Gov’t could lose 4 years on airport development, Skelton Cline warns
The government risks squandering four years of progress on the long-awaited Terrance B Lettsome International Airport expansion if decisive action is not taken, local commentator Claude Skelton Cline has warned.
Speaking on his radio programme, Honestly Speaking, Skelton Cline called for urgency in advancing the project.
“The issue of the airport expansion is a national security interest,” Skelton Cline said while hammering home its importance for both routine operations and emergencies. He urged the government to “hasten their steps” and ensure the initiative begins within the current political cycle.
The airport expansion has faced years of delays and debate. The ambitious project will attempt to improve airlift capacity, which is critical for the BVI’s tourism-driven economy and resilience during emergencies. Skelton Cline argued that indecision and lack of progress would lead to a wasted term in office for the current Virgin Islands Party administration.
“You will lose four years and not get one single thing done if you are not decisive,” he said while pressing the government to act boldly. “Before you know it, it will be 2027, and if you don’t do those things, you won’t be worthy of being re-elected.”
He urged the government to keep its pulse on any entity they engage in delivering the project for the people of the BVI.
A history of challenges
Plans to expand the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport have been on successive governments’ agenda for years but have struggled to gain momentum due to financial and logistical challenges. The project has drawn criticism over feasibility and environmental concerns. Still, proponents argue it is crucial for enhancing connectivity and bolstering the economy.
Skelton Cline criticised those opposing the expansion, describing their resistance as unfounded.
“Set aside all of these naysayers who don’t want to see proper airlift in this country for God knows what reason I can’t imagine,” he stated.
Skelton Cline called on Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s administration to demonstrate courage and leadership, describing decisiveness as a necessary virtue.
“You have a chance. You have an opportunity to improve the quality of the lives of the people of these Virgin Islands,” he said. He stressed the importance of engaging capable personnel and holding them accountable for timely delivery.
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Claude looking consultant contract?
The movement has been started for the advocacy of a white premier and I want to add that there is precedent to support it in the Region. USVI had Ron Delugo as Governerin the 70s. It is important to note that whites wherever they have met indiginious populations have turned those countries / territories into thriving economies , starting with US, South Africa , Australia, New Zealand , Hong Kong . The white man’s tendency for planning, organization and execution has resulted in some of he strongest and most advanced societies in the history of the world . Lets us leverage that expertise to move the territory forward.
Israel too
Exactly waht progess has been made in the last decades? Sure, there has been some expensive design ideas that had to be shelved. There was some sort of amended project spec that was bid on a while later that brought bid down to about $ 200 mil. The current administration has a consultant allegedly preparing a business case for the project, but it seems the current leadership wants to move forward with the project regardless. Not progress by many people’s definition.
CSK is mistaken in thinking people don’t want better airlift. It’s a good idea but the question really is can we afford it? Airport expansion will be in the region of $ 500 million. Our GDP is less than that. We just borrowed $ 100 mil (already earmarked) at about $ 1 mil per month. Thus far, little has been said as to the source payment. It’s alarming enough that the leadership has instructed its ministries to “find a way”. Let’s also set aside other debacles like the jissing $ 20 mil in govt budget for payroll. . So, where is the money coming from to pay for airport expansion.? The tax base is low so no money there. Passing it onto passengers would mean pricey tickets. Maybe OK for tourists but prob out of reach for many who’ll find it cheaper to go via StT defeating the object of the airport. Fewer ticket sales means fewer flights, and we end up with a $ 500 mil airport used a few times a week, with pricey maintenance to boot. These kinds of things should be discussed in detail in the business case analysis that the govt seems to be disregarding. It’s madness. There are better and cheaper solutions to get people to the Territory. Regardless, the progress that BVI’s finest contributor of hot air refers to remains illusory.
Better ferries
Customs and Immigration on board
no delay and top class approach
“Set aside all of these naysayers who don’t want to see proper airlift in this country for God knows what reason I can’t imagine,”
If Claude Skelton Cline cannot understand the “naysayers” valid reasoning against airport expansion, his ability to “imagine” is sadly deficient.
Roger Burnett
because we had to deal with the same minister of works for the past 6 years
Started a road by government house since they got in in 2018 and up to yet they cant get it finished…..Lets hope this doesnt happen to the airport
More scare mongering from an old Snake oil salesman.
THEY CANT EVEN GET THE ADMIN COMPLEX COMPLETED MUCHLESS
And how are we going to pay for a 3-400 million dollar airport???
with another 1-2 flights per day?? if the even come
there will never be any flights from overseas, they cant come in fully loaded, obstacles on both sides so you need close to 8000 feet.
its just another project to make a few very rich.
get with st Thomas and allow ferry’s to dock on back of airport, 3 runs a day STT to road town and VG.
this can be dne at fraction of the cost.
@tax payer Are you serious? You’ve seen these guys. There won’t be change from a half billion $ – if not more. If we ever get audited numbers.
That’s the idea / REMEMBER wd are dealing with a second ACTORS who’s goal is to create an IMPRESSION that the are SERIOUSLY serious about the INTEREST of the PEOPLE and the COUNTRY’S BEST INTEREST / so they will make a start and yhe money disappears into their pockets and everything is put on pause / then it’s the BLAME GAME SHOWS UP / OH , ITS THOSE WHITE SLAVE MASTERS LYRICS USED AS A FRONT AS USUAL / THE COMPLE, / PROSPECT REEF / POTHOLES / RAW SEWERAGE
– ETC IS SOME EXAMPLES OF HOLLYWOOD STUNTS IN THEIR MOVIES , WHO IS GETTING –
OSCARS GRAMMYS- OR EMMYS ❓️ / LOOK AT THE MOVE OF THE 3RD DISTRICT REP , NOT EVEN A GRASSHOPPER COULD OF MADE THAT JUMP SO SMOOTHLY STRAIGHT INTO THAT SEAT , IT WAS TAILOR MADE FOR HIM
CSC just leave
First, BVI people are not starving and cut off from the world. We are well off compared to the whole Caribbean. This means we can be strategic about what we do, and not desperate. So stop pretending we are poor little outliers on the edge of civilisation and you have the solutions for saving us.
We nah fools. and you nah fool us.
Second, you and your ‘done deal’ cronies have no case for this expansion except for the simple-minded and out dated argument that MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER.
And you want to be taken seriously as intelligent adults?
Or is that the greed speaking again?
Here’s one objection: You expand the number of large planes coming in to the BVI and you have to completely change the BVI. You have to be prepared for thousands more tourists. Are we?
Are we cool with the 1000s of cruise ship tourists already flooding us without spending hardly a thing? Why do they complain about our roads and sewage, and they’re only here for one day? Because it is obvious we do not have our house in order. We are a mess. Rich, but an embarrassing mess.
Can we take 1000s tourists more per day? What is your argument to say that we can? Do you have one? Or is it just the dollar signs in front your eyes that makes you pretend it can just happen, like magic? Outline an argument that we can do this and you might lose the “naysayers”. Until then, it just looks like more dirty Claude Consultation Cr*p.
Third, a new airport means we completely change the character of the BVI. We become a mass tourism destination. Which means we need thousands of cheap hotel rooms. Thousands of deck chairs on our beaches. Thousands of maids and servants from all over the Caribbean to come and bow and scrape to white people who treat them like dirt.
Is that your dream?
Or is it just the greed talking?
When we build those new hotels, and roadways and sewage systems and car parks and beach facilities that can accommodate all those new tourists, we loose a large percent of the tourists who come here and have come here for many years. Wave goodbye to the people who like nature because by building all that Tower of Babel nonsense to fill your Earthly bank accounts, you kill God’s natural, impeccable creation. Yes, you kill God’s work, because you love Mammon more.
Is that your dream, holy man?
“God knows what reason” you say? Well this is just a couple of the reasons. Can you read? Do you even respect God? Ask him, because he does know that the we BVI people do not need your endless growth bull.
Sit down, man. Hush.
Clearer everyday starting and never finishing an airport will be thr biggest disaster ever. We need to stiobthese money chasers that will ignore any reports abandon all sense and push, push push to get their hands on the money.