Prime Minister David Thompson greeting former Parliamentary Secretary Maizie Barker-Welch. (MG)

CONSTRUCTION of an $8 million fire station at the Grantley Adams International Airport will begin next Monday.

Minister of Transport, Works and International Transport John Boyce made the assurance yesterday in his reply to the Budgetary Proposals.

"The tragedy and the ill-conceived areas of development of Grantley Adams International Airport will have to be corrected by us.

"The leaking roofs, the lack of air-fridges, the inadequate space will have to be corrected by a Democratic Labour Party master plan. So we have to allocate $8 million now for a fire station, and let me indicate that we will be starting construction of the fire station and the turning of the soil is next Monday, July 14," Boyce said.

He also revealed that the covering of the departing/ waiting area for passengers was also in the pipeline to begin.

"We recognised that Barbados continues to be a lead player in terms of provision of airport services and we intend to keep Barbados there.

"We recognised where Barbados must be and are pursuing the kinds of partnerships which will bring out a further opportunity for private-public sector development at our airport and seaport to help to solve the problem of International competitiveness and to remain viable, and remain able to meet the demands of a discerning travelling public," he said.

(TM)