Last Updated on April 3, 2026, 2:43 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The government of Dominica has issued a detailed update on the proposed Stonefield Quarry and Crushing Plant project in Concord. The statement of clarity has come from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Reginald Severin.
The government has confirmed that the mining activity which is being done is for the extraction of Basalt, a common component which is used in the construction of runways, taxiways and tunnels for the international airport of Dominica. The claims that the government is mining Gold, silver or precious metals are entirely false and misleading.
Permanent Secretary spoke on behalf of the government of Dominica and highlighted that they are committed to transparency, environmental protection, and adherence to legal procedures. The administration has been fielding claims of illegality In the operations and have come out to refute any false claims regarding illegal mining of pecious metals.
PS Severin has acknowledged the public concerns that have emerged in relation with the quarry project. He added that the administration of the country is working actively to address any concerns from the members of the general public.
Additionally, PS Severin has clarified that the quarry is expected to supply basalt, which is an important component which will be used in the airport’s runway, taxiway, and tunnel infrastructure.
The official clarified that the government of Dominica is not engaging in a mining venture for precious metals, such as gold or silver. Instead, they are extracting basalt for construction purposes.
The Permanent Secretary has explained the complete trajectory of the project in his recent address. According to Severin, the application for the project was submitted for the first time on July 31, 2025. The project is expected to support the construction of the Internation Airport Project in Dominica.
Further, the administration also took the time to assure the people of the island that the venture is being conducted lawfully under the Mines and Minerals Act. Further, PS Severin stated that the project has seen significant review process under the Physical Planning Act.
According to the government administration, they have submitted Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). In further regulatory review process, the project has also undergone technical evaluations by multiple agencies.
The administration has also taken time to engage in public consultations regarding this project. According to the administration, they conducted over 50 stakeholder engagements.
Afterwards, the government provide ESIA to the various crucial institutions, including Environmental Health Services and the Forestry Division. 39 public submissions are being reviewed as part of the decision-making process.
The government has also addressed the concerns of the members of the public through mitigation measures which will protect the water resources. Environmental monitoring is also being done to prevent contamination of water sources and other sources
The administration also identified several problems related to potential encroachment into the Northern Forest Reserve and corrective action was taken immediately afterwards. The administration has worked on restoration planning and they are also in the process of establishing buffer zones.
The administration has also taken several road safety measures, including traffic management road maintenance. Furthermore, PS Severin of the Ministry of Housing and Urban development also addressed the Stop Order which was issued in December 2025.
He asserted that such initiatives are part of the regulatory process so that they can ensure that administrative and legal processes for grant of development permission are being followed and are working as they should.
After the recommendations from the stop order were received, the project was divided into two parts. One of these components dealt with the crushing plant and the other dealt with the quarry.
The administration has shared that they submitted revised proposals for both the parts of the project. The Physical Planning and Development Authority granted permission for the installation of the crushing plant. The approvals for the quarry component are being reviewed, with evaluation of environmental data and public feedback in progress
The administration has promised to pursue this development with the responsibility, legality and in a sustainable manner.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
