It has now been announced that Wallblake Airport in Anguilla will be extended to 5,606 feet and that the overall project will cost US $19 million. In making the statement, Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Osbourne Fleming, said that as time progressed it might be necessary to have a further lengthening of the airstrip, but for now the agreed length would serve the island’s needs.

“I also feel that with this extension of the airport we will address not only the needs of the American Eagle, but it will enable us to bring private luxury jets into Anguilla which now land in St. Maarten,” Mr. Fleming said.
He was at the time reporting on the recent visit by an Anguillian delegation to London for discussions with British Government officials on the extension of the airport from the agreed length of 4,600 feet to 5,200 at least; and for approval for the Anguilla Government to borrow the funds for the project. He reported that not only was it eventually agreed to extend the airport to 5,606 feet instead, but that the borrowing of the money was approved as well. In addition to Mr. Fleming, the delegation comprised Minister of Finance, Victor Banks, Permanent Secretary, Economic Development, Marcel Fahie; and Airport Project Manager, Fritz Smith.
The Chief Minister said that as a run-up to the start of the project, work would commence shortly on building houses for home-owners “in the critical areas” who will be displaced by the extension work. He went on: “To that end, I foresee that within a month to six weeks we should begin to build some of the houses to relocate a number of people. Our target date for starting the airport is September 2003. We have extended an invitation to the Minister responsible for the Overseas Territories, Baroness Amos, to be in Anguilla for the ground-breaking ceremony for that project.
“We envisioned that this project will bring economic growth to Anguilla over the next year; and we ask all our people who are able to be engaged in building the airport to prepare themselves. The Government is conscious of our island’s sustainability and we feel that with tourism being our only survival we have to put all the measures in place to ensure that we have a good product and the facilities to accommodate that product.”

Mr. Banks stated that the 5,606 feet meant an additional 2000 feet on the present airstrip and that the work would not disrupt aircraft landings. “This means that American Eagle, LIAT, Caribbean Star, Windward Islands Airways and all the other airlines that use the airport will still use the facility,” he stated. “If there is need to do any additional work, as there will be, on the old airport that would proceed in that same way that it proceeded during the time when we did the resealing work. There will be no disruption of activity.”
The Minister of Finance said the British Government had given approval for the borrowing of up to US$15 million from commercial banks in Anguilla and the Caribbean Development Bank. According to him, seven to eight million dollars was available to Anguilla under the European Development Fund, but it was possible to obtain a short term loan as bridge financing pending the receipt of the EDF money. An additional $4 million will be contributed by the Anguilla Government from the sale of shares in the Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) as well as from recurrent surpluses.
It is expected that the runway will be completed by March/April 2004.
Mr. Banks said the British Government was fully behind the Anguilla Government with the airport extension. “It is important to recognise that this project is going to be a critical project for Anguilla’s development,” Banks stated. “The fact that the American Eagle is changing its equipment from the ATR-42 to the ATR-72 will result in some significant changes. If we are not in time with this effort, we can experience real economic setbacks. I think that was the kind of argument that coerced the British Government in responding as quickly as they did. In addition to that, our arguments about the importance of the private jets coming to Anguilla was also very convincing. The suggestion that the runway should be 5,606 feet was really for the most part based on the fact that they recognised the contribution that private jets would make to Anguilla’s tourism product.”

Marcel Fahie explained that the agreed US$19 million included the cost of the runway and associated works at the airport and had nothing to do with the refueling facilities or new terminal facilities. It will however include renovating the existing terminal, upgrading fire services, security services, parking aprons, lighting and traffic control.
Project Manager, Fritz Smith, remarked that truckers would be kept very busy during the construction period. He said there would be a need for a supply of 200 20-yard truck loads of fill daily for up to four months; and 300,000 gallons of water every day. The fill is available at the Corito dump site and at two other areas on the island and it is possible that sea water can be used for the project.

If all goes well as planned, American Eagle and other airlines will be able to operate smoothly at Wallbalke Airport following the completion of the extension. The Chief Minister spoke about a possible arrangement which could be made with the American Eagle. “We have told American Airlines that once this airport is extended … we are prepared to give them lease land on the airport to put in their own terminal. This is not new to American Eagle and American Airlines,” he said. “They do it all over the world and we feel that if we can get that partnership with them, we are prepared to do that, and they have expressed an interest in that.”

Mr. Fleming said the talks in London were very successful although it called for hard bargaining and that the British Government had for the first time realised the seriousness of the airport extension to the development of Anguillla. “I would like to thank Dr. Aidan Harrigan, Marcel Fahie, Fritz Smith, Kenn Banks, the airport committee, the landowners and homeowners in the Rey Hill, Forest and George Hill areas, the British team and the consultants,” he added. “In addition I thank all Anguillians who supported the Government in this project and for me personally, I want to say special thanks to Mr. Bob Rogers for his encouragement.”

Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming (foreground). L-R: P.S. Economic Development Marcel Fahie, Finance Minister Victor Banks and Project Manager Fritz Smith

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