Construction work on 5 schools to begin July 2019, PM Skerrit says

PM Skerrit said funding for construction work on five schools is being provided by Canada

Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that construction work on five (5) schools in Dominica is expected to begin in July 2019.

He made that announcement while addressing a press conference on Wednesday.

The funding for the construction work is being provided by the government of Canada.

The Grand Bay Primary School is one of the selected schools and is being given priority.

“Based on the schedule that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has suggested, we are looking at a commencement date of July 2019,” Skerrit revealed. “With all things considered it’s a reasonable start-time.”

The prime minister continued, “We have had missions both from Canada and the CDB in Dominica to look at the feasibility studies of the schools. They have been to Grandbay and have given priority to Grandbay. We will begin first with Grandbay.”

He added, “One of the things I believe is we have known that there are procurement delays at the CDB level, and so on, but our partners have recognized the agency of some of those interventions and in their engagement with the CDB. We have been working together to see how quickly we can have those projects implemented, ensuring that all of the engineering and architectural designs take into consideration the resilience concept and the building back better concept, so that our schools are more resilient, they are more robust and that our students in terms of if we are faced with disaster, that we can have school recommence literally next day, because the facilities itself will be built to withstand the ravages of a storm.”

Skerrit indicated that the schools would be designed, taking the resilience concept into consideration and applying the technology to the architectural and engineering designs so that they can withstand disaster.

Meantime, he said Canada has always been a friend to Dominica and, “we have been able to rely on Canada being there for us and with us in difficult times.”

He said one of the first Heads of Government who telephoned him after Hurricane Maria was the Prime Minister of Canada to say to Dominica very clearly that, “Canada is with us and will continue to be with us in this very difficult journey.”

He said also that Canada has been very helpful in the drafting of the legislation for the creation of the CREED [ Climate Resilience Execution Agency of Dominica] and so they provided the technical assistance to draft this legislation which his government hopes to take to parliament very soon for its consideration.

“It’s not only the provision for technical assistance. They have been with us every step of the way in assisting us in putting this concept together, because it is something that is new to the world in large measure, new to the Caribbean in large measure, new to ourselves as Dominicans,” he explained.

Skerrit believes that Canada can play a very important role in leading the charge of matters relating to Climate Change globally especially for countries like Dominica.

“I believe that our country Dominica must stick to its desired vision and mission to create the world’s first Climate Resilient nation,” he noted. “Because for future generations this would be beneficial.”

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

26 Comments

  1. Adwele
    September 10, 2018

    Aw hell to the nah nah nahh.fix it jesus

  2. Massacre
    September 9, 2018

    Skerritt you have nothing to do with this. The people and Gov’t of Canada is giving us this gift as a good gesture. Dominica and Canada have always had a good relationships since the 1970s. So Skerrit should not take credit for this.

    Skerrit has done absolutely nothing to advance to living standard of Dominicans.

  3. L power
    September 8, 2018

    New hospital was suppose to be completed in 2017 and new international airport to commence in 2015. More lies. you must go now, we are fed up with your lies.

    • September 9, 2018

      International confidence in our choice of leadership has dwindled overtime. No rightful thinking establishment wants to associate with questionable leaders. The present government needs to go.

  4. Zammm
    September 8, 2018

    And with another list of empty promises, Dominica remains stuck in reverse gear. Everything going wrong..

  5. Michael Thomas
    September 8, 2018

    Isn’t it time for Diminicans to really analyse this DLP? It’s evident after all those years as the leader
    Of this “failed government” mister has not set his priorities straight. Cart before horse, that’s how Skerrit rolls. Poor Dominica. Time to change to a different vision on how to manage this country.

  6. Lies Exposed
    September 7, 2018

    He building 5 schools but he only identified the Grand Bay school. I guess Ma Charles under serious political pressure in Grand Bay just as his then candidate for Roseau South Ambrose George, was under pressure last election in a former DLP stronghold, so bad it was that it forced Skerrit to take the money he got for Thibauld school to build a school in Newtown, But it was too little too late and I hope that’s the same treatment he gets in Grand Bay already last week he sent his army to frighten the Grand bay people. The other four schools will be for where he running scared of losing come next election like Grandfond, Castle Bruce, La Plaine and Roseau Valley. He will hold back St. Joseph still though a month before the election he might hand Delver a piece of paper for $5 million. The man is running crazy like Trump because he feels his back is against the wall and his future might be in a dark room, worse than how he said Maria left him

  7. Wondering
    September 7, 2018

    Are these five school separate from the ones the Canadians will be constructing? asking for a friend

  8. Hurricane Skerrit
    September 7, 2018

    I pass through the village of Thibaud at least once every week and I always feel bad for that village because I was told Hurricane Skerrit blew that school down since 2007, just as he did to the Marigot Hospital. The sad thing about Thibaud is, the school was also their hurricane shelter, as well as their community building, built by EO Leblanc in the 70’s but because Hurricane Skerrit always wanted to punish that village both as a form of revenge and their support of UWP he demolished their school. I am wondering if Skerrit will finally build the Thibaud school so that the bad image he has placed on that village will finally be changed

  9. viewsexpressed
    September 7, 2018

    Skerrit is very hungry to remain in power and he cries out starvation very often using the name of aspects of development he and wasteful labour government should have undertaken many moons ago. What we are seeing and hearing is a real papa show wedding without the bride and groom and with a witchcraft designed thoughts of appearing on media with pronouncement of doing this and ding that.. Skerrit shut up please and get running out of the country that our people will not be fooled but employed to pay their taxes to hep development our island nation that you and your corrupt about clowns have destroyed big time. Skerrit, you have becomes a nuisance and failed Prime Minister. One ting we know is that you are unable to reach the level of intellectualism to than of Hon Lennox Linton and his spirited team of intellectuals ready to development Domininca to a standard worth living in and enjoying.
    Skerrit, Go, you are waste of time.

    • ?Me?
      September 7, 2018

      The Honorable Lenox Liston shut up! Dr. Honorable Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica is the first and most distinguished leader in modern times! The only person who thinks that % and views expressed are relevant are they themselves. While you are barking like a yard dog howling and kicking dirty the PM and party are moving the country forward. When dogs are cornered what do they do? Views Espressed ask %!

      • Concerned citizen
        September 8, 2018

        I’d love for u to tell us how has the PM and his team moved our country forward? What have they done for Dominica in the past 18 years? Name the major projects, under workers, three of the biggest high schools were built. The coffee plant in point round has yet to be used for the purpose that was mentioned, Roseua has no side walks and have such poor road surface, nep workers are in supermarkets, like whitchurch Portsmouth and LA enterprise to name a few. The government officials have all enrich themselves while the majority if us get nothing. Fine, do for yourselves but we elected the government for all of us to benefit not themselves alone.

        A few elections ago our PM said we didnt need an international airport now we forgot that and praying him for promising to build one, another of so many promises. We have the largest cabinet in the eastern Caribbean yet the smallest economy and lowest GDP. St kitts selling passports as well but their economy booming while we not

      • viewsexpressed
        September 9, 2018

        You are talking sorry barking woof BS, as usual and in denial. Ductored M, you are right, check that word careful. Other that Ductored, this Doctor nonsense bestowed is a fallacy and was given during a champagne pappyshow event he enjoyed. It is a like a school child collecting all his primary school tools and learning how best to use it.
        Be reminded, Skerrit is Not an intellectual and relies heavily upon his waste of time BOOM Boom FLIES friends to prop him and prepare his script.. NO wonder the ASStaphans and so called Audit Accountant have failed in being role models to Skerrit. These appears to be political gangsters feeding him rubbish because Skerrit is not an intellectual Like Hon inton, and that is what is hurting you guys, that Skerrit is on his way out d decency in government will soon be achieved when Team UWP under decent, intellectual decency Hon Lenox Linton. Put this all you dirty corrupt Labour Pipe and smoke it. Skerrit must Go. This corrupt labour has failed.

      • viewsexpressed
        September 10, 2018

        “Me”…..lol…this is you…? You live in Domininca?”…..maybe in Skerrit’s house?, you seem too blindly to know alot of incompetence, or you are blind and in denial. Stop protecting Skerrit, he and his mongoose 18 ministers have failed us. They must Go/
        What.!!!!???????? “……. first and most distinguished leader in modern times!……………?” Are you for real. Your so called failed PM is the first one to cultivate the “Bin Bobol”, “The Fertilizer Bobol”, “The Red Clinic Bobol”, that is abusing our people as beggars for cash, as your lazy PM has not been able to offer jobs to these crying families, and brought them down to a level as paupers and he Skerrit is Big Dada dishing all money. “Me”, that is Bobol, a crime, distasteful, corrup0ttion and it is so because Skerrit is illiterate when comes to social and economic development. this failed PM is a waste of time and has us in Poverty while he must be happily living in solid comfort.
        Hon Linton uncovered his…

  10. Maria
    September 7, 2018

    GrandBay,?,?,?,?. No names of the other 4

  11. Ibo France
    September 7, 2018

    It’s heartening to know that we have donor countries, like Canada, out there, to assist us in times of adversity and need. The question is, why do we have to rely on foreign governments and entities to assist us with every thing? Where is CBI money (billions, I’m told) to cater for our own needs. The delays in reconstruction are mostly due because the local government has to wait for the disbursements of funds from these external bodies. Skerrit and his DLP acolytes have reduced Dominica to beggar’s status. Scanning the country, there’s nothing much to be proud of. Time for a change. If the DLP is voted back into government, it will mean “FIVE MORE OF EMPTY BELLIES”. Had enough!

    • Ibo France
      September 7, 2018

      * If the DLP is voted back into government, it will mean “FIVE MORE YEARS OF EMPTY BELLIES.”

    • Gary
      September 10, 2018

      Why do you make your political partisan beliefs rob you of your intelligence and reason, from the nonsense you have written I’m convinced you’re not as smart as you think. Why display gross ignorance regarding the funding of local governments. Local Government does not get money or funds to build capital projects given to the Government from external bodies, so how can there be delays in reconstruction because the local government has to wait for the disbursements of funds, pity your ignorance. Did you not read that The Canadian monies were not deposited in The National Bank into The Government account, it was deposited into CDB, and there is a reason for this, it is to make sure that the money is spent on what it is intended for.

      You said The Government has billions of Dollars from CBI funds, who told you so, no one told you so, it’s just your malicious imagination, what you always do with your comments, manufacturing scenarios and lies ignoring facts.

  12. September 7, 2018

    Please follow up working on the Soufriere, Calibishie, Thibaud and Colihaut schools as well as the Goodwiil Secondary School. These schools are a must for rebuilding.

    • Affa
      September 7, 2018

      Well that is devastation. I think Soufriere is being taken care of by another group. As I understand it the one in Grandbay is not only beyond repair, they also need a bridge to get to it.

  13. LifeandDeath
    September 7, 2018

    Thanks to Canada for their necessary donation to our beautiful country. I want to let all Dominicans know also that Canada has always been a friend to Dominica, regardless of which Gov’t is in power.

    That said, will our PM ever explain to Dominicans, what he means to be “climate resilient” and what’s the path to reach that goal.

    Also, Dominica and the Caribbean by extension needs to be Crooked Politician Proof!!..so we need to work on that also for the future of our children.

  14. Jheri Curl
    September 7, 2018

    Mister is like Pinocchio
    Instead of his nose growing
    the more he speaks… the further back his hairline recedes.

  15. Sams
    September 7, 2018

    Another election gig why not before july 2019 dominicans open all you eyes mr like playing games

  16. Concerned Citizen
    September 7, 2018

    The plan sounds great, now lets see the execution. Construction will start in July 2019 that is great but my questions are; How long will construction take? Will schools be ready to reopen by Sept 2019? Is there is a plan for the construction? Will it be done in phases so as not to disrupt school and the students? How will the 2019-2020 school year be affected by the construction? Will any schools be closed for the full yr? Will there be enough classrooms?

    Dominicans need to start asking these questions to their politicians and stop taking their word on everything. Remember politicians work for us, we the people put them in power and they need to answer to us. Do be intimidated by asking questions about your own county. You don’t let a man start working on your home without asking him for a plan? Well Dominica is our home and we need to know what the plan is. Where are our media members asking these questions and why do we let our politicians get away without answering them?

  17. Jet relaxing
    September 7, 2018

    Canada eh…….thanks Canada and CDB. Thanks for caring for our children. Hon. PM funny enough I do not hear of Cuba, Morrocco, Malaysia, well Venezuela not in a state to assist, UAE, and all the nations benefiting from our passports providing this kind of assistance. At least if each one take a project, a health center, a fire station etc…hmmmm that would be be great. Sir use your great negotiation skills, as expressed by the Dep. PM.

  18. %
    September 7, 2018

    Despite the sales of thousands of passports and a few billion Dollars,we cannot do anything on our own,not even to service our basic services. This is largely due to bad governance. You want to destroy anything?Give it to the MISLEADERS of the DLP. They will destroy it,because of incompetence and bad leadership.
    This team of buffoons need to be kicked out by the electorate. They are useless, feckless,stolid politi isns that have failed the country in an unprecedented way .
    Showmanship combined with idiocy equals FAILURE
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available