Facilities including of a state-of-the-art conference centre to host regional and international guests is being lauded as amenities which Dominica’s new State House building will provide when complete.
The State House Project which commenced in May of 2011 is being executed by the Shanghai Construction Company.
Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit who led a Cabinet visit to the State House Project site on Monday January 14th 2013 told reporters that he is pleased with the level of work done on the project thus far.
The country’s leader is excited about the many benefits that the new State House will bring to Dominica and its citizens.
“The new State House is expected to comprise a residence for the President, the Electoral Commission, the Police Service Commission, and the Integrity in Public Office Commission,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister remarked that the new State House will make provisions to host regional and international meetings.
“The old State House will be retrofitted to accommodate about two hundred people. That will certainly address the challenges we are now having regarding adequate conference facilities in which to host meetings. In the past we have had to ask delegations to reduce on their sizes because of inadequate space. That will certainly assist the private sector because it will provide an opportunity now to host more conferences and of course one can appreciate the benefit of this” PM Skerrit noted.
The new State House building according to the Prime Minister is already becoming a major tourist attraction within the city of Roseau. He says this new State House building is in keeping with Government’s effort to bring about holistic development to the country.
“The problem that we have in Dominica is that while we may have the natural attributes, the lakes and waterfalls there are some things that we have to add to what we have. I mean shopping and other attractions. This new State House building will become a major tourist attraction in itself both for us living in Dominica and of course the visitors to our country,” he said.
The Prime Minister is confident that this project will instill a greater sense of pride in Dominican citizens.
“One can appreciate when this building is completed and it is handed over officially to the Government the kind of impression it will have on all of us. There have already been positive comments from people about the project which is no doubt exhibiting a sense of pride.”
Work on the State House Project is over ninety percent complete with focus now being placed on landscaping and other outdoor work. The Prime Minister is looking forward to the completion of the project which he envisions will be magnificent.
“Once the landscaping unfolds you will see the real beauty of the facility. We are hoping that before the President moves in we will be able to bring some people to visit to appreciate what is inside of the State House.”
Prime Minister Skerrit has expressed his Government’s profound gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for making available the loan financing and concessionary rates for such an important project.