Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/674/-1/135/
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Rushing The Airport Project
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Minister of Finance and Economic Development in Anguilla, Victor Banks, says 2003 promises to be an excellent year in terms of the number of public sector projects to be implemented. One of those projects is the extension of Wallblake Airport which the Government has decided to move forward as quickly as possible. In order to help speed up the project, the airport design and supervision consultants, Scott Wilson-Kirkpatrick, now on the island, have undertaken to accelerate the submission of their initial comments following various discussions with Government representatives and other stakeholders.
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Fritz Smith - Project Manager
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In order to further facilitate the progress of the work, an Anguillian delegation will be travelling to London during the first week in February. It will comprise Mr. Victor Banks (Minister of Finance the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development, Marcel Fahie and the Airport Project Manager, Fritz Smith. They will have discussions with the British Government on ways and means of facilitating the airport expansion which is critical to the island’s development at this time.
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Hon. Victor Banks - Minister of Finance
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“The expansion plans for the airport were to increase it in the region of 4,600 feet and we are now looking to convince the British Government that perhaps that should go beyond to something in the region of 5,200 feet,” Banks told The Anguillian. “This is because the situation that is developing is that a number of customers who are coming to Anguilla and frequenting the properties here – whether the major hotels or the up-market villas are using private jets which are now being parked in St. Maarten. A considerable amount of that business can come directly to Anguilla. It would benefit Anguilla and would also create a convenience for those persons who use that type of transport to Anguilla.
“We therefore foresee a real benefit if we were to expand [the airport runway] to a length which would take those kinds of jets comfortably. That would also require the expansion of the parking apron for such jets,” the Minister went on. “We believe that the idea for completing this extension by August 2004 is realistic and we are working very hard to see if we can get the financing in place and the project implemented by September 1. We are having a meeting of all the persons who are interested in financing the project on February 14 in Anguilla. That will involve principals from the International Division of Scotiabank, the European Investment Bank, banking companies in the region (for example the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean Development Bank) and a number of independent financiers who have discussed this project with us.
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Fabian M. Fahie - P. S. Economic Development
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“There has been considerable interest so I don’t believe there will be an issue with the financing; but one of the things that the Government of Anguilla has go to ensure that it has in place is the sale of ANGLEC’s shares. This is an important part of the contribution to the project. The acquisition of lands cannot be effected without this and certain other counterpart financing for certain aspects of the project. We have to purchase lands, rebuild homes and other things. That project is on course and we expect that April 2 will be the day on which shares of the Anguilla Electricity Company will go on sale.
“We are doing an overall project which involves a number of elements. The element of the design is taking place by the consultants Scott Wilson-Kirkpatrick. They are on the island for the next week or so and are overseeing the progress to date. They have been doing the necessary tests and explorations which are required to present the project. They have been short-listing contractors and everything is falling in place.
“It is critical because everybody knows that American Airlines has decided that by December 31 the ATR-42 which serves Anguilla will no longer be a part of its fleet. We are therefore concerned about ensuring that we have a contingency plan in place beyond December 31 and hopefully by August 2004 we will be able to meet the airline’s requirements.”