Penn warns on $80M airport plan
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has criticised the decision to place the proposed $80 million Terrance B Lettsome Airport runway works under the Ministry of Communications and Works, arguing the Recovery and Development Agency is better equipped. Penn called for a comprehensive plan rather than piecemeal extensions and cited past project overruns as cause for concern.
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has raised concerns about the government's decision to assign management of a proposed $80 million runway extension at Terrance B Lettsome International Airport to the Ministry of Communications and Works. Speaking on the Talking Points radio programme, Penn said the ministry lacks the capacity to run a project of this size and urged that the Recovery and Development Agency be given responsibility for the work.
He argued that the RDA was established to manage major developments and has a stronger record on large infrastructure projects. The government plans to extend the airport runway to roughly 7,000 feet. As an interim measure, the BVI Airports Authority invited proposals for an initial 787-foot western extension while the Government seeks approval from the United Kingdom for the larger project.
The extension is intended to improve operational safety and expand the territorys ability to handle larger aircraft, with potential benefits for tourism and cargo connectivity. Penn warned against what he called a piecemeal approach to developing the runway. He said a phased work plan risks cost escalations, delays and compromised oversight, and questioned how the ministry would manage an undertaking projected to cost close to $80 million.
To illustrate his point, Penn pointed to the Hodges Creek road project, which he said rose from just under $2 million to more than $3 million and remains incomplete. He described lingering safety concerns at the site and cited over a million dollars in change requests and overruns as evidence the ministry has struggled to manage complex projects.
By contrast, Penn highlighted the RDAs role in delivering the Elmore Stoutt High School redevelopment and road works at Fish Bay and along Ridge Road, saying most projects overseen by the agency were completed within budget and to acceptable standards. He urged the government to provide the RDA with resources and mandate to handle major capital works going forward.
The Government has authority to proceed with its chosen delivery model, Penn acknowledged, but he called on Ministers to reconsider project management arrangements to protect public funds and ensure timely completion. For BVI residents, the debate raises key questions about transparency, procurement oversight, and how best to balance immediate upgrades with a comprehensive, long-term plan for the territorys principal airport.
Primary source: BVI News