Bermudians have fewer than 30 days to stop the privatisation of LF Wade International Airport, according to the Progressive Labour Party.

Shadow Transport Minister Lawrence Scott last night told a PLP-hosted town hall meeting focusing on the airport deal that workers from the Canadian construction giant Aecon were already surveying the facility.

Government’s plans to build a terminal have come under fire from the Opposition since Finance Minister Bob Richards signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) on November 10.

Last night, before about 125 people at Francis Patton Primary School’s hall, the PLP renewed calls for competing bids.

In spite of Government’s denial that privatisation is on the table, Shadow Finance Minister David Burt said the concessionary agreement entailed for the airport amounted to the same thing.

“The fact is that we are going to lose control of our airport,” Mr Burt said, adding that the decision about the construction firm to redevelop had already been made.

“Bob Richards let it slip when he went on the radio and said it was the same company that built the CN Tower,” Mr Burt said, again a reference to Aecon, which helped to build the Toronto landmark.

Mr Richards has so far divulged little of the public-private partnership, or PPP, that would finance the job.

The Minister recently told MPs he had not ruled out using revenue from Bermuda’s airspace to pay for the redevelopment, which could cost $200 million.

Meanwhile, Department of Airport Operations head Aaron Adderley suggested a solar plant at the airport could help to fund the new terminal.

Opposition MPs likened the arrangement to a PPP-funded deal for the Grand Bahama International Airport, which Mr Scott said had effectively ceded control of the facility for many decades to come.

“We have an idea of what’s going to come down,” Mr Scott said, suggesting CCC — an entity of the Canadian Government, which acts as Canada’s agent for procurement and contracting — would renew its lease of Bermuda’s airport after 30 to 35 years.

“Because we won’t have money to redevelop or upgrade, CCC will say they have the money, so why not sign for another 35 years?” he asked.

The Opposition said Bermuda’s project resembled plans considered in the Cayman Islands to develop the British Overseas Territory’s airport with CCC.

That deal was dropped after the British Government voiced its concerns about the lack of open tendering.

Mr Burt said the One Bermuda Alliance was wrangling with the British Government to maintain a sole source arrangement with CCC.

“We believe we can build a new airport and maintain control of an airport — and we can’t afford to forget about the Causeway,” he said, calling airport revenues the only asset available to finance an upgrade of the bridge.

Calling for an open tendering process for the project, Mr Burt said: “The bottom line is that we can’t allow our airport to be privatised.”

PLP Leader Marc Bean said the Opposition supported the building of a terminal, but said it should be financed in tandem with a tourism policy that increased air arrivals.

Asked if the Opposition could intercede with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr Bean said: “We do what we can. We continue to be in discussions with Government House.”