The last, but extremely important public sector project under the Anguilla Programme, financed by the UK Government, is now under construction.
It is the Passenger Terminal at Blowing Point which will replace the previous building severely destroyed by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 – and was consequently demolished by the then Minister of Infrastructure. It is said that the new building, designed by Anguillian Architect, Mr. Raoul Vanterpool, will be a masterpiece at the island’s seaport linking Anguilla to St. Martin/St. Maarten and the rest of the world.
The contractor is Mr. Leroy Gumbs, President and Proprietor of Leeward Construction Company, which has gained much popularity on the island – having constructed and delivered a variety of classy projects over the years. “Over the past two years we have built Tranquility at Meads Bay – three four-storey buildings – in record time, and I think that is what really gave us this boost.” he said. “Almost twenty years ago we built Malliouhana Spa. We built some high-end villas like Tikela, Sunrise and Rum Punch – as well as a number of local homes. We are just wrapping up a hydroponic plant at [Aurora] what we used to call CuisinArt.”
He went on: “We currently have a little over forty workmen. We are going to increase our workers because this particular project, at the Blowing Point dock, is a very fast-piece and we will have guys working at different sections to keep things going. We officially started work here in August, and we have about fourteen months – up to September next year – to complete the project.”
The new passenger terminal is being built at about the same location as the former building. It will, however, take in a wider area of land including the site of the building which formerly accommodated Customs and the Police. That structure – now being used by the Health Authority for testing incoming travellers for the COVID-19 virus – is to be demolished.
It was a very busy day on Monday, August 30, for Mr. Gumbs and his workmen – laying and tying the steel for the first of two cisterns. Elsewhere on the site were scenes of multiple excavations for the foundation of the building.
Speaking specifically about the cistern, which will be at the front of the terminal, Mr. Gumbs told The Anguillian newspaper: “Actually, we are in the mobilisation stage. We are not fully started yet as the Health Authority is currently using the building, at the east, where there will be two mobile units for testing incoming persons. While the health personnel are on that section, we are mobilising on the western section of the premises – so that we would not have too much of a delay. We are here at one of the cisterns. The other cistern will go in the area of the existing building [which is soon to be demolished by the sub-contractor].”
Mr. Gumbs said that the passenger terminal will be almost 16,000 square-feet, and will comprise one and a quarter storeys. “I am happy, and I must say I am blessed, to be building this national project. It is something we have been praying about. God has a way of just doing things. We are a small company and we concentrate a lot on high-end quality work. I think we can do a project like this and it is going to be a masterpiece for Anguilla – and will make our company even more recognised on the international stage. I am glad that I am part of this development, as a young man.
Mr. Gumbs, a well-known and highly respected Christian gentleman, with a close-knit family, added: “The construction price is over four million US dollars but, I believe, with furnishings and other equipment, it could be over six million US dollars.
