New airport company signs thirty-year concession

It was not a particularly well-kept secret, but today government announced the identities of those concerns who will be taking over control of the Philip Goldson International Airport. The investment consortium is comprised of three local groups and two from abroad. The Belizeans are the Mena group based in Belmopan, the Roe group, and a group headed by Billy Musa of James Brodie and Company. The International Global Investment group out of the United Kingdom is represented by Santiago Gomez, while Global Investment Incorporated, a group consisting of some Florida medical doctors, is represented by Melissa Mahler. The consortium, called the Belize Airport Concession Company, today signed a thirty-year agreement with the Belize Government under which it agrees to assume the existing debts of the Belize Airports Authority and make significant investments in the airport including runway, terminal, and apron expansion. In return it will receive all revenues from airport operations. Signing for the company was Chairman Christopher Roe, while representing government was Airports Authority Chairman Max Samuels and Ministry of Investment C.E.O. Jose Alpuche. The first phase of the airport expansion should commence by mid 2004.