Over 31 Million Spent on Infrastructure Development from January to June 2014 Roseau, Dominica – Tuesday, September 23, 2014 – Over thirty-one million dollars has been spent on infrastructural development during the period January 1 to June 30, 2014. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement when he presented a motion to the House seeking approval for Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the period January 1 to June 30, 2014 amounting to forty-five million, fifty-six thousand, nine hundred and twenty-seven dollars and twenty-two cents ($45, 056,927.22). A substantial part of the supplementary estimates of expenditure, thirty one million, four hundred and fifty-three thousand, one hundred and forty-six dollars and twenty three cents ($31, 453,146.23) or 69.8% was spent on infrastructural development undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports. Prime Minister Skerrit stated that over ten million dollars was spent on the Geothermal Project during that period. “An additional $10,921,510.79 was approved to be spent on the Geothermal Project, specifically for the preparation and drilling of the reinjection well. Earlier this year, flow tests to determine the generation capacity of the production well were undertaken and these were successful. The funding was made available by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD),” Prime Minister Skerrit stated. Dominica has been highlighted as a leader in geothermal development and the Dominica Labour Party Administration continues to take productive steps to convert this energy into lower electricity cost. Encouraging results obtained from the drilling of the first production well have advanced the delivery of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy to Dominicans. “Due to the increase in cost of the utility services, the sum of two million, four hundred thousand dollars ($2,400,000) was appropriated. The cost of electricity is still of concern for the government and the geothermal initiative is expected to bring some relief in this area,” Prime Minister Skerrit said. A grant of three million, five hundred and one thousand, three hundred and twenty-two dollars and fifty-nine cents ($3,501,322.59) to assist with the improvement of road infrastructure affected during the passage of Tropical Storm Ophelia and which suffered further deterioration as a result of subsequent heavy rains. That amount was appropriated to road rehabilitation projects. These included road and drainage rehabilitation in Grand Fond, Loubiere and Morne Prosper; road improvement in Giraudel/ Eggleston and Copthall; rehabilitation and asphalt surfacing in Campbell and Lalay Coco; and construction of a concrete road in Massarce. Two million, sixteen thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars ($2,016,150.00) was spent under an immediate response rehabilitation loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to undertake emergency works and clean-up operations following a trough system which caused flash flooding, landslides, rockslides in the southern part of Dominica on December 24, 2013. “While there were no reports of death, several homes and business were flooded which resulted in damage of property and loss of personal belongings,” Prime Minister Skerrit said. Following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Friday, December 27, 2013, Prime Minister Skerrit announced that the Government of Dominica would assist those affected in the following ways; provide one hundred per cent of the assessed value to repair dwelling houses; provide sixty per cent of assessed value of personal household effects destroyed through flooding; replace textbooks, stationary, uniforms and other school supplies; provide limited assistance to businesses which suffered damage; pay rental cost for a limited period for those who have to be relocated. The total clean-up cost was estimated at eight hundred and thirty thousand dollars and included clearing of roads, drains and dredging of rivers. Rehabilitation of infrastructure and mitigation works were estimated at forty-five million dollars. Seven million, three hundred and ninety-five thousand, three hundred and forty-five dollars and ninety-three cents 9$7,395,345.93) provided the loan from AFD to meet all contractual works for the bridges and other activities to enable the completion of the Roseau to Melville Hall Road Project. An additional seven hundred and ninety thousand, six hundred and twenty dollars and sixty-six cents ($790,620.66) which represents Government’s contribution to the project was also spent during the period. “Despite the many challenges that have been faced on this project, it is nearing completion. Our citizens have already praised the efforts of the Government on this undertaking and users have indicated the enhanced driving experience,” Prime Minister Skerrit stated. The Government of Venezuela provided a grant of two million, four hundred and twenty-nine thousand, six hundred and thirty-one dollars and eighty-one cents ($2,429,631.81) to meet contractual obligations for the Penville/ Vieille Case Road Rehabilitation Project. An amount of one million, nine hundred and ninety-eight thousand, five hundred and sixty-four dollars and forty-five cents ($1,998,564.45) was approved for the Petite Savanne to Boetica/ Delices road rehabilitation project to meet contractual commitment with respect to ongoing works.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:19:30 +0000