Construction of State Palace starts without local involvement

The construction of the State Palace has however not been without controversy. Before construction started, scores of Dominicans aired their concerns over the radio and in various ways.

The government State House in Roseau is being replaced by a China loan funded $27 million State Palace.

Leading the charge was Jerry Brisbane Chairman of O.D. Brisbane and sons who launched a campaign against its construction by posting huge bill boards across the island denouncing what he termed a waste of resources and a “27 million dollar state malice.”

At the heart of the issue is the fact that the construction is being undertaken by the Chinese without any local involvement or employment of Dominicans. This is particularly telling given the rampant unemployment in Dominica.

Others worry that this project should not be given priority given the large number of competing needs on the island.

Construction of the project is financed through a loan taken by the government of Dominica from the Chinese Export Import (EXIM) Bank. The question that many Dominicans are asking is why for a project funded by the taxpayers of Dominica no locals are allowed to benefit from its execution.

To the contrary, Chinese workers are employed in the construction and will be allowed to source all of the equipment and most of the required materials from outside of Dominica.

The State House, formerly known as the Government House, was first constructed in 1766, shortly after the British gained governance of the island in 1763 through Crown Colony rule. The house was designated to the resident governor who represented the Crown and it was used as an office, a place of entertainment and as guesthouse for the visiting dignitaries.

In 1836 construction commenced on a new government house after a hurricane in 1834 completely destroyed the two-storey high timber structure. The new building was a more modest version of the previous one because Dominica had already fallen into economic decline in 1830.

The building was extended in the 1890s and again in 1930. In 1980, major renovation and extension works began following the destruction caused by hurricane David a year earlier.