Two fine points are holding up an agreement between the government and Vancouver Airport Services [YVRAS], the company likely to take over the management of Lynden Pindling International Airport, according to the minister responsible for aviation.
Despite the January signing of a heads of agreement, the company still has not yet assumed control of the countryﾒs main gateway.
Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin has addressed the delay and given a tentative timeline for YVRAS to assume responsibility for the airportﾒs daily operations.
“About four weeks ago, a team from The Bahamas, including Dr. Baltron Bethel who heads the team, and other technical officers traveled to Washington to meet with the YVRAS lawyers and their team to iron out the final terms, and I think to a large extent that was successful,” the minister said.
“There are one or two areas that are outstanding, and weﾒre seeking to iron those areas out and we know that as soon as those have been ironed out the company is poised to take control of the airport right away.”
“So weﾒre down to one or two fine points which I think will be addressed next week, and Iﾒm hoping that when they are addressed they will be shortly resolved.”
Minister Hanna-Martin declined to say what the one or two outstanding areas are.
YVRAS is expected to have a 10-year contract to oversee a $225 million airport development program at the former Nassau International Airport once the deal is complete.
The Canadian company is an airport manager, operator and developer, with contracts at 18 airports in six other countries: Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. In 2005, the YVRAS network of airports recorded consolidated revenue of $210.8 million and consolidated passenger traffic totalling 16.8 million.
It also appears that YVRAS is also advertising a post for Vice President, Commercial. The job advertisement notes that the company will assume management of the airport later this year, and says that the person will “lead, direct and manage the retail and commercial development and implementation at Nassau International Airport in order to maximize revenue opportunities and enhance the airportﾒs competitive position.”
The ad further states “the position requires a degree in business, marketing or a related field and a proven track record in the area of airport commercial development or travel retail, duty-free and/or food and beverage concessions.”
YVRAS includes a statement that the company offers a “competitive expatriate compensation package.” The ad appears to still be running.
By: Quincy Parker, The Bahama Journal
