USVI Eating Our Lunch—Walwyn

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Clifton Skelton/BVI Platinum News

(PLTM) - As consultations on plans for the extension of the T.B. Lettsome International Airport runway once again commence with the public, Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Hon. Myron Walwyn has vowed that if reelected, the NDP Government will execute the project.

This needs to be done to effectively benefit from the tourism industry, he said, as when travelers use the hubs in other countries to get to the BVI, they siphon the benefits that should go towards the territory.

Speaking at the official launch of the party’s At Large candidates last night, January 19, he said, “Airlift continues to be the biggest issue plaguing the tourism industry. We cannot have visitors using two days of their vacation to travel to and from our territory, we need to get them here faster.”

“I love our neighbours in the USVI, but they’re eating our lunch. They’re eating our lunch because our tourists have to pass through St. Thomas to get here,” he stated.

As such, he says the expansion of the runway needs to happen, saying, “It can be done, and under a new NDP Government, it will be done.”

“We must make our territory more attractive to other countries that have a growing number of outbound travelers. If the flights are too long, we will not see the benefits of those markets. We need to extend the runway at T.B. Lettsome international Airport. It needs to be done,” he stressed.

He noted, “The way to do this is through the right public/private partnership that eases the financial burden on the Government and the people of the Virgin Islands, and has the least environmental impact as possible.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Trefor Grant, who is also a NDP At Large candidate, said that it would be irresponsible for the Government to not develop the airport in order to advance seamless travel to and from the BVI.

The former tourism official told those gathered, “Developing our airport is a must if we want to seriously remain as a viable, growing industry. Air travel is the highest used means of travel, worldwide. People need to be able to get here in a competitive, timely and efficient manner.”

“Improving the airport is pinnacle to the long-term growth or our territory and tourism products,” he said, adding, “The NDP will ensure it happens.”

Just last Thursday, January 17, some residents protested the plans to expand the runway, during a public consultation on the project.

They complained of the environmental impact, especially on the Trellis Bay area, in addition to the cost of the project and the Territory not being ready to financially support such an extension.

Plans for the extension began over six years ago, but at that time there was also major backlash from the community on several aspects of the project.

The runway extension project for the airport 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.

Government has disclosed 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.

They maintain 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.

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