Caribbean Beat — March/April 2018 (#150)

A MESSAGE From OUR CEO
Dear Caribbean Airlines passengers,
My earliest memories of Carnival go back to
my childhood, when my mother would take
me to Port of Spain to watch the parade
of the bands. The colours and design of
the costumes, and the sheer delight of the
masqueraders as they immersed themselves
in the festival have stayed ingrained in my mind. I also
recall the happiness I felt when the masqueraders would part
with their headpieces and standards. I would hold on to those
keepsakes and reflect on them for weeks after Carnival, as
tangible reminders of the ingenuity and magnificence of the
festival, and I looked forward with joyful anticipation to seeing
it all again the next year.
For more than a decade, Caribbean Airlines has flown
people to Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout the
region. Masqueraders return year after year, bringing friends
to share their nostalgic experience of one of the world’s best
known events. This year, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival took
place on 12 and 13 February, and through our partnership
with the country’s National Carnival Commission, Caribbean
Airlines was the official airline of Carnival 2018, the proud
sponsor of the world’s biggest street party, which everyone
looks forward to a year in advance.
In addition to being the official airline of Carnival 2018, the
company also supported Pan Trinbago and focused on the
next generation by partnering with the Red Cross Children’s
Carnival, where young citizens participated in the national
festival.
Another major highlight in the lead-up to T&T Carnival
2018 was the announcement of our new partnership with the
Caribbean Airlines Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra. Skiffle Bunch
is one of San Fernando’s most renowned steel orchestras,
and Caribbean Airlines applauds their accomplishments and
the contribution they have made to the cultural landscape over
the last forty years. Caribbean Airlines was proud to sponsor
the band for the 2018 National Panorama competition.
Caribbean Airlines is in the business of connecting people
to festivals, and to friends and family. Now, we are connecting
the eastern Caribbean to North America, as we have finalised
the regulatory requirements to introduce non-stop service
between New York City and St Vincent and the Grenadines,
effective 14 March, 2018, subject to approval by the Trinidad
and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority. Caribbean Airlines was
one of the first airlines to offer non-stop flights to St Vincent’s
Argyle International Airport when it opened in 2017. This
service between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New
York and St Vincent will serve as an international gateway to
the beautiful Grenadine islands.
As an airline, we remain committed to supporting culture
across the region and beyond. Caribbean
Airlines is the official airline of Jamaica
Carnival 2018, which takes place from 4 to
8 April. We encourage you to join us there,
and fly with us to the many events taking
place across the Caribbean in the coming
months, such as:
• Guyana’s Bartica Easter Regatta: 31 March to 2 April
• April is jazz month in Tobago, with top international
artistes scheduled to perform at the Tobago Jazz
Experience: 16 to 24 April
• Antigua will host its annual sailing week from 28 April.
This event is one of the region’s main yachting regattas,
attracting boats from around the world
Beyond the Caribbean region, our destinations in North
America are bustling. In New York, the Tribeca Film Festival,
carded for 18 to 29 April, continues to bring together creators,
diverse audiences, and the film industry. Last year’s festival
saw record-setting attendance numbers, a trend which is
expected to be maintained this year.
Meanwhile, in Miami, the Carnaval on the Mile takes place
from 3 to 4 March. This cultural experience will feature a wide
array of artists. And the Calle Ocho Festival on 11 March is the
largest street festival in Miami, featuring the sounds of merengue,
reggaeton, bachata, balada, hip-hop, rap, and jazz.
Let your taste buds lead the way as you sip, savour, and
sample your way through the Toronto Food and Drink Market
from 31 March to 2 April, where it’s all about eating, drinking,
shopping, and learning.
Follow Caribbean Airlines from festival to festival, bring
your friends and your families, to create life-long memories
and enjoy the fun!
At Caribbean Airlines, it is our privilege to serve you. Please
visit our website at www.caribbean-airlines.com; become a
fan by liking us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/caribbeanairlines;
and follow us on Twitter @iflycaribbean.
Thank you for choosing Caribbean Airlines — we value
your business and look forward to serving you throughout our
network.
Garvin Medera
Chief Executive Officer
12 WWW.CARIBBEAN-BEAT.COM