PM Roosevelt Skerrit went on an inspection visit to the site of the proposed international airport in Wesley, and revealed that the government will be constructing residential houses for people displaced from their homes to accommodate the airport. Skerrit said he has ordered the commencement of 37 houses in the Joe Burton area and the new residences will be ready by August.
He revealed that some people displaced in Wesley to make room for the airport chose to receive monetary compensation from the government, while others preferred to have houses built for them in exchange for their occupied lands. According to Skerrit, 20 of the 37 families identified as beneficiaries of the new houses occupied houses on the proposed airport land but the houses did not originally belong to them.
He said the government will construct houses for them and grant them a lot in another designated area of town.
And there are individuals who opted for cash in exchange for their property, so what we have done is that we are paying them for the market value or the negotiated value of their house and we are providing them with a lot. I believe by February 15th we should be in a position to conclude. We have started clearing the site.
Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
However, the government has made it clear that people may continue to stay in their homes until officials are ready to commence construction works at the proposed airport site.
Meanwhile, Skerrit disclosed that the construction of the international airport will be financed with CBI funds. The government had been using the financing instrument to fund the construction of climate resilent homes, health facilities, and other construction projects across Dominica. However, he stated he will consult with China’s President Xi Xingping to evaluate how the Asian country might be of help in constructing the airport.
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