Meeting Planned for Virgin Gorda Airport Development

~~Adz:Left~~ VIRGIN GORDA, B.V.I – Government is making a concerted effort to provide opportunities for the residents of Virgin Gorda to learn more about the Virgin Gorda Airport Development project and to discuss their opinions about that major physical infrastructural development.

Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE, and representatives of Halcrow Group Limited are scheduled to participate in a public meeting at the Ashford Waters Community Centre in the Valley next Wednesday, 16 July at 7:30 p.m.

The Premier told the Department of Information and Public Relations that Government is ready to begin the public education phase of the development project, following last month’s official contract signing between Government and representatives from the United Kingdom-based Halcrow Group Limited.

The Premier said, among other things, next week’s public meeting will offer an opportunity for residents of Virgin Gorda to discuss the possible impact of the project on surrounding private lands and the community in general.

He noted that the meeting will also include an explanation of the different phases of the project, and the responsibilities of Halcrow Group Limited in the development of the Virgin Gorda Airport. The Virgin Gorda community will also have an opportunity to be introduced to key representatives from Halcrow during the meeting.

“I am encouraging the use of visuals in the presentation by Halcrow so that the residents of Virgin Gorda can gain a better understanding and appreciation of the project,” the Premier said. On Tuesday, 17 June, 2008 the Premier, who is also the Minister for Finance, signed a $1.8M contract with the Managing Director of Halcrow Group Limited Mr. William Millington, on behalf of the Government and people of the Territory. Under the project, a safer and more modern airport will be built on the sister island.

The airstrip on Virgin Gorda was built between 1963 and 1964 by the owners of Little Dix Bay Hotel, who owned and operated the facility as a private entity up until the late 1990s when Government entered into negotiations to purchase the airport. It was later transferred to the management of the BVI Airports Authority. Halcrow Group Ltd. was first engaged by Government between 1999 and 2003 to conduct a feasibility study for improving the aerodrome.

 The Virgin Gorda Airport is one of four in the Territory; the others are located at North Sound, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and on Beef Island.