Just about a month after a symbolic blasting in the hills signalled the groundbreaking of the Argyle International Airport, the Prime Minister operated a bulldozer to commence earthworks for the first kilometre of the runway.

 “There are some people who sleep to dream and there are some of us who dream to change the world for the better,” said Dr Gonsalves, as the work on the runway of the US$200 million, multi-nation-coalition-funded international airport began on Wednesday morning in the area of the road to the Rawacou River.

An elated Dr Gonsalves, announced that the runway design has been approved by the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority.

Iran is the latest nation to indicate their willingness to support the airport project, joining the ‘coalition of the willing’ that already includes Cuba, Taiwan, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Mexico and Austria. Dr Gonsalves said that he wants a couple of other countries to come on board.

The Prime Minister has been adamant that the Airport will be constructed by 2011.

Moreover, he contends that the building of the airport will signal the political demise of the New Democratic Party in the scheduled 2010/2011 general elections. He said that by the time the election bell is rung, the airport will be almost completed, and the electorate will vote his administration back into power to finish the job and fulfil the dream.

source of photo and article:
by (KJ)
The Searchlight Newspaper

Thousands of people descended on the Argyle area last Sunday (July 13) to witness what will go down as one of the more profound achievements in the history of this country’s development. 

That is the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official commencement of construction of the much anticipated international airport.  CEO of the International Airport Development Company (IADC) Dr. Rudi Matthias’ announcement of the beginning of earth works, scheduled to commence in just over one week, evoked a loud cheer from the appreciative crowd, indicating, in a way, a sigh of relief that marks the end of years of hard work and painstaking negotiation processes.

Dr. Matthias detailed once more the extensive work done in making the project, dubbed ‘A Coalition of the Willing’ a reality.  In fact, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, in his August 8, 2005 speech, noted that financing the construction of an international airport in this country, estimated to cost over EC$500M (USD 185M),  was never going to be an easy task, given the economic circumstances.  “We worked tirelessly bringing in diverse countries to ensure St Vincent and the Grenadines gets an international airport,” Matthias said.

Cuba, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago have already come forward for the first phase of the project, while Taiwan, Austria, Turkey, Malaysia and Canada’s contributions are expected to materialize in the later stages. Add this to the promise of US 16.5M from the Caribbean Development Fund and the government’s own contribution to finance the purchasing of properties, and all looks set. The project is being viewed as one of great importance in the continued development of the country. Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, in his read statement, noted that it has become essential to focus its economy on the tourism sector.

This was the general sentiment expressed by the countries represented.  “This international airport represents fundamental development to commerce, tourism and foreign exchange,” H.E Yoel Perez Marcano, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic to St Vincent and the Grenadines said in his address.  “When Dr. Gonsalves proposed to the Commandant of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, his desire to accomplish this wonderful dream, he didn’t bother to hesitate to give full and complete support of the undertaking,” H.E Marcano explained. All attention now shifts to Argyle as the next major step begins in fulfilling the vision of the present administration, that of the physical construction.
 

The government of Taiwan stands committed to assist with the construction of the Argyle International Airport.  Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves gave this assurance last Sunday evening, while delivering the keynote address at the ground-breaking ceremony, marking the commencement of work on the project.

According to Dr. Gonsalves, the new administration of President Yieng-Jocuy-Ma which took office in Taiwan in March, has honoured the commitment of the former administration of President Cheng, to provide assistance to SVG for the construction of the international airport. This guarantee (of support), the Prime Minister said, has come in the form of the exchange of letters between the two governments.

The Argyle International Airport is the largest capital project to be undertaken by any government in the short history of independent St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Taiwan has made an initial promise of US$30m to the project, in particular the construction of the terminal. Dr. Gonsalves told the gathering that against the background of increased prices, Taiwan is likely to increase its assistance. 

The moment the government and people of this country have been waiting for has arrived. Years of environmental studies, wind testing, topographical work and criticisms are now behind us, and it is time for the work to be begin in earnest.  Thirteen pieces of heavy equipment to be used in the initial phase (earth works) of construction of the international airport at Argyle, landed on these shores on Monday 19th May, 2008, from Panama, and were expected to have made their way to the job site yesterday.

It is already anticipated that construction of the first kilometre will present the most challenges, this according to the consulting engineer of the project, Cuban Leonardo Perez. Over three million cubic metres of material need to be excavated as a first phase, but Perez is not daunted; he shares in the vision of the Prime Minister in delivering a finished product.

“It is a very emotional day,” Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said at an official ceremony Wednesday. “The work leading up is some of the most involved and most studied,” Dr Gonsalves continued as he reminisced on the process leading up to the present, which culminates years of meetings with foreign Heads of States and other officials and symbolizes one of the more organized collaborative efforts this country has ever witnessed.

Certainly an entire nation will temporarily shift its focus to the Argyle area in anticipation of the beginning of physical work on the airport itself, to complement work already started in constructing a by-pass road. And now that there are unquestionable physical signs that the Airport project is on its way, is there any turning back?