Just the other day, I visited my friend Petty at his home in Pond Ground. I found him displaced by his grandsons who had hijacked his computer and were busy watching you tube videos about making paper planes. I watched with interest as they made planes of all shapes and sizes – and observed that the size and shape of the planes affected how they flew. This experience brought to mind my days as a youngster and, I imagine, all other youngsters who, at some point in time, had dreams about flying whether as passengers or pilots. I am fearful for any dreams young Anguillians may have nowadays about being airborne. Given the plight of the Clayton J Lloyd International Airport, they may find that they have nowhere to land.
What a travesty! A few months short of the fiftieth anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution – and when it comes to commercial flights our airport is hardly more functional than it was when it was barricaded on 30th May 1967. It seems that Anguilla has taken several steps backward when it comes to air travel. We have not recovered since the cessation of the American Eagle flights. Attempts to fill the void have proven either fruitless or insufficient. Since then we have also had a significant decrease in service by regional airline LIAT thus making it difficult to travel to nearby islands. In fact, in the time taken to get to Antigua on a good day, one can fly to Miami and back. Not only is getting around the region hectic and frustrating, but it is also quite costly. Our options are therefore limited to hopping on tiny local aircraft to take us to the nearest international airport where we can get the flight connection best suited to reaching our destination. While we are proud of and thankful for our local airlines, for those persons with fears of small aircraft, this is no walk in the park. Added to this dilemma is the recent announcement by Air Safety Support International (ASSI) that our airport has been downgraded. I didn’t think that you could sink any lower when you are already rock bottom, but I forgot that you can go six feet under.
The report of ASSI has buried Clayton J Lloyd International Airport which, in relation to commercial flights, was already in a comatose state for several years. Apparently, the report cited several deficiencies in the operations at the airport which will have to be remedied in order for certain categories of aircraft to land. Since then, it seems that the Honourable Minister of Infrastructure and the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority (AASPA) have been working feverishly to dig the airport out of this hole before it stops breathing altogether. I do not know what has become of the CEO of AASPA but, based on media reports, the Board of AASPA has brought in outside expertise to assist with this crisis. Forgive me for sounding like a proponent of euthanasia but, given the limited role the airport has been playing in terms of access to Anguilla, I wonder whether it is worth the effort to try to resuscitate it or whether we should just pull the plug. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying Anguilla shouldn’t have an airport. I am saying that to simply restore the airport to the level of functionality that it has had over the last few years isn’t going to cut it.
There must be a major overhaul and upgrade of the airport if it is going to be a meaningful gateway for access into Anguilla – not just a base for private jets. While we are going through a recession, an investment of this nature is not only worthwhile but necessary because of the potential economic spinoffs for the country. We are aware that access is the number one issue we have with regard to tourism development. For the life of me, I cannot understand why we have not tackled the problem head on. We may not need an international airport with the level of air traffic as Princess Juliana Airport in St Maarten. In fact that would make little sense due to its proximity, but there must be a way that we can provide a more hassle free travel experience from key international markets, and around the region, for tourists and residents alike. No one enjoys layovers, flight changes topped off with boat rides, to get to a destination no matter how lovely it is. The need for improved access is not news to us. We need to stop talking and just do something about it. I encourage our Government to make this a top priority for Anguilla. The advancement of our tourism industry, the lifeline of this country, depends on it.
