Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley has once again highlighted the importance of expanding the runway at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, stating that the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the territory will thank his government for completing the initiative.
Premier Wheatley made the comment following a recently held meeting that involved government officials and industry partners from across the territory, which was aimed at sharing and discussing ideas regarding the potential expansion of the runway.
“When we look to the expansion of our economy, we have to look towards tourism, and certainly this government and whenever I have the opportunity, I speak to the fact that we have to develop tourism and invest more in tourism,” Premier Wheatley stated.
He added, “It is ultimately going to be our efforts. The efforts of ourselves which will lead to the expansion and strengthening of our tourism product and economy overall. So we cannot take a passive approach that if they want to come they will come. We have to put ourselves in the best possible position for our economy to grow and to develop. One of the major things that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will thank us for is expanding this runway.”
The exercise was organised by the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye Rymer and was chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mrs. Elvia Smith-Maduro, who presented a timeline on the previous attempts to commence the airport expansion project and the roadblocks faced during each attempt.
Minister Rymer thanked all who attended the meeting and informed them that his ministry is well underway in contacting the relevant authorities that will be crucial in the expansion of the airport.
“I know these conversations wouldn’t be the first for some of you. But after being given the mandate of extending the runway publicly, I thought it was important that we have this dialogue and engage the stakeholders on how to move forward with the airport expansion. Within the ministry, I want to acknowledge the Permanent Secretary as well and all the work that she has started doing in terms of this airport expansion,” Rymer stated.
“We have already engaged the Attorney General’s chambers and other stakeholders in terms of moving this project forward. But it’s time for us to get to the wider populace so that we can further these discussions,” minister Rymer further stated.