🛫 Cayman Islands Airport Authority initiates design procurement for General Aviation Terminal upgrade

The Cayman Islands Airport Authority (CIAA) has commenced the procurement process for designers to plan the proposed upgrades to the General Aviation Terminal at Owen Roberts International Airport. The sought-after consultants will work on the parking apron, heliport, and a marine dock adjacent to the existing easterly apron and the North Sound. This marks the first phase of the CI$42 million project, which has sparked controversy due to its focus on a terminal primarily used by private jets and their wealthy passengers. 🏗️

The project's justification, according to Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, is to attract more high-net-worth individuals to the Cayman Islands. However, this has been met with criticism from the community, who believe that the focus should be on addressing overcrowding at the regular terminal. The Department of Environment (DoE) has also raised concerns about the project's potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions and the loss of mangroves. Despite these issues, the DoE has stated that an environmental impact assessment is not necessary for the project. 🌳

The project's design, given its proximity to the shoreline, will need to consider the impacts of sea level rise and storm surge. It includes the construction of a 70,000m² aircraft parking apron, a 10,500m² heliport apron, and a small marine dock with a seawall. The design scope will encompass all access roads, underground utilities, and necessary external works, as outlined in the CIAA 2041 Master Plan. 🌊