NASSAU, Bahamas — The five generators ordered by the government last year are presently being installed at Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA), Minister of Tourism, Aviation, and Investments Chester Cooper said, The Nassau Guardian reported on Tuesday, June 28. The installation process is expected to be completed by June 30.
“Once the project is finished, the airport will have the power necessary for evening flights. Thereafter, it’s simply a matter of scheduling by the airlines,” Cooper told Grand Bahama News.
The custom-built machines cost the government $150,000 and took 26 weeks to arrive on island from China, due to the global shipping delays.
GBIA sustained an estimated $60 million in damage during Hurricane Dorian, with storm surges up to 20 feet, which destroyed both the domestic and international terminals, control tower and runways.
At the time of Dorian, the airport was privately owned by Hutchison Port Holdings and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
In April 2021, the government bought the facility for $1, with redevelopment plans under a private-public partnership (PPP).
However, with a change of government last year, Prime Minister Philip Davis and his Cabinet decided to issue a new request for proposal (RFP), seeking a partner for the redevelopment of the airport in March.
Since February 2020, GBIA operations have been run out of the former fixed based operation (FBO) building, which once accommodated private flights.
Cooper, in his contribution to the 2022/2023 budget debate in the House of Assembly, announced that three investors have expressed interest in the revitalization of the airport.
“I am pleased to advise that as a result of the RFP process, we have three credible suitors for the redevelopment of a world-class Grand Bahama International Airport,” he said.
“They’re credible with a track record and their own money. So, we expect construction to be completed by January 2025.”
In January, Cooper toured the airport and control tower for a firsthand view of the facilities’ conditions, and the working environment of customs and immigration officers, who were carrying out their duties in trailers on the property. See lcomplete article in The Nassau Guardian at https://thenassauguardian.com/more-power-on-the-way-for-gb-airport/
