$350K approved to help BVI, eastern Caribbean increase airlift
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a grant of $350,000 to help BVI and other Eastern Caribbean countries address the airlift capacity issues which are affecting tourism in the region.
The money was approved for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as emergency assistance.
According to a press release from the OECS, the funds will be used to “finance the cost of the consultancy service and to assist with interim arrangements for the re-establishment of regular air transport services within the sub-region.”
The CDB said the procurement process has already been completed and that the aviation consultancy will begin soon.
A technical working group comprising members from the OECS member states will also form part of the process to help guide the work of the consultant.
Tourism in OECS countries is affected yearly by a shortage of airlift. Most of the countries are unable to accommodate larger aircrafts at their airports and usually rely on the yachting industry to make up for the decrease in airlift .
Recently, the USVI was named the fastest growing Caribbean destination — a title the territory attributed to increased airlift.
In recent years, the BVI has been taking steps to develop airports in the territory in an effort to increase airlift to its islands.
In 2020, the Andrew Fahie-led administration had announced plans to expand the Terrance B Lettsome Airport at a cost of $158 million. The expansion was expected to permit tourists and investors to fly nonstop to the BVI from major cities such as New York, Toronto and London.
The completion of the improvements was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.
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That won’t go far when you think what the I got for it’s 7.2 million.
Expanding the airport will not bring tourists. We have a lot of infrastructure issues to rectify. Let’s “clean the house” before bringing in the guests!
Another consultant! How many consultants have looked at airlift over the years and nothing happens.
Money to spend on consultants??? When this money could go to subsidizing flights or enhancing our ferry ports and routes so that the experience from the USVI is top notch, or fixing the road and views from Beef Island to town? They prefer to give money for consultants? Each country has its own slew of experienced experts who know what need to be done.
Unfortunately it is a pissing contest where every tiny island nation thinks they have to have their own international airport instead of taking advantage of the hub and spoke system. Monkey see Monkey do.
SVG economy is not much better off and their people haven’t benefited drastically since they built their airport. Same for Antigua. And others.
What we need is to be OK with St Maarten, Antigua, USVI and Rico being the major hubs and strengthen the smaller airlines servicing each island nation as the hubs. The Liats, InterCaribbean, bring back American Eagle, and the puddle jumpers. Let there be an intertwined connectivity of flights buzzing in and out of each country. Each October, before Tourism season, every government pays.20cents for each landed passenger and 15 cents for each departing passenger directly to each airline as a subsidy. Figures can be adjusted.
We need to pay consultants for what we already know?
THANK YOU!! I really don’t know what is wrong with these governments except, of course, that airport projects are a big excuse to sign big contracts with your cronies and get big kickbacks! Just allow the hubs to be the hubs and improve the connections to those hubs. That is TOO simple, I guess. Look at St Barts – huge high-end tourism destination but no big airport!
Also, why not spend some money on the infrastructure and fix the roads??
can this money be re-directed to get our children educated? how many schools are out of commission at this time but yet funds being used for yet another study. There are studies and reports already. The geogrpahics have not changed since. What is wrong with us. Doesn’t CDB not know that our education, health and infrastructure is a hot mess?
Consultants have got to be disappointed in that.
Lets see, Inter Caribbean tourism was at its highest when AE, Liat and Sanfords airline were flying about the Entire Caribbean. Then we lost AE and Sanfords one and Liat went to pieces.
Also after that all the airports raised their taxes which means at least $100 in every ticket is taxes and that killed it.
Reduce taxes, help the current airlines get their schedules on time and improve customer service.
I wonder if Claude has seen this article, another opportunity to be a CONSULTANT!
Yes I too want to be a consultant in the BVI.