MINISTER HENRY TOURS NORMAN MANLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Touring the airport are from left to right: Mr. Earl Richards, President of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), Minister Mike Henry and Mr. Charles Heholt, Deputy Chairman of the AAJ. .

A team headed by Transport Minister, Hon. Mike Henry toured the Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday, April 17, 2008.

The tour was designed to give him a first hand view of capital expansion works that are taking place at the airport.

Speaking at a Press Briefing following the tour, Minister Henry noted that the works constituted the largest the largest construction efforts at the airport since its opening in 1961. The Minister highlighted the fact that the government is in an expansionary mode and that the construction going on at the airport is reflective of this. He said that Phase 1A of the works programme going on currently should be completed by August, 2008. By the time the complete works would have been completed in 2023, he said that the facilities would be very near to first world standards.

‘Work taking place here is but part of the multimodal approach to transportation that I am promoting…this would take in other projects such as Vernamfield, Duckenfield, Boscobel, things such as the rail service, sea transport capabilities and our roadways…currently, I am pushing the efforts at addressing the Palisadoes strip of roadway which has become somewhat of a challenge in recent times,” the Minister explained.

Also speaking at the Press Briefing was Mr. Earl Richards, President of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ).

He gave a brief history of the project citing the fact that it started in 2004 and that Phase 1A was but one component of an ambitious twenty year programme. Mr. Richards said that Phases 1B and Phase 2 are scheduled to get underway as soon as soon as the current Phase 1A is completed some time in August. He made mention of the fact that there have been some challenges associated with the project but none resulting in any disruptions. He said that when the airport is completed, all Jamaica will be proud of it.

Some aspects of the airport works already or partially completed include:

• The new 10,000m2 three level Departures building
• The new Ticketing Concourse
• A new Baggage Handling System
• A Common Use Passenger Processing System
• The new two-level Passenger Pier
• Four Passenger Boarding Bridges
• Upgraded roadway system and expanded public car park and
• A more developed Cargo Warehouse Complex

Accompanying the Minister on the tour were officials from the Ministry of Transport and Works, the Airports Authority of Jamaica, the contractors and the media.