Vincentian are yet to hear an announcement from the airline that Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves had said would have announced by the end of June plans to flying to Argyle International Airport, when it begins operating.
“That was the indicative time which we were given but they have just sent the agreement for us to sign and for all the administrative arrangement to be put in place and when that is concluded I expect them to make their announcement,” the prime minister told reporters this week when asked for an update.
Gonsalves’ comments this week are in stark contrast to what he told supporters of his Unity Labour Party (ULP) at their annual convention on May 29, when he said the negotiations were completed and an agreement was almost ready for signing.
Speaking at the convention, Gonsalves said: “I want to tell you this — can’t tell you the name of this airline, but we have already done the negotiations with an international carrier out of the United States and before the end of June, I will be signing the agreement,” Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told the ULP’s 22nd national convention.
He said he was just waiting for the feedback of the Attorney General on a number of items, and also from the Director General of Finance and planning.
“The agreement is OK as far as I read it but I have to get the final input of these two important officials,” Gonsalves said.
He said this week that people were asking why he wasn’t announcing the name of the airline.
“… some people say why isn’t Ralph saying the name and they go off on all sort of tangents,” Gonsalves said.
“You think an airline wants you as a government to make and announcement for them? They would want to make the announcement in accordance with how they do things for their commercial advantage,” said Gonsalves who announced in December that Caribbean Airline would be flying to Argyle.
“In any event, accountability, transparency doesn’t mean that you have to broadcast everything you decide,” he told reporters this week.
Vincentians are yet to hear an announcement from the airline that Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves had said would have announced by the end of June its plans to fly to Argyle International Airport, when it begins operating.
“That was the indicative time which we were given but they have just sent the agreement for us to sign and for all the administrative arrangements to be put in place and when that is concluded, I expect them to make their announcement,” the prime minister told reporters this week when asked for an update.
Gonsalves’ comments this week are in stark contrast to what he told supporters of his Unity Labour Party (ULP) at their annual convention on May 29, when he said the negotiations were completed and an agreement was almost ready for signing.
Speaking at the convention, Gonsalves said: “I want to tell you this — can’t tell you the name of this airline, but we have already done the negotiations with an international carrier out of the United States and before the end of June, I will be signing the agreement,” Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told the ULP’s 22nd national convention.
He said he was just waiting for the feedback of the Attorney General on a number of items, and also from the Director General of Finance and Planning.
“The agreement is OK as far as I read it but I have to get the final input of these two important officials,” Gonsalves said.
He said this week that people were asking why he wasn’t announcing the name of the airline.
“… some people say why isn’t Ralph saying the name and they go off on all sort of tangents,” Gonsalves said.
“You think an airline wants you as a government to make an announcement for them? They would want to make the announcement in accordance with how they do things for their commercial advantage,” said Gonsalves who announced in December that Caribbean Airlines would be flying to Argyle.
“In any event, accountability, transparency doesn’t mean that you have to broadcast everything you decide,” he told reporters this week.
It is my understanding that any new route undertaken by any US air carrier must be approved by the US DoT, the FAA, and often the TSA, as well. Given this, it is difficult for me to understand how any such proposed route could be kept “secret” for any length of time, or that such secrecy would even be desired by an airline. US flights and cruises to Cuba, for example, were announced almost within hours of the announcement that travel restrictions had been lifted.
Many international travelers, especially those planning a holiday, book their flights months in advance, both to assure their seats, and in the hopes of getting a “good deal”. Routes to popular destinations fill up quickly, and prices inevitably rise. Consequently, I would think that an airline considering a new route to any destination in this area would be eager to announce any such plans well ahead of time, in order to assure bookings.
The peak “season” for travel to the Caribbean at least from the US, Canada, the UK, and the rest of Europe is “only” four or five months away. This may seem like a long time to some, but for international holiday travelers, it’s not.
Wonder never cease to amaze me bout Vincentians. It’s always April fools day for you guys and the amazing part is when your PM is caught in one lie after another, what does he do, he haul insult at you Vincy people and y’all lives him even more.,,Look out for Chile Air & Qatar Air to be landing down for Christmas direct flights for all
“Always April Fools Day” in SVG…good one..LOL! We have the April Fool’s PM…LOL!
Fool them once
Shame on you
Fool them twice
Shame on me
Fool them three times
You fool the fools again
The PM is quite right to claim that the airlines are the first to make such announcements but fails to address how this contradicts his announcements over the past few years of the names of 10 or so airlines that have allegedly shown interest in flying here!
More evidence that all this airport crap is a mirage.
I filed this under: The airline is wagging this dog. Because, for sure, the airlines commercial advantage is airports commercial disadvantage.
Remember, four years ago, Glen Beache said he knew which airlines were flying in and without question Air Berlin had to be one because they were calling him. And he was specific not him them.
And since we want airline bad, real bad them Berlin people had to be in the bag. So if is ONE coming (down from seven or eight), them is the one what coming.
QED
But Ralph says the airline is from the USA and the last I checked Berlin is in Germany, unless the TIIP has been signed while I slept and now the USA corporations own everything.
And what else did Ralph say? And where are we after he said what he said?
BREAKING NEWS!
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AIRLINE THAT WILL BE FLYING TO ARGYLE HAS BEEN DISCLOSED! IT IS……
LIAT!