September 26, 2011
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer.
UN Photo/Evan Schneider
“Antigua and Barbuda is of the view that recognition of the State of Palestine will contribute to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the creation of lasting peace and stability in the region; we are also of the view that recognition of the State of Palestine should not detract from the fact that many core issues of this conflict remain unresolved and must be negotiated, and that an outcome of those negotiations must be a viable Palestine and a secure Israel.” – Hon. Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister, Antigua and Barbuda
“The most powerful way I can register my strongest opposition to this undemocratic and unconstitutional cutting of members’ rights and tinkering with our (party) constitution is to withdraw from the contest for the post of chairman.” – Mia Mottley, Former Opposition Leader, Barbados Labour Party (Barbados Nation)
“We need to find four or five visionary prime ministers who will agree what needs to be done, how to do it and where investment needs to go. They will drag people with them. If they do not push the boat out and lead it will never happen … the majority of world travel is domestic and that does not happen in the Caribbean. Low-cost airlines stimulated it [in Europe] but that does not exist right now [in the Caribbean region]. If the governments could unite around this one idea of freedom to travel then a whole bunch of other things would come out of it.” – David Scowsill, President and CEO, World Travel and Tourism Council (cayCompass.com)
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been holding top-level discussions with stakeholders to eliminate visa requirements for visitors from a number of targeted countries. A decision on the matter is expected shortly.” – Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica (Travel Weekly)
“Supporting our destination’s small hotels with marketing and training is an important part of our strategy to enhance our tourism product and assist local businesses. At the same time, we are pleased to expose Virgin Islands students to the wealth of tourism career options and to present the operation of small hotels as a viable business opportunity for local entrepreneurs.” – Hon. Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Commissioner of Tourism, United States Virgin Islands
“It is no coincidence that our reduction in the number of services to the Caribbean is accompanied by a rise in services to Florida – another desirable holiday destination for United Kingdom sun seekers, and a destination that is taxed at a rate of 20 per cent less than the Caribbean.” – Keith Williams, CEO, British Airways (Jamaica Gleaner)
“We need more connections and less connection time.” – Veronique Moulin, International Route Manager, Caribbean, Air France-KLM (Travel Weekly)