Opposition Senator Delbert Paris has raised serious concerns about transparency, fiscal discipline, and accountability in the management of public funds. He questioned several major government expenditures contained in a supplementary appropriation bill seeking parliamentary approval for approximately $240.57 million.
During a parliamentary debate this week, the senator insisted that supporting national development projects should not prevent lawmakers from scrutinizing how taxpayers’ resources are spent. He argued that the government must provide clearer explanations for additional expenditures, particularly when substantial sums are brought before Parliament for approval after the money has already been spent.
“There is a difference between supporting development and approving expenditure without adequate explanation,” Paris declared, stressing that the issue directly affects the credibility of the national budget.
Questions Over Additional $50 Million for International Airport
A major focus of Paris’s contribution was the ongoing construction of Dominica’s international airport. He questioned an additional allocation of approximately $50.23 million, which comes on top of an already approved expenditure of $310 million for the 2025–2026 financial year.
Paris clarified that his concerns were not intended to undermine the airport project. Instead, he sought to establish why additional spending had become necessary within such a short period.
“What were the approved variations that needed an additional $50 million in this short period? Six months. What was it?” he asked.
According to figures cited from government estimates, cumulative expenditure on the international airport has reached approximately $1.18 billion, which includes historical spending, actual spending, and revised allocations. He further pointed to estimates suggesting that total historical and projected future expenditures could reach roughly $1.5 billion.
However, Paris acknowledged that some of those figures represent revised estimates and projections rather than audited expenditures. His central concern, he argued, was the absence of a clearly stated, currently approved total project cost.
“What is the actual approved total cost of the international airport project?” he asked, calling for a definitive figure rather than estimates from previous years.
The senator also questioned apparent inconsistencies in the project’s completion timeline. He cited conflicting government statements indicating completion in 2027, the second quarter of 2028, and the first phase of 2028, noting that the developer’s website continues to list a 2027 completion date.
“Somebody is not doing the project schedule well,” he remarked, warning that uncertainty over completion dates could carry financial implications.
Despite these concerns, Paris reiterated his strong support for the airport’s construction and eventual operation.
“I want to see it completed. I want to see it operated successfully. I want to see planes flying in and out of there,” he state
