By Andrew Green, Staff Reporter
THE NATIONAL Investment Bank of Jamaica (NIBJ) has quashed a claim that Spanish builder, Grupo Dragados, leads the consortium to which the Sangster International Airport is being divested.
A wire service report from Madrid said yesterday Dragados claimed a 35 per cent shareholding in the consortium. The Reuters report said this made Dragados the head of the consortium.
But Stephen Wedderburn, NIBJ director of projects and infrastructure, says the report is not quite correct. He said, "Dragados owns 35 per cent of the consortium-. but it is not the lead shareholder."
Another firm, Agencias Universales S.A. from Chile, also owns 35 per cent of the shares in the consortium, he said.
Despite the fact that it owns just 15 per cent, the lead shareholder is Vancouver Airport Services, operators of the Vancouver Airport in British Colombia, Canada. Mr. Wedderburn said this is because "they have a special role in the airport operations."
Under the divestment contract signed on Wednesday last week, MBJ Airports Limited will manage the airport on behalf of the consortium, Mr. Wedderburn said. And Vancouver Airport Services has been put in charge of MBJ's operations.
Another company, Ashtrom Limited from Israel, also has a 15 per cent stake in the enterprise, he said. But they will also play a role in the development of the airport.
"If Dragados claims to lead the consortium, then so could Agencias Universales," he said. "Dragados basically are equity participants."
The agreement provides for the government to retain ownership, while giving a 30-year lease to MBJ to operate and expand the Sangster Airport. The new contract will take effect on March 1, when the MBJ will immediately begin the expansion of the airport, to include the construction of a new terminal, immigration and custom facilities and additional shops.
