"Done deal” on airport expansion may need to be reassessed - Fraser
This is the view of former Minister for Communications and Works and 3rd District Representative, Julian Fraser RA in an interview with this news agency on Monday, April 2, 2012. The operation of all airports in the Virgin Islands was under his portfolio.
Hon. Pickering on March 27, 2012 at the East End/Long Look Community Centre had announced that the Government of the day campaigned about the whole question of the upgrade and expansion of the TB Lettsome International Airport. "We have made a decision that we are going to expand the airport. That decision is made. I didn't come here to ask if we are going to expand the airport...We have to do other research on how we are going to do it. Kraus-Manning, the firm hired to execute the environmental impact, is scheduled to give its report which will be submitted to the BVIAA (BVI Airports Authority) by the end of April.”
When asked if he believes that Hon. Pickering may be contradicting himself, the District Representative stated, “I never heard it put that way before, that the decision is taken. I think he may want to reconsider his words when he says the decision was taken. But I know that his Government, himself in particular is keen on having something done about airlift into the Territory. No more so than we were, I will wait and see what take place.”
Giving a brief overview of how the airport expansion materialised, the former Communications and Works Minister explained the concept began under the current Government’s leadership when they first took office in 2003 through 2007.
“...and when I got there I met a study in progress and I continued it. The environmental impact assessment they are waiting for is something I commissioned a few weeks before we [the Virgin Islands Party] left office. And I was shocked myself when I heard the Minister saying that the decision had already been taken,” Hon. Fraser revealed.
Two town hall meetings were held to get the feedback from the public on their views on the expansion.
You lose to gainMeanwhile, Territorial At Large representative, Hon. Archibald Christian during NDP Radio on April 2, 2012 said that in any major development in a country “sometimes you have to lose certain things to gain”.
“When the existing airport present alignment was being extended, Conch Shell Point, which was a locally owned business by a local family was given up…was lost,” he declared.
Christian, who was present at both meetings, said he was struck by what his colleague, Hon. Pickering had said about Conch Shell Point. “…and I believe people need to remember that, our history will show in the past we have given up a lot to get more and that was part of the meeting that stuck with me.”
He also reiterated the point that Government will have to be guided by the information from Kraus-Manning, the firm hired to conduct the environmental impact assessment study.
The reaction has been mixed about the airport project with proprietors of Trellis Bay and Last Resort expressing concern that their businesses will be adversely affected.
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