A bird's eye view of the check-in area of the new T.B. Lettsome
International Airport Terminal, Beef Island, British Virgin Islands [photo
by Paul Wattley]

New Airport Terminal Building now Opened

An historic occasion on Thursday March 7th, as the British Virgin Islands opened a sprawling new airport terminal facility, three days less the second anniversary since His Royal Highness The Duke of York unveiled the foundation plaque.

And while the new Beef Island Bridge has not yet been officially commissioned into operation, motorists driving to Beef Island were directed to use one lane. The old bridge was used for motorists coming from Beef Island.

The new airport terminal, work on which began in April 2000, is part of a 65 million U.S dollar project, the largest and costliest single capital investment of the BVI government. The new terminal, four times the size of the existing building, has 19 check-in desks, it is served by a dual baggage conveyor belt, features television monitors displaying flight information, boasts high level security, has several shop units and accommodates 300 seats.
Work now continues on the expansion of the runway, fire hall and apron, construction of the new control tower and other airside and landside infrastructural developments. When completed by the third quarter of 2003, the airport will feature an extended runway to 4,600 feet to accommodate small regional jets and 70-seater aircraft.

Fundamental to the launch of this project was the funding and the Airport Master Plan Review by the European Investment Bank in 1995. The plan, prepared by Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) identified the need for the development over a 20-year period and a proposed phased development strategy. This Phase 1A development is expected to meet the needs of the territory through to the year 2010.

“The dedication of this building today is a cause for much celebration,” said Minister of Communications and Works the Honourable J. Alvin Christopher. “The old terminal building has served us well and I am sure that it is pleased to gracefully retire and have its foundation integrated into the airport expanded parking apron.”

His Excellency Governor Frank Savage said when this project is completed, the BVI will have the best airport facility in the region for a country of its size. The Caribbean Development Bank, the European Union, the European Investment Bank, Scotia Bank, the Social Security Board, Barclays and the local government, are funding the project.

Governor Savage congratulated the government for their “unstinting endeavours to bring this project on stream largely on schedule and close to budget” and the project team, including the contractors, for “their professionalism and dedication” to this project.

He said the staff who ran the old terminal worked under challenging conditions for many years. He congratulated them for their tireless efforts and said he hoped this new hugely improved facility would reward their efforts.

“As head of the public service, I call upon all public servants involved with the airport to live up to the aspirations of the ongoing Public Sector Development Programme, which is to deliver a world class service,” His Excellency added.

Chief Minister Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal looked back at some of the events of this airport development from 1958 and the part Beef Island played in the history of these islands. He pointed out however that the Beef Island Airport was not the first in the territory, as Anegada and Buck Island had airstrips long before and even Virgin Gorda could boast of a landing strip at The Pond, as when it was dry, it was used by small planes from Puerto Rico.
“The need for a terminal building was a sore point; the present terminal building was a proposed supermarket for Anegada by the developer Mr. William Kenneth Bates, who was granted a 199 year lease for the greater part of Anegada,” Chief Minister O’Neal recalled. He said when the British government was forced to cancel the lease, the government transferred the proposed supermarket into a terminal building.

From time to time, improvements and additions were made and later, the need for a modern, larger terminal building became apparent. In this connection, he paid tribute to all landowners with whom government was able to negotiate a purchase without having to resort to the Land Acquisition Ordinance.

Mr. O’Neal also hailed the efforts of Director of Civil Aviation Milton Creque who he said worked tenaciously at the job ever since he was appointed. He suggested that the new Public Liability Company approved by Executive Council to manage and operate the airport might want to retain his services.
“Now that the Terrance B. Lettsome airport terminal has been dedicated, we hand it over to those who will oversee many operations in the building; we wish them very well,” the BVI leader said. He concluded by suggesting that residents and visitors be treated with courtesy, politeness, kindness and helpfulness.

He said he would also like to see Members of Council, present and past, in addition to those persons who negotiated with government for the purchase of the land and senior citizens who have served unstintingly being offered VIP service when passing through the airport.

Former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sir James Mitchell, who is credited with assisting the BVI government with acquiring European Union funding in 1984 for the airport project, attended the opening ceremony for the new terminal building. “If the BVI government is getting through with a massive project like this, it says that the international community has approved all your procedures and the way you’re running your country and the way you’re running your finance.”

He also supported the extension of the runway, saying attracting regional jets is the way to go. “It’s the way to go also to develop your airport to receive planes carrying between 50 and 120 passengers in comfort, it’s all you want to keep your upmarket tourism going.”

Current St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was also present. He was in the BVI to hold talks with the local government on a range of issues.

During the opening ceremony, the BVI High School Jazz Band provided the musical prelude, students from the Bregado Flax Educational Centre did a prose entitled “Who Am I - the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and Kamau Georges rendered a special musical selection he composed for the occasion called “Fanfare”.

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