Nevis Premier Mark Brantley emphasized that the expansion and redevelopment of Vance W. Amory International Airport will have a positive impact on the island’s economy.

Project as Brantley outlined In his recent presentation of the 2025 budget, he said he expected “substantive progress” to be made by the end of the year. This underlines the Government’s desire to work with local communities and international partners to undertake large-scale projects that will directly benefit Nevis residents.

Commenting on previous project delays, Premier Brantley said access to the land was a long-standing barrier that has now been overcome with the cooperation of local stakeholders, and that He stressed that the issue payments will also begin soon.

Brantley envisions the airport’s improvements, including a longer runway, will allow it to accommodate larger regional and private jets, especially from major destinations on the U.S. East Coast, such as Miami.

A direct route would also greatly facilitate travel opportunities for Nevis residents living and working in major destinations overseas, including the United States. Currently, direct flights from such aircraft are only available to nearby St Kitts Island. This means the project will save passengers time and money while directly benefiting the local community.

Brantley believes the project will allow large regional jets, including Embraer aircraft, to directly visit Nevis (pictured here is an American Airlines Embraer E175). Embraer)

Brantley argues that private jets are the government’s primary target, but at the same time, discuss American Airlines may offer nonstop flights between Miami and Nevis in the coming months.

The government has been working hard address There are also local concerns, including increased noise pollution, which the company says will be alleviated by rerouting large aircraft over the sea. Several public discussion forums were held and a 100-page environmental report was also published.

Large-scale projects like this are at the heart of Mr. Brantley’s vision for Nevis. In this case, the expansion is likely to increase connectivity and enhance economic activity among Nevis residents, the diaspora, and international tourists.

Such large-scale projects across the Caribbean are often subject to delays as governments grapple with the competing demands of stakeholders and face bureaucratic delays caused by domestic partisan politics and economic costs. will experience delays.

Another recent cause of delays is the global pandemic. Countries such as Barbados and the Turks and Caicos Islands have seen similar projects scuppered by factors such as a drop in tourism and supply chain delays.

In Barbados, delay in conclusion In this case, a $300 million public-private partnership agreement to operate the state-run Grantley Adams International Airport completed the project earlier this year. It was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023.

The Turks and Caicos Islands government similarly planned another US$300 million project, in this case the construction of a new terminal. this was the first delay In 2022 and December 2024, the government will still accept first bid.

The above examples demonstrate the importance of strong public-private sector partnerships in development projects in the region. These are projects that ultimately benefit local communities, increase tourism receipts and create jobs.

Caribbean governments are looking for reliable partners to undertake and decisively move forward with such projects, as they have hitherto stalled. The Nevis airport redevelopment project comes amid a boom in global demand for these markets following the pandemic.

Significant progress on this redevelopment should be achieved in 2025 and we believe Nevis is well-equipped to deliver results.