Towards the end of last week (there was no TMR issue) the Government of Montserrat announced an extension of the interim arrangements for air travel and cargo, following the ‘foul-up’, the corruption over the signing of a new contract for the continuing operations of the ferry.
The previous interim arrangement for air travel and cargo expired June 3. A press release from the Office of the Premier stated that because the previous arrangements expired, the government was left with little alternative but to arrange an extension to the service between Montserrat and Antigua.
The government said in the release that both Fly Montserrat and SVG Airlines will continue to offer a round trip fare of four hundred E.C. dollars until June 30, along with the provision for additional flights to be made on demand. The government of Montserrat is asking the traveling public to be patient while a decision is being arrived at. Meantime the weekly cargo schedule is to continue to July 1 between Antigua and Montserrat on Thursdays and Fridays.
Then came the announcement which explained that the evaluation process for the acquisition of a ferry service between Montserrat and Antigua was “on-going and consequently, the Government of Montserrat remains committed to the provision of affordable and reliable air travel between Montserrat and Antigua.
“The subsidiary arrangements have been extended through August 2016 at the current roundtrip rate of EC $400.00.”
The update stated: “The traveling public is encouraged to continue to book early. A waitlist system is in place for both Fly Montserrat and SVG Air to accommodate travel outside of scheduled flights.
“Large groups organizing travel to and from Montserrat are encouraged to contact the Access Unit at (664) 491-4702/4703 to assist with making arrangements.”
Also the all-important cargo service, which never gets mentioned by the critics and the naysayers or as called by some, ‘the fail promoters’ will continue as scheduled on the MV Joyce. (See Access Update Notice in this issue).
But with all these interim arrangements particularly for flights to and out of Antigua, was the issue of the airport tax and the waiver which had been agreed to by the Antigua government almost immediately the request was made to Prime Minister Gaston Browne in mid-April.
On April 15, 2016 we reported “reprieve for travelers between Antigua and Montserrat as well as business owners who depended on importing and exporting cargo using the Antigua – Montserrat route.”
The Premier had received notice, that there would be a waiver of landing fees in favour of SVG Air and Fly Montserrat for the citizens and residents of Montserrat and the cargo vessel transporting goods, receiving the same courtesies that the ferry enjoyed. There was also the waiver of the embarkation tax for the citizens and residents of Montserrat.
That arrangement would slow and delay through misunderstanding in the bureaucratic process which the Premier two weeks later explained that the landing tax waiver agreement is delayed because of “technical difficulties” in the exact wording on the authority.
“They (Antiguan authorities) made an error in their communication back to me, in their decision over what tax was to be removed…” he said.
But on Tuesday this week the Premier finally announced that Antigua Barbuda airport tax has been waived following an Antigua Cabinet decision of April 20.
The interim arrangements will now be fully implemented until August following which it is expected that what we believe an “unnecessary ferry” will be in place.
In next week issue Airport and ferry will be featured.
