Above: a rendering of the new VC Bird Airport Terminal

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Antigua broke ground yesterday on a new airport terminal at the country’s VC Bird International Airport, a project that will begin construction next month and be completed by December 2013.

The project will be handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, with 30 percent of the overall investment funneled into the local economy through the employment of local contractors and other services.

“It is with your confidence and trust that we have the opportunity to undertake this project of grand scale and great significance,” said Zhao Zhongning, vice president of CCECC. “The new terminal will stand as a historical landmark in the decision-making process of the country, and will serve as a boost to the economy, the construction industry and other aspects of the country while serving its intended purpose as a gem in the region and international aviation industry.”

The loan conditions on the project require full Chinese participation in the construction of the terminal, but a “significant” use of local workers has been negotiated on the project, according to David Shoul, non-resident ambassador to China.

“It is standard stipulation of 100 percent of Chinese participation in all loan and grant projects done by China,” Shoul said. “However, we ensured that 30 percent of the project spending stays in Antigua .”

That number will manifest itself in a number of ways, Shoul said, from subcontracting and labour to trucking and agreements with local farmers to produce food for the workers.