By Anna Ramdass [email protected]

Regional air transportation is a problem that must be resolved as it impacts on the growth and development of the Caribbean, says St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas.

Douglas is one of the 14 regional leaders who are in Port of Spain to attend the 34th Regular Meeting of the Caricom heads of government.

In an interview with the Express yesterday, Douglas said air transportation remained a major problem, especially for the smaller islands of the Eastern Caribbean.

He said the idea of one Caribbean airline to meet and cater to the transportation needs of all the islands must be considered.

LIAT is the only airline that properly services the Eastern Caribbean countries and it has been experiencing difficulties with investors coming and going as well as the continuing escalation of airline fuel.

Douglas pointed out that regional tourism had been affected and there were declines in the last fiscal year.

“This is a major concern and if we are talking about the movement of goods from one territory to the next then we have a major problem with air transportation,” he said.

Even when the larger airlines bring passengers to islands such as St Maarten or Anguilla, getting tourists to their final destinations was a task.

Pointing to the current economic situation facing State carrier Caribbean Airlines (CAL), Douglas said that investing in LIAT did not necessarily mean it had to come solely from shareholder governments, but also from the private sector.

Douglas said a practical team needed to work on this and involve transportation ministers and ministers of tourism.

“You cannot be successful in tourism development unless you solve the problem of air transportation,” said Douglas.

“We have been paying large amounts of money in St Kitts and Nevis over the years to build up a reliable direct jet service from North America and Europe into St Kitts and Nevis. It means, therefore, we understand the relationship between air transportation and tourism development,” he said, adding that a regional effort would bring positive rewards.

The economic situation in the region is “very high” on the agenda for discussions at the conference, Douglas said.

“If we are going to really move forward out of the prolonged global and financial economic crisis we have to concentrate on growth in the economies. How are we going to do it? We have to identify the various sectors that will help us to grow.”

Solving the air transportation issue is one area which can help with growth.

In St Kitts and Nevis, he said there was emphasis on the construction sector and there was a programme in place whereby investors could become citizens of the island.

This was fuelling a construction drive.

He said construction of a Hyatt hotel on the island has started as well as construction of villas and condominiums.

The agricultural sector must also not be forgotten.

Douglas said the issue of food security affected the region and was a challenge for leaders.

Speaking on the problem of crime, Douglas said in addition to a regional thrust, there must emphasis on the social sectors of the various countries.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/St-Kitts-PM-Air-travel–woes-hurting-Caribbean-214230391.html