ST KITTS-Nevis breaks ground on major airport expansion project.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has officially launched a multi-million-dollar expansion and modernization project at the Vance W. Amory International Airport, a development officials say will significantly improve air connectivity, boost tourism and create new economic opportunities for the island.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on July 1 at the airport in Newcastle, marked the start of what the administration described as a transformative investment to strengthen Nevis’ tourism sector and support long-term economic growth.

Premier of Nevis and Minister of Tourism, Finance and Economic Planning, Mark Brantley, said the project represents a historic milestone for the island and an investment in future generations.

“I want our people to consider that we are gathered here together at a point where we are making history at this groundbreaking for purposes of an investment which we feel will propel Nevis for the next generation,” Brantley said.

“We are here because this government is committed to moving this island to the next level. We are doing what we are doing for those who are coming, the next generation. We all understand that having an advanced Vance W. Amory International Airport is good for Nevis and good for the Federation.”

Brantley said the project is the result of more than a decade of planning, technical assessments, and financial negotiations undertaken by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM)-led administration.

He said the upgraded airport will improve access to Nevis, enhance the visitor experience, stimulate economic activity, and create jobs during both the construction and operational phases.

Officials expect the project to generate employment for local contractors, tradespeople, laborers and service providers during construction, while creating additional permanent positions in airport operations, security, customs and immigration, maintenance and ground handling services after completion.

The premier acknowledged that bringing the project to fruition had required overcoming numerous technical, financial, and logistical challenges.

“Sometimes we have to be patient and appreciate that projects take time. This effort has been a relentless, ongoing effort, but to get to where we are today, we have had to navigate the technical and practical issues that are involved,” he said.

“We had to design and redesign. We had to go back to the drawing board, and when we thought we had a plan, we had to get financing for that.”

Brantley thanked the federal government for guaranteeing the NIA’s EC$20 million loan through the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, the Government of Taiwan for providing a US$20 million concessional loan, and businessman Patrick Drahi for contributing US$25 million towards the project.

Taiwan’s Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, Edward Ling-Wen Tao, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Nevis’ development agenda and expressed confidence in the success of the airport expansion project.

Brantley said the project is the result of more than a decade of planning, technical assessments, and financial negotiations undertaken by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM)-led administration.

He said the upgraded airport will improve access to Nevis, enhance the visitor experience, stimulate economic activity, and create jobs during both the construction and operational phases.

Officials expect the project to generate employment for local contractors, tradespeople, laborers and service providers during construction, while creating additional permanent positions in airport operations, security, customs and immigration, maintenance and ground handling services after completion.

The premier acknowledged that bringing the project to fruition had required overcoming numerous technical, financial, and logistical challenges.

“Sometimes we have to be patient and appreciate that projects take time. This effort has been a relentless, ongoing effort, but to get to where we are today, we have had to navigate the technical and practical issues that are involved,” he said.

“We had to design and redesign. We had to go back to the drawing board, and when we thought we had a plan, we had to get financing for that.”

Brantley thanked the federal government for guaranteeing the NIA’s EC$20 million loan through the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, the Government of Taiwan for providing a US$20 million concessional loan, and businessman Patrick Drahi for contributing US$25 million towards the project.

Taiwan’s Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, Edward Ling-Wen Tao, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Nevis’ development agenda and expressed confidence in the success of the airport expansion project.