Premier: Airport expansion project to begin before my term ends
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has confirmed that the BVI’s long-discussed airport runway expansion project will commence before his administration’s term ends.
This ambitious project aims to enhance the territory’s connectivity and economic prospects. During a recent press briefing, Dr Wheatley highlighted the significance of expanding the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport, which has been a topic of discussion within the community for decades.
“I think we’re past the stage where we’re trying to decide whether we’re extending the runway or not. We are extending the runway. That’s just something that we’ve campaigned on, and that’s something that we are going to make a reality,” the Premier told reporters.
“That project will begin before this administration comes to an end in 2027. That’s something you can be sure about.” Following a competitive tender process involving eight companies, KPMG (BVI) Ltd was awarded the contract to develop a business case for the airport’s expansion.
The business case, expected to be completed within three months from February 2024, was set to be the first study to provide a detailed review of the expansion’s feasibility across various dimensions. Earlier this month, officials from the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) described the expansion, noting that it involves extending the Beef Island airport runway by at least 2,400 feet to accommodate larger aircraft and improve international accessibility.
What about funding?
While the project has been officially decided upon, the detailed business case, including the method of financing and potential for a public-private partnership, remains under discussion. Despite the clear plans for physical expansion, the process has not been without its controversies. Questions continue to be raised about funding and the need for more public consultations promised as part of the business case development.
In response to these concerns, Dr Wheatley reassured the public that the necessary discussions would take place, as obligated by contract with the consultants.
“I think the only further conversations for us to have now is the means of financing the project,” the Premier said. “What is the particular model, whether we’re going to go forward with what we’re going to do, public-private partnerships, whether the Airports Authority will get a loan or central government would get a loan on their behalf or whether we’re going to lease out the airport. Those are the decisions that have to be made at this stage.”
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“Dr Wheatley reassured the public that the necessary discussions would take place, as obligated by contract with the consultants.” What’s the point of “having discussions” if the decision has already been made? Discussions after the fact are meaningless as a way to assess the project’s financial underpinnings, but instead will be a sales pitch to the public. The “business case” was always supposed to be a method for assessing the project’s sensibilities, but no longer; it will instead be a rationalization.
What obviously happened here was that as KPMG was crunching the numbers, it leaked them to the “powers that be” and confessed that they did not support a sensible “business case,” and that is why there is now a rush to ram this project through – because the costs never would have justified the expenditures.
You haven’t even got your KPMG report yet. We need a report on how you sharing all the money out amongst you cronies and families. The public haver little to kown information about what is to become our next money hole white elephant. What a disaster this will be for the VI.
HE CAN’T EVEN GET THE POTHOLES IN HIS DISTRICT REPAIRED….OLE SLOW SPREEMIER
American is operating 5 flights a day. We don’t need a longer runway. This is just an excuse to get their hands in OUR cookie jar.
This shows they learned nothing from the COI. The purpose of the business case study is to determine whether an expansion would be financially viable. Why would they push forward not knowing this? Do they know better than the experts? Is the outcome of the study predetermined?
Set ah crooks!
Wait, so no business case report yet? No business case available for the public to look at and assess so that our money’s used in a way we agree with?
And I even heard the business case does not cover the giant knock-on effects of building a bigger runway and having more and bigger planes. eg did it look at how this expansion will impact our road system? Our sewage system? Our ecology and coastline? The need for more hotels in the territory, which means more building and more impact on those systems and all the others?
This is a very large change they pushing us ALL into based on nothing more than the outdated, stupid economic policy of more is always better.
Small minded people like you bloggers is why our country is so far behind . St Vincent relocated an entire village and remove several mountains to obtained an international airport, Dominica just break grounds on theirs , where as they have to take down some mountains also. Don’t you all know that American Airlines already give deadlines as to stop flying all those 60 passengers flights in here daily wasting their time and fuel when they can fly a 200 seater twice a day making air travel between the BVI and America a lot cheaper.
What a relief,possibly…Vincies will leave these VI,empty our Prison of their vast amount of prisoners with them including the murdering lifers and they will no longer be parasitic infestations on our shore. Well hopefully but unlikely that they will no longer be a regrettable infestation these Vi. The CARICOM ers and their indelible curse no prayers can stop.
Guyana found oil and the Guyanese still fighting to remain here
Doubt any airport expansion can be completed in 1 Sept.
Thanks for the laugh poor you.
This a crazy man? What’s the daily number of passengers flying in from Miami sir?
Bloggers I don’t know who paid for St Vincent international airport maybe Venezuela president, but I know for sure China is building Dominica airport. We don’t have money to fix the BVI but you are going to find money to expand the airport I hope the UK shut you down before that, you are not fit to be in the position you are in in fact the whole VI party don’t fit.
Serving honourables need a substantial project. Fixing potholes aint no big backhander
your mind infested with evilness and you wants to be your premier , it’s a good thing you are speaking to yourself , you don’t represent the people of the virgin Islands , .please take your WIG to the dry cleaners , it’s full of sh*t . oh, don’t forget to use some listening
So let’s expand the runway and make it cheaper to fly here than st Thomas. This way we can attract thousands of cheap tourists. Imagine how wonderful our territory will look once we can get these broke cheap people to come here and piss all over the place. I bet BVI will look more beautiful than st Thomas then!
St. Barths does not have a long runway and it attracts tourists spending real money. Having China build the airport we will be indebted to China forever, they will run the country and will not use their own people to build, so none of the money will stay in the country.
THE AIRPORT NEEDZ NO EXTENSION AT THIS TIME OR NEAR FUTURE. GET REAL.
What about the roads? Especially the whole Eastern End of the island. What about that before your term ends?