Caribbean Times 55th Issue - Tuesday 13th December 2016

4 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Tuesday 13th December 2016
Key officials meet to discuss ECIT
By Joanna Paris
ECIT is conceptualized as an integrated
system, characterized by centres
of specialization operating respectively
in Hospitality Training Institutes in each
OECS Member State.
The respective countries will specialize
in a niche area in Tourism and Hospitality
that reflects the respective comparative
advantage of each destination.
To this end, an OECS delegation,
comprising the Tourism Specialist and
the Strategic Plan Consultant for the Network
of Excellence for Tourism & Hospitality
Training & Education (NETH-
TE), met with key officials at the Antigua
& Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute
(ABHTI) last week.
According to a press statement, a first
meeting was held with the recently appointed,
Interim Acting Executive Director,
Violet Lake; and the Chairperson of
the ABHTI Board of Directors, Shirlene
Nibbs. This was followed by a meeting
with and presentation to the ABHTI’s
Board of Directors on the Eastern Caribbean
Institute of Tourism (ECIT).
Under the leadership of Tourism Minister,
the Hon. Asot Michael, the country
is aggressively seeking to position itself
as a mid to high-end tourist destination.
The press statement outlined that in
light of this and several other factors considered
during the development of the
Strategic Plan for the ECIT, Antigua &
Barbuda will specialize in: Luxury Accommodation
Services & Management.
This specialization includes courses
By Joanna Paris
Plans are being made to
increase the number of workers
available to keep the communities
clean.
That decision was made
at a recent Cabinet meeting,
where according to Government
Spokesperson Ambassador
Lionel “Max” Hurst, “a
discussion took place about
the unwanted vegetation that
has been growing rapidly because
of the rains, followed
by the sunshine”.
It was explained that more
workers are required to cut
the growing grass and shrubbery,
since the pace of growth
is more rapid than in drought
conditions.
“Whereas workers would
be return to a cut area once
every three weeks during
drought, the same area requires
trimming and cutting
every week.
The millions of dollars
spent to keep highways, roadways
and community roads
impeccable, must increase
in order to achieve the same
By Joanna Paris
The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority
(ECCA) has indicated that the long
awaited Barbuda Airways is ready to begin
its official services.
That is according to Government’s
Spokesperson, Ambassador Lionel “Max”
Hurst, who said that the authority has already
carried out the required tests on the aircraft.
Hurst was speaking at the time as a guest on
Monday’s Against the Backdrop on ABS
Television/Radio.
“They had to disassemble it for the ECCA
to examine it, they had put it back together
and now I believe it is ready to fly”, Hurst
said.
level of tidiness that was possible
when there was no rain”,
Hurst has explained.
Meanwhile, it has been
reported that that the amount
spent annually by the government
agency— responsible
on butler training, etiquette and protocol;
and other exclusive services aimed
at preparing young people, or certifying
experienced workers, for work at luxury
resorts, villas, yachts, or private jets. This
specialization is unique to the Caribbean
region. The recent meetings concluded
with the ABHTI Board of Directors’ full
commitment to continued support in the
establishment of ECIT and the involvement
of ABHTI as a significant partner
within the ECIT network. The new
Board of Directors was only established
one week ago.
The OECS NETHTE project is being
implemented with funding support by the
European Union through its 10th EDF
programme on Economic Integration and
Trade of the OECS region.
Gov’t to increase capacity to keep environment clean
for clearing the roadways and
highways of unwanted vegetation—is
less today than the
amount which was spent in
2013, which suggested that
financial resources are being
allocated more strategically.
Update on Barbuda Airways
Although, the exact inaugural flight date
is yet to be announced, Hurst is confident that
when the service commences, it will be very
beneficial to residents and citizens.
“They want to take it up into the air a few
times to make sure that everything is right and
then it will be managed by Caribbean Helicopters
and it has also been registered. It will
reduce the cost of travel between Antigua and
Barbuda by at least 50 us dollars”, he noted.
At this time, it is anticipated that Barbuda
Airways will facilitate at least two flights a
day- one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The aircraft was purchased for the sum of
$300,000 US dollars.