The new Blowing Point Ferry Terminal will officially open today, Friday, January 20, after being under construction for some time.
Upon coming to office in 2020, the Premier Dr Ellis Webster-led government, including Mr Haydn Hughes – under whose Ministry the redevelopment of the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal falls, accelerated plans to rebuild the terminal and bring it to fruition.
Plans to build the new ferry terminal began after the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in September, 2017, rendered the old facility not fit for occupancy. At the time, former Minister of Infrastructure, Mr Curtis Richardson commissioned the old building to be demolished and the administration led by former Premier, Mr Victor F Banks, secured an Economic Resilience Grant of 60 million pounds sterling from the United Kingdom Government to pay for replacing Government buildings that were destroyed by the Hurricane – including the old ferry terminal.
Although the new terminal will officially open today, Minister of Infrastructure, Mr Haydn Hughes, indicated that it will not be available for use before the end of January. He said that the Anguilla Air and Seaport Authority (AASPA) will need the next few weeks to transfer the port’s operational equipment to the new facility.
The extra time will also allow for all the finishing touches to the building and its surrounding areas to be perfected, as well as allow the operational staff and other personnel to become fully oriented to and familiar with the new functions.
Minister Hughes noted that the new facility is expected to be fully operational and ready for passenger movement on January 30, 2023.
