PM Roosevelt Skerrit disclosed that the commencement and completion of the proposed international airport in Dominica remains a top government priority, even though the onset of the coronavirus pandemic slowed work on the project.
He noted that having a functional international airport will sustain the investments made in the tourism sector, and this will turn out for national growth and development.
According to the prime minister, the Chinese technical team that was to give the nod for the commencement of the project was held back in China because of the deadly outbreak of COVID-19 in the country and out of caution to not infect Dominicans with the disease.
He said the team is to conduct final geotechnical studies on proposed site for the airport in the Wesley, Woodford Hill area of the island.
Skerrit pointed out that his administration has begun the process of land acquisition and to pay landowners for the project site. He added that as soon as Dominican borders and that of other countries reopen, the Chinese team will fly into the country for the airport construction to commence.
We will start making payments to the landowners. Work is in progress. We haven’t stopped but there are some actions that are required on the ground and we are just hoping and praying that our borders and global borders can open up and we can see the abeyance of COVID-19 and we can certainly move with that project.
Roosevelt Skerrit: Prime Minister of Dominica
Skerrit emphasized that the completion of the international airport “is a national imperative, [and] we have to build this airport [since] it important for our economy.”
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