHANCE.
in my view all the islands need their own intl airports for posterity, so i am 100 % behind dominica putting politics aside and not even allowing the fact that this airport will be costly to stop them..
as we comment about this airport situation, Antigua is building a new Terminal which will be bigger than the VC Bird terminal but they wont shut down the Vc Bird they will end up having 2 terminals likewise StVincent terminal+runway is nearing completion in 18months from now..there is talk that st lucia will be building a new terminal as well to replace the old one at their intl airport that could come on stream in less than 2 yrs from now.
Barbados will be adding jet bridges in a short period from now, if it wasnt for the recession i sure they would have started by now
And where is the money to finance the airport coming from? The IMF? Not a good idea.
Is man like (that)Hector that want to lead the country.Hector,you need to come again.
John doh ask Skirrit for international airport again. What you have to do is promise the people you going to build it when you come prime minister and they must vote for you. You will be a hero and go down in history as de first DA PM to build an international airport.
so u mean to tell me of all that read in the budget, the only thing Hector John found as an issue was an International Airport. I am so not voting UWP just for an International Airport.
Please if you listened to his response to the budget in its entirety, you would realise that he touched on many aspects, not just the international airport. In fact, one of his major points was that in agriculture, which we really need to boost.
u expect DNO to report de man’s whole speech in one news item? get real man
Keep on moderating DNO……………I really would like to find out the length of time it takes for a comment to be moderated.
He is right….Melville Hall is terrible…I work with several former students from Ross and the airport is always an issue of discussion when talking about Dominica..we need an international airport..BADly
Dear Opposition Leader, please try to be serious for 5mn. stop to tell story about an international Airport in D/a. there is already plenty international airport in the Caribbean, and you know what …they are all operating as a lost. may be SXM and Barbados are profitable.
you think it will help the Farmer to export? are you joking?? do you know the cost of airfreight? are you sure that overseas client are ready to take a loan for a pound of Carrots.
so for what?? tourism?? with less than 700 rooms.. so it’means you fill up two planes and this is it for the week!! what a TRAFFIC! come up with some serious proposition and put back your white elephan where it should be.
Chupes, you people have no foresight, and I’m sorry to say; that’s why Dominica is where it is today. You don’t look at the big picture. You will continue to say we don’t need for the next 50 years again…magweysa!
Insight and foresight comes with intelligence.In order for DSominica to have an international Airport you also have to think of developing the whole country on a whole.Building an international airport is costly, you have to literally pay an airline to land in your country. and you need hotel accomdations to accomdate people who stay over. REALLY? Did hector access and study the planning of how to go about financing an international airport. If all the caribbean islands have an international airport what da doing with one? it should have been built since in the 70s and 80s.Dominica is rugged the other countries are flat. and tourisum is these countries main industry. ours is agriculture i say develop the water way make dominica the biggest sea port in the caribbean.
I share your sentiments. The Tousim sector is a sleeping GIANT, that will turn things around for D/CA. Develop it. Build hotel rooms to house the people who want to visit the NATURE ISLE. Listen the the visitors to our shores. It is difficult to get to D/ca. WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! Stop looking at other islands in the caribbean, mskr D/CA the model to follow.It is painful to read how intelligent people reason.
I wish I would do more than one thumbs up on this comment. Dominicans are just being blinded by this foolishness of wanting in international airport when others who already have it in the Caribbean are suffering. I certainly not going to vote for a party that is promising an international airport in this climate. Where are the capacity building plans to ensure that these investments will survive? Too much talk people. REASEARCH. READ. EDUCATE. MAKE INFORMED ANALYSES OF SITUATIONS. BE BALANCED. Not biased in what you want…
It is always said if u think small u will always remain small. where there is no vision the people perish. small minds think small things,great minds think of great things. If u are really going to move forward, ur level of transportation needs to be looked at. In this modern day is it ideal for DA to not thinking about an international airport, when they are hosting international cricket games? unless u are only catering for Caribbean nationals. There is so much to discover in DA by the international community and many would like to come but air transport is a problem. too many island hops. get on with it DA think big, dream big, catch the vision and run with it. u have the potential, but u are keep back ur own develoment.
Well said my brother
Spags, You make me proud once more to be a Dominican. It’s educated people like you we need to move Dominica Foward. People who know what they talking about. Not like skerrit and the others who just babbled what they don’t even know about. The Labour Party now is a disgrace. Lord help us.
We are well on the way to become a One Party State.
Hector John for PM Hector John for Prime Minister
Dear Hector.
Please ask Eddison James AND HIS COHORTS what the farmeRs did BACK in 1990-91, i beliveve, when the subject of an International Airport was mentioned.(GRANTED, THIS IS A SMALL MINORITY OF THE DOMINICAN POPULATION YET STILL THEY HAD ENOUGH POWER TO DO WHAT THEY DID TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING)
Secondly please verify with PERSONS WHO ARE SPECIALISED IN THIS FIELD OF EXPERTISE before embarking on a white elephant PROJECT.
do you know what is involved in the construction of an International Airport?. my friend, and i do call you this becaues we know each other. do your home work before coming on the public air and making a nuisance of yourself.RE: International Airport for Dominica.
It would be an ideal project, as I do live in Europe and sometimes its a pain in the ass to get to dominica direct. am not apologising for my rudeness, because its a known fustration for all dominicans living abroad,( EUROPE AND AMERICA ETC ETC) BUT and the big determining factor here is BUT….. it involves WORK WORK, AND MORE WORK TO COME UP WITH AN IDEAL PROJECT FOR SUCH A CONSTRUCTION, GIVEN THE TERRAIN OF OUR LOVELY DOMINICA AND OTHER RESTRAINING ELEMENTS WHICH DOES NOT FAVOUR AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT….. FOR NOW.
What are you trying to say? Are you making a soup? Just a set of jumble up crap. choops
I personally think that the renovation on Melville Hall Airport was a great Idea although an International Airport Is still needed. It’s impossible that night landing Capability at Melvin Hall Airport cost $300 Million just for night landing at what is considered an uncontrolled facility after hours. However, We need to stop looking back on the past Melvin Hall Airport will be a great Back up Airport for Dominica Now we need to Move forward and developing plans for the New Airport “If on can really ever be built any where on the Island. The governments in the past ( all of them) Have just talked no action. Yes I agree that Prime Minister Skerrit and the Government and people of Dominica should see the advantage of having an International Airport and lets do it So Prime Minister you even got the support of the Opposition Go ahead and do it.
Oh boy, Spaggs was a total and national disgrace in his response. He presented nothing new just a regurgitation of what they have been speaking about for years – International Airport, Eletoral Reform, Voter ID cards, access to DBS radio, markets for agriculture, corruption etc etc. All these are issues that Spaggs party, long before his time have been raising. By the way, where does Athie stand on the construction of a 10,000 foot runaway? That was one of the issues he fought against when the UWP was in government. Has he changed hismind? Spaggs did not need any more time since the issues he raised are all part of the “online manifesto”.
Can you imagine at a regional meeting of Opposition Leaders and Dominica have to send Spaggs? Wouldn’t he be a laughing stock? That would be a national disgrace.
you know what people, Skerrit was not always this good at the beginning when he started as minister for education. It’s with time and experience you learn and get groomed. He has to learn and grow into this. You think people like Reginald Austrie or Matthew Walter can speak any better? Think again…
Change that opposition leader before the PM stay in power for the next 20yrs!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Hector John, please stop the fighting and work with the government. UWP, FREEDOM and LABOR, thats just the names you politicians use to distinguish your political parties. Still Dominica is Dominica and as small as we are, we definitely don’t need in-house fighting. If you have an idea and yours on here is a very very bright idea, come to one agreement and work towards acheiving that goal. Blasting the PM and raving about nonsense only extends our under development as an independent nation. Nothing happens fast but with time.As politicians, the nation and its people are your priority. Not your wishful thinking and creative ideas and political party affiliation. At least the PM has made major improvements since he has been appointed as Dominica’s leader and is continuing to make improvements..What have you are what are you doing to help Dominica and Dominicans progress?
ITS CALL POLITRICKS
What i don’t understand is what UWP have to show for it’s time in office. I don’t have a party but what the Skerrit party is doing i see nothing wrong with the progress. Politics is a very dirty game and they all play the same game. Skerrit have his faults like all of us but he is doing a good job for the country.I know hector personally and he is not ready to run any country. I am not sure of Green or Edison but i know Hector can’t. I hope for the good of the country both he and skerrit can work together.
Look out for Me I am coming Home to Run to be Prime Minister of Dominica. It’s time. Then Fellers at home don’t know what they doing Edison, Skerrit, Hector; What the Heck is Hecktor talking about?
In addition ….Hector can’t just talk from the top of his head. We can think for our selves; you can’t even run that by Dominican kids now-a-days without some serious questions. Give us the Dominican people the real facts man. You got to be more convincing. Have debates all over Dominica and on line about the need for the New Airport; and other issues. Man we (the world) are doing business in a new way now. Throwing words for the Present PM and Government will not help you, That got to stop on both side and we the Dominica People Can demand that, and we will and we must. Don’t you see you have to reach the people of Dominica? “like really reach them” now is the absolute best time to do that you can reach every Dominican on the planet yet you take care of business like we did 50 years ago. you guys just going around in a huge circle year after year and every five years. You wait till it’s close to election then you come out with nothing of substance. What do you mean by “The facility should be a one-stop shop for airport services in the Caribbean,” Do you even know what your real competition is in the Caribbean. Please explain. I notice you only mention about the runway length of 10,000 ft Is that adequate for your one stop shop Airport …talk the truth to the people and make the information available too.
I don’t think it’s a good idea for Hector to cross the floor nuh
Hector i need you to tell the people Dominica the cost of building an international airport and how much it would cost to run it in one month.
Why is he complaining about response time? The response is not on the PM presentation you know, it is on the BUDGET, a document they had for a while now!!!
He had enough time to write a speech surrounding the BUDGET estimates, for example he said there should be more innovation, he had enough time to come up with his innovative ideas.
He spoke of International airport, he should identify funding agencies and other methods that he (UWP) would raise funds to finance such an undertaking… tell us what tax he would increase and what he would decrease etc etc..
All in all i find his presentation poor and lacking, same old every thursdays night show on q nothing new!!! BTW was he on the bayfront Monday night? I hope not because he should have used that night to brush up on his presentation…
Hector you nah ready yet for this work boss!!!!
I applaud you, could not have said it any better. As the opposition you have to be ready, you need to have alternative plans. If they are complaining that the currnt gov’t is not doing a great job shouldn’t they have ideas as to how the country should run? Not just mental ideas but documented ones. I mean this dude is just not ready. Then again Hector John is in no way or form ready to run an island. These guys talk alot of bull but lack real substance.
@Correction: Wasn’t the PM supposed to have presented a budget? Are you saying that what the PM presented wasn’t the budget?. I think you need to first know of what you are speaking before you open your mouth. It’s better to remain silent than open your mouth and sound like a fool. The PM’s presentation was the budget and the opposition would not have had it early enough to respond to it. With the time they were alloted the only thing they could have done was to present an alternative budget and completely ignore what the PM presented.
Asterix if Hector is your friend ask him how long ago he recieved the Budget estimates..
You are confusing the PM speech with the actual estimates which must and i repeat MUST be circulated at least 14 days before parliament begins.
He had to prepare his own SPEECH as per the document presented to him. Now prove me a fool by doing your own research on that matter.
Why do you people insist in talking on matters which you know nothing about! Can you expalin to me for example how the $9m for agricultue is going to be spent? The presentation should give a flavour of the programmes and projects at which the funds are directed, unfortunately we got nothing like that. So stop being a fool and educate yourself before you come to the public to express yourself.
Papa Dom, the $9m presented in the estimates represents ‘recurrent expenditures’ it will go towards paying of salaries etc.. but obviously Hector said it should be more so i want to know where will he spend the differnce he is asking for!!
If Hector don’t understand the documents given to him the most he can do is ask the Permanent Secretaries and other top public officials including the Budget Analyst and the Financial Secretary.
Admit the man made a fool of his damn self and that;s it i only hopes he do better next time round if he is still leader!!!
Just for your info the budget separates Capital projects from the recuurent one and i betting Hector wanted to see an increase because he confused the recuurent expenses with Capital projects… what a shame for a PM in waiting, maybe he should spend more time learning the system and less time on FB after all he is well paid (>$5k monthly)!!
You found him lacking…So how did you find the budget? So vague and just general rhetoric you hear in every year budget; nothing to shout about, the only thing is that he now allocating tax payers money to his red clinic.
The most important thing is that there was no increase in Tax and to all of us tax payers it is a good budget!!!
Hector should at least advocate for a reduction in VAT.. at least that!!
I think Hector John is a nice guy. No disrespect meant, but I honestly think Hector may be a little out of his depth in regards to polital leadership…
UWP are trying to compete on a level that the Labor party has already mastered years ago, that of having a young so-called vibrant leader, but publicly having Edison and Ron Green holding his hand every step of the way has been a political death warrant…!
I agree the farmers need help and we need the international airport .
Again with the international airport nonsense?! When will we understand that lack of easy air access is not our most important fault. Even if we did have an international airport, do we have the attractions or a product that is worth visiting? Let’s keep in mind that the attraction/product includes not only actual waterfall or sulfur spring, but also the level of service offered by our people on a whole. In my opinion, Dominica is in dire need of a customer service overhaul.
Besides that, look around at our Caribbean neighbors who already have international airports… How are those facilities faring? There are many reports of terminals that remain empty and other reports of governments having to subsidize airlines so that those airlines keep on landing in their territories.
So before we go ahead with that mammoth expense, let’s see what the impact would be. I’d love to fly straight to Miami from Dominica, but at what cost to my pocket? At what cost to the general Dominican public?
Think about it some more !
Great to hear, now just yesterday Grenada Airport Manager reported that they are putting Delta Airlines on hold because the Government is paying alot of subsidy for them to land at Maurice Bishop International Airport and are not recovering these monies from the Tourism sector.
Sometimes i think we even forget we the people from the region actually travel around the region, we seems to be so hell bent on international tourism that we are crippling our own region!!!
@My2Sense, sorry to say but your comment doesn’t reflect you having any sense at all. Do some research on the benefits to a country of having an international airport, before you run your mouth and give intelligent, independent thinking people the belief that you are an idiot………
Well i did my research, i didn’t have to go far..
Antigua had on many ocassions outsource the airport to the then Sir Allan Sandford… why? because they could not generate enough funds for basic maintainance, Sandford had to put his own cash and manage it until he recovered his investment… What good is it to Antigua today??
Grenada just suspended Delta Airlines for at least 6 months due to lack of traffic and the cost to continue subsidizing the aircraft for landing..
American Airline had withdrew it services from St Lucia for non-payment of the subsidy to land on the island, the Kenny Anthony administration had to dish out EC$8M out of a debt of EC$24M for them to resume flying, however Kenny decided to review this arrangement because investing in LIAT appears to him to be a better move than paying these exhortant fees to these airlines.
From all that i still haven’t seen the benefit of any International Airport to the Islands because they are all crying brokes, look Barbados was recentlt Down-graded, how did the International Airport help them??
Maybe you can enghlighten us on the benefits!!!
BTW most of these islands got their airport when they were still colonies of Britain..
I am of the opinion that many persons in Dominica and even the oposition members themselves does not understand what the oposition role is. the oposition should look at themselves as an alternative to the government and a government in waiting.
the oposition role is not soly to respond to the budget present by the Prime Minister but to present an alternative. so the issue of not enough time to prepare is out of the question.
the suplementry estimates were circulated a week or more before outlining where the government were allocating money. the oposition at this point should examine the estimates and present ur own budget as to where you would allocate the funds. which sector should get the greater slice and what and what would the economy benifit.
although aspects of what the prime minister said would be looked at and decide as to how u would have done it diffrently. all in all the oposition was suppose to present an alternative so when one analyses the both presentation u can judge who is ready to grow the economy or not.
i believe that Hector John made a mess of an opportunity to let the dominicans know that the uwp is ready to come back to office.
another wise fool. How is the opposition going to present an alternative budget when crucial information on revenue collected, the national debt and an expenditure profile is not available to them? You people support your god skerritt do so and stop trying to convince others that you are interested in what the opposition says. Had the opposition presented an alternative budget the first question, as it always is these days would be “where is the money coming from” I’ll ask you like I asked you friend above, do you know how the $9m allocated to agriculture will be spent and what are the projects and programmes which will be funded? As I havent seen the actual estimates, can you explain this $9m? is that amount the budget for the ministry of agriculture or is it a specific amount directed at agricultura production?
well said John straight the point..
but wait, what did he just do in the house there??
you have equal time as the PM to respond to the budget and you done in less than an hour?? saying nothing?? ur english is horrible??
come on man, show the people that you are capable of doing something!!! you have an alternative or suggest better ways. I’m so disappointed in what i heard from you.
The PM’s diction is NO better!!!
Mr John had an hour like the pm to deliver, but the pm had a copy of the budget for much longer that the opposition. Why can’t you all say that?
You all Dominicans just do not have common sense. I am so ashamed to read them kind of comments that you all make. Just a dam shame.
I will agree with you on that. Not enough of funds have been allocated toward the resuscitation of agriculture.
ok you agree, tell us how much should have been allocated and how exactly would it be used!
What will the funds be used for?
Now bear in mind that this allocation is for recurring expenditure and not for Capital Projects!!
After listening to the budget delivery but the leader of the opposiiton, I found it to be short, uninformative, and void. It is clear to see that the preparation of this response was not done jointly. Hector missed some very important aspects of the PMs speech all in all, his presentation was like a hop-scrotch presentation, not omitting the fact that he pronunciation and diction was just atrocious. I got the impression that Mr.John is swimming on his own in a very big ocean.
Mr John should be regarded as a Hero and a political ICON for our UWP. He stood up and dlivered a very good speech for our patriots. One of the best I have heard in a longtime.
Hector is our UWP Obama
woye! I forgot Roosevelt Skeritt is the most atticulate speaker in Dominica. (lol)
I wonder if the party helped him at all. The presentation was disjointed and weak. He really butchered the English Language. I think he was set up by the party. He certainly will be on his way to study so Eddie can take over.
Well said my Parl Rep
just stay focus mr john.u right on track.
DNO please forward the story to C – George. He said on a former Senator Page that he did not hear no single alternative from Hector. Such an idiot..lol
AWA HECTOR. VERY POOR RESPONSE TO BUDGET. MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB. HIS RESPONSE WAS VERY CONFUSING. IT WAS LIKE A SOUP. SHAME SHAME
are you reading to understand..
well said MR john listen to it all short sweet and straight to the point i hope dominica and the leader hear YOU love u.
Short and sweet because he himself has no knowledge of the details he would include in his rebuttal… In other words he failed to explain himself… where is the genius in that?
I would have liked to have heard Mr John’s proposal as an alternate budget so I can compare
sounds like information my 12 year old could share
This the best politician we have in Dominica. He was short and sweet to the point. He had command of his subject at hand, he showed knowledge, well articulate and command of the english language.
I just wish all politicians were as sharp as the smartest politician in the Caribbean.
Well, you don’t have good command of the language yourself because if you did, you would know that “English” always starts with a capital “E”!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Articulate????? Wait we weren’t listening to the same address man??? The man couldnt pronounce encourage, agriculture, preliminary, opportunities, banana, professionals, households, political, qualifications, Dominican, necessity, acknowledged and the list continues….. That was total butchering of the english language, even those kids in the DBS Reading competition could read better than this man.
We must have heard two different speakers. Eddie must have been laughing at him for the entire one hour. I wish Isodore was there to make him look good. Btw, is Isidore out of the county? I was looking forward to his contribution.
Very funny lol
Are you being sarcastic
well said, nothing in the budget to make a meaningful contibution to our economic growth
I agreee