Quarrying activities supporting the construction of Dominica’s international airport have been temporarily halted following concerns raised about environmental and social impacts in the Deux Branche area of Concord.
Chief Executive Officer of the International Airport Development Company (IADC), Samuel Johnson, confirmed that the pause was agreed after a series of site visits and consultations involving government officials, technical agencies, and project stakeholders. The area in question has been supplying aggregate for the airport works, but residents and environmental interests expressed worries about runoff and potential effects on the Pagua River.
Johnson explained that the Prime Minister visited the site late last week to assess the issues firsthand. This was followed by a meeting on Monday that included representatives from the Forestry & Wildlife Division, the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Environment, the project developer, contractors, the IADC, and the Office of the Prime Minister. As a result, a decision was taken to suspend operations while mitigation measures are finalized.
Planned interventions focus on controlling runoff from the quarry access road and surrounding areas. Johnson said measures will include directing water into designated sedimentation ponds to reduce the movement of silt into nearby waterways. He also clarified that some visible structures at the site, including a retaining wall, form part of early mitigation works designed to manage outflow and stabilize the area where crushing equipment is to be located.
Government officials have emphasized that the pause does not signal an abandonment of the quarry site, but rather a step to ensure that environmental safeguards are properly implemented before work resumes. The international airport project remains a major national priority, and authorities say balancing development needs with environmental protection is central to ongoing planning.
Further consultations are expected as technical teams refine the mitigation plan. Quarry operations will remain on hold until the agreed measures are in place and approvals are granted by the relevant agencies.
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