Government continues to invest in infrastructure

The Government of Dominica has invested heavily in infrastructural development over the last year. This revelation was made by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit in his National Day Address recently.

According to Hon. Skerrit, work has started on the new Indian River Bridge in Portsmouth, being constructed at a cost of $6.2 million. Work is also well advanced on the construction of the new Lagoon Bridge in Portsmouth at a cost of $2.2 million.

Work commenced recently on the Soufriere-Scotts Head Sea Defence Project. The project which is being financed using grant funds of $12 million from the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will see the erection of a sea wall and the construction of a reinforced concrete road between the villages of Soufriere and Scotts Head.

The Prime Minister also revealed in his address at the new Windsor Park Stadium that over $8 million was spent in the last twelve months on the rehabilitation of a number of community roads, drains and sidewalks throughout the island. The response of the Government to the damage caused to roads and bridges by the passage of Hurricane Dean came in for high praise from the Prime Minister.

“Fellow Dominicans, your Government through the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructural Development has responded to the devastation to roads and bridges caused by Hurricane Dean. Many other major road slippages have been addressed, notably the Layou Road, the Warner Road as well as the Imperial Road and efforts continue to ensure that our roads remain safe and motorable,” the Prime Minister stated.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister revealed work will commence within three months on the Roseau Road Reinstatement Project.

The initial phase of the Roseau Road Reinstatement Project will see the construction of a bridge from Bath Road leading into a new road to be constructed to link Rose Street in Goodwill. A car park will be constructed parallel to the Roseau River, while River Street will be extended to Valley Road alongside the northern side of the Windsor Park Sports Stadium.

Other major capital projects to begin within the next twelve months include the Valley Road Improvement Project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank and the West Coast Road, to be funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.