Second District Rep not convinced Territory needs expanded airport
During the budget debate held in the Fifth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly yesterday, December 18, 2012 he reiterated that he’d said this previously, “You can build an airport in Anegada for a fraction of [the cost] of one in Beef Island.”
He continued, “we are willing to put the country in debt to build an airport that is way beyond what we can borrow and we have other alternatives.”
He further questioned when the outlying islands such as Anegada and Jost Van Dyke would be used to assist in the growth of the rest of the Virgin Islands, adding that all the people should come together to make the Virgin Islands work and to expand and grow the economy.
“An airport on Anegada would make a world of difference,” he said.
At the beginning of his speech during the budget debate, Hon. Christopher said “I want to make it abundantly clear, in principle I support the budget before us… ”
Hon. Christopher, however, questioned whether the proposed bill was designed and structured to impact the people of the Virgin Islands for the greater good or whether it was simply placed to look good for the re-election purposes of its proponents.
The Second Disctrict Representative recalled that he had served in the House in various terms under several portfolios including as Minister for Communications and Works when several major projects were constructed including the dual carriageway, airport and cruise ship dock among others.
“… so to tell me Madam Speaker, that you’re going to tender and you’re going to give out the cruise ship dock… well I don’t understand and you can’t explain to me what is going on… it confuses me…” he said.
Hon. Christopher was insistent that when money is being managed, you have to be certain of what you’re going to do, “if you are going to build a house, you’ll have an idea of what it’s going to cost you.”
He suggested that thoughts should be placed towards maintaining what we have and going back to where we were previously.
According to the Second Disctrict Representative, it was said before, and he had heard and seen the figures, “at Beef Island we have a problem with airlift, but yet we are saying on the other hand that we have gone from 600, 000 (visitors) coming in to Beef Island or travelling to Beef Island per year and we are down to 400,000; we have gone from having 12 American Eagle flights coming in and we are down to 3; we have gone from hotel accommodation to xyz to… and we are saying we need airlift.”
He also noted that St John in the USVI had more tourists than the combined Virgin Islands and did so without the services of an airport. “I am not saying that we don’t need an airport, but the cost Madam Speaker, as we stand now compared to where we are at financially; can we afford it?” he asked.
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16 Responses to “Second District Rep not convinced Territory needs expanded airport ”
For clarity, I agree with improving the current Airport there, but not putting an international airport there. Makes absolutely no sense at all and would cost much more than what’s being proposed here. Beef already have all the necessary support structure in place for an airport. Simply having to work on Anegada in itself, getting the machinery, labor, mobilising, will make the project cost 5 times more than it would on Tortola. Leave Anegada alone. Extend our airport, build a proper hotel at Beef, partner or lease Prospect to a decent chain. Build the golf course in VG as again, they already have the necessary things in place to make it work. RELIABLE ferry, decent hotels/lodging and the elite clientele. Let’s get moving and stop bickering over nonsense. Alvin messsed up the Bridge, AIrport extension and dual carriage way. He was fired by both major Governments. He just got his hands untied since last year? Who’s he to be giving advice? No sah.
How many of you will fly into Anegada from Miami, then Ferry to Tortola? lmao! ignorance is bliss.
I'm sure TBLIA(Beef) isn't going to disappear, and the smaller inter-Island
Airlines would be more than happy to connect Beef and Virgin Gorda as well as other
territories close by from Anegada. Just a thought, which can be furthered.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/
its 60's thinking an airport like this idea,with so many big jet big hubs around us what is everyone thinking,improve ferries get people here who love to come for its smallness not its bigness,big jets over East End and Virgin Gorda will spoil these beautiful islands,Improve the infrastructure first,then once you have the capacity then you can think big.Just because Cruise Ships look big who benefits,taxis and the 10 percenters,its all out of proportion. Why is the BVI so beautiful because its different and not spoilt by big jets and big this and that.BE careful what you wish for. Why copy when you can be unique in this globalised world.Keep what you have for as long as possible just make it better.Sewage,roads,electricity,sustainable power,dare I say hospital,health care.Look after your history reclaim the old ruins thats what people will and want to come and see Etc,blah blah no one is listening it seems,its kinda sad really....shame on the influence of the big USA. Peole losing their identity by not caring for their history.Bye bye BVI,lost in the whirlpool of greed and selfish aspirations.Money is the root of all evil for sure.