HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — Premier David Burt has renewed a pledge by the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) ahead of the July 18 general election to review the controversial airport redevelopment contract signed by the previous administration.

Bermuda Airport Burt told the Royal Gazette newspaper that news of the possible sale of Aecon Concessions, the airport project’s Canadian builder, would also be considered as part of the review, although he did not specify if the review had begun or when it was likely to finish.

However, Steve Nackan, president of Aecon, maintained it was business as usual for the 40-month airport project and said the construction of the new terminal at LF Wade International Airport would not be affected by any potential transaction.

“I would first reiterate that any transaction would be intended to create shareholder value and enhance Aecon’s capabilities and growth potential,” Nackan said.

“Second, for all our operations, including our wholly owned subsidiary, Bermuda Skyport Corporation Ltd, and any business units involved in construction, it is business as usual and we remain focused on doing great work for our customers. “The construction of the airport is contracted to the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown corporation of the government of Canada; this is not affected by any potential transaction,” he added.

News broke last month that the Canadian construction company building Bermuda’s new airport terminal was looking at putting itself up for sale.

The firm is the prime contractor on the airport project under a 30-year public-private partnership involving the Bermuda government and the Canadian Commercial Corporation.

The deal was struck in 2014 by the former One Bermuda Alliance government, which was swept from power by the PLP in July’s general election.

But building on the new US$302 million terminal, due to be completed in 2020, did not begin until April after a number of delays, including a protest outside the House of Assembly last December.

The protest, in which police in riot gear used pepper spray to help disperse the demonstrators, forced the Speaker of the House to adjourn parliament until February, when the project was airport project was eventually approved.

In a statement to the Gazette, Burt described the project agreement as “a decision to privatise” the airport.

“The former government made the decision to privatise the LF Wade International Airport to Canadian company Aecon. The new government will keep the pledge we made in our election platform to review this privatisation contract, and news of the possible sale of Aecon will be considered,” the premier said.