Tourism Minister Discusses Aviation & Hotel Investments

Matters pertaining to regional air connectivity, enhanced training for air traffic controllers, and the cost of intra-regional travel were among the areas discussed during a courtesy call between Minister of Tourism, Ian Gooding-Edghill, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport, Eli Zakour.

During the meeting at Hilton Barbados Resort last Sunday, the two officials discussed the state of the industry in both countries and agreed to strengthen relations.

Minister Gooding-Edghill stressed that there were significant benefits that could be shared among the two countries, as he pointed to the sustainability of Barbados’ tourism product.

He said this sustainability had resulted in a “wave of investment” in some instances by Trinidadian investors and mentioned ongoing hotel projects in the south, west and north of the island, such as Hotel Indigo, the Hyatt, the Pierhead Project, Royalton Vessence, Pendry Hotel, Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club, among other projects.  

The Tourism Minister added that a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism and Culture between the two countries should be pursued to “see how best we can advance our interests on both sides”.

There was a lengthy discussion on enhanced training for Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) and the opportunities to collaborate in this regard.  Minister Gooding-Edghill shared that there was a training deficit in this area and expressed the desire for ATCs to be trained in Trinidad “in quick order”.

“We would like to advance that as a matter of urgency.  We are in discussions with the Ministry of Finance as to the funding for it…and we need to move on this urgently.  It is also an opportunity for us to not only train persons but also continue that excellent working relationship that Barbados has always had with the Civil Aviation Training Centre in Trinidad,” he stated.

On this point, Minister Zakour proposed an MOU on the training, with the details to be worked out shortly.  In agreement, the Director General for the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority, Carey Price, stated that ATC staff shortages were not unique to Barbados and they were “happy to do anything that we can to accommodate Barbados’ needs for capacity building”.

The two officials also discussed recruitment of ATCs, ongoing efforts to boost airlift in Trinidad with the signing of Air Services Agreements, the worldwide shortage of pilots, the high cost of intra-regional travel, and generating greater interest among the youth in careers in aviation, among other topics.

Also present for the meeting were Permanent Secretary (Tourism) Francine Blackman; Acting Permanent Secretary, (International Transport), Dionne Gibbs-Nicholls; Chief Executive Officer of the BTMI, Andrea Franklin; Acting Director General of the Barbados Aviation Authority, Tracey Forde-Bailey; Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Aircraft & Aviation Services Company Limited, Diane Shurland; and Advisor to Minister Zakour, Shanna Lutchmansingh.             

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago established diplomatic ties on November 30, 1966. (PR/GIS)