By John Myers Jr. Staff ReporterTRANSPORT AND Works Minister Robert Pickersgill yesterday signed a $191 million contract for the construction of phase one of a cargo village at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.
The construction will involve the erection of a 30,000 square foot cargo warehouse the site of the former Queen's Warehouse, which was destroyed by fire in September 1999.
Minister Pickersgill, in signing the contract at the Ministry's New Kingston office, said "This initiative is intended to substantially expand and improve the physical facilities associated with the cargo business at the Norman Manley International Airport."
He noted further that the construction of the cargo village "will enable the airport to continue to be a significant contributor to the national economy, and to ensure its competitiveness with other airports, both locally and in the region, which are currently investing in their infrastructure."
And in underscoring the importance of undertaking the project, Mr. Pickersgill pointed out that nearly 40 per cent of world trade, estimated he said at over US$2 trillion, is facilitated by air transport. He said it was imperative for Jamaica to establish an internationally competitive facility to meet the growth in this area and take advantage of the economic spin-offs. The Airports Council International (ACI) reported that air cargo increased by 2.8 per cent in 2003.
EXTENSIVE RENOVATION
The cargo village construction forms part of the Government's US$127 million 20-year Capital Development Programme earmarked for the Norman Manley Airport. Under the programme, the airport is to undergo extensive renovation and modernisation. Currently, work is being done to expand and upgrade the ticketing concourse at the airport, with additional work to extend and upgrade the runway to be started.
The 30,000 square foot facility, which will be constructed from a structural steel portal frame, will comprise a strongroom, a hazardous item room, an auction shed to be used by the Customs Department and a generator room, completed with a waiting area and an area to accommodate security personnel. Approximately 25,000 square feet will be set aside for rental and the remaining 5,000 square feet reserved for new office space for the Customs Department.
The construction is scheduled to start on May 1 and to be completed within 14 months. The contract for the work was awarded to HDB Construction Limited.
