By Special contributor
ROSEAU, Dominica – The Dominica International Airport (Project) is scheduled for completion in 2027; China Railway No.5 Engineering Group Co., Ltd., “CR5”, the general contractor for the project, is advancing the construction; and the Government of Dominica says, ‘all operations are being conducted in accordance with established guidelines.’ The situation at hand is, however, unparalleled, with the airport developer, Montreal Management Consultants Development (MMCD), and the Government of Dominica at loggerheads over the airport project.
In the midst of this, refiled arbitration and injunctions are referenced to alleged ‘breach of contract and nonpayment, linked to financing agreements.’
According to sources, reference is made to ‘bad faith’- ‘stalled tactics,’ and ‘non-compliance with signed and sealed amended agreements.’ Meanwhile, outstanding construction payables are said to be mounting in the millions, approaching the dangerous point of defaulting.
The airport development was designed to accommodate up to 750,000 passengers yearly. The Project is structured and mainly financed in partnership with Montreal Management Consultants Development Ltd (MMC), the airport’s developer, and the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI). As structured, MMC is responsible for investment options, raising funds and managing contracts.
Thus, how difficult is that, to the untrained eye and mind, understanding MMCD, the developer and MMC, the project financer, existence at loggerheads, with the Government of Dominica?
MMCD has emphasised that the Project is a game changer for Dominica, following the Dominica Housing Project, delivering The Housing Recovery Project (HRP), building resilience in housing, recovery of housing for households affected by hurricanes, supporting systems and capacity building, development planning support, project management and coordination, finance and operation.
The concept is not much different to the airport project, with the prospect of boosting tourism and global travel connectivity, creating new jobs and skills. The airport, serving as a nucleus, is certain to support domestic business expansion and sustainable development that foster economic growth.
The current loggerheads pertaining to the ‘refiled arbitration and injunctions’ have the potential to derail a focused vision built on previously solid agreements and CBI financing models, supporting economic growth.
The question is WHY – the loggerheads?
Has the CBI funding been redrawn, and are now insufficient to support outstanding advances and payables? Could it be that the Government of Dominca, renaged on there contractural agreements?
According to sources, MMCD, the developer, has advanced millions and continues to make construction payables in compliance with stated contractual agreements. However, efforts to be reimbursed and compensated have fallen very short, and are at RED-HOT and dangerous (negative) levels, in financial terms.
The understanding, based on finance contracts and construction undertakings, stands at a high degree of default. Moreover, it is alleged that “amended contracts and expected compensations in the past month have, hitherto, been a game of hide and seek.”
One source coins the experience as “using cleverness or trickery to evade responsibility and the current situation.” The other intent may be tagged to “a mental battle, to supplant the will of the process and outcomes, possibly.” In this supposition, the options to redress seem insurmountable without a firm legal ruling.
Moreover, facing litigation, rising costs and debt incurred, does the Government of Dominica have other favourable options to supplement financing the airport project?
Dominica’s nominal GDP in 2025 was approximately USD 0.74 billion, with real GDP growth accelerating to 4.5 percent (up from 3.5% in 2024) and a GDP per capita of USD 9,870.
Dominica citizenship by investment
According to the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU), Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme continues to attract internationally minded entrepreneurs. By acquiring Dominican citizenship, entrepreneurs gain access to a stable and forward-looking environment. This also creates opportunities across international markets, including the Caribbean and Latin America.
Dominica citizenship by investment for entrepreneurs in 2026, notes:
“Dominica continues to stand out for entrepreneurs seeking a well-established and government-regulated programme supported by a strong reputation for sustainability, resilience and national development.”
“Dominica’s CBI Programme […]. Designed to attract foreign direct investment, the Programme has become a cornerstone of Dominica’s economic development, supporting key projects in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and renewable energy.”
Entrepreneurs seeking to leverage the programme can choose between two distinct investment pathways:
“The Economic Diversification Fund (EDF): A non-refundable contribution directed toward national development projects, including climate resilience, healthcare, and education.”
“Real Estate Investment Option: Investors can purchase government-approved properties, such as luxury resorts or eco-friendly developments, which offer the potential for returns through rental income or resale after a specified holding period.”
The Dominica CBIU article continued:
“For business owners, Dominica offers a gateway to international markets, a favourable tax regime, and opportunities to invest in high-growth sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and green energy. The island’s stable economy, progressive policies, and sustainability initiatives create a unique environment for entrepreneurial success.
“Dominica’s CBI Programme equips entrepreneurs with the tools to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. It provides the freedom to expand operations, preserve wealth, and secure families’ futures.”
In recent times, concerns have been raised, as agents query methods and marketing, actual costing, invoicing and discounting of CBI programmes. 
Point of reflection
The airport project, investors, and contractors may perhaps be rewriting previously established pathways – with good reason. A point of reflection that should be a quick and lasting redress to the current loggerheads to resolve financial headwinds.
The time for unkept promises and sidebar conversations seems a thing of the past. The perceived lack of good-faith compounds administrative and policy undertakings, widening the gap and disrupting advancement on commercial transactions.
Arbitration and injunctions have serious financial, environmental and re-mobilisation implications for any project, all the same, as the airport project, on a very large scale and beyond Dominica.
In the marketplace of business, the disputation of trust, loyalty and legal undertakings with false postering is not a wise practice to be honoured, but scrutinised in footnotes.
