When Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves presented the Argyle airport project to the people of SVG, the Argyle airport document had on the cover page two military aircrafts refuelling in mid-air. The SVG Green Party questioned the co-relation between the military photograph and a civil airport project. The Prime Minister’s press secretary said the military photograph was an error.

On the night of Friday 16th February 2007, the President of Venezuela paid an official visit to SVG. The civilian airport, E.T. Joshua, was closed for traffic to civilians for a number of hours to facilitate landing and parking of the presidential military helicopters and Hercules transport aircrafts. The helicopters can carry sophisticated modern weapons. The SVG Green Party is calling on Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to tell the SVG nation the reason for the presence of so much military hardware at E.T. Joshua airport. Is it to protect and escort the President of Venezuela or is it a blatant and naked act of aggression and intimidation against the civilian population of our peaceful country. No other head of state in the world is escorted by so much military fire power. Vincentians must sit up and take note of the direction that SVG is heading in.

The press conference about Argyle airport shown on SVGTV news on Saturday 17th February 2007, showed the manager of the Argyle airport project begging the President of Venezuela to put the money to build the airport in the bank. SVG Green Party is calling on PM Gonsalves give an assurance that if the President of Venezuela gives money to build the Argyle airport, the Argyle airport will not be converted to a military base and that SVG civilians would not be caught in any crossfire?

Financial and economic analyses have shown that the Argyle airport is a misfit to the SVG economy. Operating costs and overheads will far exceed any revenue. The bottom line is that the Argyle airport will be a huge burden on the already almost dried up SVG Treasury. From an environmental prospectus, the Argyle airport is badly located in terms of the very high sea salt blast.

So why is the ULP building the Argyle airport? Political oxygen is one reason; not being able to fully accept that the Argyle airport is a misfit to the SVG economy is another. Or is there a hidden agenda? Only time will tell, but let us hope in the long-term we are not caught in the crossfire.

It is very sad if the residents of Argyle have been relocated to build a military air base, knowing that SVG has a peaceful and tranquil history.

SVG Green Party