Public not invited to ‘stakeholder’ meetings for airport project

A series of “stakeholder consultations” on the planned airport expansion was scheduled to start on Oct. 29, but the Beacon’s attempts to find out when and where the meetings are being held were not successful.

It is also unclear who can attend and how they were chosen.

The meetings were first announced in the House of Assembly by Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer, who said consultant KPMG would lead them at the end of October into the first week of November.

“These discussions will ensure that the airport’s development meets the needs of our local community, businesses and the broader aviation industry,” Mr. Rymer told the HOA on Oct. 18.

“Stakeholder input is invaluable, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive dialogue throughout this process. We encourage the public and all stakeholders to participate fully in the consultations arranged for their particular sector.”

Acting government Communications Director Karia Christopher told the Beacon on Oct. 28 that the meetings were scheduled to start the next day.

But when asked to provide a schedule and location and to explain who would be invited, she said she was awaiting a response from the permanent secretary.

Public not invited to ‘stakeholder’ meetings for airport project

BVI Airports Authority Managing Director Kurt Menal told the Beacon that consultations “with the general public” would be held at the end of November, but he did not provide a schedule either.

Previous closed meeting

At least one previous “stakeholder” meeting about the project, in August 2023, was closed to the public and media.

“This initial meeting was the first stakeholder consultation meeting,” then-Chief Information Officer Desiree Smith told the Beacon at the time. “The invitees consisted of a cross-section of government departments and agencies and key private-sector stakeholders and industry partners.”

After the August 2023 “stakeholder” meeting, government also provided the above photo of the session, which was closed to the public and media. (Photo: GIS)

Ms. Smith did not list the invitees or say how they were chosen, but she said at the time that public meetings about the expansion plan would be held “at a later stage.”

“At the moment, the Ministry [of Communications and Works] is conducting the preliminary works, like reviewing and updating existing plans and previous feasibility studies, business cases, Environmental Impact Assessments, etcetera,” Ms. Smith stated then.

KPMG did not respond to a request for comment this week.