Exuma MP and PLP Deputy Leader Chester Cooper.
By SANCHESKA DORSETT
Tribune Staff Reporter
Sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
FLIGHTS from the United States to Exuma International Airport have been suspended, according to Member of Parliament for Exuma Chester Cooper who said the issue is costing the island’s economy “hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Thursday, Mr Cooper said the flights were suspended because the airport’s fire engine was out of service. He pleaded with the government to rectify the issue “as soon as possible.”
“The airport is closed to US flights and I have spoken with the honourable minister responsible and I understand that some effort is being made to rectify the problem but I want to emphasise the economic impact of this closure will be in hundreds of millions of dollars and will adversely impact our tourism product,” he said.
“So I trust that a resolution to the issue will be complete in the very near term.”
In response, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said the problem at the airport was caused by years of neglect.
“I am fully aware of the problem,” Mr D’Aguilar said in Parliament.
“When I worked in the other place, Superwash, our motto was ‘we prevent we don’t react’ and this problem is a result of reactive maintenance. So we are scrambling around trying to fix something that is old and neglected and should have been fixed many moons ago. So it will be done as quickly as possible, we are trying to repair a part. I am praying and hoping we fix it in the shortest possible time so we can bring the fire engine back.”
A concerned citizen wrote to The Tribune expressing worried that toruists are stuck in the US unable to the get to their planned Exuma vacations.
“It’s being reported by many visitors that they are stuck in Miami and the American Airlines authorities are telling passengers the airport is closed, yet Canadian and domestic flights are coming and going without issue,” the person wrote.
“Some are saying it is because of US FAA requirements and not a Bahamas issue, though it has become our issue with passengers now stranded in Miami and other airports instead of enjoying themselves in Exuma.”
Comments
OldFort2012 7 years ago
Incredible. Truly Third World. Makes one ashamed.
bogart 7 years ago
Get a tow truck and start hauling that fire engine around , if no tow truck tie some donkeys, if no donkeys let the swimming pigs who so smart have a go ?..?..
DDK 7 years ago
Great suggestions but probably won't satisfy the FAA LOL.........
BahamasForBahamians 7 years ago
Can someone tell the poodle Dionisio that we are not interested in a historical assessment of these issues. We are interested in solutions ! Get them fixed !
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years ago
The headline to this story should more appropriately read: "The Bahamas grounded by no tourists!"
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
Long Island has 500 hotel rooms ....... more than Cat Island, San Salvador, S.Eleuthera, Central Andros, Inagua ........ and we still cannot get a frigging international airport?????? ........ GTFOH
Now Exuma lousy ass airport crew cannot even keep the fire engine running????? ........ JOKES!!!!!!!!
But Peter Turnquest will see the light when he comes to the Long Island Business Outlook.
Socrates 7 years ago
this is not new.. we are a country of show and no substance.. fire engine should be working for bahamians too.. its a safety thing.. gov't continues to fail in their responsibilities.. its a disease in this country...
blairboi 7 years ago
EXUMA..Bimini airport has been closed to international flights for two weeks. Only foreign private planes or charters can fly here. Why? The fire engine is inadequate. So SILVER airlines stopped flying. Tourists were stranded and those with reservations in the Hilton and other hotels cannot arrive. Bimini and Exuma same issues. But, the Bimini community doesnt have any fire engine either. Should a house catch abalze good night....no fire fighting equipment in Bimini.
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
The former Minister of Tourism was their (Bimini) MP ...... Go figger!!!!!!!!!
John 7 years ago
Bahamians continue to be economically and socially sodomized.
OldFort2012 7 years ago
...by other Bahamians. Maybe that is why the referendum on homosexuality could not pass. We tired of taking it up the ass and we don't like it.
Jetflt 7 years ago
FIX the fire truck and reopen the airport and then argue and point fingers and crap on each other all you want!!! You want to see American Airlines and others pull their flights for good. Trust me they’ll do it in a heart beat and Exuma will die!!! Another Bahamian disaster! Preventative maintenance of anything in the Bahamas is like the plague......Bahamians won’t go near it. If it ain’t broke - don’t touch it! That’s the Bahamian way. That’s why we will always be a 3rd world country.
Greentea 7 years ago
This is a disgrace. No excuses. Mediocrity and general lousy-ness is killing the Bahamas. It reeks of poor governance and sadly not one damn thing changed on May 10.
Economist 7 years ago
One word describes our countries airport operations, "incompetence".
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
.......And who is/are the Minister(s) responsible for Transport & Aviation now????? ............. FIXXXXX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
DDK 7 years ago
Quite right and it IS disgraceful, but, can't resist, what would the former Min. of Aviation have to say on the matter? Two international airports closed at this time of year, or any time of year, due to governmental neglect, sure make one say NO to pay increases for MP'S and certainly a resounding no to pensions for former MP's.
DDK 7 years ago
All other airports beware, FAA have woken up and will be on all airports like white on rice!
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