The expansion of L’Esperance Airport runway at a standstill

GRAND CASE — Although the Lawrence family has received the funds for the land more than a year ago to accommodate the expansion of the L’Esperence airport in Grand Case, nothing seem to be happening as yet. “I have ensured that the process to assist in the expansion of the airport runway was done before I left office,” said Senator Guillaume Arnell.

It has now been over 30 years that the expansion of the Grand Case airport runway was on the books to be done. When St. Martin was a Commune of Guadeloupe several years ago there were always arguments with regard to the pricing for the land by the people’s representatives in Marigot and Guadeloupe who always played politics with the acquisition of the land for the expansion.

The Lawrence family said that they are aware that they may have to move their home to facilitate the expansion project but the Collectivite or the airport seems to be no hurry to have this expansion of the runway done. According to the drawings of the project the roads leading to French Cul-de-sac will have to be rerouted and will pass nearer to the pond in French Cul-de-sac.

“It is the responsibility of the Collectivite to purchase the land for the expansion project and turn it over to the airport authorities for the expansion,” said Arnell. “At what stage the project is at now, I cannot say. It seems as though everything is on a standstill,” he noted and questioned why there are so many things are at a standstill. This is an indication that being in office is not as easy as it seems from the outside, he concluded.