PM Gonsalves says multi-million dollar international airport ‘practically finished’
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC) – More than 10 years after he first made known his administration’s plans to construct an international airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves now says the project is “for all practical purposes finished”.
Gonsalves, who is seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office when he leads his Unity Labour Party (ULP) into the December 9 general election, said that he was pleased with the test flights by four aircraft at the EC$729 million (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) Argyle International Airport.
“Well, the airport is, for all practical purposes, finished. Because, we are now doing the fencing, the internal roads are being done and you have a small part of the runway of 9,000 feet to be asphalted. We have put in all the covers for the two rivers and everything is in place with finishing touches,” he said.
He described Thursday’s flight tests as “a magnificent day that the Lord has made and we must be glad. We must be happy, we must be thankful and rejoice in it,” said Gonsalves who kissed the wet ground after disembarking an Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCA) aircraft that conducted the tests.
“I want to say it has been a very emotional afternoon for me when I landed. I know the journey which we have travelled and we are within touching distance of the finishing line,” he later told a ceremony on the apron of the airport.
“So that when I said that this airport is following all the guidelines and regulations and stipulation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, I knew what was happening. At the same time, those opposed to the airport were saying we are going to build it and then no plane is going to land here.”
Gonsalves recall a statement reportedly made by structural engineer, Hugh Stewart, in New York in the presence of Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace, that no aircraft will ever land at Argyle,
“ You have seen with your own eye that planes have landed and the regulators have done their work in respect of the approach light and a number of other tests performed by them about the safety and security of this airport,” Gonsalves said.
Pilot Jonathan Palmer, who has over 40 years of flight experience, and whom he described as “the dean of pilots in St. Vincent and the Grenadines” told the ceremony that landing was “very routine”..
Gonsalves said that a few weeks ago, the Caribbean Metrological Organization (CMO) reported that there was no need for any crosswind runway at the airport.
“I just want every single one of you to remember what has been said and the corrections which we now expect them to issue. But, of course, this is an election period, they will not do that. They will continue with many of their falsehoods, their lies, their distortions,” Gonsalves said, dismissing claims also that the government does not have the funds to complete the project.
The airport was first announced in August 2005 with actual construction began three years later.
“We started it from scratch and in less than eight years, seven years plus, we are completing it,” he said.
“We have moved four mountains and filled four valleys. We have moved 134 middle-income houses and caused them to be built elsewhere. We have spanned a river and a stream, we have moved a church and a cemetery, and this for starters.
“And we began it with a vision and an idea and a faith in ourselves and Almighty God. And now we are at the stage where we are finishing it,” Gonsalves said, adding that there were airlines that have agreed to service the airport.
“But I am telling you, and I will call them when I am ready. We have two international airlines out of the United States ready to come to Argyle. We have one out of Canada ready to come and we have also out of Europe, including the United Kingdom,” he said.