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UK had concerns/raised red flag about airport project since 2014

- Former Minister of the Overseas Territories Hon Mark J. M. Simmons raised concerns in letter to Premier Smith in 2014!
October 31st, 2016 | Tags: Mark J. M. Simmons concerns airport project FCO UK
It has been earthed that then Minister for the Overseas Territories Mark J. M. Simmonds (right) detailed in a June 2014 letter to Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (left), an At Large Member, his concerns about the controversial airport project. Photo: GIS/File
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), left, has called the airport project a 'done deal'. Recently, because of the UK’s Freedom of Information Act, a document was released on August 5, 2016, which shows a detailed correspondence addressed to Financial Secretary Mr Neil M. Smith, right, from James Ballingall and Paul Illingworth of Infrastructure UK in which some significant issues in 2016 that the UK had with the airport expansion project were raised. Photo: VINO
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), left, has called the airport project a 'done deal'. Recently, because of the UK’s Freedom of Information Act, a document was released on August 5, 2016, which shows a detailed correspondence addressed to Financial Secretary Mr Neil M. Smith, right, from James Ballingall and Paul Illingworth of Infrastructure UK in which some significant issues in 2016 that the UK had with the airport expansion project were raised. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- While there has been a lot written about the Terence B. Lettsome International Airport runway expansion, a project spear-headed by Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), new information obtained by our newsroom shows that less than two years after the 2011 general elections the United Kingdom (UK) Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) raised concerns about the project.

Recently, because of the UK’s Freedom of Information Act, a document was released on August 5, 2016, which shows a detailed correspondence addressed to Financial Secretary Mr Neil M. Smith, from James Ballingall and Paul Illingworth of Infrastructure UK.

The information unearthed shows some significant issues in 2016 that the UK had with the airport expansion project. It gives the project an overall rating for the delivery confidence of the project as Amber/Red. This means that in the UK’s view, “successful delivery of the project is in doubt, with major risks or issues in a number of key areas and urgent action is needed to address these and demonstrate whether resolution is feasible," stated the officials of Infrastructure UK.

The UK also raised concerns about why the National Democratic Party (NDP) government was trying to push the airport project before the 2015 snap elections. Since the report, the NDP Administration has claimed that all the issues were addressed.

UK had early concerns about runway project since 2014

But recently, information obtained again demonstrated that long before it was made public two months ago (August 2016), via the Freedom of Information Act, then Minister for the Overseas Territories Mark J. M. Simmonds detailed in a June 2014 letter to Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, an At Large Member, his concerns about the project.

The former Minister told the Premier while he understands the Government’s aspirations on the VI economy, Dr Smith needs to “develop and articulate clearly for your own purposes as well as to build market confidence in the project,” referring to his concerns about the airport expansion project way back in 2014 about a year after they first approached the UK about the airport runway expansion project, having to seek approval under the Protocols for Effective Financial Management.

In the 2014 letter, the former UK Minister Simmonds detailed “that there will be some significant commercial challenges in delivering this project in a way that can ensure the continued fiscal sustainability of the BVI Government’s finances.”

With early red flags by the FCO about the Airport runway going back to 2014, Mr Simmonds warned Premier Smith that “it will also be important that your team continues to closely engage on this with my Economic Advisor.”

Is there still an airport project?

Recently, the Airport Runway Expansion Project has been mired in controversy with the government leaning to giving the work to a Chinese company with a lower bid and offering them many concessions over another company with local involvement, a decision that has split the Dr Smith Cabinet and the public.

It was also unearthed that millions of dollars have been spent on consultants on the airport runaway expansion project, however, not a ‘rock has moved’.

On top of all this, the Government has been silent for months on where the project is and when the contract will be awarded to move it forward.

20 Responses to “UK had concerns/raised red flag about airport project since 2014”

  • ... (31/10/2016, 10:59) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well sah
  • chad (31/10/2016, 11:21) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    what is really going on here the Government in the the sun shine is the government in the dark. Because very day is some thing else .
  • Topaz (31/10/2016, 11:29) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    It simply goes to show that this government is not prepare to listen to no one. Once their personal agenda is set, you can preach thy kingdom come. It's a matter for whoever opposed
  • sin (31/10/2016, 11:50) Like (5) Dislike (9) Reply
    Give the airport to mark, he will get it done. Done deal is a waste of damn time, what major accomplishment is his+ name on with the 16yrs + he has been in power, with 5yrs as a Minister and Dep Premier.
  • mo (31/10/2016, 11:52) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    Government policy. Lies, damn lies and more damn lies! They always get found out in the end. Please respect the electorate and just be truthful.
  • Bernie Sanders (31/10/2016, 11:57) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    This government can"t lie anymore, they have no more lies to tell those damn emails will sink them .The world is now seeing why the snap election was called but the Governor will call it early this time, no confidence coming soon, it's a shame we don't have a united opposition. .
  • zone 7 (31/10/2016, 11:59) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    Dem better give it to the crabbs or else pico is history
  • Political Observer (31/10/2016, 12:38) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Other than the VIP and other opposition forces being unprepared, the urgency for the snap election is becoming clearer. Anyone that have even a wee bit of knowledge about aviation economics knows that the airport land side improvement/extension is at best challenging. And apparently the FCO is/was also riding the wave of concern. Virgin Islanders need to stop their silence and demand answers on the status of the project. The culture of secrecy must end and now. We know thru FOIA requests that the Guv and FCO have written personally to the Premier about finance and economic issues. What actions have the Premier taken to address the concerns? Furthermore, what else is being cloaked in secrecy? Government in the sunshine, you say? Virgin Islanders better awaken quickly from their slumber before the nightmare on tropical isle street starts.
  • Cake. (31/10/2016, 13:29) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    Rite now the Chinese are our only hope if we need to get that Airport... Only the Chinese will loan us that money. It's only fair they get the best bite of the Cake. The Airport in the end will benefit all.
  • concern (31/10/2016, 13:44) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does the Bvi need a airport or Brenson and David
    Johnson need it ?
  • Yes (31/10/2016, 14:45) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    So our Parasitic Political Oligarchy is being exposed for the self-serving parasites that they are.
  • kkk (31/10/2016, 15:21) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why don't Branson let virgin Atlantic from Miami to Tortola instead of us given up millions to a broke company why is he here getting all kind of breaks and can't help the Bvi
    Why build such a expensive runway and the broke airline we buy will be using the present runway in and out
    Where is the people of the Bvi
    We don't need the runway let the airlines buy jets that could land as is
  • kkk (31/10/2016, 18:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    You hit the nail on it head
    Common not to popular in the Bvi but our political leaders don't understand the small people ways of surviving that's why they make so many unpopular no comman sensual decisions for we in the Bvi
    Educated political fool distroy the world
    We need street politician with common sense now to take over from the career politician without common sense
  • bojan (31/10/2016, 21:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ripleys believe it or not.
  • qc (31/10/2016, 22:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    2019 can't get here fast enough!
  • 1 (31/10/2016, 22:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The voters who care about and are outraged by this don't care enough to vote NDP out
  • Anegaga (31/10/2016, 23:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Anegada is the perfect place to have the international airport,leave Beef Island the way it is,and just do some upgrading.
  • anegada (01/11/2016, 10:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Then the white man with his 131 acreas will declare Anegada the white capital of the Virgin Islands? Imagine I landing on Anegada and taking a small plane over to Beef. We will be jamming the ferries when that time comes.
  • no cash (03/11/2016, 15:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The reason you have not heard anything since the project was announced is that every single financing entity has refused to lend the current Government money to do the project.
    If even the banks don't trust them that tells me a lot!


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