OPINION: Barbuda FBO Services

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By Makeda Mikael

 

The buzz on Barbuda development is becoming a roar except very little of the high-end developments are designed for the benefit of Barbuda or even Antigua people, except now the choice spot on Runway Ten has been designated by its owners for the development of Barbuda’s FBO Support. Further it is stated that it will be owned by Barbudans.

 

With Barbuda’s upmarket profile, from the days of the iconic Coco Pointe Lodge attracting the rich, the famous and the royals from all over the US and Europe, Private Jets have been on Runway 10 over many years, parked on the ramp or hangared while their owners leisurely enjoyed Barbuda.

The new developments of recent years have swallowed up both Coco and The Beach next door, and other multi-million dollar developments are planned, with an airstrip awaiting completion for what is planned as Barbuda’s FBO.

As Private Aviation requires support, it is unlikely that Barbuda will be able to offer that support in short order, and will for some time depend on Antigua for its Hangarage, fuel  and any small maintenance from an FAA certified mechanic, air starts, towing and other services which equipment would make their operational costs prohibitive on a small undeveloped island. It is therefore very important to have aviation support on sister island Antigua.

High-end arriving passengers will arrive Barbuda directly, and aircraft will reposition to its hangar or parking in Antigua where it will be serviced, provisioned if necessary, pilots accommodated and entertained at our hotels, creating a viable joint operation facilitating Barbuda.

Is is only right that Barbuda be allocated this FBO location which was originally designated by the SDC in the premier spot overlooking the bay, Jumby, Maiden and the Northsound islands, linked to the most beautiful of our islands, Barbuda. Antigua Hangars Inc. the owner of the lands is working with responsible Barbudans and the Government to make this a reality in real time.

It is known that the Afreximbank on their visit through the islands were also hosted by Antigua Hangars Inc. where the development of Runway 10 peninsular, and a Special Economic Zone were proposed.

The meeting resulted in the Bank’s referring a team of SEZ developers, and upon invitations from both the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, and the Ministry of F.A. Trade, Agriculture & Barbuda Affairs, a representative of Arise International Integrated Platforms (AriseIIP) spent early July evaluating the Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis with a view towards the OECS.

Assurances have been given by AriseIIP to the Government regarding the developments which are under consideration, and which will generate the revenue needed to be compliant with the bank’s expectations. Antigua Hangars Inc. developments are geared to creating an investment platform to engage and employ Antiguans and Barbudans in high-end aviation.
To this end the planned development Support for the Barbuda FBO will also form part of the proposed PPP to AriseIIP and Afreximbank.

Just two weeks ago the Afreximbank launched its head office in Barbados, making good on the requests of the regional heads to fast track the bank’s generous offer of US $1.5B  in development funds to the region. Whereas  African banks lend at higher interest, funding comes with expertise with visible track records. The company AriseIIP which was referred to Antigua Hangars Inc. developed and operates Gabon Airport, West Africa, and whose expertise will be embraced in establishing the Barbuda FBO Support.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Are you aware that the Word Championship is presently going on? Are you aware we only have one athlete representing A&B who’s best time of 10 flat was back in 2018, now as a Pro he is actually going in the other direction. How could you not make it out of a Heat? The last time I saw this guy was at Yasco running against junior athletes and I kept saying why isn’t this guy testing himself on the Diamond league with the other Pros? If you’re running in the 10.20’s you would know there is still a lot of work to be done. I saw some no names or you can say no bodies without sponsors running faster and looking better, like that guy from Guyana and to tell the truth I didn’t even know Guyana had a sprinter. So once again to our Sport ministry, are we paying attention? It’s the year 2023 and we can’t even make it out of a Heat, so who is at fault? Are we doing or giving enough, is the support really there? We had Kim Collins from SKB as guess speaker the other day, but he should have let our athletes know how rewarding it is to be on the Diamond league because up to 40 years, week after week this guy competed on the League and did well against the best of the best. So here i am an Antiguan sitting at the start of the Worlds and nothing to cheer or look for, now once again I have to be a Caribbean man and cheer all Caribbean.

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