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| Minister Perkins in Parliament |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (August 10, 2005) -- Minister of Communications, Works, Public Utilities, Posts, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Environment Hon A. Michael Perkins, has said that the Nevis Island Administration would not proceed with the proposed expansion at the Vance W. Amory International Airport in Newcastle in the absence of a feasibility study.
Hon Perkins made that disclosure at a sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly at Hamilton House in Charlestown on Friday.
Madame President, the Administration would never begin anything further at the Vance W. Amory International Airport until a proper feasibility study has been conducted. A feasibility study would be necessary to inform us as to the impact any possible further runway extension would have on the beach for example. A feasibility study would inform us as to what such a project would involve. It would inform us whether or not we need to reduce Hurricane Hill and by the magnitude to which it needs to be lowered to accommodate say, night flights for American Eagle.
I simply want to allay any unfounded fears out there, that the Administration would not embark on any physical work; any future expansion of the Airport compound without doing its proper due diligence, without having the technical information provided to it and thereafter make a decision with respect to any further airport expansion, he said.
Following the official opening of the Vance W. Amory International Airport three years ago, the Nevis Island Administration had indicated its intention to consider the possibility of a further expansion at the facility.
The Minister explained that his Administration had been actively involved in gathering relevant basic information and so far had received information from the Director of Civil Aviation and the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority and has simply been gathering the relevant basic information which would guide them to make a final decision as to further work at the airport.
Minister Perkins referred to a number of media reports and letters registered in the local media and elsewhere echoing concerns as to what may happen at the Newcastle Airport facility and had seen it necessary to address the matter at the House sitting.
Meantime, Minister Perkins also addressed the status of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) funded Basic Education Project, which is ongoing on Nevis. The EC$8million project is part of an US$11million loan to the Federal Government for the upgrade of schools on St. Kitts and Nevis.
Under the project, the expansion of the Gingerland Secondary School was completed in 1999 at a cost of EC$1.9million. Teachers received training and the school was outfitted with some equipment.
Despite a number of obstacles over the last three years, Minister Perkins said the NIA has attempted to move the project forward. Work on the projects civil component is expected to continue this year and will see the construction of three new facilities on Nevis. Construction will commence in late September or in early October 2005 for one years duration.
A new 4,000sq.ft. Special Education Unit will be constructed in Prospect in the vicinity of the Prospect Primary School. The Charlestown Secondary School will see a major upgrade of some 17, 000sq.ft of space and a new St. Johns Primary School approximately 13,000sq.ft, will be constructed at The Flats in Cole Hill Village.
The Minister said contracts have already been awarded for construction works. The local firm of Lefco equipment Rental will construct the Special Education Unit for just over EC$1million. The new St. Johns Primary school will be constructed by China State Construction Engineering (Barbados) for EC$3.5million while China Jiangsu International Economic-Technical Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago will construct the expansion of the Charlestown Primary School for EC$3.5million.
Moorjani Caribbean Barbados Ltd was the fourth firm that had tendered and pre qualified for the civil works of the project. Minister Perkins noted that the tendering process was held under strict guidelines and regulations set down by the CDB.
The Minister took the opportunity to urge persons to seek employment once the contractors had arrived on Nevis. He also sought the understanding of Nevisians when construction work begins.
