The new airport development in Barbuda is at the centre of much international
scrutiny and discussion because of a case now before the Privy Council in the
United Kingdom, however, while that is taking place Prime Minister Gaston
Browne led a party, that spent several hours touring the new facilities on the island
on Friday.
PM Browne was joined by Barbuda Affairs Minister, E.P. Chet Greene and Works
Minister, Maria Browne, during the brief visit to Barbuda, where they had a first-
hand look at the new runway and the FBO Building that will form part of the
facilities at the new airport.
The prime minister said he is pleased with the work that has been done on Barbuda
and it represents real development for the island. Soon, he noted, the island will be
able to accommodate jet aircraft with plans to extend the runway even further, to
allow for direct flights from Miami and other international airports directly to
Codrington.
According to PM Browne, and contrary to some of the ‘misinformation’ that has
been circulating in the international media, the construction of the new airport
followed all the requirements of the law pertaining to environmental impact
studies, etc.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne show on Saturday, the prime minister
referenced statements he made back in March 2017 at the groundbreaking for the
new airport, when he announced that the monies for the development of the airport
had been secured. He said work started soon after, even before the destruction
caused by Hurricane Irma. According to PM Browne, the company doing the
airport was paid, so one month or so after the passage of the hurricane, work
resumed on the airport.
He defended the actions of his government on the issue of the resumption of the
work back in 2017, noting that the monies were already paid to the construction
firm and they had to deliver based on the contract.
This fact, he explained, has now been twisted to indicate that the people of
Barbuda were removed from the island, to allow for the development work on the
airport to continue. “While, I have been doing my best for the people of Barbuda,
and while I was genuinely concerned about their safety with the threat of another
hurricane, they are now accusing me of wanting to steal their lands; what utter
rubbish,” he stated emphatically.
