Antigua Prime Minister regrets airport closure, waives departure tax

Antigua's airport control tower
(Photo: Norman 'Gus' Thomas)

Monday, November 10, 2003

ST JOHN'S, Antigua: Industrial action by air traffic controllers at Antigua's International Airport over the last day and a half has done great damage to the country's image abroad. So said Prime Minister Lester Bird, as he delivered his weekly radio address.

He noted that the action caused great discomfort to passengers and a great cost has to be borne in compensation.

"The passengers on the planes coming to and leaving here on Friday and Saturday were severely discomfited, and a great cost has to be borne to compensate those persons who had to be accommodated in other countries or whose holidays or business arrangements were wrecked."

Mr. Bird also noted that, the country's upcoming winter tourist season could be adversely affected.

"The winter tourist season starts a week from today with 16 flights per week from the United Kingdom scheduled to start flying into Antigua, ten of them by British Airways alone. In addition, there are the daily BWIA flights from the Caribbean to ports in the US and Canada, two daily American Airlines flights into and out of the United States, Continental Airlines from the US twice a week, Air Canada from Toronto, and of course the very many daily flights by LIAT and Caribbean Star that use Antigua as a hub for destinations throughout the Region."

The air traffic controllers took industrial action as of Thursday evening to draw attention to a faulty elevator that had been out of commission for several months and to also protest the late payment of their salaries. The action caused a complete shutdown of operations thus inconveniencing thousands of passengers.

Prime Minister Bird stressed that the action generated bad publicity for the country, noting that the closure of the airport has sent jitters throughout the airline industry that has invested a great deal of money into increased flights into the country.

"The nervousness of these airlines may well result in cancellation of flights over the winter period. Should this happen it will have an adverse effect on hotels, hotel employees and everyone, including the private sector, who rely upon the money generated by tourism to sustain employment and business. "

Mr. Bird sympathized with the air traffic controllers and assured them that repair work has started on the elevator.

"I am fully sympathetic to the argument that persons should be paid on time, and I am equally sympathetic over the matter of the elevator. Frankly, the elevator matter should have been addressed by the Ministry responsible some time ago. In the event, work on the elevator has now started, and two experts in the repair of the elevator will be in Antigua on Tuesday. "

Mr. Bird concluded by saying that he deeply regretted that such drastic action had to be taken and that the country as a whole had to suffer for it. He warned that there would be changes made at the Ministry of Aviation and at the airport, noting that real and urgent grievances should have been given real and urgent attention. 

He called on all to cooperate in solving the problems facing the country, noting that the economic consequences will not affect the Government alone but every single person in the nation. 

The airport was reopened on Saturday afternoon following talks with officials and the air traffic controllers.

Mr. Bird thanked the passengers and visitors who were affected by the trying ordeal and announced the waiving of the departure tax to all travellers who were inconvenienced by the air traffic controllers' action.

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