Bahamian Government Anxious to Recoup $50 Million Spent on Airport Work

Bahamian Government Anxious to Recoup $50 Million Spent on Airport Work
(The Tribune)

The Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said recently that the government is “anxious” to recoup the $50 million it provided to help commence work on Phase I of the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Phase I, consisting of a new 247,000 square foot terminal was completed at an estimated cost of $190.8 million. Prime Minister Ingraham noted that funding for the airport development project is provided primarily through passenger user fees.

“The government is anxious to get back its $50 million which it put into the airport. We are not in the business of funding this airport. This is to be funded exclusively by those of us who use it,” Prime Minister Ingraham told reporters Saturday after touring the new facility with several members of his Cabinet. According to Prime Minister Ingraham, the new facilities are expected to create another 150 to 200 jobs. Phase II of the project, which includes converting the old US departure terminal into the international terminal, will start soon he noted.

“We expect that announcements of the issuance of the contract to be made in the coming weeks,” Prime Minister Ingraham said. Regarding the work done on Phase I, Mr. Ingraham said, “It is a wonderful job. It appears to be very efficient and user friendly. It pleases us where we want to be at the head of the line in the Caribbean in terms of facilities as we are the leading tourism destination and financial centre and a place to attract business and for business to operate from. We think we are headed in the right direction.”

He said that today “the new airport gateway project will commence which will produce a four lane highway straight up to the six lane roundabout and before that is finished there will be a continuation from JFK to Prospect Ridge up to Milo Butler Highway and Tonique Williams-Darling highway and the third phase will continue from the six legged roundabout past the College of the Bahamas and continue straight up to Baillou Road from Poinciana Drive.”