Submitted by Roslyn Shepherd
Demand for travel determines the servicing of routes by airlines.
The pandemic has triggered economic hardship worldwide, failures and or downsizing of some airlines, and in the absence of a definitive end to the effects of the pandemic, an on-going contraction in the demand for travel. This is bad news for Barbados whose economy is tourist dependent.
Whilst the country is in a wait and see position, it might well be beneficial if it looks at establishing a connection with Western Africa via air travel. As the most easterly Caribbean country, Barbados is nearest to West Africa, 6,406 km from Ghana and 7,431 km from Nigeria. There are seventeen (17) West African countries of which Nigeria and Ghana have a population of 100 million and 30 million respectively. Ghana is defined as a third world country but with the world fastest growing economy in 2019 and Nigeria, a rich 4th world country. Both Ghana and Nigeria have controlled the spread of Covid-19 and could be the main routes.
Demand for travel between Barbados and Ghana and Nigeria would have to be assessed by the Government of Barbados. In the absence of information, Barbados could benefit from promoting its educational institutions from primary to tertiary level. Parents who can afford tuition plus boarding and all the incidental costs might for a variety of reasons, prefer their children being schooled outside of the country. It might also be possible for Chefette to expand into West Africa. How Barbados can benefit from other aspects of oil rich Nigeria and agricultural based Ghana will also require research.
This suggestion is not new; both Jamaica and Guyana tooted flights to Africa but they failed to materialize. However, the present economic climate might just be right to follow through with these West African airline routes. Though flying to Barbados, most of Virgin Atlantic airplanes have been grounded by the pandemic. Dire warnings about the continued spread of Covid-19 in the USA, UK and even Europe do not indicate this airline will return to full flight in the short term. With assets grounded and the airline bleeding money, Sir Branson might well be receptive to a route from Barbados to West African countries. His planes would be back in the air earning money. There’s no direct competition. Ticket prices can be relatively cheap because the airline would be flying to an oil rich country, Nigeria. However, the viability of each route is incumbent on Barbados justifying demand.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if the former slaves in the Caribbean reverse the slave triangle to carve out trade between West Africa and the Caribbean and even North and South America.
This challenge is not outside the Prime Minister of Barbados’ orbit. The PM has resource people who can pull together a comprehensive Business Proposal. Her several interviews at the international level has raised her profile which should lead to contact and persuasion of the key international asset providers, Sir Branson or the alternative British Airways and though not discussed herein, the governments of Ghana and Nigeria.
This is not a start-up business where projected minimum start-up capital would be around $22 million in the first year as per a Business Plan done for a proposed new airline in 2010. The airport hubs, planes, personnel, etc., already exists. It would be interesting to know the flaw(s) in my idea.
Talk about having no damn shame, that harlot brigade.
“Prime Minister Mia Mottley has warned corporate Barbados, especially tourism industry players, to pay their workers’ severance once they can afford to do so.
Speaking shortly after the end of a meeting with several ministers as well as staff and union representatives of the security firm G4S over the ongoing pay row, the Prime Minister declared: “If you are the beneficiary of profits and dividends over the years, you have a responsibility to be there when profits and dividends have gone, to see the other side of the pendulum when workers are facing difficult times.
“You must bear in mind that it is the blood, sweat, tears and efforts of the workers that have made the profits possible. So with that in mind, you have to carry the workers along.”
While Mottley reiterated that her Government was on the workers’ side and would see to it that they got their severance payments, she urged employers not to leave their staff by the wayside when their actions showed that they could indeed compensate them.”
@ WURA-War-on-UDecember 9, 2020 9:14 AM
“While Mottley reiterated that her Government was on the workers’ side and would see to it that they got their severance payments, she urged employers not to leave their staff by the wayside when their actions showed that they could indeed compensate them.””
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So who is going to pay severance to the Bajan ex-employees of LIAT (1974) Ltd (including the pilots)?
@Miller
Is LIAT 1974 a company incorporated in Barbados?
@ David December 9, 2020 9:46 AM
NO!
But its major shareholder is the GoB and a major player in Caricom.
Doesn’t that count for something in the grand scheme of Equity?
Now who is going to pay those severed LIAT (1974) Ltd workers? LIAT (1974) Ltd (Under Administration) as part of the liquidation process?
Barbados is a shareholder in a company incorporated in another country. You should be able to answer your question.
@ David December 9, 2020 10:12 AM
So what standing does the NUPW have in the matter?
‘Amicus curiae’?
The same standing the GoB had in the recently resolved but very controversial and violence-affected Guyana elections, thanks to the timely intervention of the Trump administration?
@Miller
Good question. Former LIAT Barbados based pilots are free to join a union of their choice but how/who can NUPW poll to ensure demands are taken seriously?
No one.
Oh well, Mia let the big cat out of the little bag…..definitely the much better move…🤣🤣😂😂…so where are the fowls to give us all the sordid, gory details….snitch on G4S….Theo, ah can’t wait…robbing workers over 6 million dollars in the last 6 years to buy land in Barbados….woozer…..lol
“You cannot tell me you cannot afford to pay workers when you can afford to buy government property and we are very clear that you have to put workers in front and centre of what you prepare to do in this season.
“And the acquisition of property while leaving workers at the side of the road for the Government to deal with will not be tolerated, especially from those from among us who know our norms and our laws.”
“So who is going to pay severance to the Bajan ex-employees of LIAT (1974) Ltd (including the pilots)?”
Miller…one cockup at a time, am about to retire, i swear, it’s coming at us too fast and furiouis, they should make crooked ass maloney and all who sat on the liat board for decades fattening their gluttonous guts….pay for their own actions right along with the crooked ass governments who put them all there…..am too exhaunted to even think further than that….lol
as revealed in another forum, more than Enuff G4S workers got sick and died because of the social stress, mistreatment etc….someone had to be exposed eventually.
One things for sure, if Mia is not onlyblowing bullshit hot air and actually have G4S SANCTIONED at the ILO level, she will be viewed in a limited but far different light…
If the greedy criminals for employers cannot afford to pay their employee’s severance, then what are they doing in Barbados…
if they can afford to pay and are blatantly refusing because they have ALWAYS ROBBED BLACK WORKERS IN BARBADOS…then they need to be brought up on some kinda charges and have all their buildings, equipment, etc seized…
Theo… check this out, after they rob employees, then they sell out and run with their loot. UKs weak economy was bound to cause hostile and other takeovers, they are all thieves and slave masters, they should be nowhere near Black majority countries period.
“G4S will fall into foreign hands after its board accepted a takeover offer from US rival Allied Universal.
The British security firm agreed a £3.8billion deal worth 245p per share after a bitter bidding war with Canadian predator Garda World.
It will create a global giant with 750,000 staff and annual revenues of £13.4billion.
British security firm G4S agreed a £3.8billion deal worth 245p per share after a bitter bidding war with Canadian predator Garda World +1
British security firm G4S agreed a £3.8billion deal worth 245p per share after a bitter bidding war with Canadian predator Garda World
G4S chief executive Ashley Almanza, 56, and chairman John Connolly, 70, will scoop an estimated £7million if shareholders accept the bid.
Almanza holds 2.1m shares, worth around £5.2million, while Connolly and his family hold 611,000 shares, worth £1.5million. G4S is just the latest British firm to fall into foreign hands. “
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@ King David,
Have you seen this story?
https://antiguaobserver.com/tragedy-at-sea-boat-carrying-african-migrants-from-antigua-capsizes-near-st-kitts/
@TLSN
#humantraffickinglookslike
Here is the accompanying editorial.
https://antiguaobserver.com/our-worst-nightmare/
@ King David,
Antigua has become synonymous with these type of scams. They make Barbados look like a bunch of amateurs.
I am sure that Waru passed comment on this subject matter several weeks ago.
https://antiguaobserver.com/they-have-found-religion/
I did not realise that so many Africans were been smuggled out to the Caribbean.
https://face2faceafrica.com/article/antigua-how-over-600-cameroonian-migrants-ended-up-on-an-island-they-never-knew-existed