The 64-seat Embraer 170 air carrier, one of four similar costly airplanes, recently acquired by Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club, has been coming to the island previously, bringing in personnel and supplies.
But Wednesday, October 6, 2021, was the aircraft’s official inaugural flight into the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, carrying its owner, American investor, Mr. Richard M. Schulze, and an executive team including stewardesses attired in Anguilla’s national colours. This time, also, the aircraft touched down with the resort’s brand name, Aurora Anguilla, emblazoned across its wide body, much to the cheers of the gathering. As it taxied to its parking area, the aerodrome’s two ultra-modern fire trucks showered it with torrents of water – a baptism that was the initial part of the welcoming ceremony.
More welcome cheers pierced the air as Mr. Schulze appeared on the stairs, with outstretched arms, as if saying: “Well, look what I have for Anguilla” – an aircraft that will begin a direct passenger service from Miami as from December.
At the welcome ceremony were the Acting Premier, Mr. Kenneth Hodge; the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes; the Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Kyle Hodge; the Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie, and other Government officials; personnel from the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority; and executives of Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club on the island: the Managing Director of the Resort, Mr. Simon A. Fricker; the Resort Manager, Mr. Peron Sepersaud; the Director of Development and Learning, Mr. Chris Richardson; and other senior staff members.
gathering at the Airport
The ceremony was chaired by the Director of Tourism, Mrs. Stacey Liburd, who led the welcome remarks expressing much pleasure for the occasion. It was an event that the Acting Premier, Mr. Kenn Hodge, described in his opening prayer as the beginning of a new chapter in tourism in Anguilla. “Congratulations, Mr. Schulze, it is a beautiful plane,” he added.
Mr. Fricker said in part to the gathering of Government Ministers, other officials and the media: “Thank you for coming to this inaugural flight of the first brand plane. It is a true honour for me to be here to show you this plane.”
He also thanked Mr. Schulze and his team for making it happen in order to bring tourists to Anguilla from all over the globe – and to make travel much easier for them, rather than going through St. Maarten. “This is a great day for Aurora Anguilla and I am looking forward for more to come,” he concluded.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, Mrs. Gumbs-Marie, stated: “I cannot begin to express the pride that I feel standing here to officially welcome Aurora Airlines to the tarmac of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.”
She stressed that collective ambitions and partnerships [regarding direct flights to Anguilla] were something worth celebrating. “It says something that when confronted with the issue of airlift and access, Mr. Schulze and his team worked on solutions to improve access [to the island] instead of turning to a destination with better airlift,” she observed. “It says that Aurora Anguilla is in this for the long haul.”
The Parliamentary Secretary continued: “This celebration is symbolic. It’s a reminder that we can no longer count ourselves out because of size. What we lack in island size, we have in ocean space, air space, human resource and the generational vision that Anguilla is a resource worth sharing. While we hold dear to our aspirations of a larger and grander airport and runway, today we celebrate what can be done with what we have.
“Although this flight will be private for now, we look forward to the prospect of welcoming Aurora Anguilla Airlines in a commercial capacity. The significance of this moment is not lost to us. We recognise the literal and figurative definitions of the word ‘connectivity’. First, is the context of connecting future visitors to our shores from the US and beyond; [second], connectivity in terms of the brand Aurora and its work to build meaningful connections with the Government and people of Anguilla. We see your efforts and look forward to greater connection of places, people and values.
“Congratulations and best wishes of success on land and air.”
Minister of Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes, described the inaugural flight as “a time of historic importance”. He went on: “We stand here with Mr. Schulze and his family to celebrate a moment that links the mainland USA to Anguilla via Aurora Airlines, exclusively Anguilla…The confidence that Mr. Schulze and his family have placed in the Government and people of Anguilla, cannot be understated. It is important that the investment he is placing in Anguilla, and the people of Anguilla, reaps rewards for all…and we welcome the beginning of great things.
“We stand here welcoming Aurora Airlines to the land of rainbows. May God continue to bless you, [Mr. Schulze]; Anguilla Aurora Airlines and Aurora Resort.”
After stepping down from the aircraft, Mr. Schulze spoke at length to a diverse group of local media personnel and later addressed the official gathering. He expressed appreciation for the interaction between the Government and himself, saying it was “a prelude to our intent to be an integral part of this community.”
He further stated: “We genuinely care about the whole value of partnerships. I appreciate your reference to that because I believe that business together with Government and the population of this great country obviously can do great things. Working together, side by side, we can make things happen. Basically, my whole world is wrapped around trying to make something better, stronger, more successful – and to create partnerships with win-win outcomes. I genuinely hope and pray that we can do the very same thing here.”
The Aurora Anguilla Resort owner continued: “We have nearly 500 employees and we are so proud of everyone. I can’t tell you how wonderful the people are who have chosen not only to stay with the resort, once we had taken it over [from CuisinArt Golf Resort and Residences], but to join the resort once they knew what we are trying to accomplish. For us, it is a combination of doing more of what is really better within the framework of a resort or within this enterprise. We will be doing what is better and more resourceful for the population as a whole.
“I spent quite a lot of time speaking with Minister [Kenneth] Hodge, and Premier Webster, about investing in new, different and better ways in which we can make Anguilla more successful as a nation.” He later explained that Aurora Resort would be contributing to the development of Anguilla in such areas as health and education.
Mr. Schulze announced that he had big plans for the redevelopment of Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club. “This first year we have been immersed in rebuilding the infrastructure of the resort which was probably not in a… condition as we had hoped, at the point in time, when we made the purchase,” he told his listeners. “We have been investing carefully in what it takes to do the right and better things and make the resort much more friendly for the guests we expect to bring here, in full force, starting in December. We will be doing a soft opening in the first two weeks of December; a grand opening on the 15th of December – and from thereon we will introduce people not only to our resort, but also to this wonderful country and to the people of Anguilla. They [Anguillians] have been so gracious, so humble, so hard working. We just can’t say enough about our experience since we got here.”
Mr. Schulze spoke at length about his grand plans for the overall redevelopment of Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club. These plans will be outlined in detail in next week’s edition of The Anguillian newspaper.
The Vote of Thanks, was delivered by Mr Sherman Williams, CEO of Anguilla Air & Sea Ports Authority (AASPA).
