Henry

SPALDINGS, Clarendon:

Plans by the Government to have a number of aerodromes in sections of the island up and running are progressing satisfactorily, according to Transport Minister Mike Henry.

Henry was reporting on his stewardship of the transport and works portfolio, since being appointed a minister in 2007, during a Jamaica Labour Party Area Council Three meeting at the Holmwood Technical High School in Manchester on Sunday.

He told delegates that $300 million has been spent on the Boscobel Aerodrome in St Ann and that the facility is slated to be opened to private aircraft next month.

Analysis of property

Henry said he was asked by Prime Minister Bruce Golding to carry out an analysis of property at Duckenfield in St Thomas to determine if it could be developed into an aerodrome.

"I have finished the analysis that the prime minister asked for Duckenfield. Duckenfield can become an aerodrome, but I do not want to fire too many shots because I cannot tell him about the financing for Duckenfield and I am not going to ask the minister of finance to make a guarantee," said Henry.

In the meantime, as for the development of the Vernamfield property in Clarendon into a similar facility, Henry told delegates that a memorandum of understanding to have work commence there is being finalised.

He noted that the kind of development that will be needed at the Clarendon facility will require US$1 billion.

Henry said the work to be carried out on that aerodrome is to be done in phases.

He said that on his return from a trip to Singapore recently, he announced that the private sector could take up the challenge of establishing an Aerospace College where young people can receive training in repairing a number of things on aircraft.

"You cannot repair the upholstery on the plane if you don't train the upholsterer," said the minister.

In relation to railway transport, Henry reiterated that the railway bridge across the Sandy Gully on Spanish Town Road is to be repaired, starting in January of next year, and should be completed within six months, making way for the transporting of cargo by rail from Kingston to Vernamfield.

Sea transportation

He also pointed out that as far as sea transportation is concerned, the Port of Falmouth is currently under construction at a cost of $150 million with more than 5,000 jobs created. He said that within the next 18 months, the port will begin accepting one of the largest ships in the world.

Henry also hinted that the prime minister is to make important announcements about Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Port Royal soon.

"I am going to be announcing a new dry dock to be developed in Kingston where there is bush now. We expect to employ more than 300 and begin to move this country into a whole new generation," he said.