On Friday, January 19th, 2024, a groundbreaking ceremony took place to mark the commencement of work on the new cargo building to be constructed on the grounds of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport in the Long Ground area.
A brief overview of the project was presented by Mr. Greg Cueno, CEO of AVIA. He is the Project Manager for the Airport Redevelopment Programme.
“Our Canadian Company, AVIA, is solely dedicated to the development of airports,” he said. “I have worked in a few islands of the Caribbean, but Anguilla is a special place because it is a place where progress happens. Over the next six months this area is going to be transformed into a state-of-the-art cargo facility, a new car park, and an extended cargo apron.”
He said that the building design has been a collaboration between AVIA’s Engineering Professionals and Local Architect, Raul Vanterpool. “Construction will be carried out by Leeward Construction Company,” he said, “and we expect this company to build an amazing facility that would be admired with pride by the people of Anguilla.
“The processing of cargo at the airport is going to change quite a bit from what it is today. Right now, the existing cargo facility is a simple stand alone structure with limited technological capabilities and limited security measures. It acts as a transfer facility at its core, but it does not provide the airport with any significant screening capabilities.
“The new cargo building, however, will be a multi-purpose facility with all functions in-house, making the process more efficient without reliance on support of the terminal building. It will be about 40% larger than the existing building, with provisions for expansion up to 25%.”
He went on to say that the new facility will provide screening of incoming and outgoing packages, function as a storage warehouse, shipping agents, an on-site pickup area for customers, and have a security checkpoint that would satisfy international aviation security regulations.
“There will be a larger, dedicated cargo apron,” he said, “which means that aircraft would no longer be required to occupy valuable space on the main commercial apron next to the terminal building. Overall, the new facility will eliminate congestion.”
Acting CEO of the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority (AASPA), Mr. Kendell Richardson, in his remarks said: “I stand today with much delight and a keen sense of pride to embark on this journey which is the start of Phase 2 of the Airport Redevelopment Programme. This Phase will begin with the construction of the new cargo facility and will continue with the construction of the new airport terminal building.”
“Today we want to ensure that we celebrate the success of achieving this great milestone,” he said. “The Airport redevelopment work started about a year ago with the enabling works beginning with the construction of a new airport parking lot, apron expansion and a taxiway that would serve this very cargo building facility…
“From the perspective of the AASPA, whose strategic vision is centered around connectivity, Phase 2 of the Airport Redevelopment Project offers significant opportunity: There is the opportunity to improve our physical position; the opportunity to create more jobs and new businesses; the opportunity to improve connectivity; and the opportunity to ensure our ports of entry match our tourism product.”
Manager of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, Mr. Jabari Harrigan, said the reason why the cargo facility will be located in Long Ground is because it allows the cargo services at the airport to grow and it would allow more space and growth for the proposed new terminal building area.
“With growth of infrastructure on the island,” he said, “we too must grow in our outlook to meet the demands of the future.”
The Contractor, Leeward Construction Company, was represented by Denroy Gumbs, son of the Principal, Mr. Leroy Gumbs, and is the company’s Project Coordinator. He gave an extensive analysis of how the work on the facility would proceed. He thanked all who had been involved in choosing Leeward Construction Company during the bidding process, and he specifically pledged the company’s commitment in delivering the finished project on time, with quality assurance, according to the standards and integrity of the company.
“This administration is one of action,” he said, “and like it, our company is one that believes that ‘action speaks louder than words’. While some groups would prolong work on a project to ensure a long duration of employment, we at Leeward Construction Company believes in getting in and getting out, delivering an excellent product to our clients in a timely manner.”
Her Excellency the Governor, Julia Crouch, noted that the cargo facility, which was also paid for by the UK, will be a standalone multi-functional building. “I am particularly pleased that it will provide additional security features,” she observed. “We are all concerned about the crime situation on the island, and I am glad that the new cargo processing features will help us to get a grip on anyone trying to bring things into Anguilla that should [not be] in here.”
“The success of this project is about partnership and us working together,” the Governor said. “It is great to be working with Mr. Leroy Gumbs and his team after the success of the Blowing Point Terminal.”
The Governor said in addition, that she would like to thank the Government of Anguilla for its hard work in getting to this stage. “Hardly a week goes by that I am not talking to the Premier or the Minister about this programme,” she said.
The Honourable Minister of Infrastructure, Haydn Hughes, presented a brief historic synopsis relative to the evolution of Anguilla’s airport. He made mention of several past leaders who had influenced the airport’s gradual development, and then he shared his delight for the commencement of the cargo building project.
“While we stand on the shoulders of those gone before us,” he said, “it is clear that this idea is not ours. We make no excuses. It is our duty to get it done.
“There is no doubt that this airport’s development will transform Anguilla’s economy, and the data clearly proves this fact. I want to say thanks to His Majesty’s Government for donating to this development. Construction on this project will commence on Monday, January 22nd2024. And I have no doubt that Leroy Gumbs and his Leeward Construction team will deliver.”
“I stand here with humility and gratitude to say thanks to the people of Road South, in particular, for electing me to serve…,” he said. “It is through sheer tenacity and determination that this administration sought out to ensure that those pillars of strength, endurance and economic resilience that was spoken about through the ages are delivered.”
The final speaker at the ceremony was the Honourable Premier, Dr. Ellis Webster. He spoke about monies earmarked for the airport redevelopment.
“It was Lord Zack Goldsmith, in February of 2023, when he visited Anguilla and gave the confirmed commitment that eight million pounds would be available,” he said. “So we did not have to worry whether it would indeed be available. “And, that is where we are today, having the commitment from the United Kingdom Government. We have that commitment from the tax payers of the United Kingdom that they will assist us in getting this project done.”
He reiterated his thanks to the UK Government, and he invited a round of applause for its commitment. He noted that such a commitment was supported by the former Governor and it is now being supported by the current Governor, Julia Crouch.
The Premier further noted that the airport project demonstrated an all-government approach and it showed how committed the government is in making sure that the programme gets done as its number one priority.
