A high class master plan for what will be an iconic Ferry Terminal at Blowing Point, on Anguilla’s south coast, is progressing very well, with the foundation work being put in place.
The six and-a-half million US-dollar project is the last of a number of the public sector projects funded, by the UK Government, totalling 60 million US dollars – the equivalent of two hundred and forty million Eastern Caribbean dollars. The projects, all virtually completed – except the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School – included schools, health facilities and other Government buildings which were severely damaged by Hurricane Irma in September, 2017.
Construction of the long overdue Blowing Point Ferry Terminal began several weeks ago, and is a critical tourism infrastructural project on Anguilla’s landscape. It will provide an impressive frontier for the island with improved and open sea link to the rest of the world. It will fittingly tie in with Anguilla’s economic dreams of expansion in the upmarket tourism industry.
There are two other proud main facts about the new Ferry Terminal. One is that it was designed by famed Anguillian Architect, Mr. Raoul Vanterpool, of V. Architecture Design Studio. The second is that the Contractor is Anguillian Mr. Leroy Gumbs of Leeward Construction, a highly-regarded local company with an impressive track record. If there is a third main fact – and there is – it is that the project also includes the involvement of skilled engineering personal at the Ministry and Department of Infrastructure. The funding was channelled through the Head of the UK Government-financed Anguilla Programme, Mr. Darren Forbes-Batey of the Governor’s Office.
The project was visited several days ago by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley, who was shown around by the Contractor and also met the workers.
In order to facilitate the construction by providing more land space, the building formerly occupied by Customs and Police personnel, was demolished last week. It was recently partly used by the Anguilla Health Authority team as a COVID-19 testing facility for incoming and outgoing travellers. This facility has now been relocated in a separate unit between the jetties and the current rental building being used as the temporary Ferry Terminal.
