In a matter of minutes, rain clouds formed, light showers fell, the sun shone through, and a small aircraft appeared in the distance – Cape Air, piloted by the smiling ‘Ms. Alicen’, taxied up the runway at the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.
The President of Cape Air, Ms. Linda Marcum, a small group of ministerial and other government agency officials, members of the media, and others, gathered at the airport to welcome the inaugural flight of Cape Air from St. Thomas to Anguilla, for the 2021-2022 tourism season. Mrs. Stacey Liburd, Director of Tourism, hosted the welcome ceremony marking the arrival of Cape Air. The brief ceremony included a musical rendition of the national song, played by Dumpa and the ANVIBES and sung by Mr. Gershwin Lake; a prayer, by Rev. Wilmoth Hodge; and remarks delivered by government and Cape Air officials.
Mrs. Liburd summarised the advantages of having Cape Air’s service to Anguilla. She stated: “The new Cape Air service facilitates access for visitors from Anguilla’s traditional source markets, as well as from within the Caribbean Region. Cape Air’s partnership with major carriers will ensure easier and faster combined flight itineraries, and provide more efficient connectivity.”
Mr. Peter Farrell has been the Managing Director, Supply Chain & Facilities, at Cape Air for the past 23 years. Commenting on Cape Air’s return to Anguilla, he said: “It is so good to be back [on] Anguilla. We are excited to be back on island, providing service to all who love Anguilla as much as we do. We look forward to providing safe and reliable service for many years to come.” On behalf of the management and staff of Cape Air, Mr. Farrell said a ‘special thank you’ to the Cape Air, Anguilla start up team, led by Mr. Ordley Thompson, [Cape Air’s] Caribbean International Station Manager.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie, expressed pleasure in having Cape Air return to Anguilla. Speaking in absentia, she said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Anguilla, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Cape Air’s inaugural nonstop service from St. Thomas to our island. We extend a warm welcome to the visitors who’ve experienced this flight, and to the exceptional Cape Air flight crew who has delivered you safely, with the high quality service for which the airline is so well-known. We are honoured and delighted to have Cape Air as a valued tourism partner,” she continued. “We place an extremely high value on reliability and consistency, factors which invaluably lead to strong customer satisfaction.”
The Honourable Minister with responsibility for Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes, also welcomed Cape Air back to Anguilla, and stressed the importance of its service to Anguilla. He said: “This opens up the USVI, the BVI, and Puerto Rico to our people and visitors.”
Mr. Karim Hodge, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, voiced his satisfaction with having Cape Air as a valued tourism partner. He commented that: “Cape Air will assist visitors in manifesting an appropriately phrased statement – ‘lose the crowd, [and] find yourself’.”
