BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, DECEMBER 11TH 2006 (CUOPM)
The new parking apron capable of accommodating six-wide bodied aircraft at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport will be officially opened on Tuesday.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has been invited by the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) to deliver the feature address and cut the ribbon to officially put the parking area into service, although it was used recently by a Virgin Atlantic 747.
Besides the new parking apron located west of the terminal, the US$15.9 million project included the construction of a new taxi-way, resurfacing of the existing runway and existing parking apron, modification to the draining system, installation of lights and construction of a new fuelling depot.
The Ceremony, which starts at 4:00 P.M. includes remarks by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), Mr. Linkon Maynard; Managing Director of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, Mr. Edmund Lawrence; Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan, His Excellency, Mr. John Liu, SCASPA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Mr. Errol Douglas; Manager of TDC Airlines, Mr. Elroy Lewis and a representative of contractors, Surrey Paving. The Airport Manager, Mr. Denzil Jones, will give the Vote of Thanks.
At the ground breaking ceremony SCASPA’s Chairman, Mr. Linkon Maynard said the project will see a significant improvement in the quality of the runway and taxiways and in particular a huge expansion of the aircraft parking facilities.
“This is an important development in the context of our tourism and this project is timely as it will be completed in time for the hosting of World Cup Cricket in 2007,” said Maynard.
The Project was jointly funded by through loans by the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).