$185,113.58 already spent on controversial airport expansion project
It also noted that the piled runway component has exceeded the project budget ceiling.
This was read in a statement by Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering during the Tenth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly on July 25, 2013.
According to Dr Pickering, government is still contemplating decisions regarding the expansion of the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, a project that has seen them expending $185,113.58 to date.
The airport project is one of several that has attracted much debate as many persons continue to express the view that the project is either too costly, not being approached in a cost effective manner or too extensive when the economic status of the territory is taken into consideration.
Issues of them contemplating the project if it is to be realised, surrounded the results of the proposals that were submitted by three bidders and the overall higher than expected costs. “The piled runway component exceeded the project budget ceiling envisioned,” said the Deputy Premier. He also stated that there were ten areas that were in the budgeted range.
The five companies that were originally shortlisted for the airport project had been asked to bid specifically on the runway extension, according to Hon Pickering. He also said the design work for the runway extension is expected to be substantially completed by October, 2013. This would facilitate commencement of construction in the last quarter of 2013.
While debating the No-Confidence Motion during the Tenth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on July 26, 2013, Hon Pickering said government has made the decision to move forward with the airport project. “I have done the best I could to bring information to this Honourable House in a timely manner. There is no information that I am aware of that is outstanding at this point in time that I haven’t brought to this Honourable House. I will continue to bring information to this Honourable House as it is made available and suitable for public consumption and certainly for this House to be aware of,” Hon. Pickering stated.
The Minister also made a commitment to ensure government upholds the Protocols for Effective Financial Management when it came to the airport project. “As a result Madam Speaker, every step of the way of this project, the United Kingdom government through …. Its government office is informed every step that we are taking,” he emphasised.
The Minister said government is taking every step to ensure that it remains above board with every step as it moves forward with the airport project. Also because of the unique design and fast tracked project approach planned, Hon. Pickering said that much of the works can be executed in parallel using a modular approach to save time so that once commenced the project works will be executed on a 24 hour basis using appropriately recognized ILO principles.
Mr Winston Wilson is the project manager for the airport project while Consular of Portugal has been engaged as the engineers for the project.
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