Commentator and Pastor Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said governments have been speaking about airport expansion for at least twenty years and that it should have been built already. Photo: Facebook

The Ministry of Communications and Works together with the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) held a community meeting on expanding the T.B Lettsome International Airport on November 26, 2024. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Pastor Skelton-Cline was speaking on his weekly show, Honestly Speaking on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, on ZBVI 780 AM, while the Ministry of Communications and Works together with the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) was holding a community meeting on expanding the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.

Why is the airport still a debate? - Pastor Skelton-Cline

“Here we are talking about an airport tonight...and people of the Virgin Islands we are still debating and discussing whether or not we should have an airport. Are you out of your cotton-picking mind?” Pastor Skelton-Cline asked.

He said this should have been a “foregone conclusion” on whether or not the Virgin Islands would extend, expand, and enhance the airport.

“We need better airlift that includes expansion of the airport in this country. That should not be up for debate,” Pastor Skelton-Cline continued.

He added that leadership includes listening to the people, letting them know they have been heard and their feedback appreciated.

This should be followed by the people of the Virgin Islands being told the direction that leadership has chosen to take, how much it will cost and how long the project will take. “That’s leadership,” he stated.

National security is a top reason for expansion expansion- Skelton-Cline

Pastor Skelton-Cline continued that following hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the need for better airlift was highlighted, as after the hurricanes the airport was not in operation for trave out of the country.

“They were landing supplies on St Croix for us in the Virgin Islands. We need better airlift in this country for number one, national security reasons.”

Pastor Skelton-Cline said governments after governments have been talking about this airport project and its direct effect on the tourism product.

“You still sitting up here as leaders after leaders, government after government, party change after party change talking about airport? It should have been built already...we don’t need a hundred-million-dollar airport, lengthen the landing strip,” he stated.