(Trinidad Guardian) Local contractor, NH International (Caribbean), has secured a US$243 million (EC$666 million) contract to expand St Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport, even as construction firms T&T continue to raise concerns about delayed payments and the slow rollout of government projects.
NH International was founded and is chaired by veteran contractor Emile Elias, who has been in the construction business for 61 years.
The contract, which was signed by NH International with the St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) on October 20, covers construction of a new 274,000-square-foot, three-storey passenger terminal as an extension of the existing facility, along with associated airside infrastructure. Completion is targeted for late 2029.
The new terminal will feature five contact gates equipped with passenger boarding bridges, an additional aircraft parking position and provision for future expansion to eight gates. It will also include expanded departure lounges, immigration and customs facilities, upgraded baggage-handling systems, restaurants, duty-free shopping and premium lounges. Airside works will cover aircraft aprons, drainage and floodlighting.
The existing terminal will remain operational throughout construction. Once completed, the new facility is expected to increase the airport’s capacity to handle passengers and aircraft, easing congestion and addressing limitations in aircraft parking and the accommodation of larger planes, NH International said in a news release on Friday.
Hewanorra is St Lucia’s principal gateway for long-haul international travel, making its capacity and efficiency critical to the island’s tourism-dependent economy. The expansion is intended to support visitor growth and strengthen international connectivity.
The airport contract followed a competitive tender process in which 27 firms expressed interest and seven submitted proposals. NH emerged as the best-evaluated bidder after technical and financial assessments overseen by independent professionals.
At the signing ceremony, St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J Pierre welcomed the award, expressing confidence in the procurement process and the selected contractor.
“We have full confidence in the process that’s got us where we are,” Pierre said, adding, “We have full confidence in the capacity and capability of the contractor.”
He also welcomed the participation of young St Lucians and other Caricom nationals, highlighting the opportunities the project could create for local workers.
NH has committed to maximising the use of St Lucian contractors, suppliers, labour and materials wherever possible, while delivering the project to the required standard and within the agreed timeframe.
“We will maximise the use of St Lucian resources to the fullest extent possible,” Elias said.
Elias thanked Pierre and his Cabinet for placing their confidence in a regional contractor.
“I feel very much at home when I come to St Lucia, and I thank you for that.” he said.
Elias welcomed the opportunity to continue to contribute to Saint Lucia’s Development, placing particular emphasis on the value of regional cooperation and the Caricom relationship.
“First of all, I’d like to say, Prime Minister, thank you and your Cabinet for your belief in Caricom, which unites the Caribbean people,” Elias said.
The contract brings Elias back to Hewanorra 32 years after he built the airport’s existing terminal.
The contractor recalled the company’s longstanding connection with Hewanorra, expressing pride in being selected to undertake the next major phase of the airport’s development.
Elias said that for NH International, the major award represents more than a corporate milestone. In the news release, he said the award reflects the growing opportunities for Caribbean companies to deploy their expertise across national boundaries, contribute to the region’s economic transformation and demonstrate their competitiveness against international firms in the delivery of complex infrastructure.
In an interview, NH International executive chairman Emile Elias said the company is currently working on three projects in St Lucia, including the island’s Halls of Justice, while pursuing further opportunities in the country and elsewhere in the Caribbean.
“NH is and always has been an international construction company. We will continue to focus on and execute our regional expansion plans,” Elias said.
The company has operated in 11 countries and is seeking to expand its regional footprint.
The Halls of Justice project is being delivered under a Build Own Lease Transfer (BOLT) arrangement and is expected to be completed by mid-2027. The project’s total investment cost has been estimated at approximately US$61 million.
NH International is also ensuring that the St Lucian construction industry has been significantly involved in supporting the Halls of Justice project..
At the Hewanorra contract signing, Elias made a clear commitment to building on that experience.
“We at NH pledge to maximize the use of St Lucian services as we have done in previous projects,” he said. “We will maximize the use of St Lucian labour and materials. We will maximize the use of St Lucian resources to the fullest extent possible, all towards the goal of delivering a project of quality and on time, as is the norm for NH.”
The St Lucian airport award for the local contractor also comes amid debate over public procurement in T&T. Elias praised St Lucia’s procurement framework as robust but expressed disappointment over recent amendments to T&T’s procurement legislation.
“I am extremely disappointed that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago have found it necessary to weaken the procurement laws of T&T,” he said.
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