NASSAU, The Bahamas--A new Caribbean Airlift Alliance is in the making for the region. This was announced at last week’s Caribbean Aviation Meetup in the Bahamas.
The announcement was made by Rob Ceravolo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tropic Ocean Airways and Commander Bud Slabbaert, Chairman of the Caribbean Aviation Meetup, during the debriefing session of the conference. The attendees of the session unanimously agreed and offered their active support. The third person involved in the decision-making was Vincent Verderpool-Wallace, former Minister of Tourism of the Bahamas and former CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, who is a strong and well-respected advocate for change in Caribbean airlift and tourism matters.
The Alliance in its current infant stage is a gathering of highly qualified professionals with industrial support that aims for improving airlift and progress in air transportation in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean Airlift Alliance will be non-governmental, non-partisan and impartial. The Alliance should not be considered a new contender entering a boxing ring. Although the Alliance is a response to many airlift dilemmas in the Caribbean region, the emphasis will be on providing information and education, furthering understanding among all stakeholders in airlift matters and eventually finding solutions. Although governments and their authorities may be seen as stakeholders, most of the governments in the region have been not part of solutions.
The Caribbean picture is that tourism represents up to 85 per cent of the revenue of the island territories. Governments may exercise the powers given to them by their constituencies. However, they should realise that such power means relatively little in a more global perspective. The vacationers and passengers abroad have the full power to decide which destinations they prefer to visit and subsequently contribute to those economies. There are many choices and options within the region but also beyond. The airlines are in full power to decide what destinations they want to fly to. Those decisions are very much related to passenger demand. They will always aim for a payload of 85 per cent. So political power has little bearing when the guests and transportation operators needed for a healthy economy prefer different destinations. But the power of the governments may result in increased competition.
The Alliance will appreciate the cooperation of any government. But the highly qualified professionals of the Alliance command the necessary expertise and knowledge in the various fields related to airlift. Professionals are not typically prepared to spin their wheels. Therefore, governments and their agencies cooperating with the Alliance will experience the benefits of cooperation and getting positive results. The governments that will remain reserved are more or less on their own and may have chosen for isolation.
The Alliance is not a typical industry organisation that represents the interests of a particular membership base. In many cases, the Caribbean is treated as a stepchild when an organisation represents the Americas and the Caribbean – in small lettering – as a must to be put somewhere. It is clear where the emphasis is, and logically little attention can be given to a region of 20-30 relatively small territories with many complex dilemmas.
The culture within the Alliance may be different from other originations. An activity may not start with setting up a committee trying to work from top to bottom. The Alliance will encourage individual initiatives by their professionals based on their expertise and knowledge. They will then receive the necessary support to move ahead. Thus, a more bottom-to-top perspective is anticipated. The Alliance may create a Task Force on demand. Such request may come from a government or a private interest group. However, such Task Force will not be created for debating but rather will have a clear objective and plan of action. It may be a new, different approach that is very much needed in the Caribbean region.
For more information, contact Commander Slabbaert at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
