As someone that has spent almost their entire (41 years) working life in the tourism industry, it is difficult at times to understand how an industry that is so important to Barbados can be guided by people that appear so far removed from reality. When I hear direct quotations like ‘We just performed the biggest coup in International Transport by getting some slots, by getting Virgin Atlantic to fly to Barbados out of Heathrow’, ‘an additional runway and airport hotel’ at Grantley Adams and ‘Category 1 by year-end’, it reminds me of the seventies and the reported effects of hallucinogenic drugs.
And what is so disturbing, not a single journalist seems prepared to challenge or question these clearly ambiguous statements.
Question number one. What role, if any did the Barbados Minister of Tourism play in Virgin’s purchase of the Air Jamaica Heathrow slots?
Question number two. Where exactly would you put a second runway and what would the economic effects and consequences be in the construction of same?
Question number two (a). What is the justification for a second runway, i.e: when would it be used?
Question number three. Why on earth would you build a new airport hotel when there is a 240 room property less than ten minutes from the airport rotting away (Sam Lords) and another new hotel (Casa Grande) within visual distance?
Question number four. ‘Category 1 by year-end’. Please explain to the less informed, exactly how this is going to be achieved?
Please also take in account the current state of the radar and air traffic training equipment.
Adrian Loveridge
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