(MENAFN- Caribbean News Now) Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
By Caribbean News Now contributor
ROSEAU, Dominica – At the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) launch of Fidel Grant, candidate for Wesley, last Sunday, prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that there are multiple proposals and firms from China, India, Dubai, including two multilateral agencies and independent developers in Europe and the Americas, ready to construct the international airport, and a decision is expected this year.
'I want the best for Dominica … we can expect a firm decision this year [2019] on the construction of the international airport in Dominica,' however, 'an international airport is nothing to be rushed and certainly not at election time, Skerrit cautioned.
The international airport will be located in the Wesley constituency, 'a product that we can be proud of and an airport that we can afford to maintain in pristine condition, and which would benefit frequent, regular, international airline use,' Skerrit said.
'The decision that we are about to take on the issue of the construction and provision of an international airport is one of the most complex we have had to take as a government, but we shall do it and we shall do it correctly, 'Skerrit said.
'What I can share with you is … at least five solid proposals that I have in my armour for the design, finance, construction and operation of an international airport for Dominica. We need to ensure that that which we enter into today can be maintained by us in the future,' he said.
Construction of the international airport, Skerrit said, will not make any demands on taxpayers and like Housing Dominica financing model that benefits all Dominicans, 'I do not intend on imposing any new taxes on Dominicans in the short, medium and/or long-term,' Skerrit remarked.
However, opposition leader, Lennox Linton has jumped uncontrollable stating: 'We the United Workers Party will build it,' short of stating how he will secure financing and as questioned previously, without a response: Will the United Workers Party (UWP) raise taxes?
Linton meantime rehashed non-accomplishments stating:
'The UWP within four and a half years in government between 1995 and 2000 completed detailed plans studies for the construction of an international airport and lined up over $100 million in funding to begin the project.'
Who's taking responsibility for confusion, irresponsibility and incompetence, a decade later beyond much talk and posturing in an election year?
Skerrit response is such that 'a prudent and responsible government will not rush the brush and spill the beans,' affirmed that 'negotiations are underway for the best deal. We can expect a firm decision this year [2019] on the construction of the international airport in Dominica,' but not on the time-table of the opposition.
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