Business case supports airport expansion project- Hon Kye M. Rymer
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As such, the Government of the Virgin Islands is now in a position, “Where we can confidently move forward with inviting bids for the works,” Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) has said.
He was at the time reporting during the 4th Sitting of the Second Session, of the 5th House of Assembly (HoA), on May 8, 2025, and announced that, “The business case attests to the feasibility of the runway expansion project.”
As such, he told the legislative body, “We are at a juncture where we can confidently move forward with inviting bids for the works, having met the stringent analytical thresholds outlined by His Majesty’s Treasury Green Book Five Case Model.”
Increased capacity
Hon Rymer informed legislators that the ‘outline business case’ marks the successful conclusion of the project’s second development stage, presenting a thorough analysis across five key pillars, namely strategic need, economic justification, commercial viability, financial affordability, and deliverability.
According to the Minister, “Our territory stands at a crucial juncture; The current Category 3C runway restricts our ability to meet growing airlift demand, accommodate larger aircraft, and shorten travel times to key regional and international markets.”
This infrastructure constraint, he said, “...directly hampers our tourism sector, disaster response readiness, and broader economic aspirations."
As such, the proposed expansion, as represented by Hon Rymer, would enable the airport to handle larger aircraft, increase capacity, and streamline travel logistics. The economic projections, he said, envision a projected surge in annual passenger arrivals from 140,000 to over 500,000 within 15 years.
According to Hon Rymer, the upgraded facility will also boast enhanced disaster response capabilities, improved aviation security, and greater long-term operational resilience.
Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Maintain
"This transformational project is not just timely; it is essential for the sustainable economic trajectory of our territory. The outline business case confirms that the preferred option—extending the runway and expanding the apron—yields the most favourable economic return of all the alternatives considered."
Additionally, he disclosed that a mixed public-private financing model is proposed and under that structure, private investors would assume the design, construction, financing, and operational risks, while the government retains ownership and oversight through a wholly owned limited liability entity operating under the BVI Airports Authority.
The procurement process, he divulged, is to be executed in two phases. Phase one will involve a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure a qualified international airport development partner. In phase two, the project will be delivered through a Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Maintain (DBFOM) public-private partnership. A special-purpose vehicle created by the private consortium will lead project implementation.
To this end, he disclosed, "We are seeking a reputable international partner with a proven history in airport expansion and management.”
Additionally, Hon Rymer informed HoA Members, Cabinet’s approval is being sought for key actions namely, securing a development partner and to engage with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for the necessary fiscal governance approvals.
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16 Responses to “Business case supports airport expansion project- Hon Kye M. Rymer”
In 15 years will we have 3 x the infrastructure to support those visitors?
Running water, paved roads, reliable electric? Or will we just have a lot more fat and happy people in VIP?
You are supposed to be consulting with the people. Last time it was done and we did not even get to see the strategid report for some HIDDEN reason.
I don't remember seeing the other 4 reports. How can we know we have met the stringent requirements when their is NO TRANSPARENCY. All we have is the same old same old DONE DEAL.
We have LEARNT NOTHING from the coi. NO CHANGE from the coi.
We just have another DONE DEAL so that a $BILIION dollars can be shared amongst FRIENDS.
There is absolutely NO CONFIDENCE we can more forward until we see the reports.
Thank goodness for now at least we still have the UK that will be taking a look at the reports and they will hopefully use the information to guide them to how much really has the VI taken on board the findings of the COI. Not much of it has been reflected in the airport decision making process. The UK may even suggest the people should see the reports as a demonstration of TRANSPARNCY in Governance.
Our infrastructure development is badly lagging, while those in power now main aim is continuation power through politcal deceitful maneuvers, rather than seeking to represent the people of the B.V.I best interest, rather their own first, their family members, political associates, their friends, both here and elsewhere, and of course, those that care little about those unemploy, and minimum wages earners.
People of the B.V.I, the world is fastly changing. The "rat race" the Bob Marley sang about was, but is never. The "reach for the stars" attitude of the majority, at the expense of our neighbors well-being is as futile as the Tower of Babel ruin, because of disloyal intigraty promise keeping by our political leaders, and those that support their expectation for fame, and other selfish reasons.
In conclusion of this comment: Again, the Terence B. Airport does need an extension, but not hurrily at the expense of our beloved people of the B.V.I, and our human neighbors in the Caribbean region, and those worldwide.
Let’s publish the report for ALL all to see.
Now we must see the case. We must understand why eternally expanding is the only way the BVI can survive in a world economy that is truly up and down and will continue to be volatile for a long, long while.
We must understand how you intend to fund this. And indeed how you intend to fund the massive infrastructure investments we need to be in place BEFORE we can handle a massive influx of tourists.
We need to hear an explanation of what you want to attract these tourists with if you plan to destroy nature over and over again in order to get more of them? Will you reach a point where you say, screw nature, let us cover everything with concrete and buy sand from somewhere else and place deck chairs so these thousands of Chinese tourists can come and sit on them?
Without a vision, we perish. Without nature, we are a concrete block.