The Waitukubuli Greenprint
The 3-Step Solution
A pragmatic plan that builds the runway while protecting the rainforest. Sourcing, logistics, and preservation — working together.
Shift Aggregate Sourcing
From Deux Branches to the West Coast
Dominica's West Coast has known basalt deposits that can meet ICAO aviation standards. By relocating quarrying away from the Northern Forest Reserve and sensitive river systems, we eliminate the core environmental controversy without delaying aggregate supply.
- Geological surveys confirm viable West Coast basalt deposits
- Removes proximity risk to the Northern Forest Reserve
- Eliminates the Deux Branches river pollution issue
- Basalt quality still meets international runway standards
"The government maintains that local basalt meets ICAO standards. The question is not whether Dominica has the rock — it's where we take it from. The West Coast alternative removes the ecological risk while still using Dominican resources."
Sea-Based Logistics
Transport by barge, not through communities
Instead of trucking millions of tons of aggregate through residential areas, sea-based transport moves material by barge from the West Coast around to the airport site on the northeast coast. This reduces noise, road damage, and community disruption.
- Barge transport is common in Caribbean infrastructure projects
- Reduces strain on Dominica's narrow road network
- Minimises disruption to Wesley and surrounding communities
- Can be scaled with project demand
"Importing aggregate would be 'economically absurd,' says the government. But transporting it by sea from the West Coast is not importing — it's smart domestic logistics. Caribbean nations use barge transport routinely for large construction projects."
Preserve & Restore
The Northern Forest Reserve stays standing
By removing the quarrying pressure from Deux Branches, the Northern Forest Reserve — home to the endangered Sisserou parrot — remains intact. A restoration plan for any existing damage can begin immediately, overseen by the Forestry Division and Kalinago stewards.
- Northern Forest Reserve fully protected
- Sisserou parrot habitat preserved
- River systems restored to pre-quarrying condition
- Kalinago stewardship integrated into monitoring
"The Sisserou parrot exists nowhere else on Earth. The Northern Forest Reserve is its last stronghold. No runway specification is worth the extinction of a national symbol. The restoration begins the day the quarry pressure lifts."
Indigenous Integrity
The Kalinago peoples are not an obstacle to progress — they are its oldest advisors. For thousands of years, they have lived on Waitukubuli without destroying it. Any responsible infrastructure plan must center their voice, not as a token, but as governance partners.
Consultation, Not Compliance
Under the Escazú Agreement, indigenous communities must have meaningful participation in environmental decisions — not a checkbox exercise after decisions are made.
Stewardship as Science
Kalinago ecological knowledge — managing forest, river, and coastal systems sustainably — is not folklore. It is time-tested environmental science that complements modern EIA methodology.
Ready to Support the Greenprint?
The Greenprint needs funding for geological surveys, logistics feasibility studies, and legal advocacy. Your support makes the “middle road” real.