Comment on announcement by International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander
Comment on today’s announcement by International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander of his intention to hold a consultation on options for access to St Helena, by Kedell Worboys, UK Representative, St Helena Government:
“This consultation is wholly unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“The options for access were thoroughly explored during the 2004 feasibility study, which concluded that an airport was the only option that would give St Helena the hope of reducing its dependence on subsidies by becoming more self sufficient. The study concluded that an airport would enable a tourist industry to be developed which could produce up to £33 million a year in revenue – nearly twice the value of current subsidies from the UK.
“Prior to the preferred option of air access being announced in March 2005, a renowned professor from the London School of Economics carried out an independent peer review of the findings and confirmed the case for air access. We also believe that the business/economic case for the airport has been thoroughly reviewed during the past months with the same outcome.
“The proposed consultation is a delaying tactic by the Government for its own reasons. The Government already has all the evidence it needs. The case for an airport on St Helena is proven. The longer the delay in giving the go ahead the greater the cost will be. Meanwhile, the people of St Helena will continue to suffer from economic and social decline, neglect and under investment.
“The Government should end the uncertainty and give the airport the go-ahead now.”
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For further information, please contact Simon Quarendon:
Telephone: 020 7839 2140 (office) 07850 618418 (out of hours)
e-mail: simon@keenepa.co.uk
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Posted on 17 March 2009
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