NEGRIL, Hanover — Jason Henzell, the chairman of Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, is convinced that having an international airport in Negril will complement long-hoped for upgrades to the Lionel Densham Aerodrome in St Elizabeth and both projects will spur long-term development on the south coast.

He was reacting to a recent announcement that Little London, Westmoreland, has been selected as the location for the country’s fourth international airport. For years the discussions had surrounded upgrading the aerodrome now on the Hanover side of Negril. However, it was eventually determined that the present aerodrome would not be able to accommodate larger aircraft used for international flights.

“I want to commend the AAJ [Airports Authority of Jamaica] and the consultants for coming up with this site because it will take pressure off Montego Bay and it will be very convenient to Negril but it will [also] be of tremendous value to the future development of the south coast,” Henzell told the Jamaica Observer on Friday.

He does not foresee any challenges with having an international airport approximately two hours’ drive away from the aerodrome in St Elizabeth.

“We would still want that to be developed for private aircraft to attract the high-end visitor and also for people to do day trips to various places,” explained Henzell.

The aim is to upgrade the aerodrome in St Elizabeth through a reverse public-private partnership which will see the Government owning it but the current operators remaining in place. In 2010, Henzell and private investors pumped $18 million into building a 2,500-foot strip, and the plan was to extend it to 3,200 feet.

On Friday he said discussions about the facility’s future are at an advanced stage.

He told the Observer that an aviation consultant and an objective third party worked on a business case analysis that included meetings with political representatives, property owners and real estate agents.

“The report came back saying that there was value for money and that it would be a net positive. It could be a good strategic move for the further development of Treasure Beach,” stated Henzell.

He anticipates that the combination of the upgraded aerodrome and the international airport in Negril will make the south coast more attractive for major investors. He said properties such as Paradise in Westmoreland, Font Hill on the border of Westmoreland and St Elizabeth and Malcolm Bay in St Elizabeth “lend themselves to integrated resort development”.

“Meaning hotels, villas, townhouses, marina, golf course; I’m talking about game-changing approaches to tourism in this country. I’m very convinced that the siting in the Little London area is the right way to go for the long-term development of the south coast. And in the same vein that I talked about large-scale development, I would still maintain that places like Treasure Beach we want to remain low-density. There’s nothing wrong with a Treasure Beach having its own flavour of being a low-density community tourism model,” asserted Henzell.

But as he found out when he voiced support for the project in a WhatsApp group made up of stakeholders from the south coast, not everyone agrees with him on the decision to have the international airport in Little London. There was pushback in the group, Henzell said. Meanwhile the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Ian Hayles, who is aspiring to become the next Member of Parliament for Western Westmoreland, has also made it clear that he opposes the move. Hayles has argued that the resources that will be pumped into building the Little London airport would be better spent on providing essential services — such as water and roads — that will benefit both visitors and locals.

However, Henzell does not believe building roads and the airport are mutually exclusive.

“I think that the Montego Bay bypass is critical. I think that the Lucea bypass is critical and I think the improvement of the road going to Negril from Montego Bay is still critical. I’m not saying it’s one or the other. I’m saying the road network and the airports have to work together. I’m in support 100 per cent support of the upgrading of the road,” he told the Observer.

He suggested that it may be time to explore the idea of a bond for the Norman Manley International Airport, an idea once floated by former Minister of Finance and the Public Service Dr Nigel Clarke.

“We would want to see that the majority of those funds go into developing a fourth international airport and upgrading local aerodromes,” stated Henzell.

“When you go to countries like The Bahamas and Antigua, private aviation is a massive, massive business. Jamaica is getting an extremely low part of that market. We need to plan for the large international carriers, but we also need to be more accommodating and friendly to private aircraft enthusiasts. Those are sometimes the larger investors who will come in on a private plane and want a seamless experience,” he argued.