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by pltm
[gallery]There has been no determinations as to the cost of the T.B. Lettsome International Airport Runway Extension Project, nor have the authorities definitively decided how the project would be financed, but some residents of the BVI are still against plans for the execution of the project.
Among their reasons listed for not being in support of the project now, are the lack of careful consideration of the environmental impact of the extension, as well as the Territory not being ready to financially support such an extension.
This was made evident during a public consultation of the Environmental Impact Assessment on the concept of the project, held last night, January 17, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School.
Six years ago, during the first rounds of consultations, there was also major backlash from the community on several aspects of the project.
The runway extension project for the airport at Beef Island has been listed in the Recovery and Development Plan that was passed by legislators last year. The Recovery Plan did not carry a cost figure for this extension, however, a figure of $250 million has been previously touted.
The Town and Country Planning Department has put forward an application for the runway extension plan and design to the public for consultations, as there needs to be public input before such approval is given.
This design, however, it a concept idea and not a final design.
Last night, the handful of persons gathered for the consultations heard that the proposal for the runway has been revised, and it would no longer be extended at both ends, but just towards east.
Currently, the runway is 4500 feet, but the proposal is to increase it to 6100 feet.
Jefferey Seider, a consultant with WSP—the company contracted to undertake the planning phase—spoke of the importance of this extension to making accessibility to the BVI easier by air travel, with the expectation that this would increase the tourist numbers to the Territory.
(PLTM) - He, however, noted that there is no guarantee of an increase in traffic with the extension, but said that the extension would allow for larger carriers to land in the BVI and facilitate direct flights from the United States and other countries.
Despite these sentiments, he revealed that there are no guarantees that the larger carriers would come, sharing that there have been no such commitments. He did, however, share that some carriers have expressed their interest.
Mr. Seider noted that currently, traffic at the airport is on a decline and the revenues being earned cannot support the project. As such, the Government will need to meet with banks to seek financing for the project.
While noting that the benefit to cost ratio of the project is 2:1, he said that there would need to be a great increase in travelers to regenerate the cost of the project.
Dr. Lianna Jarecki, the environmental consultant, shared that plans have been made to reduce the pollutants being released into neighbouring Trellis Bay, as well as to ensure that the water flow is not impeded by the extension, so as to cause stagnation.
However, she noted that there has not been an assessment of the natural inhabitants such as the marine life in surrounding areas, and how they would be affected.
Responding to the information presented, one participant questioned how much of an increase in travelers would be needed to generate sufficient financing to pay for the cost of the extension.
Mr. Seider was unable to provide such a figure, saying that they have not determined how much it would cost to undertake the extension.
Another participant pointed out that planning to facilitate an increase in tourists to the BVI without increasing and improving the accommodations available for tourists would essentially be “putting the cart before the horse.”
Mr. Seider maintained that the extension is a necessary “platform for growth” that needs to be put into place for the growth of the tourism industry.
One man, however, said that it appeared that government is “biting off more than it can chew,” especially at a time when there is so much to be done to ensure that the Territory properly recovers from the impact of Hurricane Irma, and financing is needed for so many other more important projects.
Meanwhile, Trellis Bay businessman, Mr. Dick- Reed Aragon stated, “What this is showing us is that there is still a lot of holes in this plan. It’s like a good cheese, the older it gets, the more it stinks. This is not actually helping us plan for our future. This is unfortunately some sort of delusional fantasy.”
Government previously announced that they will be pursuing the project via public/private partnership, where investor (s) will be developing the airport and have control for some 20 years, after which control will return to the BVI Airports Authority.
However, the authorities have remained tightlipped about who the potential investors are or who the BVI Airports Authority was negotiating with in relations to the proposed expansion.
Premier, the Honourable Dr. D. Orlando Smith has repeatedly stated that the airport project is critically important, and even essential to the recovery plan of the Territory. So much so that the project will be eating up a large portion of the monies earmarked for the recovery of the Territory in the next five years.
