St Helena : Air Access Updare for July 2005
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 31.07.2005 (Article Archived on 14.08.2005)
These are just examples of the questions being asked and the answer is ‘yes’ – progress is being made and St Helena is still getting an airport. Sharon Wainwright tells us more.
AIR ACCESS PROJECT UPDATE
What’s happening with air access? Is any progress being made? Are we still getting an airport?
These are just examples of the questions being asked and the answer is ‘yes’ – progress is being made and St Helena is still getting an airport. It is not possible to put a full update in this week’s Herald due to the limited space available but I will ensure a continuation of the update in next week’s issue. Here’s where we are at the moment with the Management Arrangements, the Air Service Provider and the DBO Contractor.
Management Arrangements
Firstly, to ensure the success of a project it is important to get an effective management structure in place. SHG and DFID have worked together on this and both parties have formulated new Access Project Teams headed by Nigel Kirby (DFID) and Sharon Wainwright (SHG).
A Development Board has also been formulated with four SHG members, three Private Sector Members and one Civil Society member. The Development Board is an advisory body set up to make policy recommendations to ExCo to make sure that St Helena takes advantage of every opportunity generated by the introduction of air access to the Island.
The Development Board has already had a number of meetings and has almost finalised a prioritised workplan. It is currently working on an initial review of the Immigration Policy and the Immigrant landholding Policies.
Plans are in place for a Project Management Unit (PMU) to be set up next year. This Unit will be headed by a qualified PMU Project Manager who will be fully experienced in projects of this type. Other members of this unit will include a Finance/Accounting Officer and a Technical Advisor.
The PMU Project Manager will report direct to DFID and will manage the delivery of the airport and air services by monitoring the performance of the contractor and making sure effective progress is made.
Support for the Procurement of an Air Services Supplier
It has been confirmed that Atkins will be supporting and advising SHG and DFID in the procurement of an Air Services Provider. The procurement will be carried out in two phases. Firstly, an agreement must be reached in principle with an air services provider so that they can then input into the detailed design of the airport. Then, in Phase 2, at least one year before the airport is due to open, negotiations will start to draw up a contract for air services, probably for an initial five year period.
Support for the Procurement of a Design, Build & Operate (DBO) Contractor
Atkins will also be supporting and advising SHG and DFID with regard to the procurement of a DBO Contractor. It is expected that a notice inviting contractors to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOI) in the project, will be placed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in September/October. Once the closing date is reached, the EOI’s will be properly evaluated and a shortlist of around two contractors (more if necessary), will be invited to prepare detailed bids for the work. This is expected to be around February next year.
I will give you an update on the Environmental Impact Assessment, the Social Impact Assessment, the Tourism Strategy, the Investor Policy and the proposed Flight Trial next week.
Sharon Wainwright: St Helena Access Project Manager, 26th July 2005
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