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2011
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December
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- War of Words
- UWI Open Campus Counts Its Blessings
- Update on the Fight against Black Sigatoka !
- St. Lucia: No longer in the Dengue epidemic phase
- Sex Abuse Survivors in the Caribbean
- “ProjectCan building blocks!”
- Police I.T. Staff Awarded for Hard Work
- One woman’s yearly gift of love (and hard work)an ...
- Menell captures Regional title
- MEMORIES
- LUCELEC improving generation capacity
- Keeping your receipt
- How important is Power Ratings specifications when...
- Caribbean Metals Rewards Long-serving Employees
- Call to The Bar
- “Affirming Your Child’s Voice: How and When to Enc...
- TOP SLNCA AWARDS
- St. Lucia Junior Golf Another Success
- SLASA to host FINA Level 1 Course
- Pro Bike for Jordan Richards
- Old School To Play Cricket in St. Lucia
- Grow Well Inc. and St. Lucia Golf Club bring golf ...
- You’re Looking Well
- Vigilance is Key
- The blockage of Hormuz Strait spells trouble
- Stop Leaning on the shoulder of your brother
- Saint Lucia - Catamaran wreck Ministry of Foreign...
- Postponement of Car Raffle
- Participatory Democracy-A St Lucia Perspective
- National (St. Lucia) Consumer’s Association (NCA)
- Make 2012 your year of involvement!
- LPM Says: St. Lucians Should Be Vigilant in the Ne...
- Early closure of office
- Cultivating The Seeds Of Knowledge For Growing A G...
- Christmas Message by the Chairman of the Conferenc...
- Choiseul Assou-Square is back in 2012 - Sunday 1st...
- An interesting 2012 for Government and Opposition
- After the talk, now for the walk!
- 2012: Sink or swim
- 1000 Words
- Definitions
- The Challenge
- UWP Chairman Resigns
- SQUARING THINGS UP
- Christmas Weekend Woes
- PURE DOCTRINE: Is the celebration of Christmas sup...
- Faith: “Faith is the evidence of things not seen” ...
- Essential and Non-essential
- Travel Weekly ‘Readers Choice Award’ - Saint Lucia...
- Dreams
- When St. Lucians Go Marching In
- Daily Markets Wrap Up – Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
- CIBC FirstCaribbean Curaçao Participates In US$ 55...
- Baron Foods Limited celebrates 20 years with launc...
- Sex Abuse Survivors in the Caribbean
- Top Art Craft Centre
- St. Lucia Orphanage- “Project Smile”
- Sheldon receives an early Christmas gift complimen...
- Mr. Mathew Jn Philipp Wins Grand Prize in the Cour...
- Holiday Spirit from The Wave
- First Six Celebrate “Christmas of a Lifetime” with...
- Digicel Has Suprised Four Weekly Spell & Win Winne...
- Another Electrifying Digicel Arc In The Park!!
- Thrilling Gommier Boat Race
- SPORTS 2011 ST.LUCIA STYLE
- NTC Inaugural Christmas Tournament A Success
- Francis Daniel stays on top of CFC
- Francis Daniel stays on top of CFC
- 5 St. Lucians On WW Is Cricket Team
- YOU’RE LOOKING WELL The long goodbye
- The hire purchase agreement
- Tapion Hospital celebrating achievements 2011
- Saint Lucia’s Idea for Peace in the Middle East
- Rigobert Makes History
- Nutrition ...Monroe offers training for new career...
- Jazzy Plans
- Independent Received Lowest Vote
- Can DVD Players Also Play Standard Music CDs?
- All On Board!
- Who is This December 25 Jesus?
- The Million Dollar Gift
- The Extradition Treaty between Saint Lucia and the...
- PM Gonsalves expresses frustration with LIAT
- It is time to care and share!
- Is unemployment a myth or a reality?
- In Appreciation
- Blue Caribbean Christmas
- Are we hanging on to unrealistic expectations?
- A Public Relations Disaster for the U.S.
- His Birthday
- GIVING JOY
- The World’s #1 Rated Champagne Now Available In St...
- ECFH Honours Long Serving Employees
- Claudia performs at the Caribbean Queens Tour in M...
- “A Hambone Christmas” CD Toasts The Old Time Tradi...
- VSADC: VETERANS CHAMPIONS
- SLFA: Youth Footballers Committed To Pledge
- Selected for Pre Olympic Training Camp
- Another step to further develop rugby on the Island
- A vintage ARC draws to a close
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December
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65 comments:
its nice that liat is getting needed competition, its just sad that the new tourism minister wants the private sector to take note of added movement in the south as a result of redjet. BUT its just sad govs. alway thinking small,hewannora airport is a farce for an international airport its a DISGRACE in my view. It leaks when rain pours,both dep and arrv is too too small, we have an opportunity to better our tourism product increasing airlift.
AT LEAST THAT WAS THE ONLY BONUS POINT I GAVE THE UWP GOV FOR THE TOUGH DECISION TO DO A NEW HIA TERMINAL . now this new gov wants to downsize that NATIONAL VISION that is what the terminal is part of our national vision its just SAD that govs never come out and express NATIONAL VISION UPDATES AND INTENTIONS- national visions has nothing to do with govs win or lose its about the progress of the country.
U KNOW WHAT I THINK ITS BEST IF SLASPA WAS AN AUTONOMOUS BODY irrespective of who is in power they will engage projects for the betterment and future goals of SAINT LUCIA.. not be dictated by any prime minister in their convoluted manifestos.. I AM MAD THAT DR K IS INTERFERRING WITH THE AIRPORT EXPANSION IS LIKE ST LUCIA WILL NEVER NEED AN AIRPORT OF THAT SIZE, much the same way now we scrambling for a 4lane road to gros islet now that castries gros islet road is too small lets be futurist ppl..damn it
Thanks to T-Chas! It was your vision for the country--even if your poltiical priority was insane.
Hewanorra MUST be upgraded, otherwise even St Vincent will move far ahead of us. Whether we like it or not, tourism is by far our biggest money earner and employer. A decent airport is a MUST; it is not a luxury item. Already it appears Kenny Anthony is thinking small for our island.
A decent international airport brings more tourists, money, and employment to our shores: we must understand that international travelers are used to international standards and comforts. Disasters - e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes, and others - will always come to us: THAT’S NATURE, and we cannot control nature. However, humans have to take care of LIVING and not always live in fear of disasters.
If this new government decides to use ALL or most of the airport funds to fix the damages left by Tomas, what happens when another unexpected disaster comes and we have no money in our coffers, worse unemployment, and less tourist dollars to help dig our economy out of yet another deep hole?
St Lucia has to stop living in fear of disasters, face the future with hope, and stop thinking small. Even though we have to diversify our economy, at this moment in our history the HIA redevelopment project is vital to St Lucia's survival and overall growth.
.
u all uwpeee/slpeee/lpm/ndm. keep your mouth shut 4 once!!!
may i add just one simple question,
what is the purpos of upgrading hewannora airport now,when our roads are in such deplorable condition?
on what are we 2 travil 2 and from our point of stay?
with all those kase-mele we looking 4 just take it easy things will fall in place just as we fit in the missing pieces.
thank u my academical/ignorant,brothers/
sisters.!!!!!!!!
Anoymous @ 12:31PM - If you had any pride, you wouldn't be asking this silly question but then again, you've probably never had the experience of traveling through that airport to know. If that's the case, I forgive your ignorance!!
The deplorable state of the arrival terminal is very embarassing. It's hot, the A/C unit does not work right, there's no where to sit, the restroom is in a sad state. The last time I was there, there was a nail on door to shut it??? There are no mirros??? No changing tables for babies. It's obvious the Hewanorra airport is in desparate need of an update to meet the needs and expectations of all who come through there.
Nice to see Lorne Theophilus in the limelight again... Smiling at ARC, grinning at RedJet. It must be great to reap the rewards of all of Senator Chastanet's hard work.
Things will become complicated for Mr Theophilus as we move forward... He has no clue about tourism, and his government has no vision for attracting visitors to St Lucia. If any bloggers can provide links to speeches or dissertations outlining Mr Theophilus' vision for attracting tourists to this country, I would be grateful.
Do your country a favour Mr Theophilus. Listen scrupulously to Mrs Troubetzkoy's advice. Pay attention to the hotels and do your best to see Mr Chastanet whenever you can. You are lost without them, wandering aimlessly through your ministry...
Tourism is the most important sector for St Lucia. Kenny should have known better and given you another, more simple mandate. The heavy burden which you bear is beyond your skill set. Better days ahead, I don't think so...
Thanks to you Mr Chastanet. Your hard work and dedication is now bearing fruit.
Not once he extended gratitude to the visionary himself Mr Chastanet. SMH
Lorne Theophilus is to tourism what Miss Piggy of the Muppets is to the Pork stew that many Looshans will be enjoying over Christmas. An essential, and delicious ingredient.
I don't want a calaloo.
Pa aretter là Lorne. Go to the BRIC nations and try to encourage visitors. Preferably Magadan, far away in Russia where you will do minimum harm to St Lucia.
Come back Senator Chastanet, please...
Uwpees Still in denial as if they didn't care how degraded St Lucia was, Misery Loves Company.
What misery. One don't have to be UWP to agree that Lorne has no clue about Tourism. It's not a party line-It's a reality.
One and a half hour of travel by car to Hewannora International Airport for a 20 minute flight to Barbados. Wow!!!!
Couldn't we somehow get this REDjet to land at Vigie?
7:08 PM the last time I checked there were people who travel to Babados living in the south to. People who travel do not only live in Castries.
7:08 PM the last time I checked there were people who travel to Babados living in the south to. People who travel do not only live in Castries.
The real farce is that your people live in abject POVERTY and we want to turn them into second class citizens at the expense of 1USD , pound whatever... you have people in St. Lucia living practically on the streets andthe only thing we can think of is how deplorable the airport looks?
I guarantee you that when the tourists return to whereever they come from, what makes the biggest impression on them is the fact that people are living like animals in St. Lucia. Regardless of how much you upgrade your airport and fill it with fountains and wireless networks, your tourists will still drive through and see the cesspits many call home here in St. Lucia. Your people live like RATS and you do nothing to aid them, but your airport is nice! but then again a their world mentality for a third world country
so wait.. what makes people of the North so special that one and a half hour travel to VF is beneath them. Get over yourself!
Have you figured out a way to move the pitons and the sulphur springs to Vigie yet? Some of you are so ridiculous
we need thiss airport project to commence
"...the last time I checked there were people who travel to Babados living in the south to".
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Let's be honest; over 60% of our population live somewhere in the north; and will not be willing to pay a taxi over $100 to travel an hour and a half to VF for the 20 minute flight to Barbados.
One year from now, REDjet will not be coming to St.Lucia unless it can land at Vigie; and that's the truth.
I am PRO-SLP/INDEPENDANT- & i call it as i see it without party colours when necessary to-anon5:37 am ,vigie airport can accomodate redjet cause yrs ago BWIA aircraft similar in size landed there, but due to ECCAA,FAA,ICAO etc they not allowed, at least redjet will give ppl on both east west coast a chance to travel thru VFORT.
TO--Workinprogress--when tourist arrive to slu. the first complain is the winding roads, deep down its actually the airport esp they waiting on long lines extendint to the outside of the hew.terminal dont u see thats just crazy supposing its raining what then . we just have to think holistic poverty will never go away unless our service industry picks up.PM K. should embrace this chance to advance st lucia he chooses key examples to make us believe we dont need what is planned but if we do it remem it will take another 20 yrs b4 any further expansion is needed so why do something small and 10 yrs later have to address it again.COMMON SENSE .
1ST [FACT] the new HIA pays for itself by way of passengers paying dep tax and 80% are tourist 2ND [FACT]the loan guarantee is from the overseer company called HEERY S&G and NOT GOV of SLU. SO what DR K. is saying about us prioritizing for tomas and rebuilding stlucia doesnt apply here. 3RD [FACT]he quoted antigua and st vincent terminal cost but he failed to say that both countries have spent much more thus far on their runways, radar system etc esp st vincent whose total cost is $600million ECD..encounting,THE NEW HIA PROPOSAL is not just the terminal but roads,car park, private jet facilities etc.
DONT LET POLITICIANS SPIN US- " workin progress" OH I forgot to mention BARBADOS new terminal took 10 yrs with cost-overuns $100 million USD if st lucia is serious about being a hub on any sort we have to spend money look at tourism as the bread and butter and we have to close our eyes and think BIG!!!
u all bloggers are a bunch of bull-shiters/mr/miss/mrs.know all block heads!!!
u all can bit your mouth here on this blogg till jesus return it will not mean a shit.
we just have to wait untill the gov.is ready to have work done on roads/airport,etc,etc,
u all talking roads/airport,what about LOPITAL??
(hospitals) for when the mal-bouden take your MADANM (wifes) who want to akouche will she GIVE BIRTH in the airport or on the roads??
maybe in the car on the road TO THE LOPITAL if she have GOD on her side.
give me a brake.
Plain and simple, St Lucia has the best-suited airport for developing into an international hub in the south-eastern Caribbean - Hewanorra is the one good thing the Americans left us. We must develop it to fit international standards: its cost is a sensible investment in our island and its future. It will turn St Lucia into a first-class tourist and business destination.
Eventually, Vigie will have to be closed - sooner or later. Maybe Kenny can beg the Chinese to build us a north-south Tunnel-Highway and name it the Kenny Anthony Highway. That should satisfy his ego at the same time as changing St Lucia into one of the best progressive nations in the Caribbean - while creating more good jobs and greater wealth too!!
And man Hewanora has two yes 2runways to develope. Only TT has 2 runways in this part of South Carib.
Lorne of all people for Minister of Tourism? is Allan had work he taking photo OP on
HIA is a mess i don't think many people realize the mess HIA is in.
SLU is a MESS. I don't think many persons realize the mess SLU is in. smh with these priorities
Is Allen Chastanet your Messiah??? WTH
BTW to anonymous #83489523, so screw your citizens surviving on less than one dollar a day and let's focus on making the tourists wait on a line as cushy as comfortable? Get outta here with yall Massa mentality. That is the true slavery when you prefer to leave your citizens starving just so that the people who actually OWN businesses like yall Messiah Chastanet can profit more and more.
These people come on VACATION but the people in St. lucia live the REAL LUCIAN life. Or maybe you guys are really feeling that authentic third world look. It gives the tourist somewhat of an "experience" while sitting cushy in their hotel rooms before their "loooong" wait in that horrid HIA. You people are SICK.
BTW That Vigie Airport you want all traffic to go through is TRASH. The tourists don't complain about that TRASH? I KNOW I have HEARD them complain about it.Last I checked, St. Lucia did not consist only of the north and the south of the island is what sells this Helen to those precious visitors of yours. So stop feeling yourself with this 60% in the north crap
to "worknprogress" your thinking is childish there will always be poverty "the poor is always with u" jesus said so. there are 30mil poor americans the richest country in the world..actually singapore has a great record of being a welfare small island the size of dominica. and that country thinks big and forward and future in all things they have built subways awaiting the pop growth in their country imagine that.. I m hoping GOOD SENSE PREVAILS and i hope PM KY gets this msg that we the public want a leader with vision and not limited to ego. he is embracing former opponents into his admin. any alterations to NEW HIA as it is now will cost money to redesign etc. the new terminal on its own should not be shelved. hurricanes and floods will always be there a country CANNOT think MYOPIC and hope while the rebuilding effort of soufriere etc that GOD will give us a break. come on lucians wake up when will u..
VIGIE AIRPORT has so much potential.
1st - its losing money.
2nd -the area is limited in expansion or runway extention
now lets see the positives of GFL Airport closing down to bloggers above.
1st - area is good for castries city expansion in the future.
2nd - its proximity to the beach & seaviews makes the land there a goldmine easily in the tens of millions.
3rd - projects like a sizable modern conference centres,recreatioal parks,commercial spaces,HIGH RISE HOTELS AWAY FROM THE BEACH,national THEATRE/GYMNASIUM,CONDOS/APARTMENTS FOR LOCALS
Where was Lorne on January 15 2005?
your people are hungry but your airport is nice and it has wireless. It's ok because Jesus says there will always be poor people
@ Anonymous 6:08 PM, given that I am female and have a husband, that's unlikely.
Another Looshan fool, a minister who knows nothing about tourism and a sorry future for the island.
Thanks blogger @ 4:24PM. All your suggestions for Vigie are great: I hope we all live to see them come to fruition.
Vigie served us well in the old days but now St Lucia is a renowned world-class tourist destination. St Lucia is also known as an upscale destination, which means we have to meet the usual standards that come with the prices the more affluent tourists can afford. This is the best way for St Lucia to be marketed. Why? Not for snobbish reasons but for the good of our island.
For its size, St Lucia has more one-of-a-kind NATURAL phenomena than all the surrounding islands: beautiful scenery, the famous Pitons, the unique Soufriere Sulfur Springs, numerous great beaches, and more. Catering to the upscale tourist markets makes good sense for us, because this way we earn top dollar prices without becoming overrun by hoards of invasive tourists like the more affordable islands such as the Bahamas, Virgin islands, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica.
GET HEWANORRA FIXED QUICKLY!!!!!!!!
@ workinginprogress!!! You are a ticking time bomb you need to see your Psychiatrist immediately your Prozac is done.You are always angry at yourself and the world why? I think you are a coward because you hide your arse behind a computer talking trash.If you are not a St.Lucian back off but do not insult our intelligence you idiot.
I CANT BELIEVE PEOPLE IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY WOULD TALK ABOUT TRAVEL TIME TO THE AIRPORT. ALL I COULD SAY IS THAT WHO EVER IS OF THAT NOTION THAT VFORT IS TOO FAR TO TRAVEL TO TAKE A FLIGHT MUST BE A BLOODY GILLIGAN WHO NEVER LEFT DE ISLAND. NUFF SAID...
screw poverty. Everyone wasnt born to be rich. Beside they produce more children that they can afford anyways. So because of a few poor non contributing persons, we should not develop our country. The US with all its resources can alleviate poverty. Get up from your sleep you moron....
"...St Lucia is also known as an upscale destination...."
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Not as long as tourists have to go through Anse La Raye and Canaries to get to the Pitons and the Sulphur Springs in Soufriere; when coming from the north by car.
the only moron here is you anonymous. Are you not hiding behind "anonymous" You so called intellectuals from a third world country feel that pandering to some snot nosed tourists makes you "developed". Newsflash, it does not
To the person who said screw poverty, go somewhere and die. The world does not need you in it
"...pandering to some snot nosed tourists...."
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New York City pandered to about 50 million tourists last year; and didn't dare call them snot-nosed.
What a proven idiot you are.
yes I said snot nosed tourists. Do you want to report me to your massa??? Be the obedient bush negro that you are and go tell on me
It might surprise you to know that a hefty percentage of our tourists are non-white, and are from the Caribbean itself.
So if I were you, I would put a lid on my mouth and unplug my computer. It's not nice to be laughed at on Christmas day.
I am quite aware that a significant portion of tourists are non white. My point was about you being a "slave to tourism" Massa in this case can refer to anyone smartypants. Take a trip back to English Literature class. And that lid you speak of, use it to cover yourself and your useless thoughts
Oh boy, the feeble blows of a worn out fighter.
Now you are all exhausted from trying to validate a null & void argument. Next time, stop while you're ahead.
YOU ARE TOO CANTANKEROUS.
and you are an idiot
Old man, you make me laugh. Thanks for a hearty Christmas.
BRAVO TO ALL FEMALE POLITICIANS AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN TO QUALIFY THEMSELVES WHERE ONLY MALES DARE TO VENTURE A FEW DECADES AGO. BRAVO TO THE FOLLOWING WOMEN:
Dr. Plummer(former senator)
Dr. Julietta Joseph-Raymond
Dr. Gail Rigobert
Dr. Morella Joseph
Dr. Rosie Husband-Mathurin
Dr. Browne
Dr. Lansiquot
Bravo to all other St.Lucian females who have achieved the highest educational milestone (PhD MD, EDd. Doc. PsyD etc.
Please Kenny let's put those persons in positions where St.Lucians can benefit from their contributions, that is, if they are not already doing so.
No where and at no time has it been proven that a PhD is more valuable to his or her community than, let us say, the grave-digger, the local butcher, the local fisherman, the grass-cutter, or even the handy-man who performs odd jobs in the neighborhood.
A PhD's main goal is to secure himself a good paying job to maintain a certain lifestyle and to help recoup his huge college expense.
I feel disheartened by the lack of knowledge by some persons where the PhD degree is concerned. For those who are so inclined to criticize the PhD and MD degrees, please be informed that those particular degrees are the ultimate terminal degrees that should refine an individual to provide the highest degree of quality service to others. Such degrees do not come easy, and those who hold such degrees have proven, that is, upon completion of such degrees that they are worthy of their specific cause or purpose to humanity etc.
To those who believe that the degree is a technical or policy-bent qualification is far from the know. The degrees especially the PhD allows SOME holders to be technical or policy-oriented but it does not make policymakers of every holder of the degree.
It would be unfortunate if persons who hold such degrees demonstrate otherwise.
Please let us embrace persons who hold such degrees because they deserve the recognition for their hard work, commitment and dedication to service and quality education.
We are to embrace not only the PhD's etc but we also need to embrace the Janitors who by the way are now labeled as Sanitory Engineers (and yes they do represent the PhD's in that particular field. We need to embrace the responsive and dedicated parent as well for they are also considered to be of PhD quality in that area as well.
Let's embrace everyone who show dedication and commitment to quality service in every sphere of life. BRAVO to you PhD's, MD's, EDd's, PsyD's,Doc., MS, MA, BA, BS etc.
Many St Lucians suffer from the prejudice of INVERTED SNOBBERY which makes them automatic enemies of anyone highly educated. This will continue as long as St Lucia does not establish its long-awaited universities, not to mention keeping us backwards, undeveloped, and the easy prey of corrupt, dictatorial politicians who ENJOY manipulating vulnerable miseducated voters.
An urgent message to St Lucia's new government: "BRING IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IMMEDIATELY!!"
Blogger above, I agree 110% with university education in St.Lucia. We simply can't allow the world to leave us behind. If we are to be left behind, we will also be left with the implications of myopic vision. Such myopic vision if upheld will cripple our progress in small island states like ours.
I say transform SALCC NOW with the necessary resources (especially better library facilities and better time schedules), programs(expand on program offering and expertise(especially hiring of persons who are PhD's and paying them accordingly) to make it a well-known educational institution regionally and internationally.
Great last two blogs, the most sense I have red in a long time.
St Lucia needs many more fully qualified people.
There is a place for grasscutters, butchers but there is also a place for PhD's, and persons of quality terminal degrees. Stop criticizing the PhD degree because your jealousy exudes in your statements. I feel pity for persons who simply despise holders of PhD degrees. I ask why? But, something tells me the answer is deeper than simply jealousy, it may very well be a canker sore of high illiteracy among our populace and a hatred towards postgraduate education.
Dr. Lewis(a holder a PhD degree)your work is obviously cut out for you. Our people desperately needs help because similar sentiments about trashing PHD's has been reiterated by persons such as Rick Wayne and others in the media. The research clearly shows that as a society increases in terms of education and educational degrees so does the economic progress of that society.
People learn and stop being haters of persons who hold PhD's etc. Embrace them instead. Lord we need help.
Before the government of St.Luica takes’ Red Jet Ian Burns serious, they should first take a look at his equipment operating cost. The MD-80 is not fuel efficient compared to the A320 or newer 737 models; it burns 1,050 gallons of jet fuel per hour on a typical flight, while the larger Boeing 737-800 burns only 850 gallons per hour (19% reduction.
Assuming Mr. Burns flight plan his old ex-American Airlines MD.80’s with 133-160 seat configuration for the Barbados to Hewanorra round robin run, There is no way he can turn a profit or continue such a costly operation running on less than 75% load fact, since the market between Barbados and St.Luica/ Hewanorra does not support the volume of passengers per flight to make the operation profitable.
This is exactly why Chastanet's plans for a Caricom Airlines based at Hewanorra, and HIA’s inevitable transition into a Caribbean and International hub is a great idea and essential for solving this problem.
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a personal friend, not the father, and not a political supporter or fan of Allen Chastanet.
The time is NOW for establishing an affordable Caricom air service for the entire Eastern Caribbean.
Not to let the cat out of the bag. I am currently a B-772 Capt. For a major carrier with over 18,000 hrs in various types from DC-8-63 B-727-200, B-737 and B-767 series aircrafts.
In the late 90s we did a study on the possibility of starting a St. Lucian base international air carrier operating out of Hewanorra with non-stop flying to five major cities in North America to include Toronto Canada, and six cities in Europe.
At the time we had secure solid financial commitments from two wealthy investors in Europe and the operational plan seems feasible.
However when we look at feeding passengers into Hewanorra from the neighboring islands such as Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, and even as far way as Dominica and Antigua, we concluded this was not viable due to load factor /capacity and available equipment for this type of operation.
If such an inter-Caribbean flying operation was economically doable, then the big boys like American Airlines/Eagle, Caribbean Star aka BWIA and Air Jamaica would have nailed those routes a long time ago.
You can mark my words, Red Jet is going to be a “now you see it, now you don’t “type of airline.
Any one planning to start such an operation at today’s fuel prices flying substandard equipment like an old MD-80 series aircraft is financially doomed.
Sir, the writer above, it is most evident that you are an expert in your field: a fact I admire without reservation, however, I would like to suggest the augment that the world has changed considerably in the last 10-15 years and we should refocus our sights southwards and eastwards rather than north as we have always done, i.e., southwards to Brazil, the rest of South America and beyond. There are so many NEW big players these days!
I am also wondering about using Brazil's more fuel-efficient airplanes like the Embraer models 175 and 190. Additionally, Bahamasair has successfully served the Bahamas islands for almost 40 years: serving 8 or 9 islands with a fleet of approx. 15 airplanes.
I look forward to your knowledgeable response; and thank you for this opportunity to correspond with a person of your caliber.
Please accept my apology for posting my unedited comments with poor grammar via one of Steve Job’s iPhone (lol)
The future of props aircraft for short haul routes is alive and well for inter-Caribbean flying.
Embraer 190/195 series is a larger plane, heavier, more powerful engines. So right there it will cost more in fuel. In addition assuming your seating configuration is single-class 100-116 capacity which is definitely too many available seats for less than 300 nautical mile leg. So you are already bleeding red ink even before your inauguration day.
I would say try Embraer 175 in a 78 – 86 seat configuration, flight planning for Mach 0.80, cruising speed is still too much airplane for island hoping, while all your revenue money will be deposit into the gas tank.
On the other hand, if your intent and operational plan is to tap into wealthy North American travel market to the Caribbean from Miami, Atlanta, or any of the gateways on the eastern seaboard, it would be best to look at the B737-800s, the NG’s, or even the A320s. Not that I care for the Airbuses, but they will get the job done.
There are no quick remedies to take care of your migraine headache of feeding into Hewanorra from the neighboring islands, since every prop aircraft avail on the market is either too small or too big for such an operation.
You can trust me on that one, if it was that easy, LIAT, America Airlines, Caribbean Star and others would have married Hewanorra a long time ago.
PhD MD, EDd. Doc. PsyD etc. means nothing if a person lacks basic common sense, honesty integrity and respect for others. The culture of Bobol, nepotism and cronyism on St.Luica out-weighs any academic title.
when it comes to a university i think sir arthur is too small to expand in the future when that time comes. i prefer that the 400 acres of land set aside in vieux fort is the best place to start fresh and inturn v.fort will thrive cause of this university which i hope should be geared also towards OECS only students as well.. and utilise sir arthur lewis college as a tourism focused vocational school or tertiary ed. or what if we put a couple of the primary schools in castries like ave maria and rc boys and anglican primary where sir arthur is now if we do get to build a new university in v fort as we open up these city primary schools to private buyers/investors or gov can be innovative in bringing some new upscale life to castries.. LETS THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX ..PPL..
OH I FORGOT TO ADD lets make the university preferably built in vieux fort a ....COLLEGE UNIVERSITY... college students can make the easy transition from college to university in this widespread compound saving on cost/utilities/faculty expenses.. AM I A DREAMER ...?? TELL ME PLS
Responding to better days ahead last comment:
For decades both political parties are guilty of neglecting Southern St.Luica for major development. While they were very busy promoting the north as the only place that matters, the beautiful beaches from Vieux Fort to Choiseul and Laborie which are minutes driving time from Hewanorra Airport were ignored. There is an abundance of vacant land in that area waiting for a master development plan which could integrate Hewanorra airport complex, with high rise office buildings, expressways, to new mega resorts with casinos builds to accommodate wealthy vacation seekers from Europe, Russia, and Latin America.
The thought of every visitor to the island must drive almost 2 hours to hotels on the northern end of the island would be some thing in the past. South./Southwest St.Luica is a diamond mine and a cash cow waiting to happen if the right people can set aside their political bickering and get to work on developing the next Caribbean Riviera.
YES, YES. YES!!!
Develop the South: the HIA hub, a top level university - better than UWI, a major medical college, a major tourist-medical center, 5 or 6 mega hotel complexes, develop Soufriere into a major health resort, and leave Castries more as the cultural center of St Lucia.
Employment, employment, employment!!!
To anon...@1:13pm.. TRUE VIUEX FORT has all these potential.. BUT i think we both will die b4 any of this happens cause if we have a PM who reps vieux fort South... and he hasnt done much in terms of mass developments what u expect of any others coming after him.
it s nice that the stadium is there..NOW we hearing that the NEW AIRPORT WILL BE MOST LIKELY SCALED DOWN ... i like it as it is now from the designs .. PM K.A is talking about jobs he forgot that vfort ppl gave him victory by over 1000 votes otherwise he wouldnt be PM... he is obligated to do somethings in v fort forget about castries .. mind u i am from castries but i think v fort has much more potential and we need to close down vigie airport its just politics
ppl who will complain about vigie closing most of them have never fly and prob will not and they will be the ones to complain the most ... u see the more things change the more they remain the same what do u do with st lucians how can we get it thru their thick head we need to borrow to advance our islands ..stlucia is way below the borrowing threshold when compared to barbados,antigua,stkitts.. DR.K.A.. said its his last term pls focus on your LEGACY... HOW WILL WE LUCIANS REMEMBER U BY..
When Iran Burns of Red Jet held his press conference announcing service between Barbados and Hewanorra last December most of us in the aviation industry knew this was too good to be true. It was only a matter of time b4 Red Jet was going to become a “now you see it, now you don’t “type of airline.
One does not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out the MD-80 is not fuel efficient compared to the A320 or newer 737 models; it burns 1,050 gallons of jet fuel per hour on a typical flight, while the larger Boeing 737-800 burns only 850 gallons per hour (19% reduction.
It was laughable to think Mr. Burns would flight plan his old ex-American Airlines MD.80’s with 133-155 seat configuration for the Barbados to Hewanorra round robin run twice weekly and turn a hefty profit operating at less than 75% load fact.
This was a waste of time and paper work by tourism and transportation departments to accommodate Iran Burns scam hoping he would be subsidies by tax payer’s money for flying a near empty aircraft into St. Lucia.
You guys were told such an operation was not viable, and I was right!
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