Steps are being taken to restore the fire-demolished San Andros airport, a (Nassau) Guardian source said Thursday.
Government officials will announce the name of a local Andros contractor who is expected to sign a letter of intent sometime this week to begin construction works, the person said.
Last month the airport terminal was destroyed by an early morning fire, which fire officials have ruled as arson. However, no one has been arrested and charged in connection with the matter. Investigations are ongoing.
The fire also destroyed the police station, snack shop, restaurant and bar, Western Air ticket counter and Customs and Immigration facilities. About 30 people were employed at the facility.
At present, the source said, international flights are being accommodated at the Andros Town airport, an essential part of that island which has the necessary facilities in place to meet the standards set down by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Ministry of Transport officials have already secured three trailers, which will temporarily serve as Customs and Immigration facilities.
The source said that architectural drawings for the construction of restroom facilities and an interim terminal building are also being completed so that they can be properly assembled.
Reportedly, Ministry of Public Works officials are in the process of looking at all the Family Island airports with a view to scheduling the necessary upgrades.
Following the fire, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Cynthia Pratt, announced that security would be beefed up at the country’s 16 international airports.
Weeks before the San Andros airport went up in flames, the Customs building suffered a similar fate. That incident was also believed to be arson.
“It must concern us, as Bahamians, when things like this happen, because it affects the economy of this island. Many families are affected by this type of behaviour, so we won’t begin to imagine what it means to those families whose daily bread comes from working here at the airport, the taxi drivers, the vendors those who work on the inside in the restaurant,” the DPM said.
Noting the government’s concern about security at the airport, she said, “I would like to think we are conscious about what we have to do at the airport. The police was here, but I am concerned seeing that we’ve had two fires in the space of two months. These are Government buildings. You are talking about the taxpayers’ money. I don’t know if persons realise what effects this can have an island like Andros, where we are desperately seeking investments to come into the island and this kind of behaviour cannot help us at all.”
By: KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, The Nassau Guardian
