“Technical and logistical challenges” have caused half of the runway lights at John A Osborne Airport to be out of action, the Montserrat Legislative Assembly heard last week.
Deputy Premier Samuel Joseph made the revelation during the question and answer session at the latest sitting of the assembly on 23 July.
Opposition member Donaldson Romeo said there had been reports that half of the airport runway lights did not work and that the apron lights are corroded and have fallen down.
He asked Joseph, who is also works minister, whether there was a lack of available funds to carry out essential maintenance and repairs at the airport.
The deputy premier responded that it is accurate that half of the runway lights at John A Osborne Airport are currently “unserviceable”.
“However, I would like to assure this honourable house that steps are actively being taken to rectify this issue,” he said.
Joseph told members that replacement parts have already been installed, and his ministry is awaiting assistance from the manufacturer to “complete the configuration”.
“The manufacturer initially set up these parts on a test rig with a limited load,” he said.
“But the John A Osborne Airport circuit has a higher load, requiring specific configuration adjustments to ensure compatibility.”
He went on to say that the apron front lights were installed in 2005 when the airport was constructed.
“The towers for these lights are 65 feet tall, but the bucket trucks available on the island can only reach a maximum height of 55 feet,” he said.
To address this issue, the airport has sourced more suitable high towers that can be maintained with the locally available equipment.
“These issues are not due to a lack of funds, but rather technical and logistical challenges that we are in the process of overcoming to ensure the continuous safe operations of the airport,” Joseph concluded.
