$2.4M To Compensate Land Owners
The Anguilla Government has no choice but to start work on the extension of Wallblake Airport in the New Year. Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Victor Banks, emphasised this fact while delivering the 2003 Budget Address in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, December 10.

Leader of the Opposition, Hubert Hughes and colleagues Albert Hughes and Edison Baird at Tuesday's Budget Address

“There will be rapid progress on this project over the next twelve months,” he said. “Time is running out. American Eagle has stated that it will be phasing out its ATR 42s in the medium term at the most. There is no time for further delay. The engineering consultants have been chosen to prepare the construction documents, cost estimates and contract documents and to supervise the construction.”
Mr. Banks continued: “Perhaps the most critical allocation included in the proposed 2003 Capital Expenditure is $2.4 million for the payment of compensation to land owners for the acquisition of their land and buildings, be they homes and places of business for the extension of the Wallblake Airport runway. I am aware Mr. Speaker that this sum is likely to be insufficient to meet all of the costs of compensation for the first phase of the runway extension, which will lengthen the runway to 1,400 metres or approximately 4,600 feet. It will however go a long way in enabling the Government to meet its obligations to the residents and landowners whose properties will need to be acquired within the coming months. We will provide adequate compensation including relocation based on the mutual agreement and satisfaction of those affected and the Government.”

Mr. Banks offered his profound gratitude to the people of Rey Hill and the Forest whose properties will be acquired for their patience, cooperation and support of the project. He was most grateful to them, above all, for their patriotism in willingly agreeing to be displaced from their homes and businesses in the interest of the greater good of all in Anguilla. “Unlike others who strongly support development so long as no project is located in their backyards, you have demonstrated sensitivity to the fact that development can only be accompanied if all of us are willing to make reasonable sacrifices,” Banks said of the soon-to-be displaced residents.

Meanwhile, the Minister announced that the Government had recently appointed Fritz Smith, Director of Construction and Housing at the Department to succeed, Franklin Connor who had been the Special Assistant serving as Project Manager. Mr. Banks added that Mr. Smith was already on the ball.

The Government side of the House of Assembly for the presentation of the Budget Address on Tuesday December 10th, 2002

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