Airport expansion critical for BVI growth — Financial Secretary
Financial Secretary Jeremiah Frett said the long-planned airport expansion in the BVI is critical to economic development, stressing that the territory must now move from consultation to implementation.
Frett, who also serves as a member of the BVI Airports Authority Board, said the airport plays a direct role in the territory’s growth. “The airport is of critical importance to the territory because it drives the economy,” he explained.
He said the project is not only about attracting tourists but about supporting the wider economy, including the financial services sector and everyday travel for residents. “We just don’t need the airport for tourism. We also need it for financial services and for us, regular residents, for ease of travel,” he stated.
The government has spent years reviewing expansion proposals for the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport. According to recent government briefings, Cabinet has already approved the business case prepared under UK Green Book standards. Officials said a 7,000-foot runway is the preferred option to improve airlift and meet future aviation needs. Sector reports have long noted that larger aircraft and direct flights from major hubs could not operate without a longer runway.
Frett said the expansion would have a direct impact on investment and business activity. “Once you build an airport in direct contact, you will see improved development, foreign direct investment or even locals investing in hotels or boutique hotels… so we can see our growth in the economy as a result of the airport,” he explained.
He added that the project must pass several stages, including design, a full business case, and approval from the United Kingdom. “Airport development of this magnitude is going to require a significant amount of money,” he said, noting that under the territory’s current borrowing ratios, the project would fall outside the permitted limits and would require separate treatment by the UK.
The government has said the business case will determine how the project will be financed. Frett outlined the options under review, including loans, public-private partnerships, or issuing bonds through the territory’s investment-grade sovereign rating. “We are looking at all different avenues on how we can finance that… maybe it might be a hybrid system,” he said.
Frett also signalled that the territory has reached the limit of further public consultation. “I don’t know how much more consultation can be had… It’s time to implement and move forward with this particular project,” he urged.
He said the expansion has been discussed for decades. “From the time I was a little boy, we said, let us expand… We know what needs to be done. Just let us do it,” he insisted.
The airport upgrade remains one of the largest infrastructure priorities before the BVI government, as it continues negotiations with UK officials on borrowing ratios and capital investment.
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If any of that is true why are the reports SECRET.
IF any of that is true why can we not see this SECRET TRUTH.
You discredit yourself. Show the facts, show the evidence to support your statements.
Show the people the REPORTS.
Why is this SECRET.
Why do you know all this positive hidden information and the people do not?
Release the SECRET REPORTS
“JUST LET US DO IT.”
“We know what needs to be done.”
REVEAL THE SECCRET REPORTS.
“I don’t know how much more consultation can be had..”
SHOW THE REPORT and the consultation can start!!!
Jeremiah Frett release the REPORT.
What is it you are all hiding????
What are the SECRETS?
Who is to gain from these SECRETS?
YES, it is necessary if these islands want to be the same as everywhere else.
But NO, it is not necessary if these islands want to retain the attraction of their small-scale identity.
He joined the chorus
No it’s not critical to growth it’s a luxury. They simply feel the ferry owners making a fortune and they want to take that away from our people. Anybody else other than their own to profit they want of course with their cut in place.
I don’t know anyone who thinks that the ferry companies are making “a fortune”. You’re a clown.
Roads to airport are of extremely poor quality. Perhaps we could someday fix the roads.
Maybe if we got off Island Road paving company a contract to repair the roads.
When the last expansion was done in early 2000 it should have been designed for at least 50 years of service. Lets hope 7000ft of runway would serve our needs for the remainder of the millennia. Once this is done we can focus seriously on accommodation infrastructure air freight and whatever it takes for us to operate on a more advanced level.
Hitler wrote that the broad masses of a nation “will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one” because they wouldn’t believe others could have “the impudence to distort the truth so infamously”.
This is exactly what is happening to the BVI’s citizens. These people running the government have demonstrated nothing but incompetence on so many prior projects, but the most appalling thing is that they PROMISED that the so-called “business case” would be the significant factor in whether the airport expansion would go forward or not – yet they steadfastly refuse to release it. Every citizen should read this piece in the BVI Beacon by renowned economist Peter Wickham (https://www.bvibeacon.com/commentary-economist-weighs-in-on-airport-project/) and note this excerpt:
“The Virgin Islands government has been assessing the case for the expansion of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island (yet again!). But it seems to be making the same mistakes as previous administrations.
Apparently, the premier thinks that a decision to move ahead is a “piece of cake” and a “no-brainer,” to paraphrase his public utterances on the subject! But at a minimum, he and other House of Assembly members should await the full assessment of the cost-benefit analysis currently being prepared by consultants.
This, in fact, is what his administration (and previous administrations) have pledged to do, only seemingly to renege despite agreements with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the UK Treasury.
The airport expansion would be the largest infrastructure project undertaken by the VI, and it would be advisable for the government to provide the fullest possible information to the electorate rather than engage in obfuscation.
These are the same people who contend that an “audit” is needed to determine how the $5M deposit into the failing Bank of Asia was done – when in fact, it’s a simple bookkeeping issue that would take only hours to investigate because it’s all wire transfers.”
Meanwhile the latest “delegation” travelling to London for yet another meaningless celebration of some obscure bureaucracy is large enough to look like a senior citizen football team. When will the people of the BVI say “enough is enough” and stop voting for these economic idiots and grifters…
Keep in mind that Secretary Frett has been in this capacity as either acting or appointed for a number of years, according to this bio:
Frett has been a public officer since 1997 and has carried out various roles under the Office of the Deputy Governor as well as the Ministry of Finance. These roles include serving as both Accounts Manager and Finance and Planning Officer at the Deputy Governor’s office and as Policy Analyst and Budget Coordinator in the Ministry of Finance.
So he’s overseen the BVI Airways debacle, the latest Bank of Asia $5 M vanishing deposit, just to name a few of his “greatest hits.” This is the person who purports to be taking a central role in this huge commitment to a massive project. Just sayyin’….
Jerry, Jerry, Jerry! How’s the Kool-Aid? was it not YOUR office that fumbled the pay increase with a USD$20 mill. deficit? Is it not YOUR office that processed the USD$5mill to BoA among other dubious and highly questionable grant aids as well!?!?
Time for a change with persons of moral character and backbones to ensure adequate stewardship of the public finances – no more malfeasances please!!!
Go enjoy your retirement bruh before it’s too late to enjoy.
Clean up the whole place. Water service, sewage, ROADS, electricity, cut bush, over flowing dumpsters, get some ethics, stop the banana republic politics. Get a premier cares about the people rather than his sick ego.
What about relaying the road in Sea Cow Bay – nearly 18 months now since it was raised. I have had 4 new tyres.
These are the words of a man beholden to an equation that is impossible to fulfill. In its simplest expression is called : Perpetual growth Capitalism. Or, in borrowed brutal terms the words of a No Brainer – who wants his Piece of Cake AND wants to Eat it !
When you are sitting in Road Town traffic , visiting the Pier Park or the Baths on a 4 cruise ship day, anchored in the Bight – high season, or just driving around the island looking at the huge accumulations of solid waste by the road side – let alone the pot holes and the sewage one has to drive through. It’s doesn’t take a Business Case to tell you another massive environmentally destructive (our biggest ever !!) infrastructure project is going to make our lives any better – short term or long term. We’ve run out of ROOM for this kind of impossible dreaming.
It’s time to wake up and see – we’re in a trap and we are being fed cheap lies to delude us into agreeing to perpetuate the madness that we are all already deeply afflicted by.
There is a better, healthier, positive , more constructive more loving way for us to live. All of us know it in our hearts. We will find it .
Jets they want to land. Non commercial.
How are we going to handle this massive increase in human trafficking?
Everyone landing needs to travel around the island, needs places to sleep, needs toilets and sewage systems, makes trash, etc.
how can you lan for this airport if you don’t plan for upgrading the whole BVI?
How can you do both without presenting the people with your plans and solutions?
Or are you just being ruled by the BVI big money interests who stand to benefit from the building contracts?
The financial secratary apparently is forgetting all the projects that need money first
Roads, water supply, stable electricity, schools, hospitals
Only after that is fixed can you look at a airport project that can never pay for itself
Look at islands around us where airports are running way under capacity
The economic solution if you want more flying tourists is a dedicated St Thomas airport ferry 3 runs a day St Thomas airport(not Charlotte Amalie) to RT and VG
This can be done for under 5 million a year instead of 400 million
THAT AIRPORT DO NOT NEED TO BE EXTENDED AT THIS TIME.
i see why they did not want you to be financial secretary. what a mess