Though the I-Group is proposing to construct a $1.8 billion resort and condominium development on Mayaguana, president Stephen Roy said a 16,000-foot runway on that island would be a major tourist attraction in itself.
"We're going to put in the world's longest runway here and make Mayaguana sort of the economic jumpstart for the whole MICAL area," Mr Roy told The Guardian while standing on the island's badly eroded runway where weeds were sprouting.
"The new runway will be 16,000 feet," he added. "It's hard to imagine that in remote Mayaguana we'll have the world's longest runway. The space shuttle actually only lands on 15,000 feet. If you have a long runway you can attract all sorts of tourists and investments."
The I-Group, through the Mayaguana Development Company (MDC), is expected to carry out the work. The entire resort development will cover 9,999 acres and is expected to take 15 years to complete. The new runway will reportedly be ready in a year.
"We hope to get working on the runway later this summer because we would rather do the asphalt during the cooler months like in December, January, February," said Mr Roy.
"On the one hand, we're going to get a lot done within the next two years but it is really a 25-year project to make this island a thriving economic area, not just in tourism and second homes but also in utilising the unique runway and deep water features."
Prime Minister Perry Christie said his government consulted Mayaguana residents and interested parties before committing to the project. However, while on a radio show yesterday, Free National Movement Senator Carl Bethel said the government did not consult his party about the deal, which Mr Christie signed with the I-Group last Tuesday.
By: MINDELL SMALL, The Nassau Guardian
