Part of the ‘Vision’?
As someone that has spent almost their entire (41 years) working life in the tourism industry, it is difficult at times to understand how an industry that is so important to Barbados can be guided by people that appear so far removed from reality.
When I hear direct quotations like ‘We just performed the biggest coup in International Transport by getting some slots, by getting Virgin Atlantic to fly to Barbados out of Heathrow’, ‘an additional runway and airport hotel’ at Grantley Adams and ‘Category 1 by year-end’, it reminds me of the seventies and the reported effects of hallucinogenic drugs.
And what is so disturbing, not a single journalist seems prepared to challenge or question these clearly ambiguous statements.
Question number one. What role, if any did the Barbados Minister of Tourism play in Virgin’s purchase of the Air Jamaica Heathrow slots?
Question number two. Where exactly would you put a second runway and what would the economic effects and consequences be in the construction of same?
Question number two (a). What is the justification for a second runway, ie: when would it be used?
Question number three. Why on earth would you build a new airport hotel when there is a 240 room property less than ten minutes from the airport rotting away (Sam Lords) and another new hotel (Casa Grande) within visual distance?
Question number four. ‘Category 1 by year-end’. Please explain to the less informed, exactly how this is going to be achieved?
Please also take in account the current state of the radar and air traffic training equipment.
Adrian Loveridge
14 November 2007
12 Comments
November 14, 2007 at 1:05 pm
[...] post by BFP and software by Elliott [...]
November 14, 2007 at 5:01 pm
So the Minister of Tourism spends nearly twenty minutes on todays Down to Brass Tacks trying to dig himself out of hole yet again he has dug all by himself.
Its amazing that he appears to have learnt absolutely nothing from CWC 2007 with the ‘90,000′ long stay visitors during the week of the final, plus ‘75,000 cruise passengers’ and ‘700′ yachts.
I understand that Virgin Atlantic are currently negotiating whether to buy B787 Dreamliners or A380’s.
I hope the Minister will get to know the difference between the two planes before they arrive at GAIA.
November 14, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Not likely unless he is arranging a Virgin kickback agreement for a $ 1 million dollars to be paid to his offshore bank account.
The man managed to speak for 20 minutes and yet say nothing.
A second runway at Adams ???
A hotel at the airport???
Is there not a hotel near to the airport called rebuild me Sam Lords Hotel?
November 14, 2007 at 8:46 pm
delusion is a fairly easy disease to recognize or diagnose.
Instead of treating these people, we tend to elect them and then reproduce their delusions with government money via the local media.
Gear Box made more sense!
November 15, 2007 at 1:42 am
To explain the stupidity of the man **** Lynch in a convesation with a mutual friend he stated that he wants this person’s financial backing in the upcoming elections because he wants to win his seat EVEN IF THE PARTY LOOSES THE ELECTION HE WANTS HIS SEAT BACK.
Does Lynch really believe that he has a hope in hell with a 5.5 percentage swing away from the blp at this time, and he is in a seat that he narrowly won when there was a big swing towards the blp, how in heavens name does he feel that he has the remotest chance of regaining this seat?
I know as has been stated on this site before that he Lynch has said that 10 % of the population is up for sale is he hoping to start with a 10 % advantage?
He does have the financial resources to buy the 10 % of the buyable votes.
November 15, 2007 at 2:34 pm
howler is lynch citing a carpark at airport as his vision.without short man arthur’s slippery bag of tricks the blp would implode
November 15, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Add BTA to outrageous statements on tourism – Stuart Lane did interview with stating how they are focusing on the wealthy American travelers, but there are also some “lower strata” that visit the island. Great marketing!
http://barbadostravel.squarespace.com/journal/2007/11/13/barbados-tourism-authority-focus-on-wealthy-americans.html
November 17, 2007 at 10:49 am
Linda …
Could not agree more.
Until we have professional people managing our tourism industry we will continue to bumble along.
It seems like some of ‘our’ policymakers speak before they think.
The latest is that our Minister of Tourism has a vision which includes a second runway (Do you think we need one Linda?) an airport hotel, while the 240 room Sams Lords sits derelict ten minutes away and who claimed he secured the Air Jamaica Heathrow slots.
We (Peach and Quiet) have tried to do our part in informing our principal markets that there ARE affordable places to stay on Barbados.
The Sunday New York Times featured us and Sea U Guest House recently and the British Daily Telegraph today highlighted five properties stating that Peach and Quiet was one of the best bargains in the Caribbean.
Apart from the odd overnight room, we are now full until 7th April 2008.
The ‘lower strata’ comment was most unfortunate and graphically demonstrates how little those guiding our destiny understand this industry.
Imagine 40,000 Americans that visit Barbados each year do not watch the news!
November 17, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Adrian please give more details on Lynch claims he secured spots for Air Jamaica at Heathrow. I am unaware of what he said.
November 18, 2007 at 3:57 am
What troubles me is that our tourism policy features a head in the sand attitude which is ignoring the escalating cost of oil and that most hotels will have taken bookings that will not have taken the hike in prices into account. With electricity (and eventually water) rates rising some hotels will probably not make the kind of profit they may have projected.
We seem to ignore that the US dollar is going through the floor and their economy is going pear shaped. This ignorance is bought about because some economists (most miss the point) claim that the goods we import from the states will be cheaper?. How can they be cheaper when we will be paying more for shipping, due to higher fuel costs.
Statements like those made by the honourable minister Lynch are a grand portrayal of the head in the sand behaviour which leaves ones hind parts available for the inevitable shafting.
Much of our tourism product has become a form of cultural, social and environmental prostitution. Bob Marley called it a pimpers paradise.
Peace
December 7, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Talking about not reporting news which may affect our tourism product, where can I find the report on the armed hold-up at Royal Westmoreland.
I heard an English guy lost 50,000 sterling.
December 7, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Anon…
Sorry for the delay in responding, but only just seen your posting.
‘Barbados has benefited from Air Jamaica’s sale of its slots at the Heathrow airport. Earlier this year, the then Jamacian Government sold its slots at Heathrow to Virgin Atlantic and Barbados Tourism Minister said the country has taken advantage of this’.
‘Mr Lynch was speaking during the opening of a new airline association (lounge) of Barbados’.
‘The tourism minister said that the government has managed a major breakthrough by striking a deal with Virgin Atlantic to provide additional airlift out of Heathrow’.
Anon… this story was carried by the Advocate and Radio Jamaica (9 November 2007).
Of course Mr (second runway) Lynch’s claim is absolutely ridiculous, but we must accept them as according to the Prime Minister ‘ he is the finest Minister of Tourism Barbados that ever had’.
And in his own words ‘I deserve to get get back my job whenever Arthur calls the next election’.