Time to get over euphoria of American Airlines flights
While commending the government for brokering the recent deal with American Airlines, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has stated that it is time to get over the euphoria of the achievement.
American Airlines has started flying directly to the BVI from Miami, USA – something which has not happened in the BVI since the 1980s.
But Walwyn said the government must now shift the focus to developing the airport as the facility is tied to jobs and many other important things in the economy.
“Even though we have those flights coming in, we ought not to rest on our laurels — get that airport work started. I have not seen anything in this SAP (supplementary budget) substantial enough to get into the direction we’re getting,” Walwyn urged in the House of Assembly recently.
He added: “When you look at Dominica for example, they are building a new airport and simultaneously because Sandals is coming in with a $200 million investment. The existing airport they have is also being extended. So they are extending their existing airport, building a new one and we can’t get a teaspoon of sand thrown up in Beef Island,”
Gov’t didn’t convince AA to fly to BVI
Walwyn also stated that although the government reached out to American Airlines, the company made the decision to fly to the BVI because it was beneficial for them. Because of this, he said when the euphoria wears off, the government should get back to the things that matter in the BVI.
“The reality of the matter is American Airlines is here in the BVI because they want to be here. When you look at their budget for last quarter, it is more than the whole budget for the BVI for the whole year. We can’t direct American Airlines to come here, they only come if they want to. Yes, the Minister made contact and we congratulated him for that, but that decision to come back into the Caribbean was a strategic decision by American airlines,” Walwyn added.
In responding to Walwyn’s statement, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said persons shouldn’t try to take the credit from Minister responsible for ports Kye Rymer who brokered the historic deal, especially since previous BVI administrations failed to secure direct flights to the territory.
“Previous administrations were not successful in securing air access from Miami – which became the hub for America. There were some efforts which were ultimately unsuccessful and that’s all I’ll say about those efforts. Efforts made to expand the runway were also unsuccessful. It’s a daunting task but I want to stay humble and say we’ll do our best,” Premier Wheatley stated.
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An honest assessment of the true situation. AA made the decision on economic grounds confirmed by the hefty price of fares.
Walwyn is speaking facts that people who are not blinded are aware of. The Premier on the other hand seems to want to keep the people under dilusions of grandeur. He failed to address what matters. No surprises there.
The last (dubious IMHO) estimates for airport extension (suggested by comment on teaspoon of sand) were provided more than 5 years ago. If memory serves, they were in the $ 200 million range (so 50% of BVIs annual GDP). As we all know, it would be more now. And, as we all also should know, the ability to keep large infrastructure projects on time and within budget has not ever been in evidence in the Territory. A project of this scale would likely take 5 years to complete. Moreover, it would require borrowing the money. AT 7% over 20 years, the monthly note on $200 million would be around $ 2 million a month! Sure, pass it on to the travelers. Assume 200 pax a day, 5 days a week, that’s 4000 pax per month, works out to $ 500 extra per pa, assuming the project is within buget. How many would be willing to pay that on top of the $ 800+ price of a RT ticket?
There is also the issue of where all these visitors would be staying. AFIK, neither Sandals nor anyone else is proposing to invest $200 million in the BVIs.
Aren’t there bigger priorities that would benefit people here?….like schools/eucation, waste management, stable electricity, water supply, roads, health care?
Again direct flights to the BVI from America is not new and not historic. The minister did nothing special nor did he broker any deal to get AA to fly to BVI. AA announced their return to the Caribbean since 2019! BVI is just a very lucrative route and always has been. We thank the Minister for being in the right place at the right time of course. But since they want us to believe that some great deal was brokered then ask them what were the terms of the deal! What did BVI offer or give up in order to convince AA to fly to BVI? What great negotiation tactic did he use? In any deal there is a give and take, so what did we give?
Not a thing! Because they were always set to start that route. Just a matter of timing and AA wanted to see the data on our arrivals post Covid. What guarantees did BVI have to make?
Finally somebody in the House talking sense again.
The things you listed that are better to put loan funding into are good but they don’t generate revenue. You need to do things that will continue to guarantee revenue so that the things that you have mentioned like education, roads etc can always be dealt with.
Everyone wants to expand this BVI until there’s nothing left.
Our mindset here is short term only and anti nature.
All you geniuses who have intelligent and powerful economic reasons for why we have to destroy our remaining untouched nature to accommodate the increased number of potential visitors – you’re missing the point.
Once we have destroyed the natural wonders that bring visitors to the islands, they will simply go somewhere else.
Untouched BVI nature is worth more than all your expanded airports, “essential” nearby hotels and other false idols of short term US capitalism.
Will the might of the US dollar outlive the majesty of nature? One gives us processed food and iphones, the other gives us air to breathe and regulates the infinite interplay that keeps this planet habitable for human beings.
Now you want me to shut up, but truly, which is more important?
And what happens when BRICS nations and others decide to sell oil to each in their own currencies? When they decide that the US dollar’s days of dominating every transaction on Earth are over? What happens? The dollar plummets in value and the ‘realist’ economic geniuses like Myron and Natalio have now left us with all these concrete monuments to the idea that money is above god’s creation. Prospect Reefs, everywhere. We go hungry and our children and grandchildren can’t even identify the plants and fish that they need to eat to survive because you all taught them that the only thing that matters is the US dollar.
Put the nature first. Tourists will come, as long as they can. And when that stops, we have food, our grandchildren have health, natural wealth and knowledge that can sustain them for as long as Earth sustains human life.
I second the motion. Such a relief to be fed with sense on a Monday morning. Walwyn for Premier is the only way this country will ever be saved. Can’t argue facts. Or are we waiting until it is too late.
What days in this coming August do AA direct flights from/to Miami operate IF the Beef airport is open?
Fair comment but doesn’t that mean that we’d be putting our eggs ($200 million+) in one basket, while setting aside more urgent priorities for people that live here? The territory would be saddled with $ 2 million a month to service a $ 200 million debt whether people come or not. And, there is no guarantee that airlines will continue to fly in from the mainland. Seems a risky proposition to me given the state of BVI’s finances. The way your comment is phrased, it suggests people here need to be prepared to wait half a decade before improvements even begin. That’s a long time to wait for better roads, education, reliable and affordable water, sewerage and electricity. Sure, the pols will claim that they can also deal with this at the same time, but where does that money come from, and will be just piece meal and patchwork instead of a proper fix? We’ve all heard this rhetoric before with limited results.
Thank you so much for doing the math. Too many of the BVI government’s so-called leaders have no clue about its importance – never mind how to do it or consider its implications after it has been done. All it seems to know how to do is propose more paid holidays, make excuses for non-performance, and try to figure out a way to tax tourists more just to enter the country.
Even assuming the runway expansion occurs, how many 737s or similarly-sized planes will land every day? In other words, what’s the airlift going to be? Likely not worth it.
BVI should be ashamed to have a man in the house of assembly arrested and charged for criminal activities and on reman waiting on a court date.
That is why the BVI is so lawless with everyone doing as they please. It starts from the top
The BVI should be a place of laws like everywhere else where a person is innocent until proven guilty. Remember, today for him tomorrow for you. Watch out!
Please for those who think we should do nothing to grow the economy, by expanding the airport, please can you give us some ideas on what approach we shohld take to grow the economy. Especially with government workers demanding their supplement. Where is this money going to come from in the long term? There ia an old term that says, ‘to have an omlette, we must break some eggs.’
Remember, we are not only looking at today, we must also consider tomorrow.
you’re 100% correct
You need better design engineers so that the airport extension can be budgeted for $150m. a 10 t0 15degrees realignment of the runway with a tunnel at the western end to facilitated traffic and reclaiming about 1000feet of land on both ends will give you a runway that a 737 can operates on. This will also improve the approach and take off over open seas.
Our guests will just love to watch and hear noisy large jets operating at Beef island airport everyday during their holiday.
BULL !!! you must mean bush engineers
He better be praying he stays out of jail from-on here talking his regular cow droppings
The thing about his arrest and charges case is it’s directly involved with the misuse of government funds and corruption dealing with funds from the government because of an over priced wall; shame shame on him, he can never be minister of Finance
This sounds like a hater. From my understanding the case has to do with regulations. It is people like you with your lying mouths that have us where we are.
Why are there so many rental cars on island? Not talkin bout ones rented by tourists. Those driven by locals. There must be more rental cars person in Tortola than any other country in the world. Why is this cash based business so abundant here? Asking for a friend (the DEA).
Yes, but Walwyn should learn to be more gracious. Give credit to those in office during a success, just as he will always criticize those in office for failures. They got something done. Give them credit. It’s good for BVI. We should be happy not critical. Keep the politics for voting season.
Sorry that you sound so bitter. Go outside. it is a beautiful night.