Ethiopian Airlines For The Mid-Atlantic Caribbean Route?
By Makeda Mikael
Three days ago an Ethiopian Airlines jet arrived in Barbados from Lagos carrying delegates to the first ever AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ATFI2022). “During the 1 to 3 day conference, officials are expected to discuss the possibility of having the direct flight from Lagos to Bridgetown on a regular basis” so states Barbados today.
Ethiopian Airlines was founded on December 30, 1945 by Emperor Haile Selassie with assistance from TWA, considered in those days the best US Airline, establishing a foundation of safety and excellence which it has maintained to this day. With a fleet of 134 aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines would clearly be the best choice of carrier to link the Caribbean and Africa. The cooperation of the islands of the Caribbean is necessary if the mid-Atlantic Caribbean route is to lift-off safely, and in an efficient and enduring manner.
The recent debacle with the Heads of Government of Barbados, St. Vincent and Antigua in the downing of LIAT 1974 Ltd. is brought to mind as we now watch Marvelous Mike, the Nigerian publisher turned Aviation entrepreneur backed by Antigua, while Barbados is now in the position to present the globally respected Airline of Ethiopia. Will the Caribbean heads pull together in a principled approach to this opportunity to reverse the Middle Passage four hundred years after their abduction from Africa and enslavement?
Recent international news reports on the hard currency shortage in Nigeria will most likely condition the budget of any new carrier which attempt to take off in these times, especially if it under-managed. It makes sense for Antigua to jump on board early with the Barbados Mid-Atlantic route so that we do not find ourselves making a spectacle of division like the LIAT fiasco.
A proactive approach by Antigua to connect with the Barbados leaders of this new aviation thrust, even introducing the financially endowed printers of Nigeria to the possibility of chartering Ethiopian Airlines aircraft. The entire operation could well be outsourced to Ethiopian Airlines, with a build-in to incorporate LIAT and Caribbean Airlines to bring into effect a consortium of AfriCaribbean Airlines into joyfully reversing the Middle Passage as our part of the Global Reset.
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Antigua will not support Ethiopian until they have given the swindlers millions for the nonexistent Antigua Airways.
Excellent suggestion for a government trying to build a legitimate business in the aviation sector. However, we all know that the Marvelous Mike deal is a sham before it even gets started. Gaston Browne is known for his affinity for making unscrupulous deals and the Antigua Airways is just the latest creative enrichment deal.Get Rid a dem!
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “Each generation must discover it’s mission, fulfill it or betray it in Relative Opacity.” – Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of The Earth!
Give Praise and Thanks to The Great Spirit, Olodumare, the Most Merciful, the Almighty! The Queen of Sheba has brought her wisdom to the task!
A few weeks ago this mere voice in the wilderness issued the plea and you have brought the Best Intelligence to the People of African Descent resident on the Rock! JF II is Eternally grateful!
That GoAB had appointed Ambassadors to the AU and the Kingdom begs the question why has that not been explored and exploited! ” The unpreparedness of the educated classes, there lack of practical links between them and the mass of the people,their laziness, and let it be said, their COWARDICE at the decisive moment of the struggle will give rise to tragic mishaps.”
For over a decade this mere voice has been proposing at the highest levels that Ethiopian Airlines was the partner needed for the 21st Century and Globalization! It has fallen on deaf ears! All me Gud Frens have as VC would say have conceded and would attest to the relentless and persistent approaches! Sadly the most recent failure was that the contact info provided was lost! Hopefully with your capacity and quiver of FBO strategies, the Powers that be will listen to your wisdom and boldly take action!
EA is the leading African Airline in both Passenger and Cargo logistics and has developed one of the World’s Best infrastructure for Strategic Development and Training! They will engage in Partnerships and bring Strategic Managerial and Financial heft to Business Endeavours! Not enrichment schemes where as the late Tim Hector would say that “every deal is a steal”
The Queen of Sheba is a woman who has the vision, business acumen, and emotional intelligence to bring about such a radical transformation in airline transportation and logistics in the OECS and even CARICOM!
Nuff Said!
Barbados is always competing with Antigua. They wanted to move Liat operations to Barbados. Now that Gaston is talking about Antigua Airways, Barbados is courting Ethiopian Airways. If this should materialize, Antigua Airways is confirmed dead in the water. Barbados is however the better choice for the African Caribbean linkage. Liat can provide the connectivity to the other Caribbean islands.
I agree with the collaboration. Instead of BGI being the transient hub it should be ANU. As it is the closest landmass with airport facilities to accommodate the wide body aircraft that Ethiopian Airways fly.
Centralize liat in ANU and BGI to move passengers to the southern Caribbean and beyond. Then use BGI as the transient hub to return passengers back up north and beyond.
One Thought or Two
The words of the late Jasper (Bobby) Scotland, 5/7/1938 – 8/11/2022, an A&B and Caricom professional public servant, par excellence – accounting, finance, economics, trade & investment – are here instructive and relevant, nuggets of wisdom:
“By and large, more or less, Antigua and Barbuda has come a very long way in terms of economic development. We are well poised to take off, but we have to remedy some of the deficiencies. We must focus on efficiency and productivity because there is no such thing as a free lunch.
“In Economics, every benefit has its cost and we disregard high cost at the risk of (losing) ball, bat and bat-stick – everything – if we’re not careful. We also have to keep contact with, and learn as much as we can from, the outside world.
“……All in all, it is necessary to keep good balance. We cannot lose sight of our culture or relinquish hold on our job opportunities (and our own investment possibilities). We cannot assume altruism or philanthropy on the part of others. We must be watchful, prudent and skillful. It is imperative for us to be industrious (educated in STEM and business) in its real sense.”
And here is his piece de resistance: ” BE PROPER. RECOGNISE VALUE. Understand that civilization brings with it, a huge amount of morality that we cannot afford to discard. We cannot just pick up bad habits and spoil ourselves……..”
It Is time for us to realize our economic and social development – objectives collectively as our A&B and Caricom people, a people of African descent.
“For as a people, we sure are unique.”
Respect always!
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! @ Ratwell!
Amen!
Sadly we are not ready! We lack the Capacity for the issues of the 21st Century and Globalization!
Oh Gad! Hab Merci Pan Arwe!
LOL. If you want to see corruption let’s hear a little about the crooks on the aircraft that came across with these African ‘big shots’.
Corruption all over, too funny.
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