Roseau, Dominica, April 27, 2025 — The United Workers Party (UWP) expresses grave concern over the construction safety practices at Dominica’s International Airport by China Railway 5 CR5), following the recent collapse of a building in Bangkok constructed by China Railway 10 (CR10) — a sister company under the same parent, China Railway Group Limited.
This tragic incident abroad raises urgent questions about the standards, supervision, and accountability practices of all subsidiaries of China Railway, including CR5, currently entrusted with one of the most critical infrastructure projects in Dominica’s history.
The UWP reminds the government that transparency, safety, and value for money are not optional; they are fundamental rights.
Considering these alarming developments within the state-owned China Railway Group, the UWP calls on the Government to immediately:
- Disclose all the terms and conditions of the contract with CR5, including performance bonds and insurance protections.
- Publish independent engineering and safety audit reports to reassure the Dominican public that international best practices are being enforced.
- Commit to an immediate, independent, third-party review of the International Airport construction to verify its safety and structural integrity.
- Confirm that no personnel from CR10 or other tainted projects have been transferred to the Dominica project.
- Establish a public monitoring mechanism to oversee all stages of airport construction.
The United Workers Party further warns the Government that failure to act decisively and transparently will be seen as gross negligence, risking not only public funds but also the safety and future of the people of Dominica.
We will not sit quietly while the administration gambles with the lives of our citizens and the integrity of our national projects.
If necessary, the UWP is prepared to pursue all available legal, political, and international avenues to protect the interests of Dominica. The international airport is not a gift from China. The main contractor, CR5 – a state-owned Chinese company – is being paid billions of dollars from the sale of Dominican passports. We deserve an airport built on a foundation of excellence — not on substandard construction practices, compromised safety procedures, shortcuts, negligence, and political expediency
