THE Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) has taken issue with a report carried in the Sunday Observer of February 14 regarding the disclosure to the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of Parliament of upgrading work to transform the Boscobel aerodrome in St Mary into an international port of entry.

The story reported the AAJ's Audley Deidrick as telling the committee that the original budget of $248 million will be increased by $31 million, which is what it will cost to relocate power lines that it was discovered will "pose a flight impediment to aircraft".

Following is the AAJ's response:

"The Boscobel aerodrome project is proceeding, generally in keeping with the scope and cost approved by Cabinet. It must be noted that $282 million is not a cost overrun but the budgeted cost of the overall project. The decision to upgrade the aerodrome was not promoted primarily on financial feasibility but rather clear directives to improve the aviation infrastructure of the country to support tourism in the heart of the North Coast tourism belt Trelawny to Portland .

"Though it is true that the initial concept of the project was centered around the extension of the runway -- the development of the aerodrome as an international airport meant that the scope had to be expanded to provide other essential features such as:

* an APRON for aircraft parking and manoeuvring

* Construction of a new terminal building

* Fuel storage facilities

* Relocation and upgrading of the fire station

* Infrastructure for hangers.

"In order to maximise the runway capabilities, it became necessary, however, at a significant cost, to relocate the JPSCo overhead high tension wires on the major highway to run underground.

"All the aforementioned changes are included in the scope and cost approved by Cabinet. Approval was also obtained from the relevant regulatory bodies -- Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, NEPA and the parish council.

"Implementation and funding of the transformation of the Boscobel Aerodrome to an international airport is the responsibility of Airports Authority of Jamaica."

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