by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service
In August 2007 the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in partnership with the Regional Council of Martinique was awarded a Grant Contract to implement the Waitukubuli National Trail Project. The Project is being funded by the European Union under the Special Framework of Assistance (SFA 2003) and the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Work being done on a trail by the Waitukubuli
National Trail Project team
A Project Management Unit was established in August 2007 and is currently staffed with the following positions: -
- Project Manager
- Site Coordinator
- Promotions and Community Animator
- Financial and Procurement Assistant
- Administrative Assistant
- Driver/Messenger
- Office Attendant/Cleaner.
In August 2007, a Steering Committee (SC) comprising fourteen (14) members was appointed by Cabinet to direct, evaluate, monitor progress and approve changes to the programme.
It must be noted that at the time that the SC was appointed, Mr. Bernard Wiltshire was appointed as the representative of WEF on the SC. The first meeting of the SC was held on December 13, 2007. Invitations were sent to all members of the SC including Mr. Wiltshire. The Terms of Reference of the SC was also circulated. Mr. Wiltshire did not attend that meeting but sent a representative in the name of Mr. Errol Harris.
Meetings of the SC have been held every quarter. However, when members were contacted to invite them to the second meeting, Mr. Wiltshire indicated verbally that he was not interested in serving on the SC. The new President of WEF, Dr. Joseph Williams was also contacted via telephone to inform him of the SC meeting. He informed the PMU that he would have to consult his members to determine whether they were interested in participating. A few days before the meeting, he called the PMU to inform that WEF had decided not to participate in the SC meetings. SC meetings are held every quarter and can be called when required.
Work being done on a trail by the Waitukubuli
National Trail Project team
In addition to the SC, a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was also appointed comprising seventeen (17) members to provide technical advice and to ensure that the project is being implemented according to expected standards. The TAC is also responsible for defining actions to be undertaken in each community as well as assess progress with implementation of specific activities. The TAC meets as often as required and the PMU provides secretarial support to both the TAC and the SC.
The Steering Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee provide opportunities for a wide range of Dominicans with both the required technical skills and community interests to contribute to and participate in the project. In addition, the PMU engages in community consultations and sensitization activities on an ongoing basis to ensure involvement of communities in the project.
The Project Management Unit is currently making preparations to resume trail construction activities in a number of areas. Some of this preparatory work includes procurement of tools, camping gear, procurement of equipment for a woodwork shop, construction of a woodwork shop to build ancillary facilities and design of pedestrian crossings/bridges. More importantly, the PMU is looking at the issue of private land ownership along the trail with a view to getting land owners permission to construct the trail through their properties. In addition, the PMU is preparing the necessary contractual documents to recruit workers to begin work in areas traversing through state lands while some of the other issues are being resolved. As we continue to implement the project, there is ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders especially those within the communities, and this is critical to community ownership and can facilitate project implementation.
As with all projects, the PMU has to deal with certain challenges. These challenges are associated with the nature of the project and would have been experienced irrespective of who was charged with the responsibility for implementing the project. The nature of the project’s cycle allows for some flexibility to deal with issues which may have been unforeseen at the project concept stage and their possible impact. The Ministry is making every effort to address these challenges within the shortest possible time in order to ensure the successful implementation of this project.
The Ministry would like to place on record that the project is ongoing with a number of other activities including preparation of tender documents, public awareness and community sensitization as well as the development of business activities. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry along with its Partner the Regional Council of Martinique, the Project Management Unit, Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee all remain committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the project within the project’s time frame. |
