Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Chinese sign contract for $100 million road project in Dominica
By Sean Douglas
Minister for Public Works and Infrastructural Development, Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore, acting on behalf of the Government of Dominica, has signed a contract with a Chinese construction firm, China Railway 17 Bureau Group Co. Ltd for the construction of a modern highway from the Capital City of Roseau to the Town of Portsmouth.
The signing ceremony for the construction phase of the road - approximately 44.877 km in length- took place at the Financial Centre in Roseau last Friday, October 9th 2009.
According to information revealed by officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructural Development, the cost of the project will be in excess of ECD $100 million. It is anticipated that the project will take about twenty-three (23) months to complete.
The West Coast Road project is one of the four pillar projects agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding of March 23rd 2004, when the Commonwealth of Dominica established diplomatic relations with the ascendant power in Asia - the People's Republic of China.
In his remarks at the contract signing ceremony for the construction phase of the project, Minister for Public Works, Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore, underscored the impact of the execution of the project on the local economy and added that all cement, steel and other materials will be procured locally. The Minister also stated that many Dominicans will be employed during the duration of the project.
The review and final agreement of the designs of the project were agreed upon in April, 2009. The newly proposed Roseau to Portsmouth road rehabilitation project is expected to commence with the construction of a bridge at the north end of Hanover Street across the western end of the Roseau River, along Elliot Avenue, with the road continuing through several coastal villages and terminating at Burroughs Square in Portsmouth.
The Minister also stated that his Government is working on a plan to improve the island’s road network. According to him, through funding from the European Union, an extensive audit was conducted on Dominica's roads. The Road Network Improvement Programme provided a comprehensive report on the condition of Dominica’s entire road network.
The report reveals that out of 320 kilometres of main roads, approximately 51 percent are in a fair condition, 20 percent are in a poor condition and 25 % are in a good condition.
With work ongoing on a number of road projects across the country - notably the Roseau Road Reinstatement project Phase I , the Canefield - Melville Hall road project Phase I , the Road Improvement and Maintenance Project (RIMP), the Soufriere-Scotts Head project and the Vieille Case Road project - Hon. Blackmoore is convinced that within a few years most of Dominica’s main roads " will be in excellent condition ".
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Minister for Public Utilities, Energy and Ports, Hon. Charles Savarin, Minister for Economic Development and Urban Renewal, Hon. Julius Timothy, Chinese Ambassador to Dominica, His Excellency, Deng Boqing, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nicholas Bruno, Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Kendell Johnson and Mr. Dwight Lewis, Engineer.
Minister for Public Works and Infrastructural Development, Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore, acting on behalf of the Government of Dominica, has signed a contract with a Chinese construction firm, China Railway 17 Bureau Group Co. Ltd for the construction of a modern highway from the Capital City of Roseau to the Town of Portsmouth.
 Public Works minister Rayburn Blackmoore and Chinese officials at the contract signing ceremony. |
According to information revealed by officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructural Development, the cost of the project will be in excess of ECD $100 million. It is anticipated that the project will take about twenty-three (23) months to complete.
The West Coast Road project is one of the four pillar projects agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding of March 23rd 2004, when the Commonwealth of Dominica established diplomatic relations with the ascendant power in Asia - the People's Republic of China.
In his remarks at the contract signing ceremony for the construction phase of the project, Minister for Public Works, Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore, underscored the impact of the execution of the project on the local economy and added that all cement, steel and other materials will be procured locally. The Minister also stated that many Dominicans will be employed during the duration of the project.
The review and final agreement of the designs of the project were agreed upon in April, 2009. The newly proposed Roseau to Portsmouth road rehabilitation project is expected to commence with the construction of a bridge at the north end of Hanover Street across the western end of the Roseau River, along Elliot Avenue, with the road continuing through several coastal villages and terminating at Burroughs Square in Portsmouth.
The Minister also stated that his Government is working on a plan to improve the island’s road network. According to him, through funding from the European Union, an extensive audit was conducted on Dominica's roads. The Road Network Improvement Programme provided a comprehensive report on the condition of Dominica’s entire road network.
The report reveals that out of 320 kilometres of main roads, approximately 51 percent are in a fair condition, 20 percent are in a poor condition and 25 % are in a good condition.
With work ongoing on a number of road projects across the country - notably the Roseau Road Reinstatement project Phase I , the Canefield - Melville Hall road project Phase I , the Road Improvement and Maintenance Project (RIMP), the Soufriere-Scotts Head project and the Vieille Case Road project - Hon. Blackmoore is convinced that within a few years most of Dominica’s main roads " will be in excellent condition ".
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Minister for Public Utilities, Energy and Ports, Hon. Charles Savarin, Minister for Economic Development and Urban Renewal, Hon. Julius Timothy, Chinese Ambassador to Dominica, His Excellency, Deng Boqing, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nicholas Bruno, Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Kendell Johnson and Mr. Dwight Lewis, Engineer.
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// posted by TheDominican.net @ 9:00 PM
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Congrats to the people and government of Dominica. This is progress that Dr Finn cannot stop.
# posted by 
: October 15, 2009 9:00 AM
: October 15, 2009 9:00 AM
Shirley Allan, Dr. Emmanuel Finn, Zapper and others at least CONGRATULATE the PEOPLE of Dominica. Show your concern to them. You do not have to mention the GOVERNMENT.
I take this opportunity to CONGRATULATE the PEOPLE and GOVERNMENT of DOMINICA and wish a succesful completion just like the Windsor Park Stadium.
Barzey
I take this opportunity to CONGRATULATE the PEOPLE and GOVERNMENT of DOMINICA and wish a succesful completion just like the Windsor Park Stadium.
Barzey
# posted by : October 15, 2009 11:20 AM
: October 15, 2009 11:20 AM
Congratulation for what? UWP would never beg China for money. They would have "negotiated" with Taiwan. What a bunch of losers….UWP seem to be lost in their lack of leadership. Clearly, they have lost focus of the next general election. Let’s see if Lennox will be able to do it for Ron.
# posted by : October 15, 2009 12:54 PM
: October 15, 2009 12:54 PM
Shirley and the Finn man would never like to see good in D/Ca. So they are quiet when good things are happening and make volcanic and earthquake like noise when it rains in D/ca.
LOSERS
LOSERS
# posted by : October 15, 2009 4:08 PM
: October 15, 2009 4:08 PM
PLEASE NOTE THAT VERY VERY VERY FEW DOMINICANS WILL BITE A BREAD ON THAT ROAD PROJECT. BLACK-MAN-MORE (OF CUSS UP DR. MOISE AT SCOTTS HEAD FAME ) SAID SO HIMSELF. THE CHINESE WILL BE BRINGING THEIR PRISONERS OF ZENDER AND OTHER FORCED LABOUR WITH THEM. WHAT A SHAME! AGAIN AND AGAIN!
# posted by : October 16, 2009 7:57 PM
: October 16, 2009 7:57 PM
This project will actually commence long after the other road projects being undertaken by Dominicans. Bet your last dollar that with Chinese workers, it will be completed long before the other projects and with no costs overruns.
Our work attitude and productivity just cannot match the Chinese.
Our work attitude and productivity just cannot match the Chinese.
# posted by : October 17, 2009 11:43 AM
: October 17, 2009 11:43 AM
wow...Dominicans just seize to see the good out of anything...People in the diaspora need to be quiet...if you want to see change..BE THE CHANGE...what has UWP done during the years they were in Power in Dominica? Its because of them we are in this mess trying to come out...Put all biasness aside and THINK without party in mind...THINK about the long term benefit of the country..its a SHAME...grown people talking like that..its a PITY
# posted by : October 26, 2009 2:20 AM
: October 26, 2009 2:20 AM
You mean to me Shirley And the Finn Man did not really congratulate the people of Dominica?
# posted by : October 31, 2009 9:03 PM
: October 31, 2009 9:03 PM Links to this post:
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