Despite the criticism and carping, this an example of the UK Government actually looking after the interests of its people. The economic and social benefits to the island population will be huge, and the cost of the airport (and the new dock) has to be set against the saving of the millions of pounds that would have had to be spent on replacing the ageing RMS ST HELENA and subsidising her replacement for decades. The strategic aspects of a mid-atlantic base cannot be discounted either.