Minister responsible for Infrastructure, Communication, Utilities and Housing (MICU) Curtis Richardson, Permanent Secretary Larry Franklin and officials from MICUH, the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority (AASPA) and the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Services convened at the site of a new access road for the new Fire Station and Air Traffic Control Tower on Wednesday March 30.
Mr. Franklin described the clearing of the land at Wallblake, site of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, for the new access road as the first phase in the redevelopment of the two combined facilities. “Essentially it is the earth works and civic works in preparation for the general construction of the building” he explained. The work is being undertaken by two local contractors – Calvert Fleming of Superior Industrial Equipment and Derick Romney of Anguilla Roads and Construction.
Minister Richardson expressed his appreciation for the work everyone had done to bring the project to this phase and hoped that the project can be completed promptly.
The project is financed jointly between the Government of Anguilla and the United Kingdom Government. The access road is expected to be completed within a month’s time and the sod turned for the construction of the two-storey Fire Station combined with an additional four stories for the Air Traffic Control Tower is expected to occur at a later date.
Mr. Vanroy Hodge, Chief Executive Officer of the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority said: “The soft ground breaking ceremony for the Combined Services Building had been worked on for a long time, and I am happy that we have reached to this point”. He continued : “It is important that the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority works collaboratively with other Government Agencies and Departments on initiatives that are beneficial to us all. This can be considered as a hard infrastructure project, but, there are softer initiatives such as training and otherwise that also must be pursued to achieve our goals”.
Other speakers included Chief Engineer, Mr. Bancroft Battick, Mr. Rawle Hazell and Acting Fire Chief Mr. Shondell Hodge. The project will be managed by Mr. Rawle Hazell.
