Provo International Airport on course to become a PPP

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, July 2, 2023 – After several interested investors chased down the Government with offers, the redevelopment and running of the Howard Hamilton International Airport in Providenciales will now officially become a public private partnership according to TCIG.

In a June 14 Cabinet meeting the ministers ‘approved a business case for the redevelopment of the Howard Hamilton Airport on Providenciales with consideration for procurement via Public Private Partnership.’

The update was shared with the public in cabinet minutes after the meeting.  The redevelopment of the airport is a massive undertaking which is necessary to facilitate the ever increasing level of travel to the country.

The Government says TCIAA will retain ownership of the airport but will now have to share the profit with a private company for a maximum of 30 years.  In addition, another private company will be brought in to run the airport day to day.

“It is envisioned that through a meticulously designed and executed procurement exercise involving a pre-qualification stage, a renowned international airport operator could be engaged for the operation and maintenance of the airport while the construction of the terminal will be via a local investor,” TCIG had said.

The UK recently greenlighted the TCI’s plans to allow a private company to help fund the airport.  Speaking on the approval, Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services, had said even though TCIG had the money to do it on their own (and keep profit local), they were looking at the long term benefits.

“The TCIAA and TCIG want the public to know that the decision to pursue a PPP programme for the redevelopment is not premised on a situation where the TCIAA and/TCIG cannot self-fund the project.  The decision to pursue a PPP is premised on a ‘big picture’ understanding and approach to value for money and the benefits which can be achieved for the greater social good of the investment needed through a PPP.

Together, the TCIAA and TCIG are working to develop a programme delivery that improves the quality of the infrastructure and service and increases capacity in local skills development and business opportunities.”

ALG Global have been consulting on the redevelopment since 2022, and were to help decide on how the redevelopment should be carried out and remain in an advisory role until the contractors had broken ground on the project.

Updates include a new terminal and baggage area and larger runway apron.