Dominica International Airport to cost between 800-900 million dollars: PM Roosevelt Skerrit

Roseau, Dominica: Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit stated on Sunday that the site identified for construction of the international airport does not have any political associations and it was absolutely selected on professional advice given in the Alexander Gibs report-2017.

PM Skerrit stated during answers to journalists on his Anou Palay show that the International Airport of Dominica would cost between 800-900 million dollars to construct. He added that there would also be several tunnels and which could bear the size of a truck passing by.

He said that International Airport would be the biggest infrastructural project in Dominica and would be a game-changer for the country.

As per the Prime Minister, geotechnical studies were commissioned last year, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the experts were unable to visit the country. He noted that the primary studies have proven the location and land to be suitable for construction of the airport and work will commence at the beginning of 2021.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister stated that he had made sure that at every step of the International Airport of Dominica IKAO and Eastern Caribbean Aviation Authority is involved. He stated that the World Bank has also made access available to the country of its airport specialists.

He noted that the World Bank airport experts would engage as an independent group of experts and will review all documents, including the ones coming from the American firm- Landrum and Brown that is working on the designs of the airport.

Prime Minister stated that the government had taken lands from people and in exchange, they have been given lands in Wesley to construct their homes or to start their agricultural activities.

"We are taking lands and homes from people, and we are giving them lands in Wesley and constructing homes for them in the same area," added Prime Minister.

Speaking about the terms of allocation of properties, Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit stated that people are being compensated well. He noted that the government is giving homes to those who have accepted for homes and giving lands in exchange for land for those who accepted it.