IADC confident airport will be completed by year end

A number of “small” things are yet be completed, but Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Airport Development Company Ltd (IADC) Dr Rudy Matthias said he is confident that the project will be completed by the end of this year.{{more}}

“I am certain that the question on everyone’s lips is whether we can complete the project by the end of the year,” he said at a ceremony on Friday, during which funds were donated to the project.

This year is expected to be a critical one for the IADC, regarding project management, the IADC’s CEO said.

He further stated that barring unforeseen challenges, the airport is expected to be completed by year end.

He reflected on the initial stages of the project, going back to 2005, when Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves announced that his government would construct the airport.

A lot of discussion was generated, Matthias said, with a lot of people believing that it was near impossible.

But then, as work started, many of that negative opinion started to change, he said.

He said that when earthworks began in 2008, after some of the large homes at the site were removed, “people started to think maybe it can be done after all”.

Some skeptics maintain that the project will not be completed until 2020, Matthias, however, said.

“Of course 2020 is always a nice date and that 2020 date became the mantra for many persons.”

But Matthias said the work completed in the four and a half years since physical work started should be evidence that the airport will be completed on time.

“But some people still maintain that it can’t be done before 2015 and that is the new date I hear … But we are working steadfastly to finish by the end of this year,” Matthias said.

“If you ask me that if all the things that we are doing point to the project being finished, I will tell you yes. If you ask me if I am certain I will tell you no, because it is only the Maker —only God knows what the future holds,” the company’s CEO said.

At his first press conference of 2013, Gonsalves said on January 2 that, based on the information he received, the airport project is set to be completed by the end of 2013.

“If there is any residual work to be done into the New Year (2014), I don’t think anyone will hang me for it,” Gonsalves, however, said. (DD)