UPDATE: VG Airport reopens!
According to aviation safety regulations, all airports must have at least one working fire tender in order to operate.
The announcement of the airport reopening was made today, August 16, 2019 via a press release from the Department of Information and Public Relations.
“Acting Managing Director of BVI Airports Authority Mr Clive Smith hereby informs the travelling public that the Taddy Bay Airport on Virgin Gorda was reopened at 4:00 pm, today, Friday August 16,” the press release stated.
On Monday August 12, 2019 a suspension spring on the recently acquired fire tender assigned to the Taddy Bay Airport in Virgin Gorda broke, rendering the vehicle inoperable and forcing the closure of the airport, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie had said in a statement on August 14, 2019.
Hon Fahie had also assured the public the airport would be reopened within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the BVI Airports Authority (BVIPA) apologises for any inconvenience caused, due to the closure of the Taddy Bay Airport, and “thanks the public for their continued indulgence as we strive to ensure that safety is maintained, at all times.”
See previous article published August 15, 2019
VG airport closure: Fire tender has broken suspension spring
On Monday August 12, 2019 a suspension spring on the sole fire tender assigned to the Taddy Bay Airport in Virgin Gorda broke, rendering the vehicle inoperable and forcing the closure of the airport, according to Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie in a statement on August 14, 2019.
According to aviation safety regulations, all airports must have at least one working fire tender in order to operate.
“As such the BVI Airports Authority was forced to close the Taddy Bay Airport pending the rectification of the situation.”
Apologising to everyone adversely affected by the airport’s closure, especially visitors, Hon Fahie said he was advised that the BVI Airports Authority is working diligently to have the fire truck repaired within the next 24 to 48 hours so that the service to the airport can resume.
$5.8M needed for critical works to airports
He added that it was just over a month ago that in the House of Assembly he outlined a list of critical issues at the airports which needed to be addressed urgently to prevent our airports from being shut down.
These emergency works he said are estimated at a total of $5.8M.
“And, as the Minister for Finance, I have given the commitment that your government is working assiduously to identify the funding to complete these works and secure our airlift infrastructure.”
Further, Hon Fahie said it was important to note that based on the advice he received from the BVIAA, the breakdown of the fire tender at the Virgin Gorda airport is connected to the critical work that was identified at the airport and which his administration inherited from its predecessors, the National Democratic Party (NDP).
In his statement to the HoA on July 16, 2019 Hon Fahie had disclosed that the said fire truck that was purchased in November 2018 was constantly being left exposed to the elements during the day due to a lack of a proper garage facility to secure the vehicle.
He added that some time previous to the February 2019 General Elections, a contract was issued by the then Board of the BVIAA, under the previous administration, for construction of a garage for the sum of $89,000. Somewhere along the line a variation was done to add an office and a watch tower to the contract for an additional $127,000.
“There was a reported disagreement at the management level over this variation and the contractor halted work. All of this was under the previous government.
“The work remains incomplete and there is still no garage for securing the fire appliance.”
Further, Hon Fahie said the fire truck is kept in the vicinity of the old fire station; however, this venue is not fit for that purpose, as is now evidenced by the breakdown of the vehicle.
“My administration is mindful that unless and until the government and the BVIAA are able to have the urgent issues rectified, our airports are vulnerable to interruption in service, and more serious consequences, that stand to adversely affect members of our traveling public and our tourist visitors.”
Urgent work needed to airports
Hon Fahie took the opportunity to remind the public of some of the other urgent work that have been identified for the airports as stated in the House of Assembly on July 16, 2019, including repairs to the administration building at the Terrence B Lettsome International Airport in the sum of $650,000, replacement of the control tower console at Beef Island in the sum of $500,000, repairs to the conveyor belt and updating of the X-ray machine at the TB Lettsome airport at a cost of $900,000, acquisition of two new fire tenders at $1.6 million – “which will allow us to have an additional fire truck assigned to Virgin Gorda as a back-up, and more. Adequate and proper garage facilities would be needed in Beef Island to secure the new fire tenders.”
Premier Fahie said there were among the critical things that ought to have been done under the previous Airports Authority Board and the previous administration, “but which were neglected and allowed to reach the point of collapse.”
“I again appeal to the public to bear with us as we work on solving these issues, and I give the assurance that keeping our airports running at the professionally acceptable industry standard is a high priority for your government,” Hon Fahie concluded.
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7 Responses to “UPDATE: VG Airport reopens!”
Thanks to all involved BVI. STRONG
Heard it’s a set up c*y is about self not country