Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping, Dr Denzil Douglas said he welcomed the resolution of the issues surrounding the licensing for the Barbados-based low cost carrier, REDjet, to operate flights to Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
The two CARICOM countries had announced last week that REDjet would be allowed to operate flights into their countries after initially raising safety concerns with the airline.
The issue had also been a major talking point at the CARICOM summit in St Kitts earlier this month and Dr Douglas, who is also the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis said the “willingness of the member states involved to bring about a positive outcome speaks to their commitment to the regional integration enterprise.
“Transportation is a key sector in the development of our Community given its role in ensuring the co-mingling of our peoples and enhancing trade among our member states,” he said, adding “safe and affordable transportation is therefore of vital importance to creating the viable and prosperous Community that we all seek.
“It’s to be hoped that the competition which this new airline brings to the air services sector will redound to the benefit of our citizens both private and corporate with respect to more competitive airfares in particular,” Dr Douglas added.
REDjet has since announced plans to expand its operations to other Caribbean destinations including the Dominican Republic, St Kitts and Nevis as well as Grenada. (CMC)