Last Updated on May 15, 2025, 8:36 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St Kitts and Nevis: The Robert L Bradshaw International Airport is fully owned by the government and people of St Kitts and Nevis, refuting the claims of being sold out to a private owner. As per the reports, the rumours are being surfaced that the airport is being privatized by the government under the Citizenship by Investment Public Benefit Option.
However, the clearance has been provided by the government that it has not sold out to Caribbean Infrastructure Development Corporation (CIDC). While clarifying the rumours, the government announced that the airport is being expanded to enhance the flight operations and other opportunities for airlift sector.
The expansion work is handed over to the private entity CIDC and the contract is signed for the construction work of the airport which is legal and practically correct. The reports further revealed that the funds generated by the Public Benefit Investment Option of the Citizenship by Investment Programme of St Kitts and Nevis is being allocated to the expansion of the airport.
The rumours were surfaced by Ian Liburd, former Minister of Public Infrastructure who himself was implicated in serious breaches of airport protocol. As per the reports, in April 2019, he was reported to have bypassed security at the airport during his tenure to the office. In addition to that, he also violated international safety rules due to which the safety rating of the RLB International Airport was downgraded by the international authorities.
The allegations have also been laid against him that he misbehaved with security officials and refused to comply with standard check on multiple occasions. Instead of tackling the situation, the then government brushed the rumours and cleaned the image of Ian Liburd.
Now, he is busy in spreading the rumours against the airport which is a property of the public of St Kitts and Nevis. The expansion project of the airport was announced by the government in 2024, aiming to enhance jobs and improve the quality of the aircraft sector.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
