In February, after nearly 56-years of being in effect, the single-engine aircraft ban at the Taddy Bay Airport on Virgin Gorda was lifted following a request by Tropic Ocean Airways to operate flights into Virgin Gorda. Photo: Flickr

Since the Andrew A. Fahie-led Virgin Islands Party (VIP) swept to power in February 2019, it has been working to increase airlift to the Territory and has been placing much emphasis for development in the aviation sector. Photo: VINO/File

Senior Legislator and Opposition Member, Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) wants the Government of the Virgin Islands to go a step further and create a one-stop-shop to facilitate aircrafts registry alongside merchant shipping registry. Photo: VINO/File

Hon Fraser’s remarks were made at the Fifth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday, February 25, 2020.

Let’s be real

“Let’s be real about Merchant Shipping, Mister Speaker, it can be a revenue generator and a marketing tool.”

The senior legislator explained: “A marketing tool in the sense that an individual or company wants to register their business here in the BVI and they have an aircraft, a yacht or some ship, you don’t want them to walk away from us because we are not a one stop shop. So here is a marketing tool to convince the ships, that we do have an aircraft registry so do all your business in the Virgin Islands.”

Since the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) swept to power in February 2019, it has been working to increase airlift to the Territory and has been placing much emphasis for development in the aviation sector.

In February, after nearly 56-years of being in effect, the single-engine aircraft ban at the Taddy Bay Airport on Virgin Gorda was lifted.

The restriction was placed on the airport in 1964 by former Director of Civil Aviation, Mr Basil Fleming, who had pointed to high crosswinds being the main reason for the ban.

“Following conversations with the regulator — Air Safety Support International (ASSI) — as well as an in-house assessment by the Authority’s operations team, a decision was made to lift the restriction following a request by Tropic Ocean Airways to operate flights into Virgin Gorda,” Hon Fahie said.

Not pushing enough

Hon Fraser; however, believes the industry can go further than where it is presently.

“We are not pushing this to the limit that we are supposed to be pushing it and its government’s responsibility to push it to the limit. The Cayman Islands are eating our lunch,” he pointed out.

He said he used the Cayman Islands as an example because they were similar to the VI in many ways.

The Cayman Islands, like the VI, is a British Overseas Territory and multi-island destination. It is a lure to marine lovers and a significant part of its revenue comes from tourism and financial services.