Prime Minister Perry Christie expressed regret on Monday that the country is getting bad publicity for the state of Nassau International Airport and he assured that the government was on the verge of making a major announcement about NIA.
Mr. Christie’s comments came on the same day that the Miami Herald ran an unflattering story about NIA under the headline “Nassau’s Aging Airport: Trouble in Paradise”.
In the story, the Herald said the holidays gave critics of the airport “new ammunition” when a radar malfunctioned, disrupting dozens of flights in and out of Nassau.
The report said, “Tourism leaders see the airport as a drag on growth in that industry. Kerzner International, for example, has made expansion of the airport a condition for agreeing to build a new hotel at its Atlantis resort. Meanwhile, growing interest from discount carriers – JetBlue, Song and Spirit all launched Nassau flights in the past two years – has added to the pressure.”
The Herald recognized, however, that Bahamian officials hope to calm some of the grumbling with the announcement of a new operator, Vancouver Airport Services.
Responding to a question asked by The Bahama Journal, the prime minister intimated that the signing of the contract will take place possibly before the end of this week and the government later announced that the signing was set for today.
Asked whether he was concerned by the Herald report, Mr. Christie said, “Yes it obviously concerns the government and that is why the government on a very proactive basis has launched an investigation that involves the private sector with a view to ensuring that we put in place the necessary safeguards to avoid any repeat of that.”
He was referring to the failure of the radar just before Christmas, which created widespread chaos at the airport.
The prime minister said, “We will call you together very, very shortly – it’s imminent – to speak to the future of the Nassau International Airport because again the government will demonstrate a paradigm shift in the management of airports in the country-The Government of The Bahamas has completed its work and will be moving imminently to speak to the Bahamian public about what is going to happen to the Nassau International Airport.”
The prime minister was speaking during a press conference he called at the Cabinet Office in downtown Nassau to announce a $30 million development for Cat Island. During that time, he spoke of the challenge the government faces in upgrading infrastructure throughout the archipelago.
The Bahama Journal reported only recently that more than 10 months after Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin announced that the government had selected a preferred bidder to manage Nassau International Airport the government has not yet been able to conclude an agreement in this matter.
In that story, Executive Vice President of the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) Frank Comito said, “The management of Nassau International Airport and its future development is an issue of great concern to the hotel sector.
“We’ve been monitoring developments on it for quite some time and have been advocating for a management agreement. We’re quite concerned that until that aspect of it is resolved it will continue to leave a very negative impression on the visitors and others wanting to do business in The Bahamas.”
Minister Hanna-Martin, meanwhile, said under the arrangement with the airport management firm, the Airport Authority will continue to own the NIA, but the management company will operate and develop the facilities in accordance with set and mutually agreed standards and concepts for a period of time, between 20 and 30 years, following which the entire upgraded facility is transferred back to the Authority.
The government plans to rename the airport in honour of the late prime minister, Sir Lynden Pindling.
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
