The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WITH an international audit recently labelling the country’s aviation system flawed, Senators have moved closer to finalising legislation to reform measures governing that sector.

During the second reading and committal of Bills yesterday in the Upper Chamber, Progressive Liberal Party Senator Joseph Curry said it is of critical importance that the government seek to change the future of civil aviation in the Bahamas.

He, along with several other Senators agree that the Bill is much needed if the country must continue on as a premier tourist destination.

He said legislation should remain sensitive to the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) findings of the Bahamas’s security standards in aviation efforts with its 56 airports throughout the country.

“These amendments became necessary,” Mr Curry said, “following a recent universal body (that) found flaws in our aviation system. Then they sent recommendations that we ought to take into account. We ought to reflect on those flaws in our aviation system.”

The new legislation, Mr Curry said, would also mitigate responsibility in large part to an appointed director responsible for overseeing the sector.

“These amendments would now designate a director of civil aviation as the appropriate authority for civil aviation security. The director himself would oversee all initiatives including national policy programmes and procedures for civial aviation security.”

Surveys, inspections, and tests also will be conducted by the director, Mr Curry said.

In his contribution to the discussion, Senator Keith Bell said the Civil Aviation legislation recognises that persons worldwide take a serious interest in the safety standards of wherever they are travelling.

“Today, persons will not travel to a destination where they do not feel safe. As a matter of fact we now find that more and more the person travelling, even Bahamians, before travelling go on-line and do research to determine whether or not if something was to happen at that destination there would be some sort of guarantee that I would be afforded basic necessities. I would like to know.”

Former Education Minister and opposition leader in the Senate Desmond Bannister said that the FNM supports the move and commended the government for its consideration of the safety of visitors and travellers to the Bahamas.