Sep 2006 Financial News

Barbados, T&T in discussions over BWIA's fate

Sep 06, 2006

THE Barbados Government will continue to have discussions with the Government of Trinidad relating to BWIA as uncertainty continues regarding that airline's fate.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport ,Noel Lynch, said yesterday that discussions had already taken place and will continue since BWIA is important to Barbados' international transport.

Speaking on Down To Brass Tacks, the Minister said: "BWIA brings more people into Barbados than any single carrier that we do business with and therefore, it is an important part of our development that we continue to have a good relationship with BWIA and the Government of Trinidad and that we see that they continue to work well with us."

Minister Lynch also stated that Barbados is the chair of the Ministers of International Transport Conference of CARICOM and there will be a meeting in October where every aspect of regional civil aviation development and international transport will be looked at.

He further noted that part of the issue is that without a proper international transport network, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy cannot work.

A decision on the fate of BWIA will be coming soon with a meeting on Friday, after the airline's management postponed a meeting that was previously due.

It was from April 2005 that speculations about the fate of the airline came to the fore since the Government of Trinidad appointed a private sector led task force to help restructure BWIA and address air travel in and out of the twin island republic.

By 2003 BWIA had become one of the leading Caribbean airlines, carrying over 1.4 million passengers a year, with over 600 departures in the Caribbean and another 60 international departures every week.

Officials state that BWIA on average earns US $276 million per year, but it has also been plagued by losses and has a history of continuous injections of funds from the Trinidad and Tobago Government.

Meanwhile, Minister Lynch further indicated that a ferry system might be on the cards for Barbados. He said last week there was a meeting in the Ministry of International Transport with a provider that is looking to provide a fast ferry movement between Barbados with four or five intermediate stops, going as far north as Antigua.

However, he noted that there is another provider who is looking to bring on stream another ferry that would be able to carry cargo as well as people and a meeting with this provider will be held next week.

There are several ferry systems operating in the region, serving islands such as Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. John, St. Thomas, Virgin Gorda, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Barbados Advocate
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=27717
Wednesday, September 6, 2006.