Venezuelan Ambassador approves of Argyle International Airport

The Argyle International Airport will generate economic progress, cultural exchange and transform St.Vincent and the Grenadines into a progressive nation.{{more}}

This is the prediction of Yoel Perez Marcano, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

“In these times when our lovely and peaceful Caribbean is being criss-crossed by threatening warships that remind us of our past history of imperial invasion, the international airport at Argyle will be converted sooner or

later into a modern peaceful aircraft carrier, equipped

with the artillery of brotherhood and solidarity,” said Ambassador Perez Marcano, at the Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Argyle International Airport Project.

Alaina Aldama, Charge d’Affairs of Cuba, who was also on hand to witness the ceremony, in her address, promised that the Cuban workers who were selected to work on the project are committed and will always be in the vanguard of the construction.

“The Chatoyer-Che Contingent (the name given to the Vincentian and Cuban workers who will work on the project by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves) will never defraud the commitment of our Commander in Chief, Fidel Castro Ruiz and in this moment, commitment ratified by our President, Army General, Raul Castro Ruiz, to support and to work the time necessary to make this project into a reality,” Charge d’Affairs Aldama, emphasized.

Both President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and former President of Cuba Fidel Castro have pledged their countries resources to assist with the preliminary studies, airport design and earth works components of the project. These commitments amount to approximately US$67 million, (US$60.5 million for earth works, and US$7 million for preliminary studies and designs).

Well wishes also came from Donald McPhail, the representative of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA).

McPhail said the ECCAA had attended a number of meetings and are happy with what they have seen thus far.

He noted that the ECCAA congratulates the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the decision to build the airport and looks forward to working with the Government every step of the way to ensure that it will be built in accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization.