The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE runway at Mayaguana airport is in its final phase of construction but is currently delayed because of an equipment malfunction and subsequently a part having to be purchased, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said yesterday.

She said it’s still an on-going process that has to be undertaken by the I-Group because of a Heads of Agreement, but the government has indicated to the company the project needs to be completed urgently.

Especially, Ms Hanna-Martin said, in light of last April’s accident where three persons in a truck lighting the un-lit runway were killed as the emergency flight clipped the truck with its wing as it touched down to pick up a patient for hospital in Nassau.

“Since then, we’ve met with the I-Group, we’ve explained to them that ‘yes, you have the obligation under the heads of agreement’ however it’s an airport that belongs to the Bahamas government, we want the airport constructed,” Ms Hanna-Martin said.

“We want it constructed because only small aircraft can go in there. There’s a long flight from New Providence. It affects the ability of medical personnel getting in there form Inagua - which used to be the case, coming once or twice a week, so that has hindered access to medical care at the level. We’ve explained to them the urgency of it.”

In addition to the I-group, the Ministry of Works and the Department of Civil Aviation are also involved in the process.

“There’s been some dialogue about issues, the quality of materials used etc, but where we are now - we’re at the paving stage, which is the final phase of this runway,” Ms Hanna-Martin said.

“However there has been an equipment malfunction and so a part had to be purchased. I’m told it’s a 350lbs part which has been purchased and is being transported to Nassau and they indicated they will transport it by air to Mayaguana. So that’s where it is - it’s to do with the paving aspect.”

The minister was reluctant to give a time-line, she said, because it depends on when the part arrives and is transported to Mayaguana.

MICAL MP V Alfred Gray said yesterday work at the airport will not be completed before the end of November.

Ms Hanna-Martin said she didn’t know what information he had but according to a phone conference call she had on Monday with the I-Group, once the part arrives, it will only take two weeks to complete the runway.

She said temporary solar lights are currently on the runway with permanent ones in storage once the runway is complete.

Mr Gray had said the work would not be completed before the end of November because of government concerns over the quality of the construction.

This came after residents in Mayaguana were forced to use car lights to illuminate the runway on Sunday night for an air ambulance aircraft to land.

Mr Gray said the situation on Sunday was an emergency and due to a system failure, the residents had to resort to “ancient methods”.

He said the runway, which was scheduled to be completed by the beginning of October will not be completed until November, maybe even later.

The I-Group Management Company said last month that work on the runway was on time and on budget.