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From our correspondent
Roseau, Dominica – November 11 2026 — The Government of Dominica has approved more than EC$248.5 million in supplementary expenditure to address urgent financial commitments and advance several national development programmes during the 2025/2026 fiscal year. Among the significant allocations is an additional EC$53.95 million for the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs to facilitate the settlement of legal claims filed against the State.
Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre disclosed the figures on November 9, 2026, while presenting supplementary estimates totalling EC$248,517,384.02 during the Third Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Eleventh Parliament. The expenditure represents advances made from the Contingencies Fund between January 1 and June 30, 2026. Dr. McIntyre explained that the Constitution and the Finance Administration Act allow the Minister for Finance to authorize spending on urgent or unforeseen matters that were not provided for in the original national budget, subject to subsequent parliamentary approval.
In outlining the financing arrangements, the Minister reported that EC$29.7 million, representing 12 per cent of the total, came from grants, while EC$47.8 million, or 19 per cent, was obtained through loans. The remaining EC$171 million, accounting for approximately 69 per cent, was sourced locally. Among the smaller allocations, the Office of the President received EC$89,424 to cover unexpected expenses during the 2025/2026 financial year. The Audit Department also secured a EC$53,613 grant from Saudi Arabia, through the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions, to introduce an electronic audit management platform called the Dominica Enhancement Auditing Tool. Expected to be installed by December 2026, the system is designed to strengthen audit planning, monitoring, reporting and compliance with international standards.
Education was among the sectors receiving additional financial assistance. The Dominica State College was provided with EC$1.55 million to meet supplementary tuition expenses under a government initiative that dates back to the 2019/2020 fiscal year. Another EC$7.7 million was allocated for renovation works at the Dominica Grammar School, while EC$1.4 million was provided to address salary shortfalls within the Ministry of Education, largely associated with additional permanent appointments and salary increases at government-assisted schools.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development received approximately EC$33.1 million, including EC$506,431 for land acquisition and development associated with strategic national undertakings, particularly the International Airport and geothermal projects. The bulk of the allocation was directed towards the Modern Resilient Housing Development Programme, which is intended to improve access to safer, more climate-resilient homes, especially for disaster-affected households and families in vulnerable living conditions.
Healthcare services also benefited from the supplementary provisions, with EC$4.9 million allocated to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and New Health Investments. This included EC$97,401 in grant assistance from the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions to support research at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital. The investigation analysed 442 bacterial isolates to identify resistance patterns involving commonly prescribed antibiotics. Additionally, EC$2 million in World Bank financing was provided under the OECS Regional Health Project to support the rehabilitation of wellness centres in Castle Bruce, Mahaut and Wesley, improvements to laboratory facilities and the establishment of a Health Emergency Operations Centre.
External partners also contributed to strengthening child protection services. UNICEF provided EC$59,299 towards the preparation of national case-management procedures, operational guidelines and training for professionals working with vulnerable children. Government funding of EC$2.78 million was also used to supplement grants to local institutions. Meanwhile, the National Employment Programme received EC$15 million to cover stipend and mentorship expenses for interns from February to June 2026. The programme continues to provide employment exposure, practical experience and skills development, particularly among young people.
At the community level, the Ministry of Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development received EC$3.45 million, with EC$628,789 earmarked for village councils during the final quarter of the financial year. The Caribbean Development Bank contributed another EC$1.6 million towards the tenth cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund. Projects supported under the programme included rehabilitation of the Clifton Back Road, improvements to sporting facilities in Trafalgar and Delices, multipurpose facilities in Grand Bay and Dubique, additional classroom space at Berean Christian Academy, and water infrastructure improvements in Paix Bouche and Warner.
Infrastructure development accounted for another significant portion of the supplementary spending. The Ministry of Public Works received EC$12.1 million to support road rehabilitation and reconstruction initiatives. This included EC$8.67 million in grant funding from the Caribbean Development Bank, through the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, for the first phase of the Loubiere-to-Bagatelle road rehabilitation programme. The approximately 10.4-kilometre corridor between Loubiere and Grand Bay involves improvements to bridges, drainage networks and related infrastructure. A project update dated November 5, 2026, indicated that the Bellevue-Chopin to Pichelin section was 95 per cent complete, while the Pichelin-to-Grand Bay segment had reached 96 per cent. Work on the Brewery Bridge-to-Bellevue section was reported to be 65 per cent complete.
An additional EC$3.44 million in Caribbean Development Bank loan financing was channelled towards the Tropical Storm Ophelia Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project. The initiative addresses damage caused by heavy rainfall in September 2011, particularly in Bath Estate and Laudat. Rehabilitation of the Laudat Road has already been completed, while the first phase of works in Bath Estate, which commenced in July 2025, was finished in May 2026. Further improvements are being pursued in Bath Estate, with particular attention to slope stabilization, road safety and reducing the risks associated with flooding and erosion.
The energy sector also featured prominently in the supplementary estimates, with EC$32.34 million allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy. The funding was primarily supported by World Bank financing for transmission infrastructure linking the 10-megawatt geothermal power plant at Laudat to the national electricity network. The works included high-voltage transmission lines and substations at Padu, Trafalgar and Fond Cole. Following several rounds of testing, the geothermal facility officially entered commercial operation on July 21, 2026. According to the project update presented by the Minister, geothermal power now accounts for approximately 60 per cent of Dominica’s electricity supply, while the contribution from renewable energy sources has risen from around 30 per cent of electricity sales before the plant’s connection to more than 80 per cent since July 2026.
Dr. McIntyre maintained that the additional expenditure was necessary to meet pressing financial obligations, sustain essential public services and ensure the continuation of major national development initiatives. He pointed to investments in education, healthcare, employment, housing, community infrastructure, climate resilience and renewable energy as important components of the country’s long-term development agenda. The Finance Minister subsequently submitted the EC$248,517,384.02 in supplementary estimates to the House of Assembly for approval.
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