Penn demands answers about airport expansion
The Terrance B Lettsome Airport on Beef Island
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has raised fresh concerns in the House of Assembly about the proposed airport expansion, saying residents in his district are demanding answers and meaningful engagement from the government as the project moves forward.
Penn said key stakeholders — including himself as the area’s elected representative — have not been provided with the airport’s business case, despite assurances that it would be shared with the House after redactions. According to Penn, that commitment has not been fulfilled.
“We asked for the business case to be shared with this House… yet we haven’t seen the business case,” Penn stated. He added that residents in his constituency continue to ask what is happening with the airport, what the plan is, and what the government’s intentions are for a project that would significantly affect their community.
Penn said he has had no discussions with the responsible minister, the ministry, or the Premier regarding the project. He stressed that stakeholders in District 8 have effectively been left in the dark, even as preparatory work continues.
“You’re full speed ahead doing an EIA, but you haven’t spoken to the people about what’s happening with the project,” Penn said, arguing that it is unacceptable to advance a development of this magnitude without first engaging those who will be directly impacted.
Don’t disrespect the people I represent
The D8 representative also objected to what he described as a lack of respect for the people he represents. “You can disrespect me, but don’t disrespect the people I represent,” he said, urging government officials to return to the community and explain the project just as they did during the preparation of the business case.
The airport expansion has been promoted by the government as a major national development aimed at improving air access to the BVI, supporting tourism growth, and enhancing economic activity. As part of the process, a business case was prepared to outline the financial, technical and economic feasibility of the project, while an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is now reportedly underway.
Penn acknowledged that certain sensitive financial details may need to be withheld but insisted that this should not prevent the broader document from being shared. He concluded by calling on the minister responsible to engage residents directly and to ensure the business case is forwarded to the House, saying transparency and consultation are essential for a project of such scale.
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What they will redact are the parts that say the BVI does not need and cannot afford a project of the scope they want built. By all means, improve the place: bigger arrival area, better baggage handling, much bigger security area. The doors and bathrooms need maintenance. TBH, the added air conditioning looks like a cob job. All that can be fixed with a reasonable budget, creating a nicer and much more functional airport.
All those improvement you mentioned are needed but you also need at least another 500feet of runway.
American airline is presently operating at the edge. There is no room for an error at the moment and remember, when it rains the planes cannot land. They have to go back to PR. We do not need a runway to accommodate a super JET, but we need one to accommodate planes like those American are presently using.
Watch who already buying up all the land on beef island …. insider dealing done happen. Ask around
Pal you weren’t in government (unity) and your cuz dem ain’t sharing nada with you? After all the traveling together and partying?
Do you understand projects? The EIA is a critical, necessary component that informs on the impacts of the expansion. Social impacts will have to be assessed with costs associated for mitigation where available. When the DATA is collected and available your cuz dem will share with you. Not before.
You’ve been in th is had for almost 2 decades now; this all you got son!?!
The country does need an airport that is conducive to economic growth.
The question that is prevalent is, will those needs be completed without the corruptrion of funds into government officials bank accounts.
Fro the first to the thirteenth, trust of the people’s employees is what is at stake here.
You do not bring in an operation in a community and do not speak to them directly. The project is long overdue but show respect for the District Rep and the residents.
It shows an attitude that we the people are of “no significance “
Come better than that Premier. We are more than an x during election timr.
Although we all applaud your decision in moving the project forward
This is a long overdue project. Just get the money and get it done. I can assure you, the economic benefits far outweigh the cost.