'Butch', Gov't to develop airstrip at Holland Bamboo
Published:Wednesday | December 29, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Coming closely on the heels of reports that the Government is in talks to sell its stake in the Sandals Resort-branded Whitehouse Westmoreland hotel to its partner in the venture, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, the authorities appear set to give the all-clear for an aerodrome to be operated by the businessman at Holland Bamboo, St Elizabeth.
"They are currently preparing an airfield in Holland Bamboo also for private investment to encourage south-coast tourism," Prime Minister Bruce Golding said more than a week ago at the opening of another airstrip, named the Lionel Densham Aerodrome at Treasure Beach in the parish.
That facility is being operated by entrepreneur Jason Henzell, the owner and operator of the popular small hotel, Jake's.
While the prime minister's reference to the entity spear-heading the airstrip development pointed to the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), it has still not been established who is actually funding the project, the cost involved and the distribution of the capital input.
When asked about the details of the enterprise, Henzell, who is also chairman of the St Elizabeth Development Committee, told Wednesay Business that the project was a private/public venture led by Stewart.
Confirmation that the venture is in the making has come from the JCAA, but Stewarts' Sandals Resorts group has remained tight-lipped on the matter. The company's chief spokeswoman would only say that the project was in its infancy.
"If and when we respond, it will be at the appropriate time," said Sandals' director of corporate communication, Rachel McLarty.
Officials of the JCAA told Sunday Business that the private airstrip project was still at the conceptual stage.
"Aeronautical studies have been done by the JCAA to determine the length of the runway possible, what terrain constraints may or may not exist and the category aircraft that are likely to use the Holland aerodrome," corporate communications manager at the JCAA, Nicole Robinson, said in an email.
Robinson said the study conducted was for a 5,000 feet long runway. However, when asked about the timeframe for completion and whether it was a joint venture partnership, Robinson suggested that Sunday Business contact the developer, whom she declined to name.
The JCAA spokesperson said the state-run agency's responsibility was for approving the development, ensuring that it was in keeping with the international standards and recommend practices for aero-dromes of this nature, and ensuring conformity with other requirements of the Jamaica Civil Aviation regulations.
Mike Henry, minister of trans-port and works, was unavailable for comment.
The Holland property lies in St Elizabeth, but is only a short distance away from Sandals Whitehouse hotel, which is in Westmoreland. Stewart, who is a one-third owner of the hotel property, is reported to be in talks with Government to buy out its stake.