A brewing environmental crisis has engulfed Dominica’s ambitious international airport project, prompting former Chief Physical Planner Annie Edwards to demand an immediate suspension of all construction activities. Edwards warns that extensive quarrying and excavation operations in the Deux Branches area are causing severe ecological damage without proper preliminary studies.
The controversy has reached the highest levels of government, with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit convening an emergency meeting today with ministry officials, developers, and contractors to address growing concerns from residents and environmental advocates across the island nation.
Edwards asserts that the project commenced on fundamentally flawed foundations, noting the apparent absence of completed essential assessments, including a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment. She points to visibly sediment-laden rivers in Marigot and surrounding regions, directly linking the ecological deterioration to widespread deforestation and land clearing at the quarry site.
“We are witnessing multiple rivers transforming from clear to turbid brown within an alarmingly short timeframe,” Edwards cautioned, further suggesting that operations may be infringing upon legally protected forestry zones in direct violation of the Forestry Act.
The former planner’s concerns reflect broader community anxieties. Residents from Concord, Stonefield, Pagua, and the Kalinago Territory report increasingly murky waters in the once-pristine Concord-Pagua River, with some experiencing skin irritations and noting significant declines in aquatic biodiversity. Local commentator Gary Auguiste poetically described the relentless sound of heavy machinery as “a river being broken down again,” highlighting fears that fragile ecosystems—including habitats of Dominica’s endangered national bird, the Sisserou Parrot—face irreversible disruption.
Critics further allege the project advances without proper permits, public hearings, or adequate community consultation, raising serious questions about governmental transparency and public trust. They contend that quarrying within a critical watershed area sacrifices long-term environmental security for short-term economic gain, warning of potential slope collapses, species displacement, and permanent ecological damage. The Kalinago chief has joined calls for an immediate suspension, while some speculate the valley’s mineral-rich soil may be targeted for purposes beyond mere construction materials.
Project developers MMCD and contractor CR5 have vigorously rejected these allegations as misinformation. They emphasize that a complete Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, along with ten Environmental, Social, Health, and Safety management plans, have been mandated and submitted for regulatory review under both the Physical Planning Act and World Bank standards. The companies highlight extensive community engagement initiatives since April, including door-to-door visits and public consultations, while insisting the quarry site operates outside protected areas and critical parrot habitats. They maintain sedimentation levels remain within natural variation parameters, with stringent control measures actively implemented.
Prime Minister Skerrit, following a site inspection on December 4, acknowledged environmental concerns while underscoring the project’s national significance. “All government agencies have roles to play in this process,” he stated, noting that forestry, environment, physical planning, and other departments would collaborate with developers to review documentation and expedite solutions. The Prime Minister emphasized the project’s importance in facilitating international aid, while affirming that mitigation and restoration practices could effectively reduce environmental impacts.
As Dominicans await the outcome of the high-stakes meeting, the controversy transcends infrastructure development to touch upon the very identity of the “Nature Island.” Whether the airport project ultimately represents a milestone of national progress or becomes synonymous with ecological degradation now hinges on decisions made in yesterday’s critical deliberations.