Hectic schedule ahead for the IADC

The Argyle International Airport is only one week behind schedule and as an intensive work programme is planned for 2009, things are still on track for a 2011 opening.{{more}}

This is according to International Airport Development Company (IADC) officials. Chairman of the IADC Dr Rudy Matthias, who declared the work programme for 2009, also used the opportunity to introduce the company’s new Communications Officer, Jennifer Richardson-Herbert.

Richardson-Herbert will head up a media centre, which will be set up by the IADC to keep the public apprised of the project’s development, and according to Richardson-Herbert, to help citizens who are not onboard with the project to come on board.

Listed on the main work programme for 2009 is the preparation of the area for, and the beginning of the construction of the terminal building, completing the airport’s 30-year master plan, and the completion of the relocation of the Roman Catholic cemetery to the new site at Spring.

The construction of the Stubbs-Rawacou-Argyle access road is also on the work schedule.

Regarding the relocation of the cemetery, Sydney Toney, Chief Environmental Health Officer in the Ministry of Health, gave the assurance that all the necessary steps have been taken in accordance with the Public Health Act, as it relates to the closing and relocating of a cemetery.

Toney said that steps will be taken to ensure that the relatives of the deceased persons are not affected psychologically by the transferring of the remains of their loved ones.

He also said that a check has been made into the causes of death of the 42 persons buried there, so as to assess if uncovering the graves poses any biological hazard.

Toney noted, however, that in addition to their checks of the death certificates of the persons to see if they died from communicable diseases, even if they did, only seven bodies had been buried there over the last 10 years.

The remains will be moved to the new cemetery by the end of July, Chief Project Engineer with the IADC, Jeffrey Cato, said.

He said that the church’s relocation is also on stream, the designs have been completed, and tenders are out.

Construction is expected to begin next month.