Getting ready to construct the international airport at Argyle was not without its trying moments, particularly for home owners who were being asked to give up in some cases their dream houses to relocate and rebuild from scratch. Of course there were the hesitations, the anxieties and the myriad of feelings and expressions that one would expect at a time when one is being ask to give up one’s home.

However with  good negotiating skills and lots of compassion for homeowners the International Airport Development Company Limited, the IADC, set about trying to secure these homes, and with good compensation packages they were able to accomplish the task at hand.

Homeowners were not left to fend for themselves and in addition to payment for their properties, they were offered land at three locations at reduced cost. They were also offered relocation packages and were allowed to remove whatever they wanted from their existing properties.

The three locations were firstly, Harmony Hall which now boasts some of the largest and most beautiful houses in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The land was developed and all infrastructures put in by the IADC.  It is situated on a hill side surrounded by some of the most breathtaking sceneries in the country. The slideshow on the right are pictures of the new homes built in Harmony Hall.

The second site was at Diamond located on a lower lying piece of land but with immediate access to the main road and all necessary infrastructures. Like Harmony Hall construction work here is ongoing.

Infrastructural work on the third location at Carapan continues. Roads and drains have been put in and water and electricity will soon be brought to the area. Homeowners who are expected to build in this area are still awaiting clearance to begin. They are expected to begin as soon as all of the necessary infrastructures are in.

During the first quarter of 2009, IADC will ask government to acquire all vacant land parcels within the 2nd and 3rd kilometres of the airport zone. Negotiations for the vacant land parcels within the 1st kilometre have been conducted by the Chief Surveyor and several of the affected land owners have already been paid by the IADC. Indeed, so far IADC has paid out EC$10.4 Million dollars for vacant lands purchased or acquired within the zone.

2010 Calendar of Events

Click here to view the 2010 Calendar of Events