Dominica’s International Airport? More Like a National Inside Joke

By now, you’ve probably heard the big news: Dominica’s international airport project is well underway. Ground broken. Cement poured. Promises were shouted from podiums. But let me ask you something, have you actually seen a runway? No? Me neither. But what have we seen? Puddles. Cracks. Truckloads of mystery concrete heading straight into the swamp like offerings to some hungry land spirit, not a Soukouyant, as this would have scared everyone away.

If this is what “world-class infrastructure” looks like, I’d hate to see the “trial version.”

Four Years In… and Counting What, Exactly?

Let’s rewind. It’s been four long years of government fanfare, international partnerships, drone footage, and shiny renderings of the so-called Dominica International Airport. By now, we were promised jets from JFK touching down to the beat of bouyon music. But what’s really landing?

Nothing to show. Not even a toilet block. Just frogs “crapaud” enjoying the new runway lagoon they build for themselves.

Seriously, how do you crack a runway that doesn’t exist yet? That’s next-level engineering.

Climate Resilience… In a Swamp?

Let’s talk about that giant wet sponge we’re trying to build on. You’d think, being the “Nature Island” and all, we’d consider climate and topography when planning a billion-dollar airport. Instead, we chose the one spot where the land acts like a soaked bakes every time it rains.

You want climate resilience? Try not pouring concrete on land that literally tries to eat back the concrete. Just a thought.

And while we’re on it, if this place floods every other week, what exactly is the plan for drainage? Or is the runway going to double as a water park?

Wesley: The Town That Time (and the Bulldozer) Forgot

Ah yes, Wesley. The village that happens to be in the middle of the airport’s flight path. You know, the one still standing. People still living there. Roads still cutting through. But the airport? Oh, that’s somehow operational in someone’s imagination.

They’ve been promising “land acquisition” and “compensation” for years. But instead of real engagement, the plan seems to be: ignore the villagers and hope they vanish like some magic show.

No resettlement plans. No community meetings. Just silence and slowly encroaching bulldozers.

International Standards, Local Confusion

According to the latest official press release (read: propaganda pamphlet), the airport is being built to international standards. Which ones? We’re not told. But I assume they mean the International Standard of Doing a Lot of Work and Showing No Results.

Because after four years, what we have:

• No visible runway
• No completed terminal
• No upgraded hospital (OK, Marigot Hospital might work, right?) nearby for emergencies
• No access roads ready
• No one held accountable

But hey, we’ve got drone videos of the same muddy construction site from 15 different angles.

The Chinese Trucks Don’t Pay Taxes. You Do.

Here’s the cherry on top. Those massive Chinese trucks rolling through the West Coast? They’re allegedly not paying VAT, port duties, or even contributing to Social Security. Meanwhile, your local shop can get garnished for not filing one receipt.

Local truckers? Underbid. Local businesses? Over-taxed. But foreign contractors? They walking through customs with their “pull-string”, while we getting searched for chewing gum. And we’re all supposed to smile about it because it’s called “development.”

If we collected even half the tax revenue from these foreign projects, maybe the Treasury wouldn’t be treating printing paper like a luxury item.

When in Doubt, Blame the People Asking Questions

The second you raise a question about timelines, transparency, or that mysterious disappearing runway, you’re told you’re “crying down the country.”

Let’s clear something up: holding the government accountable isn’t treason. It’s common sense. Asking where your billions went is not sabotage. It’s called being a citizen.

And let’s be honest, if someone says there’s a fully functioning international airport and all you can see is a cement-swamped grassland, maybe it’s okay to say, “My brother, where’s the airport?”

Hydro Plant or Airport? You Be the Judge.

Some Dominicans now believe the airport site looks suspiciously more like the early stages of a hydropower facility than an airport. So… are we building a runway or installing turbines?

It’s hard to say. Especially when everything is Top Secret Unless It’s Campaign Season.

Oh, and don’t forget the Chinese distribution hub apparently going up next door. Because nothing says “aviation gateway” like a storage depot and some mystery housing units with fences taller than our hospital walls.

Timeline Roulette: 2025, 2027, or 2058?

Depending on who you ask:

• Planes were supposed to land by 2025
• Construction will finish by 2027
• Tarmac can’t be laid for another 2 years
• Materials are “still being stockpiled”
• Blue Whale Resorts says… 2028?

By the time this project is complete, half of us will be residents of our ancestors. But don’t worry, they might still vote to approve the next budget.

Final Boarding Call… to Nowhere

We deserve better than a runway of rumors and a terminal full of talking points.

We deserve to know:

• Who’s in charge?
• What’s the real budget?
• When will Dominicans see value—not just aerial footage?

Until then, I suggest we rename this whole saga from “Dominica International Airport” to:

“Concrete Chronicles: The Fantasy Project of the Century.”

Because at this rate, we’re building the most expensive mirage in the Caribbean.

This article is copyright © 2025 DOM767