KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, March 13, IWN — Opposition legislator St. Clair Leacock on Monday restated to Parliament his support for the completion of the Argyle international airport.
The Central Kingstown represenative said airport development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been incremental, with former leaders E.T. Joshua and Sir James Mitchell making their contributions.
Leacock, however said, that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who is pioneering the construction of the nation’s first international airport, has taken airport development to a “new level”.
“Let me make it clear, the Major, in the Parliament, the Honourable St. Clair Leacock, supports the completion of the Argyle airport,” Leacock said.
Leacock, who is a vice president of the New Democratic Party, said that if his party is elected to office, it will complete the airport provided that all the technical requirements are satisfied and approvals from the International Civil Aviation Organization are obtained.
“We have to finish the airport. And, in fact, the New Democratic Party will finish the airport. So put that aside. Nobody, no one on this side of the House is badmouthing or putting stumbling blocks, difficulties, hurdles in the way of the completion of the Argyle international airport. We are at one on that subject matter,” Leacock said.
He was speaking during debate on amendment to a bill to allow monies from departure tax to go directly to the International Airport Development Company (IADC), rather than through the Consolidated Fund.
Leacock said he supports granting the tax monies to the IADC but objects to the money not passing through the Consolidated Fund, which, he argued, was circumventing the Constitution.
Lawmakers passed the amendment.