ST JAMES, Jamaica— Prime Minister Andrew Holness says upon completion, the ongoing US$70-million runway expansion project at the Sangster International Airport will be of economic benefit to Jamaica.

“The average person in St James and the wider Jamaica looking on might be saying how does this benefit me? What does this have to do with me? I may not travel, I do not use the airport. This is all for tourists. Well not quite. The benefit is mainly 90 per cent for the Jamaican people,” he said.

“We are able to open our country to other destinations, it increases our visitor potential, which increases our earnings from tourism, which increases our revenue, which means that the Government can spend more on the things that matter to you- education, health, the roads in your community and your water supply,” Holness added.

Continuing, he said: “There is no other way for us to bring economic development, social development, and infrastructure development to your doorstep other than to invest in the economic infrastructure of our country and this is what this Government is doing”.

He was speaking to reporters following a tour of infrastructure works at the airport on Saturday.

The prime minister expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the work.

“So far I am satisfied with the progress being made here. I toured this work last year and my understanding is that this work is proceeding according to schedule and in fact is likely to finish under budget, which is a good report to make to the public,” Holness stated.

“This increases the capacity of the Sangster International Airport. It means we can now get larger aircraft, more passengers, can take more cargo, but the real benefit is we are now open to other destinations which are further away from Jamaica which increases our possibilities for tourism.”