Bermudians angry at the $249 million airport redevelopment agreement descended on St David’s last night to voice their numerous concerns.

The meeting at Clearwater Middle School was intended to seek feedback on issues to consider in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, being compiled by LAS Consulting and Bermuda Environmental Consulting (BEC).

However, it quickly turned into a heated forum in which residents expressed their fury and dismay at the Government and its chosen construction firm Aecon.

As revealed in The Royal Gazette last month, the contract for the LF Wade International Airport redevelopment offers assorted perks for Aecon.

These include an exemption from the employer’s share of payroll tax and customs duties on capital items such as construction materials, plus a minimum revenue guarantee which means that if annual income does not reach projections over the 30-year contract, the Government will make up the difference.

Former Opposition leader Kim Swan criticised the One Bermuda Alliance for failing to send any of its members to the meeting, which was hosted by members of Aecon, LAS and BEC.

“You have business objectives; we are residents of this country who have very serious concerns,” he told Ken Hassard, commercial lead of airport developments at Aecon.

“It’s unacceptable for politicians to use businesspeople as a human shield in a very serious political issue. You have been put in an untenable position tonight,” he added.

Dorita Rogers said that she did not trust the contract’s promise of employing Bermudians at the redeveloped airport.

“I keep hearing you say ‘jobs for Bermudians’,” she said. “I do not believe it and will not believe it until the Government can show it.”

She also dismissed Mr Hassard’s claim that the airport provided an unsatisfactory first and last impression for tourists coming to Bermuda.

“I’ve done a lot of travelling around the world. I have yet to go to anywhere and say, ‘I’m going back to that country because I love their airport’,” Ms Rogers said.

Further concerns were raised about the high costs involved, the project’s impact on St David’s residents, the perceived lack of advertising for the meeting and the excessive foreign input on a very localised issue.

In response to the concerns, Mr Hassard said: “There are three things Bermuda needs: a new airport, direct foreign investment and jobs. This project delivers all three.

“It’s literally something Bermuda needs for its survival at this point. This is about Bermuda turning around and not being a ghost town in 20 years.”

Two more consultation events will take place tonight from 6.30pm at the Penno’s Wharf cruise ship terminal in St George’s, and tomorrow from 5.30pm at the Anglican Cathedral Hall in Hamilton.