Airport expansion business case under review by Cabinet
The business case for expanding the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport has been completed and submitted to Cabinet for consideration, according to Works Minister Kye Rymer.
“We are going through the process where we’ll get it to Cabinet to approve, and the way forward for the airport expansion,” Rymer said recently.
While no timeline was given for Cabinet’s decision, Rymer suggested that planning is well underway.
“We are seeing a record number coming through the airport,” he explained. “There’s still quite a lot to be done at the terminal. In a couple of weeks, we’re hoping the arrival hall will be expanded.”
The proposed expansion comes amid steady growth in air arrivals, including increased flights by American Airlines and the introduction of new direct routes from Barbados via Caribbean Airlines. Rymer said the terminal upgrades will provide a “more seamless and efficient process” for travellers.
“During the high season, private jets would drop off their passengers and then leave to find space elsewhere,” Rymer explained. “We’re scheduled also to upgrade or expand the apron. This is a vital component to hold a number of planes.”
A request for proposals (RFP) is expected soon for that part of the project.
Upgrades at the airport have already begun, including a new luggage belt and sewage system improvements, which Rymer said were necessary additions to accommodate increasing visitor numbers.
According to the Works Minister, the business case marks a pivotal step toward the long-awaited airport expansion, a project that has been discussed for more than a decade. The announcement follows recent government efforts to attract investment and enhance tourism infrastructure, including the expansion of port facilities and an increase in cruise passenger arrivals.
The BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) is expected to play a key role in the expansion’s execution once Cabinet provides the required approval.
Rymer stressed that the work at the airport is part of a wider infrastructure push by the Ministry of Communications and Works.
“We must make sure that we have the proper airlift and the facilities to be able to accommodate them,” he added.
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You must also ensure there is proper financing for this project, that all the money spent is properly accounted for, and that the project does not go either over budget or over deadline, all without bankrupting the Territory. Alas, if history is prologue, this is not likely to happen. We’ll end up with a shiny new airport, but the roads to town will still be as bad, with plenty of dereliction to view on the way to town.
and not a single member of Cabinet has any business experience at all.
The same MS’s that couldn’t find a $20mn gap in the payroll plan or notice a $5mn transfer to a bankrupt bank. That is who will review the Business Case? Jesus take the wheel….
It has to be transparent, the public has to know what is being done with tax monies.
the cabinet as pointed out above does not have the expertise to give the green light for something this big.
we need the u.k to takeover this place before it’s too late
Is this a TOP SECRET document that we paid for?
Next they’ll want to start a BVI Airways. I’ve got a couple jets they can buy. A big promotional campaign the “poof” it will all disappear
It is evident that implementing these improvements will significantly enhance our ability to attract more overnight jets throughout the year. Conducting a business case study will provide valuable insights into the necessity of developing infrastructure for hangar space, which is crucial for existing charter companies to safeguard their aircraft from severe weather, thereby reducing maintenance costs and expenses. Expanding the arrival hall will undoubtedly elevate passenger comfort services, addressing the current congestion and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of our prestigious destination. Furthermore, enlarging the security section is essential to manage increased foot traffic and ensure adequate risk assessment with the rise in flights. The runway should be extended to accommodate the E175 from the East Coast, as we do not require larger aircraft; rather, we need an improved surface suitable for the current Envoy or other 175 operators. Additionally, enhancing ramp space and passenger facilities is imperative. Enclosing the terminal to provide air conditioning will further improve the overall experience.
It is clearly not evident as we have not seen any of the reports.
How did you get to see them?
Cah you post them so we can all see them?
You don’t need to read the report to understand what the writer is saying. Have you personally traveled through the airport to see how those points mentioned have affected the general public?
The parking ticket machine to work
All our new guests at the Joe’s Hill white Elephant Complex!
All good except for the part about a/c, which will incur heavy cost of electricity that BVIEC will have to provide and for which the airport will not pay, at least not promptly, just like govt’s other electric bills.
While I’ve considered your point, and yes, they still owe for previous payments. I’ve visited nearby airports and noticed solar farms along the runways and airfields as cost-saving measures. Why are we different? That argument will always be a factor because the government bails out airports all the time, and we have no choice. It’s the STATE airport, not privately operated. Just like all agencies that have to get money every year. Truth is we have been spoiling the gov’t body for years with no proper system improvemnt to fix the issues.
The numbers don’t work, and never have. That’s why the tectonic shift from “the business case will determine whether we undertake the project,” to “we are going forward and will make known to the public the business case after-the-fact.” When it was first drafted, you can bet that the government was appalled at KPMG’s figures and asked it to “massage” or “rework” the numbers, but it refused. Since then, there’s been no talk of the business case as a basis for justifying the project.
Now the cabinet gets to see this document, which is purely a fantasy, and that’s why the public doesn’t get to see it-the taxpayers would be in an uproar. If it’s ever made public, it will be one that has been “reworked” and heavily redacted.
IF the numbers made sense, this would have not been shrouded in secrecy, and there’s NO legitmate reason for it to stay hidden.