Agard: I think the water start boiling

Meanwhile, Sam Agard, an elderly resident of Mt.Pleasant, jokingly said to the Prime Minister: “Sir I think the water start boiling.”

Agard stated that he has been living at Mt.Pleasant all his life but he is cognizant of the fact that progress comes first. “If the airport is to help St.Vincent and the Grenadines I can’t get in the way.” His only desire is to be adequately compensated for his lands because he does not want to die “from stress”. {{more}}The Prime Minister promised Agard that all property owners at Argyle will be treated fairly and reasonably.

He said he is attempting to move expeditiously with the relocation of the property owners to meet the mid 2007 deadline to commence the earth movements.

Dr. Gonsalves said a committee including former Parliamentarian and Area Representative for South Windward, Sir Vincent Beache, Fiscal Advisor to the Government, Christian Martin, Dr. Rudy Matthais , Chairman of the IADC and lawyer in the Attorney General’s Chambers Camillo Gonsalves will be set up to negotiate with the property owners.

Additionally the IADC opened its Argyle office on Monday to enable easier communication with the property owners.

The acquisition of the lands, houses and other properties along with the earthworks for the international airport is estimated to cost EC$267.5 million or more than half the cost of the entire International Airport Project. Acquiring properties in the area is estimated to cost the Government EC$83.7 million.

The Government of St.Vincent and the Grenadines through the IADC will purchase the properties at Argyle using funds raised by selling lands owned by the State.

On August 8, 2005 at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown, Dr. Gonsalves presented to the nation a road map for the construction of an international airport in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. The airport is estimated to cost $480 million.