ZJB News Wednesday October 10th, 2001
The goverment is recruiting a project manager for the construction of the airstrip at Geralds.
The project manager when appointed will initially be responsible mainly for the design stage of the airport.
He or she would also be responsible for identifying the extent of land and property needed to construct the airport and supervise and assist negotiations with land and property owners.
The project manager for the temporary airstrip is also expected to deal with the issue of compensation for affected propertyowners and residents.
The move to recruit the project manager comes amidst continuing debate on the suitability of the area to accomadate an airport.
The airstrip is being financed by the british government and the EU tothe tune of $40 million EC$.
But questions have been raised about the suitability of a limited runaway of only 500 meters and the lack of expansion capabilities.
MP Chedmond Browne had this to say this morning on the weekly program ask the Government.
We have said specifically that it makes absolutely no sence to spend 40 million $ on a temporary airstrip that has no room or acessibility for future expansion and development.
If you are going to spend 40million $ you dont have to give us an airstrip that lands an aeroplane to carry 40 people.
You put the airstrip in a place that 10 years from now when all this expansion that he was projecting comes about you would have sensibly invested that 40 million $ in an area that you can in fact build and airport or extend the airport to the point where it becomes viable with the growth of your population.
We are not going out there asking the british government to finance a 300 million $ airport for us which in, that figure is totally bogus to start with.
What we are saying that if the british government has said catergorically it will not spend more than this amount of money then spend that amount of money somewhere where it makes sence.
If we only get a nine seater airplane to land on it in the 1st instance we will be more than happy and perfectly satisfied to take it.
Because we are fully aware of the fact that with our own initiative we can go out there and in time turn that 9 seater airstrip into a 40 seater or a 100 seater airstrip if and when we so desire and we have the capabilities.
What they are doing right now is utter and thorough ignorance. Member of Parliament Chedmond Browne
At least 12 house holds will have to be moved from Geralds to make way for the temporary airstrip.
Compensation for the households has been included in the governments cost projects for the construction of the airport.
Acoording to the officials the majority of households to the north of the runaway will not be affected. However a new access road will have to be built, since the runaway will cut across the present roadway.
Long term therapy services are now available on the island.
The Ministry of Health has established a therapy unit at the Hospital in St. Johns.
Occupational Therapist Tammy Foote, a native of the United States, runs the unit, which provides services for the elderly and handicapped.
Last week was open day and the residents of both the Hill View Home and the Margetson memorial Home were treated to music and dance from the masquerades.
The meeting called last week by the authorities to discuss the Maritime Exclusion Zone with fishermen has been described as positive.
Police Superintendent Paul Morris says the meeting was called to warn fishermen and mariners in general about the danger they face inside the MEZ.
The zone stretches for two miles from the shoreline from Garibaldi Bluff on the western side of the island to Pelican Ghaut in the east.
According to reports some fishermen have been violating the order, some fishing as close as the Tar River Delta.
Superintendent Morris felt that the large turnout at the meeting is an indication that the fishermen are taking the warnings seriously.
He also raised the possibility of establishing a Daytime Maritime Exclusion Zone.
The original advice from the scientists maintained that we retain for legal purposes and for sensible purposes the 2 mile exclusion zone.
However the scientisits and they will explain it far better than i believe that we could now look at having a maratime daytime exclusion zone very similar to on land.
Where on occasions where the volcano is less active that people are allowed into the day time exclusion zone, then it would extend to the areas around the island.
For the local fisherman we are retaining the 2 mile exclusion zone but when it is safe to do so and on the advice of the scientists fishermen will be allowed to go in closer to the shore and carry out their fishing.
However there are 3 danger zones which we discussed with the fishermen that will be excluded at all times.
There are 2000 meteres offshore between the Whites yard and Roaches yard and 2000 meters offshore between Gingoes ghaut and Ogarros quarry.
And a 200 meter offshore exclusion zone outside of Plymouth.
The scientists believe that those arse danger areas at all times and it would be unwise for fisherment to fish in those areas anytime.
On a daily basis its assessed. So its not disimliar.
Police Superintendent Paul Morris.
Following the meeting there is now the possibility that the Maritime exclusion would be adjusted but with strict conditions.
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