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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 42 - Wednesday May 07, 2003 |
No International Airport for Dominica Editorial Viewpoint
A motion tabled before the Dominica Parliament by opposition Senator Norris Prevost for the building of an international airport was defeated at a sitting of the House last week. Voting largely along party lines, the motion went down in defeat after a sometimes passionate debate in which House members argued forcefully on both sides of the issue.
Senator Prevost in bringing forward the motion argued that the future development of Dominica was inextricably linked to the building of such an airport. The former tourism minister in the United Workers Party (UWP) government, which ruled Dominica from 1995 to 2000, was of the view that an international airport in Dominica would favor not only an increase in tourism arrivals but would serve to promote development in other key areas of industry and agriculture.
Several government ministers argued against the measure citing the huge cost of such an undertaking and expressing doubt about its viability. Prime Minister Pierre Charles expressed the view that it was more cost effective to proceed with the upgrading of the Melville Hall airport, including providing for night landing and the lengthening of the runway, rather than build an airport estimated to cost over US $200 million or roughly thirty-three percent of Dominica�s current external debt.
The defeat of the motion means that, at least for the time being, Dominica will be without an international airport. Meanwhile work on upgrading the existing facility at Melville Hall is expected to get under way shortly and cost in excess of US$80 million.
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