President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) Gregor Nassief says the possibility of a national airline for Dominica should be evaluated, pointing out that a breakthrough in airlift to the island is needed.
Nassief was speaking at the 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association at the Fort Yong Hotel on Thursday evening.
“In terms of air access, this is where we need a real breakthrough,” he said. “I also think that it is time that we explore, as an island, and this is an idea that I have resisted for a long time, but I think it is time that we evaluate the possibility of establishing a national airline for Dominica.”
Nassief pointed out that a national airline does not necessarily mean a huge fleet of aircraft.
“It could simply be a few small aircraft servicing the hubs that we choose at the times that we choose in the interest of us,” he explained. “And while we have made great strides in terms of the hubs and in terms of new service, we are always at the risk of an airline stopping their service or stopping their schedule of their flights and it has a very, negative impact.”
He argued that if Dominica has a small airline servicing a number of key hubs, “we could at least have control over our airlift security to some extent.”
“Again based on the dependency we have on secure air access, I think it is something we should certainly evaluate,” he stated.
Nassief, who is the owner of Secret Bay Resort, also told members of the DHTA that they should take on the role of travel concierge when they conduct business with their guests.
He said Dominica is in desperate need of investment particularly in the area of increasing the number of quality rooms that are available to visitors but pointed out that an ‘enabling environment’ is needed.
“For us to do this we need a more enabling environment in terms of our transfer taxes, our stamp duties, VAT, and our energy rates. These are extremely high when compared regionally,” Nassief said. “So we must focus on changing that to attract the necessary investment that the island needs.”
Mr. Nassief is right on point about establishing a national airline for Dominica to transfer passengers with connecting flights from places like Puerto rico, barbados,and antigua straight to Dominica without having to spend long hours in these places and going through all the delays and hassle with liat. Travel from Europe, America, South America,etc will be much easier once they know that DOMINICA AIRLINE will be on the ground waiting to take them to their destination. I hope that the PM will look closely at your suggestion and consider it favorably
A “national airline” funded and operated by the private sector should be the focus, but a “national airline” which is based on tax dollars is non starter. This could be the opportunity for the business men in D/A to step up. However they may have discovered that they are better able to own and operate North American fast food franchises than to continue the grassroots indigenous business enterprises that made Philip Nassief the business icon that he is.
I will reiterate, we have people with the know how capable of resolving Dominican’s problems. However, we will never move forward when every idea is view with a political bias.
Something has to be done because it’s more convenient to vacation in Europe than to return home to Dominican from Canada or the US.
these guys have their money and they don’t really care every now and then they will come and say something
Dominica is never going to receive a large number of visitors unless energy needs are met and the majority of hotels and accommodation providers can get electricity at competitive price and equip all room with air-condition. Therefore it should be priority to build the geothermal power station and supply the island with affordable green energy.
I respect this man. He speaks with confidence and conviction. His words are measured but yet effective. He speaks the truth………..
The truthful response is his truthfulness will drive us back 20 years by bleeding our resources because of recurring and Non-recurring costs of establishing and running an Airline while curbing the development of an international airport.
Come on Gregor, get serious. You seem to be taking the people round in circles. When skeritt wasted 8 million tax payers dollars in an ever drowning LIAT you praised that careless action lavishly. Now you are throwing LIAT and Skeritt under the bus by demanding that they look into having an own airline for ‘little’ Dominica.
Man you better get on track and stop wavering. It is a very risky business to get a small airline operating in these here times, yet you want the govt to dump millions more of tax payers sacrifices in other to bring an airline just sufficient to service your boutique hotel.
If you are so convinced that it will work, then do like Jungle Bay did. Take the risk and put your money where your mouth is and get a plane or 2 and run a small airline to service your business. Then in a few more years if it is successful you can invite the govt and people to take shares. All now so, if your idea is taken earnestly is just gonna be the people pain at your personal gain
So are you saying that if Secret Bay gains Dominica and Dominicans don’t gain?….Why should one business man take all the risk while my taxes are wasted on all the nonsense going today….stop being political and applaud the option at least my Gosh …people like you destroying this country…
@ Natural Living
Thanks for your unsolicited response, Please be advised that
you are free to wallow in your self-limiting opinions and everybody else is free to exercise liberating alternatives. That’s how democracy works. Thus you are unfit and totally out of place, to DEMAND that anyone APPLAUD or embrace the itinerant rantings of a one Gregor Nassief, or anyone else for that matter.
Whilst servile and perpetual lowlifes like yourself are gratified in enmeshing your cephalic membrane within the colonic extremities of Nassief et al, Thankfully, there are other independent personalities who retain the right to operate otherwise.
In your injudicious scramble to cast aspersion on the demerits of “being political”, you wantonly neglected to accept that once you mention taxes, you are being political as well. Politics in itself is not a sin. However when it gets convoluted by sanctimonious cretins like you then it usually takes on a sinister dimension. So consider your asinine hypocrisy prior to attempting to legitimise your irrefutable idiocy.
well, would and International Airport be built without the capacity of Fuel? What we have now is just enough for Liat.
I was in Dominica not too long , and stayed at a small hotel in town. I felt something in the middle of the bed, and I was really disturbing me, so I had to check the mattress, boy oh boy! a rope was holding two single mattresses together on a double bed. it was unbelievable, then I had an early flight, there was no coffee at 7.00 on a Sunday morning, and the excuse was, the person with the key for the pantry did not show up. OMG! This is suppose to be a business hotel.. we are so far back in the tourism sector, I was disappointed, because I manage part of a Hotel, and I did not expect the same type of ambiance since we are a 5star resort, but come on man, I think that we are too laid back, and don’t understand what we are doing. However; I have stayed at a few cottages and I must say that I was quite impressed. Diamond cottages is one of them. So even if we fly in 1million people per month and the service is poor, we are in real trouble. good clean rooms, good food along with good presentation, good wine, proper sheets are some of the things that will set you apart…I love my country always boast to my guest of how beautiful it is.. by the way, can anyone tell me if we have a ‘TIMESHARE” policy in place? and if so what is it? can we fractionalize our rooms at all
HaHAHAHA… I feel your pain I had a similar issue at the airport years ago they locked up all the rum in a cabinet and nobody could take a shot in the Airport until the lady wit the ‘ring’.. I meat the key came back from lunch. Fortunately the Airport addressed the issue and has restaurants and a bar this day… so its a growing phase. I had a similar issue with Coffee… I brought a chick to ‘garage’ a couple years back, asked for Coffee, got eh bill… they charged us $10 for a crappy cup of Coffee $10!! I told them I’m not paying for the coffee and walked out. growing pains…. The solution here is for the tourism minister to establish standards/licenses and audits then have the auditors publish the results openly by grades A, B, C, D (D and below you close) for 30 days, then an additional 30 days with each subsequent failing grade up to 120 days at which point the business will close itself based on poor hygiene, service, food etc. standards, standards standards.
Mr Nassief, just listened to you on DBS and you mentioned that 50% of the hotels rooms are always empty, yet the prime minister is signing papers to build a new hotel, where are we getting the visitors to fill all these hotels and what is going to happen to all the locally owned hotels
Sam Raphael has his. Nassief, with his $1000 a night resort, can have his too.
Everything does not have to be government.
Great timing, Gregory.
Why do we always crucify the messenger? We need more people like Nassief and Linton to carry the message. Food for thought, so let us digest it. Stop blaming the messengers. We need a plan for DA and many ideas must contend. No doubt we are so far behind in relation to our neighbours.
That man always there with some kind of a selfish story why DA should not develop. These days are not the FREEDOM PARTY DAYS Sir!
Thanks God Skerrit is from the country and he understands why we need the DIA.
Lets go Skerro!!!
Hahahahaha, so Mr Nassief when you think it is time for something in Dominica that is when we should have it? I guess we should all wait for when you think it is time for an international airport. Some of you people are so damn arrogant with your ignorance, “I also think that it is time that we explore, as an island, and this is an idea that I have resisted for a long time, but I think it is time that we evaluate the possibility of establishing a national airline for Dominica.” Thank you Mr Nassief, I pity the fools, sorry I pity the Dominicans!
Mr. Nassief is right – and his brother or cousin while a Minister was approached by some really ambitious young entrepeunuers for support in the establishment of a National Airline. I think at the time Take Air Services was available for purchase and the idea was not given the desired support. If it was taken up at the time I am confident that the airline would have served or would be still serving Dominicans and our transportation woes would have been addressed. So we contiue to miss the boat especially if the idea and opportunity is not coming from certain people and or circles. Hummingbird Air is trying and is making some progress I am wondering how much support is given to this initiative by Sam both from Government and the DHTA. While I am on that subject whatever happen to the famous airline that was to start flying into Dominica earlier this year – remember all the hype and the assurance from DASPA CEO and also the Government that alli were being dotted and t’s being crossed and soon from now Dominica would enjoy direct flights from the USA. Tell you how more can Dominica’s be taken for a ride-
With so many up-market hotels being built in the north such as the Moroccan at the Cabrits, the new one in Douglas Bay (signed yesterday), Atlantique View at Anse de Mai and, of course, the amazing Secret Bay, it would make sense for someone to re-launch the seaplane service that uses to land in Prince Rupert’s Bay before Melville Hall (sorry… Douglas Charles) airport was built.
This low volume, up-market product would be perfect for Dominica…
This is another endorsement for Team Dominica.
Think about it people, if this was a profitable and achievable idea without great risk the people with money would not be pitching the idea to us or the government they would have already done it themselves.
So allu know it involves a lot of risk to stay afloat in the aviation business so stop crying down liat price….
It’s amazing how people in high places come up with big ideas. I say let’s handle the small things first. Things that doesn’t cost billions of dollars. Roads, sidewalks and basic services then we can start talking about international airport, national airlines etc. priorities people, priorities.
Nassif, I know there are many more people like you who entertain the idea of a National Airline, let me say I will not blow you away this time because I believe that is possible, there are some employed pilots in Dominica, who yearn to see something like that materialize in the country.
Some of them have never flown an aircraft using instrument flight. That is not the argument here; Although I wish to support such effort, I must draw it to your attention that simply having a National Airline with routs extending, lets’ say from Guyana to St. Kitts, will not solve the problem people like me are having getting to Dominica.
Our priority should be the construction of an International Airport; no if and or but about that! Once one is in the Caribbean they will get to Dominica, because as far, as I ma concerned, LIAT survival depends on Dominica not having an International Airport. I we build an International Airport, there is nothing wrong about developing an National Airline, and securing routes to Europe, and North America.
Unless that is the plan, there is no point to suggest a National Airline. If I visited home today, and I wish to travel to any other island in the region, as long as are Jet Propulsion aircrafts available, I much prefer to fly from Dominica, on one which will take approximately fifteen minuets to fly to say Antigua, rather than getting on LIAT which will take minimum 30 min from Dominica to Antigua.
You see the difference?
That is what the international traveler wants, some Dominicans want LIAT, or a National Airline, but even if we develop ten national airline in our country the difficulties we suffer to get from North America, or Europe will remain the same!
Not Edited; I got to go!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Well stated!
The question of a national airline is a comendable dream, sounds good. However we cannot ignore the cost. Whereas we hear alot of complaints around Christmas and festival times the truth is the volume of passengers moving in and out of Dominica at other times is nothing to shout about. Seaborne has cut back on daily flights and Winair is not able to operate daily flights the problem is volume. Mr. Nasseif is correct when he states..“In terms of air access, this is where we need a real breakthrough,” he said. “I also think that it is time that we explore, as an island, and this is an idea that I have resisted for a long time, but I think it is time that we evaluate the possibility of establishing a national airline for Dominica.” We have to look at the possibility and do comprehensive evaluation to establish the feasibility of this project. If this airline is created Dominicans must be prepared to pay as operating an airline is not cheap and we want everything for free. so don’t order the meal if you can’t pay for it.
I am definitely not prepared to yield to the advise of people who are simply expressing opinions that suits their plans and their agenda only. Hey don’t blame me. The agenda to destroy agriculture to make way for tourusm certainly did not benifits the masses but just a few importers who made a killing on imported food.
Alas the puppets were left with a vacuous plan while importers and tourist benificiaries ran off with the money.
Now the same guys telling us that we don’t have the capacity for an international airport went ahead and expanded and even built facilities in anticipation that the volume would increase. The same guys are telling us that we should not anticipate an increase in arrival and should not build the airport. Note that the airport is not just about tourism but also about agriculture facilitation and manufacturing. But why should they care about anybody else.
If you really and truly believe that a national airline is of absolute need for Dominica, their should be no hesitation in you, your organization, your friends, your family voting for UWP Team Dominica. For months, Mr. Lennox Linton has been talking about the need a of national airline for Dominica. In fact, he has made it clear, this is on the first agenda, should his party gets into office.
Thank you Mr nassief ,for that thought, we really should have our own airline service.
Why would Dominica ever think of considering having a national airline when airline companies with much larger economies of scale have failed all over the place?
Those that don’t require massive government subsidies to stay afloat. Which service we now enjoy would you like to discontinue in order to maintain this airline?
What we need is for LIAT to improve their service and schedule to better serve us.
The issue with this idea is not planes and airports or whether it has been done before… the issue is fuel, FUEL, gas, plane juice not cane juice… Dominica (airport) does not have a fuel depot to refuel airplanes … neither does the Douglas-Charles airport have the capacity to store a small fleet of planes (they need airplane hangers) to protect them from the weather. Basically the idea is commendable but many people have thought it through. The time, money and investment isn’t worth it… the best investment would be in an international airport which addresses all concerns of infrastructure and growth. investing or promoting separate ideas now will undermine the international airport (bleed resources from that project) but also if such ideas come to fruition the international airport would render this ‘airline idea’ business null and void (due to size and competitive nature of an IA) unless the hardware (planes. hangers, fuel depot, airport facilities, liabilities and contracts) can be transferred which it could not be due the cost of transference versus buying new. If all energy and promotion is directed towards an International Airport based on teh BOT model it will happen. Use the same method DOMLEC uss to purchase and store fuel for their generators to purchase and store fuel for airplanes, as well as provide DOMLEC with contracts for power and backup power supply of the airport… this would offset their revenue losses in 2016 when geothermal energy will eclipse their services to residents and businesses. Then based on the performance of the participating international airlines (in the new international airport) DA government, businessmen, public sector through stocks and international investors can fund the development of a national airline owned and operated by the people. Just my humble opinion.
Why are we so upsess with an international airport?
I guess he will let us know when he thinks it’s is time for an international airport. After all, as he says, “I also think that it is time that we explore, as an island, and this is an idea that I have resisted for a long time, but I think it is time that we evaluate the possibility of establishing a national airline for Dominica.” Having resisted the idea of an international airport for a long time too, I guess there is hope that he will let us know when it is time! LOL
You have limited knowledge of what you speak off. First of, Airlines don’t store their airplanes in hangars. They use the hangars for mentainance. When bad weather is predicted, the airplanes are relocated to safer locations. As for an international airport, that’s not what we need. There are a lot that should be in place before we make that step. In conclusion, Mr Nassif has my support.
@ unknown… your logic is certainly unknown because wisdom is a combination of knowledge & understanding. It should not be necessary to get into details about obvious things to an intelligent audience but you apparently need details. One cannot have a fleet of planes without hangers, and yes in case of bad weather the airplanes would have to be stored in hangers because we are in the South Caribbean and susceptible to constant storms and hurricanes (where in the Caribbean r you going to fly/hide the airplanes from a hurricane)? the answer you’re looking for is Insurance. secondly I may not know how much money is in the treasury but I can guarantee you its not enough to build a national airline and expand status quo airport facilities to support it. While building an international airport. Also a national airline without an international airport is just wishful thinking because it doesn’t solve the underlying issue of direct travel. A large portion of $$$ coming into the Island is being pilfered by these HUB countries/airports before tourists can get to DA. for example if I fly from JFK it requires that I spend the night in a HUB country then on my flight back I also have to spend another day in that country basically two days of vacation & $ is spent at HUBs not to mention the stress and discontent. A national airline does not solve that problem.
I don’t know how to say it differently … than just to say the you are completlt incorrect… An your incorrectness stems from the common mistake of not evaluting the international airport QUANTITATIVELY…. just use the numbers … it will never work .. NEVER. Forget about BOT models and all that … there is NO private company that can justify $1billion plus on their balance sheet to the extent where they eventually just give up the asset. To do so they would have to run the airport PROFITABLY at more than 10% return on investment over the medium term … That is just voodoo mathematics. We cannot even justify it as an investment in our own economy being as most of the money spent on the project would end up overseas .. (Just imagine 150 people working on the airport over 4 years at , say 50,000 per year average…. that is $30M … out af a total of $1bn … that is less than 3% of the money .. that is assuming that all the staff were local … no guarantee) .. Girgor is right once again … we need to look into these other options which give a better return per dollar spent and do not have the potential risk to completely sink the country economically. But don’t worry .. the international airport is just one of these election gimmicks trouted out by every party at every election … It will not happen … it is all in the numbers ..We just have to be wary of the desperate politician who may get it into their head to actually try to build it …. then crapaud smoke our pipe!!
@ anonymous… childish name calling and bitter attitudes are for children.. I’m a man so I will address the issues. Every single airline in the US has gone bankrupt… every last one of them the very last airline to do so was American airlines. Airtravel is a risky business. If and when eco tourism and international events are held in DA regularly… which the stadium is built for as well as the upgrading of Roseau and Portsmouth (combination of geothermal energy to reduce energy costs and export energy) and upgrading roads around the Island comes to fruition. business, commercial and tourist travel will increase accordingly, regional airlines will kill any hopes of sustaining any level of growth. At that point international airlines like American Airlines which flew to DA will start again, others will follow accordingly. Airlines don’t only transport people they transport cargo. Stepping into the 21st century will demand on time frequent service that only an International Airport with the capacity to support such can deliver. We don’t need every airline in the world flying into Dominica but we should be prepared and build the foundation for them to be able to. Lastly a national airline can be established AFTER an international airport is built… by then it may not even be necessary and the hundreds of millions would not have been wasted… if it does become necessary then everyone should invest in it not just the government.
Valid points indeed. Anyone who has a basic understanding and knowledge of the airline industry and how it’s currently structured within the Caribbean, knows full well that Gregor’s ideas are invalid. Butch Stewart sold Air Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago, now Caribbean Airlines because of operational cost. Not to mention, fuel cost traditionally rise significantly during the summer months. This one factor alone adversely impacts profit margins for an airline.
I can give you a lot of facts on Air Jamaica being sold that you don’t know about. But I won’t post them on a public forum. By the way, I’m sure Mr Nassif don’t expect us to get a fleet of Air Buses. LOL
Yet Dominicans saying liat should drop its prices…so all of a sudden all u know they how costly it is to operate an airline..
“The issue with this idea is not planes and airports or whether it has been done before… the issue is fuel, FUEL, gas, plane juice not cane juice… Dominica (airport) does not have a fuel depot to refuel airplanes”
Wrong, wrong, wrong, very wrong: The issue has absolutely nothing to do with fuel! If you have an international Airport, there must be refueling facilities to at least accommodate International, and local flights. You cant tell Francisco Telemaque otherwise. You know why, when I was 18 years old, I drove a huge Tank wagon for Shell oil, and I know that Shell had a mini bulk facility near Pan American Base in Coolidge, Texaco Bulk Plant was located there.
From the location of the Bulk Plant we had underground pipelines running from that location to under ground tanks at the Airport, When it was time to refuel an Aircraft, we would fill a Tank Wagon design specifically for that purpose fill it and drive to where that Aircraft stood, and fill the tanks which are in the wings actually of the aircraft, and I am talking about 747, which the jet fuel the use is absolutely a more refined Kerosene like what (allyou) use in lamp in Dominica.
Now, the fuel that aircrafts such as LIAT use is similar or about the same gasoline used in your car, except the octane is higher: So, at the time when I worked for Shell, and later for the West Indies Oil Company, in the Marketing Department, we had there grades of fuel: 72, which is regular gasoline, 84, which we called supper, because of the contents of Octane; and grade 115, that is what most fan propelled aircrafts such as those LIAT fly use.
Lower than the more refined fuels I describe, is Diesel, it was the dirtiest of all fuel, and very heavy, technology has modified that somewhat causing it burn a bit cleaner.
So, your argument regarding fuel is absolutely flawed! If you are going to make an argument regarding fuel, be assured that anyplace where there is an International Airport, there must be fueling facilities, I know they exist in Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and for a fact in Antigua, and Gaudaloupe.
If you go to Melville Hall Airport, or stop over at the municipal airport in St. Lucia, occasional you will see a small vehicle the body is a tank, and some hoses attached to the side, I suspect that must be a fueling truck, so watch what you say when you are talking, because some aircraft have a fuel carrying capacity which could take them from the United States, to Dominica, and back.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
And I forgot to tell you this, aircrafts pay less to the suppler per gallon than to pay at the gas pump, they buy fuel by the tong, whereas you pay by the gallon, and be reminded tongs can be translated into gallons and the other way around too.
And so here is an example, when I was a kid driving that Tank Wagon, I transported fuel to the Public Works Department, two different Power Plants in Antigua. When the public paid 0. 72 cent per gallon of the regular gasoline, the paid 0.8 cents per gallon, whereas, the public paid 0.84 cents per gallon of Supper, the government paid 0.15 cents per gallon.
As far as diesel, the public paid 0.54 cents per gallon, the government paid 0.4 cents, and that was between 1964, and 1970. I do not have a clue what the are paying now, though prices are higher now, I doubt the ratio is that far off.
The point I am trying to make is that Airline has a contract with companies such as Shell who supply them with fuel; it is not situation where the price can change on them weekly, or monthly, because such contracts are long term, some remains in effect for like five and ten years, and in some cases beyond that; okay!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
You stated a lot of facts, and was wrong in a couple areas. For the most part, you are right, fuel should be an issue
Telemaque, anybody can lease planes based on someone else collateral, hire an African bush pilot to fly it and spray paint national airlines on the side of the planes. But why spend money to extend your current house when you’re in the process of buying a mansion.
Telemaque to surmise my point… the fuel prices you quoted are from half a century ago 1964-1970… seriously, you cannot even buy a bottle of water for 50 cents now much less fuel. Yet the fuel issue can be resolved with $$$$$$$ to build said infrastructure (as you mentioned) to support a small national Airline. By the way fuel as a percentage of operating cost of an airline ranges from 28% to 55%. This idea mentioned in the article is for Nasseif benefit so he can get a steady stream of clients to stay at his Hotel because he knows LIAT is in the process of downsizing their fleet in 2015, Sam Rafael has his own airplane all of which has a direct impact on his small hotel (nice place I might add). The issue with his idea is not the validity of it (it was viable 20 years ago) but that it serves an immediate need for a few (businessmen and foreigners…Dominicans cannot afford to stay at Secret Bay) and will inevitably with absolute certainty suck the financial, administrative & intellectual resources out of building an International airport (which serves all of Dominica). Which has the capacity to support a modern national airline that could ferry passengers internationally. Also the government will inevitably have to subsidize DOMLEC based on recent energy initiatives and the rising cost of their dirty energy. To circumvent this issue their investments in an International airport will help cushion the financial impact on DOMLEC’S bottom line while the government takes Geothermal energy by the horns and use it to light up all of Dominica in a clean low cost long term manner. What DOMLEC should also do so invest in the Geothermal project and Wind energy before its too late.
“the fuel prices you quoted are from half a century ago 1964-1970… seriously, you cannot even buy a bottle of water for 50 cents now much less fuel. ”
I am aware of that; the point is simply this fuel has nothing to do with International Flights into and out of Dominica, fueling, and refueling has nothing to do it, if that was the case, there would be no International Airports on the islands mentioned.
The person who wrote concerning fueling does have any data to support such argument, except fear of the word International Airport, and might be contented with what we have! Let me emphasize I support Nassif’s of a National Airline, nevertheless, even if Nassif were to invest in such a venture he would eventually lose all of his money. Perhaps he has forgotten that has been tried in Dominica according to you fifty years or more, a team of people tried that, they had a few Cessna’s , I believe about four of them. People such as the late Frobell Laville was part of the owners.
In recent years, some brothers tried that, one of them who lives in Canada is married to a relative of mine. I do not remember the name of the Airline, nevertheless, if I mention the down flight on approach to Melville Airport; piloted by the African guy in all passengers, that was supposed to be “Dominica’s national airline.” That can become reality, but not without an International Airport, obtaining international routes!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
100% International Airport who vex lost!
Mr Nassief, please come out publicly and do the right thing. Let your endorsement of Mr Linton and Team Dominica be known. This would be a greater good for the nation. Mr Linton the visionary leader was laughed and mocked at, when he suggested that. Now you a respected business man, thinks this is something worth pursuing.
So if you doh want an international Airport where your national airline going to land?
On your property.
hahaha
But Gregor….The leader of Opposition Party Mr. Linton suggested this prior.
I am glad you see the light and you are now on board with the idea.
Thanks
I think thats the problem with us in Dominica. There are real issues for discussions especially among those who put themselves up for leadership at the National level . One such person has asked for debates so those very issues can be discussed. The other side refuses to accept and we in the various institutions do not make any demands for such discuss or debates instead we seat comfortable behind a desk with a pen and pinned articles together. I am suggesting that the UWP has called for debates on issues of national importance and it goes a begging with no support from the corporate and business sector nor from the professional sector. Unlike our neighbouring islands there are healthy debates among interesting parties on subjects of national importance almost on a weekly basis. Here one man decides he is not debating and what he says goes. I am saying the DHTA, THE DAIC, THE Bar Association, The Media Association, the Evangilical Association, The Christian Council, and the Social Clubs such as Rotary, Lions among others continue to fail Dominica in that regard. Non of those institutions have made any attempt to call or even organize a debate among the leaders that are putting up themselves for National Office; So that issues affecting the country can be discussed and debated openly and freely. Is as if we are afraid to offend or embarrass anybody or we do not want to step on certain people toes. One side has consistently offered itself for debates while the other side arrogantly decides it is not debating and our so called corporate and professional institutions stand on a side and accept that. Only one body the College students called a debate early this year and that was very commendable however they did promise that this was one in a series of debates to be held. To date we have not heard of any other. So the point is, Dominicans are not serious about any issue and we are just prepared to sail with the wind through time with no real purpose or direction. What the political directorate decides is alright with us – we are not prepared to challenge the status quo any critical or organized way; rather we are comfortable hiding behind articles and or forums where speeches are made unchallenged and that to me is so premitive is just pathetic.
I recall the creation of Caribbean Airlines a few years ago and they encountered great difficulty, because Leave Island Any Time Airline operates as a hegemony within the Caribbean.
Additionally, there were major issues obtaining “Landing Rights” to certain islands, again because of the dominance of “Leave Island Any Time Airline.”
It appears that we’re throwing stones at the ocean, hoping against all odds to catch a fish, instead of creating a cohesive and realistic strategy for Dominica’s “Air Access Issues.”
Without a proper airport and airplanes capable of transporting at least 150-200 passengers, we will remain where we are, stuck in the “Mud Forever.”
Although Mr. Nassief appears to be a “Gadfly” on the issue, thus far he has been wrong on all fronts. The additional night that one must give up in another island, before arriving in Dominica sucks! Mention the word “Antigua” in local Dominican circles as it relates to travel and people begin to curse.
The strategy and attitude that Dominica has taken on this most important matter, is one of servitude. It’s almost as if we do not deserve any better than the current “Travel Insanity” that one must encounter to visit the island. I hope someone wakes up from slumber very soon and realize that the world we live is round and not flat.
Mr Ismael, you sound like a very intelligent person, however I don’t think the Aviation Industry is your area of expertise.
Please research before making statements u don’t have the facts on..caribbean airline is formally known as BWIA who filed for bankruptcy back in early 2000 and was renamed caribbean airlines…there was never any problems in getting a ding rights..one more thing u don’t know they own shares in liat and they at one point was utilizing liats routes rites eg orlando and London heathrow..those were rights secured by liat when the operated a jet aircraft way back..
A joker we need an international airport to meet the needs of the country, not just a few.
Smart, thoughtful man. I appreciate his assessments.
I agree – operated as a semi-private, govt-subsidized operation (like many air services), with regular 50-some passenger flights to airline hubs in Barbados, St. Martin, and San Juan, and smaller aircraft servicing neighbouring islands of St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Antigua. There could even be a domestic flight from Melville Hall to Canefield. An aircraft maintenance and care facility would be needed. This entire operation would mean many skilled well-paid jobs. As Mr Nassief indicates, an enabling environment is all that is needed.
Everything you said is valid. However, the best way for a rich man to get poor is to buy a multi rout airline. Let’s consider a Nature Island Shuttle to BARBADOS only, to connect with overseas flights arriving up to 4:00PM in BIM. STEP 1. Flying all over the place is a bad idea.
As a big step in the right direction, I like this Barbados – Nature Isle shuttle idea very much.
Please explain why is Barbados ONLY…..
I like that idea!!
Sir, I can not write /blog well. Can you keep making your point untill its heard and acted on. Many of us out here will support you. This is the best way to go.
I have sufferred too many times on my way to Dominica.
Your sentiment is total nonsense!
Commercial (passenger) operators usually establish routs depending no the volume of passengers traveling to certain destination. It is not a situation, an airline feels like flying, and they decide one day we are going to fly here or there. You see it nothing more than the typical Dominica mentality at work, anything some of us can say to detour from the construction of an International Airport we engage in it.
Only in Dominica, we use our mouth to destroy our country without realizing that’s what we are doing. Cyril you should have learnt from Ralph Gonzalez of St. Vincent by now! I must remind you trace flight has began at Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent, and here you are spewing crap, about multiple routes causes people to loose their money!
Airlines lose money if the route is not profitable, the less people traveling on that route, it becomes less profitable, so what Airlines do, is that assuming they have five flights per day on that route, they may cut it to five per week!
When shall we Dominicans learn; will we ever learn?
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemmaque
Nassief is just saying what everyone can say and has said but no one has the financial acumen or skills to accomplish. I think we need a fleet of small private jets that run on sea water!
Love it! Tell me….if the Nassiefs collectively own Fort Young, Secret Bay, Island Rent a Car, KFC, and Save a Lot, and they can’t get the government to enact some positive change in this regard, why is this still a talking point?
You guys need to start acting instead of talking. UWP has been advancing this position for years, but rather than form a coalition we get partisan, bicker and stay in one position, with a mad gov’t putting up signs–putting paint on a pile of sh!t we call an airport.
Anyway…the Nassiefs aren’t hurting for a better life, so let the black fools keep spinning around while our mid-east Dominicans keep stacking their funds!
Back to the olden days. This does not sound feasible and progressive in this modern-day era.
Mr. Nassief, please buy us an airline.
Why do they not explore the utilization of Cane Field Airport for this purpose. Even if it means the use of smaller aircrafts. If this is used on a regular basis then the country will surely benefit.
Did someone say Canefield Airport? Boss I’ll take the long ride to Roseau everyday, but I certainly will not be landing at Canefield anymore. I had enough of that adventure
With a few upgrades, I can make cane field the airport of choice in Dominica