Page 27 - KBHA Bulletin 16

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However, the main purpose of the airport is to provide the necessary “back-up” for the

defence of the Falkland Islands and its oil reserves which are reckoned to be substantial.
Accordingly, the Airport is regarded as a military installation, providing defensive and

strategic support for the Falkland Islands. As far as tourism via the Airport is concerned,
while this has been the driving propaganda, the Island does not yet have 200 beds

available to accommodate a planeload of tourists!

The airport contract was awarded to South African engineering firm Basil Read who have

commenced construction of port facilities at Rupert’s Bay, a fuel storage facility, 14 km
of access roads, a water de-salination plant, accommodation, workshops and offices, and

site works on the plateau. About 250 construction jobs are expected to be taken up by

local Islanders. Once the airport is operational the RMS St. Helena, the Island’s only
regular sea-link with the world, will operate temporarily as a cargo vessel only. (Basil

Read, 2012.) (Fig. 1.12.)

Fig. 1.12: A contemporary postcard of Lower Jamestown with RMS St Helena at anchor
in the Roads.