Acting Premier Curtis Richardson and Mr. Fabian Fahie
The planned expansion of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport in Anguilla has entered a new strategic phase with a Caribbean-based company, Kennedy Consulting Inc., providing advice on the project.
The Principal of the firm, Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh, a Trinidad national, based in Barbados, met with officials of the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority and other officials on Tuesday, June 4, for introductory discussions.
Chairman of the Port Authority, Mr. Fabian M. Fahie, told The Anguillian newspaper: “This meeting is an introduction and briefing of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and a few other senior officials by the Air and Sea Ports Authority, of the Principal Consultant of a firm called Kennedy Consulting Inc. He was recently approved by the Board to provide us with advice, and also to assist us in our representation with various agencies and entities that can help with the expansion of the airport; and also the ongoing development of the sea ports beyond the current projects funded by the British Government.”
Mr. Fahie explained that the above funding “covers certain basic needs, but does not cover all that we would need especially to get Anguilla in a position that, with further growth in the economy, we will really have top class airport and seaport services.”
Mr. Fahie went on: “The Airport project is the key project that advisors are working with us on. We already have another set of advisors who are working on the business case to present to the British Government to give us the green light to go ahead with the expansion of the airport. Beyond that, we also have to engage other consultants, down the line, as we finalise the overall plan for the airport because it is fairly complex, given that the Government of Anguilla cannot borrow for the projects. But we must get the airport extended, and so we will have to look to agencies and entities in the private sector which are involved in airport development to come onboard with us.”
Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Curtis Richardson, who at the time was the Acting Premier, in the absence overseas of Premier Victor Banks, commented:
“We have had a very good run with getting the airport expansion going forward [in the planning stage]. We have come a mighty long way from the concept of actually doing nothing to expand the airport to accommodate the Boeing 747 jets. This meeting is in keeping with the mission that the Government has for the airport expansion, and for increasing the traffic at the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.
“As you know, we have had a very challenging matter to deal with which I met when I came to office – and which is about 15 or 17 years old and has to do with land issues for the airport expansion. This meeting will help us to bring in experts on financial arrangements that can help to sort out the challenges that the land issues are bringing with regards to the airport expansion project.”
The overall cost of the airport expansion is estimated at over 60 million US dollars – no doubt a matter on which the visiting consultant may also advise on.
According to Mr. Fahie, Dr. Swaratsingh has a storied biography so far. At one point he was a Catholic Priest and served in Anguilla on short stints several times. He was an Army Chaplain; and a Deputy Minister in the Trinidad Government. In his present capacity, he has worked with several Caribbean Governments and has done work with a number of private companies in the region; and is the holder of PhD degrees.
