St Vincent to Open New International Airport in 2014
Six years after construction work began, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is getting ready to cut the ribbons to declare open its first ever international airport. The Ralph Gonsalves government is hoping that the EC$700 million international airport situated at Argyle on the island’s east coast, will be completed by the end of this year. When he delivered his budget statement at the end of January 2014, Prime Minister Gonsalves said the airport was “on target for completion by the end of 2014.”
St Lucia Featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Island Expected to Benefit from Exposure
At the end of last year, the Taiwanese firm, Overseas Engineering Construction Company, handed over the EC$77 million terminal building along with the electrical substation to the International Airport Development Company (IADC), the state company responsible for the construction of the airport. IADC Chief Executive Officer, Rudy Matthias, believes the airport could be completed as early as July, 2014. “First and most importantly, I want to tell you that our terminal building is now complete and we expect that by July 2014 to complete the final pavement works on the runway and the apron. So, in a sense, by July God’s willing, we are going to have a completed terminal building and a runway and apron having been paved. Essentially, that is our airport.” Prime Minister Gonsalves since gave Parliament an idea of the scope of work still to be done at the airport. He said at the end of 2013, 89 per cent of the earthworks had been completed and sea defence works, which began on August 12, 2013, would extend into mid-2014.
The beauty of St. Lucia is now on display for the world to see in the popular Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. The Time Warnerowned magazine shot its 50th edition in the island with its models showcased amidst the varied landscapes of St. Lucia, including the infamous world heritage site, the Pitons, and a fishing village. Models Emily Ratajkowski, Cris Urena, Samantha Hoopes, Lauren Mellor, and Hannah Ferguson, are featured at three locations throughout the island, including Soufriere waterfront, a lively fishing village, Malgretoute Beach, a calm mooring site for yachts sailing around the island and finally, at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, owned by the former accountant for the Rolling Stones. “We chose locations for the 50th anniversary edition that we knew would grab readers’ attention. Saint Lucia’s iconic Piton mountains, gorgeous beaches, and lush rainforest were a perfect fit for this historic issue,” Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Senior Editor, MJ Day was quoted as saying in a press statement from the St. Lucia Tourist Board. “We were thrilled to host Sports Illustrated as they shot the 50th anniversary issue,” said Tracey Warner Arnold, Deputy Director of Tourism for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board. “There is something almost magical about our island that clearly captured the imagination and eye of MJ and her talented SI Swimsuit team.” BusinessFocus Mar / Apr | 97