Dickson Igwe. Photo: VINO/File

That is how the construction and management of many international airports is financed. A feasibility study determining whether Terrance B Lettsome is a viable private investment proposal would be money well spent in his opinion.

He still cannot see why the airport development is not done as part of a resort and marina package, handed to a consortium, or single billionaire investor. It would take financial pressure off of government and taxpayer in his opinion. Let the super wealthy ‘private jet owner’ finance the hangar for his plane.

The notion of a runway to cater for large jets on Beef Island must be sold to BV Islanders and Residents first, in order to go forward. If it is not sold, then barriers start to form, almost immediately. This is a fact of life in these Virgin Islands, as soon as any major foreign investment proposal is made.

It is a ‘mistake,’ not keeping Jack Public informed and involved, that various governments have made in past years. And that is why these ‘big buck’ projects meet the proverbial ‘Waterloo’ so frequently. Jack and Jill, the men and women on the street corner, must be involved from day one, and this is despite the ‘irritation’ politicians feel, having to consult Jack Public on various matters.

One town hall meeting will not be enough to get complete public approval in the present highly charged political environment. The airport project should have been a regular feature of town hall meetings and discussions on various forums over the years, right down to the ‘rope.’ That very public involvement of the citizen in the airport extension project would have garnered public support for the project.

When a government has the support of the man on the street, it is a wind blowing the sails of state, taking the boat to the desired land. Foreign investment in the Virgin Islands must increasingly get public approval to succeed. That is just the way it is in this country. And it might have to do with the fact that this is still a small community, with a village dynamic.

In any event, the matter of an extended runway, and direct airline connections to big cities such as Miami and New York, from Terrance B. Lettsome, has hit a buffer this early 2015.

Why: because the airport extension idea has got caught up in the 2015-2016 Virgin Islands General Election Campaign. That campaign has already started. The airport matter has become part of that campaign.

Supporters of the project see a larger airport and extended runway as crucial for BVI economic growth, specifically tourism; non supporters, see it as a waste of money. Why: because for non supporters, St Thomas possesses a large airport facility already, that feeds the majority of BVI overnight guests into and out of the country. And St Thomas is the next door neighbour, and first cousin. St Thomas is also a short ferry ride away from the West End of Tortola, and Road Town, the BVI Capital.

Non supporters state that Terrance B Lettsome should remain a small feeder, with frequent air links to and from Antigua, St Martin, and Puerto Rico. This Old Boy sees an additional air link into the USVI’s, Charlotte Amalie Cyril E. King International, from Francis B. Lettsome, as appropriate. That would probably be a 20 minute flight shuttle, both ways. Non supporters of the airport extension project, state that the hundreds of millions should be spent instead, on upgrading the presently poor ferry port infrastructure, and ramshackle ferry services.

Now, there is an economic thinking dichotomy presently in Virgin Islands politics. The National Democratic Party is clearly Supply Side Economics oriented. That means simply, that the Party views a business first model, as the road to El Dorado.

The Virgin Islands Party on the other hand is pursuing a Demand Side Economic prototype. It views Jack the Consumer and his spending, as the key driver of economic growth.

That split in economic thinking may indirectly be affecting support for the airport project. These are two parallel roads on economic thought that are a political dividing line going into a general election early in 2016. The two economic theories will be key determinants in the upcoming elections.

Supporters or non-supporters of the airport project sit on either side of the economic divide, it would appear.

In fact, it would not be an overstatement to assert that the airport project is a symbol of the political and economic split.
Politics colors everything. And increasingly, the airport project is becoming a matter of politics.

To be continued

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