Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye Rymer has said that the BVI Airport Authority has proactively engaged with Air Safety Support International (ASSI) to develop a practical, risk-sensitive mitigation plan.

Honourable Rymer in his statement at the Forth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly said the engagement was done after the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport was deemed partially non-compliant to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) framework in 2021.

The minister said following extensive consultations, ASSI accepted the proposed mitigation strategy, recognising it as a proportionate and contextually appropriate approach. Implementation of these upgrades is now underway in a phased manner, managed by BVIAA’s security and operations teams.

The Minister of Communication and Works added in further updates  that the Outline Business Case has been received pertaining to the expansion of the runway, and is currently being reviewed in preparation for its presentation to Cabinet for consideration and approval.

Honourable Rymer said, “This transformational project aligns seamlessly with our National Sustainable Development Plan and our aspirations for tourism, economic diversification, and global competitiveness.”

The minister’s statement in its entirety are available on www.bvi.gov.vg.

The Ministry of Communications and Works continues to ensure that the development and maintenance of public infrastructure is consistent in meeting with international standards and improvements that will provide an esteemed Virgin Islands tourism product.