Chairman of CARICOM and President of Guyana, David Granger says the Caribbean welcomes the opening of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Granger speaking on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of AIA said the international airport is expected to enhance the Vincentian brand and add significantly to Vincentian infrastructure stock and make travel to and from this country easier, cheaper and faster.
“The Caribbean welcomes the construction of Argyle International Airport. AIA is expected to enhance the Vincentian brand. It is expected to add significantly to Vincentian infrastructural stock. It is expected to make travel from this country’s major tourism market easier, cheaper and faster,” the Caricom Chairman said.
Granger said many tourist arrivals from North America and Europe “do not enjoy the facility of coming directly into St. Vincent before the 14th of February, 2017. They used to have to transit to this country through other countries adding to the cost, adding to the inconvenience adding to the time spent getting here to enjoy your beautiful tourist product…No more.”
He said transportation infrastructure can help to reduce our physical separation and bring Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) closer together.
“Infrastructure is the means through which we can intensify the contacts among our people. Through which we can increase intra-regional trade, through which we can help to bring our economies closer together and make them stronger.”
Granger congratulated Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves on the realization of his dream of constructing the International Airport.
He said countries like Guyana and others in the Caribbean can look forward to using AIA to boost development prospects not only for the benefit of St. Vincent and the Grenadines but also for the entire region.
