Skerrit Says Final Airport Agreement Will Be Signed In May; Funded by China

Barbara 26th April, 2021

0 2,888

PM Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that the final agreement for the construction of the proposed international airport will be signed in May. He said the Chinese government will fully fund the construction of the airport, but the Dominican government will commence initial works with CBI funds.

He said the financial burden for constructing the airport will be very minimal, while the government of China will fund a larger percentage of the entire project. Skerrit said the architectural design for the airport is being done by Landrum and Brown, an American company, and MMCE remains one of the project developers.

The prime minister also revealed that his administration constructed 32 residential homes for families who were affected by the siting of the airport, while several families chose to receive cash for their properties instead of a replacement home. He noted that many local contractors were hired for many aspects of the construction so as to empower them from the project.

He added that the airport lab has also been completed and this facility will provide support for the airport when it becomes functional.

Many Wesley residents, the site for the airport, initially rejected that the airport be sited in their community, but they have grown quieter as the initial construction preparation gathers speed. However, many Dominicans laud the international airport initiative, saying it will upgrade the status of Dominica in Eastern Caribbean and facilitiate economic growth for the country.