The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Abaco’s airport could be ready to receive international flights “any day now”, a senior government official revealed yesterday, with US regulators having completed their inspection.

Algernon Cargill, director of aviation, who is also the joint Dorian relief and redevelopment co-ordinator for Abaco, told Tribune Business: “We are currently making the necessary repairs to the airport as recommended, and when we get the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approval to go ahead and re-open the airport to international travel we will.”

“The [perimeter] fencing in the airport is the primary issue. We are working on a plan to get that resolved right now... The TSA has already done their inspection and we are awaiting a final report from the TSA any day now.”

The TSA, the US air transportation regulator, will not allow any outgoing and incoming flights between the US and Abaco until it is satisfied that the Leonard Thompson International Airport is a completely fenced-in and secure facility that complies with both its requirements and international security standards.

Ken Hutton, the Abaco Chamber of Commerce’s president, told Tribune Business earlier this week that “our next project will be getting the airport up and running”, adding: “I’m aware that the main issue at the airport is the external and perimeter fencing that needs to be repaired and put back in place, and I understand there may be an issue with the fire fighting equipment that may have been damaged during the storm.”

The chamber chief reiterated this yesterday, saying: “The priority right now is that we get the port open for international traffic, but we need to get the airport back up to standard. I have not received a timeline yet to when the airport will be open.”

Mr Hutton said the Abaco private sector’s recovery efforts were being impacted by a shortage of staff, due to the fact virtually all residential accommodation was destroyed during Hurricane Dorian.

“It’s really difficult to find staff here now. Business is picking up, but the problem is that you can’t find staff and if you have staff they need somewhere to live. So it’s a catch-22,” he explained.

As for the government’s proposed “One-Stop Shop” to assist Abaco businesses with their recovery, Mr Hutton said: “I have heard rumours and seen a couple of things. I am not privy to certain information. I have been hearing about the ‘One Stop Shop’ for the last ten years now, and it never works out to be just a one-stop shop; there is always more to it.

“The only thing the chamber has been able to do is refer businesses to the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC). The SBDC has done an amazing job, and we are really happy things are coming together for some of the businesses.”