Times of the Islands Spring 2021

This is a very early picture (1967) of the “new” runway, when we could only use the small, white portion on the eastern end. You can also see
the 1,200 foot strip to the north (arrow).
Finbar Dempsey and Gus Lightbourne, who was the
elected representative for Providenciales. Planning and
survey departments were still to be formed.
The government suggested that we extend the location
where we had the 1,200 feet. As we now had the
proper topographic map available, I could show Fritz
that we could build a 4,500-foot runway there, but there
would be no room for future extension because we would
be jammed in between two hills. The map clearly showed
that if the runway was moved about half a mile south it
would be more suitable, because in that location there
was a lot of flat ground.
We were having a lot of discussions about where the
best location for the Providenciales airport should be.
Both Fritz and I agreed that the ideal location for an east–
west runway would be just south of North West Point.The
noisy approach and take off areas would be over water.
But this was 1967 and North West Point was about as far
away as the moon!
South Caicos District Commissioner Ben Bolt came
over on behalf of the government to inspect the location
for the runway that we were suggesting. First, I showed
him on the topo map why this was a good location. Then
we walked on the footpath from Blue Hills to Five Cays
which was flanked by a stone wall. When we reached
the proposed location, we jumped atop the wall to see
above the bushes. It was obvious there was a lot of flat,
level ground stretching far to the west. Ben Bolt agreed
that this looked like a good location, so the decision was
made then and there that this was where we were going
to build the runway for Providenciales and that’s where
we are still landing today!
The Providenciales International Airport underwent a major expansion/redevelopment program in 2011.
22 www.timespub.tc