- FILE
Workers clear the Palisadoes roadway after Hurricane Ivan in early September
John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
THE PRESIDENT of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), Earl Richards, is expressing concern that a study commissioned by the government to assess the vulnerability of the Palisadoes peninsular in East Kingston to natural disasters, might affect the deadline for completing the development of the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in time for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
"I think it will affect it in respect of the timing of certain critical decisions because...we have a limited window in which to carry out the construction to meet a certain deadline in 2007, so I think that nothing should be done to delay that decision" Mr. Richards said in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner yesterday.
PROVIDE SOLUTIONS
According to Mr. Richards, "Any investigation or study that takes place should be such that provides us with up-to-date information to inform the type of engineering solutions that we should take to help to secure and preserve the penninsula, that should be the primary objective. I don't think it makes sense trying to prove whether or not the peninsula is vulnerable to hurricane attack. It is!"
The AAJ president said the plans for the development to be carried out under the first phase of the Government's 20-year US$127-million capital development programme, are being designed and construction is scheduled to begin in early 2005.
He said the project would need at least 18 months to complete the work planned for under this phase. This is to be done at a cost of US$62 million.
Robert Pickersgill, the Minister of Transport and Works, recently disclosed that he had commisioned a study to assess the hazards to which the Palisadoes penninsula, on which the airport is located, was vulnerable in light of the damage caused by Hurricane Ivan.
The roadway, the only one leading to the NMIA, was blocked by huge sand mounds and debris as a result of storm surges, preventing vehicular access for two days.
ON-GOING ARGUMENTS
Mr. Richards' concerns have come in the wake of arguments by some sections of society urging the Government to reconsider plans for the development of NMIA given its vulnerability to natural disasters, demonstrated by the recent passage of Hurricane Ivan.
Those advising against the development of NMIA are instead proposing that the money be spent on developing another airport on lands which once accomodated an army air base in Vernamfield, Clarendon.
The site has been targeted for the development of an air cargo hub as part of the Government's "Millenium Projects", which included the multi-billion dollar Highway 2000 development.
But Mr. Pickersgill, while stating that the Government had a responsiblity to look at the alternatives and possibilities suggested, said in an earlier interview with The Gleaner, "as of now, the policy of the Government is to proceed with the Norman Manley airport."
SCOPE OF WORK
The scope of work to be carried out at the NMIA under phase one includes: the construction of a new departure concourse, rehabilitation of arrival concourse pier or finger, a two-level building to separate the arrivals and departure areas, installation of loading bridges, a new cargo village, redevelopment of existing road and drainage network leading into and out of the airport and the reconstruction of the main car park.
Mr. Richards argued yesterday, "We have always known for virtually centuries the vulnerability of the peninsula. It is, however, important because it is what defines the Kingston Harbour as the seventh largest natural harbour in world, we therefore have an obligation as a country to restore what has been damaged along the peninsular, it is a tremendous asset that we have.
"The airport has operated in its present location for the past 64 years and the vulnerability was there from before those 64 years, that is not to say you can't have significant damage to it, but we think that any damage would be temporary."
