News
Airport Congestion slammed by Residents who say Authorities must do better
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, March 21, 2022 – The overwhelming feeling is the TCI Airports Authority must figure out a way to end the miserable time residents and visitors spend trying to enter and exit the Turks and Caicos Islands. The destination cannot wait on a brand new airport, it needs mitigation now.
Residents, speaking to our news organization were appalled by the video which gave visual confirmation to the frustrating lines, lengthy wait times and uncomfortable conditions at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) and their concern was not just for the guests who visit but also for residents.
“For a high end destination, our airport is sure pop down! They really need to get it together,” said a resident who was on Saturday trying to take a flight out of Providenciales.
“I’m here and the Airport and I think only hell hotter than here,” she said about the temperature, which at the time was a real feel of 86°F.
One frequent traveler and resident of Provo said, at this stage, she just avoids the flying on weekends adding that the consistent waits and lines are bound to have a negative impact on tourism.
“Coming to Provo is also horrible. They kept us on the plane for 25 minutes, letting groups of 20 out at a time. As a tourist, I would rethink my next visit.”
She also questioned the previous expansion, which she believes was an expensive failure.
“Not sure why the airport is like that after all that money they spent on it a few years ago. Someone was sleeping at the wheel. They need to take a page out of The Bahamas airport plans. Bahamas has loads of visitors and you never see this mess.
I refuse to travel on weekends.”
In 2010, a three phased expansion of the PLS was announced. It did open up the arrivals terminal and boost the count on restrooms. It also lengthened the runway and created a new parking apron. What it did not do was adequately address the limited space at the facility.
About the lines, which extended to outside of the terminal area, there were these labels:
“Ridiculous!” and “Horrendous!”
The TCIAA informed in a statement on Saturday night that with over 4000 travellers, 27 flights and several flight delays it was difficult mitigating the overwhelming circumstances which led to hundreds of passengers being crammed into the arrivals area, and spilling out into the ground transportation parking lot as they queued up to check in and pass the security check point.
The exhaustion and frustration was palpable. Staff also looked worn out. It is said this is what has been happening every weekend.
Services one expects to be available or operable at an airport are not.
“Can you believe you go through all of this and no internet? Only in the café.”
To the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority statement on the unprecedented congestion, there was this
reaction:
“I thank you for your proactive approach, but we have to do better, keeping the passengers on the aircraft leads to ramp congestion, a terrible arrival experience and it delays every departure.
It also leads to the over congestion in the departure area plus the air condition unit is unable to support the passenger numbers.”
A most compelling statement came from an air industry professional who said, “If this is not considered a real emergency, I don’t know what is. It’s total chaos and we’re risking our reputation. How much longer will our top end clients put up with this? Or will they choose next time to go somewhere with a better airport?”
The TCIAA said it is working with stakeholders on ways to alleviate the problems, however, there was no naming of those partners and no announcement about what will be done to improve conditions at the PLS on weekends.
Caribbean News
Agriculture Ministry Providing Two Water Trucks to Serve St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine
#Kingston, Jamaica, April 24, 2024 – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is to unveil two more water trucks this week, which will be used to service communities in St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine.
Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, made the disclosure during Wednesday’s (April 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
He also informed that of the $90 million earmarked to support farmers being impacted by the current drought, the Ministry will be
providing additional support for storage and drip-irrigation systems.
“So, we have targeted about 600 water tanks and about 400 12-millimetre drip irrigation hoses, and that distribution has already started. Additionally, we have earmarked about $8 million to really help with our livestock farmers,” Mr. Green said.
“We know the difficulty that you’re facing now in this time; [it’s] very hard to get the right nutritional support for your animals. As such, we will be providing some hay, and we will [also] provide some trucking of water to you. Again, our livestock farmers, if you are in need, please contact the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and let us see how we can help in these times,” he further stated.
Mr. Green also encouraged farmers to download the RADA App, so that the Agency can “help guide you, not only in relation to what is happening on the rainfall side, but also in relation to your integrated pest management”.
“We do see some increases of certain types of pests during this time, and it’s important that our farmers are paying attention to that. It’s also important that you’re taking drought management seriously [by undertaking] soil mulching, looking at planting drought-tolerant crops, timely harvesting, implementing land husbandry treatments and contour ditches,” he stated.
Contact: Latonya Linton
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, speaking during Wednesday’s (April 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Donald De La Haye Photo
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, April 19, 2024 – In an attempt to move to 24-hour-a-day operations Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) is steadily recruiting Air Traffic Controllers to work at the Providenciales/Howard Hamilton International Airport, according to Godfrey Smith, TCIAA CEO, reporting to the Appropriations Committee.
Speaking on April 8th Smith said a cabinet paper would be sent soon requesting six more Air Traffic Controllers to make round the clock operation at the Provo International possible and to open the airport in Grand Turk till 12 a.m.
Currently, 17 posts are filled and seven are vacant.
Smith was candid with his responses to recent industrial action from ATCs which led to resignations and firings.
“What we have to do is find systems to mitigate such actions and that has to start with filling these jobs, putting people in that want to
work and doing right by people – and we always try to do right by our staff. Persons may not think that we are but we always do – we ain’t pick no fight,” he said in the meetings held at the NJS Francis building ahead of the National Budget Communication.
Smith indicated that recruitment was an issue across the board, ‘we need to find ways to recruit a little bit better’ he told the committee. Also in need of a push was capital spending or projects according to the CEO, who said the agency had ‘not been very good’ at meeting that mark but insisted they had recognized the issue and could do better.
A very important key performance indicator drawn up by the TCIAA is increasing passenger satisfaction at the Howard Hamilton International Airport. For the TCIAA part of this means a 30 percent increase in seating by Q2 of this year.
When queried on if they could even handle this increase the CEO said,
“The fact of the matter is we already have the capacity there. What we need is to make the service a bit better.”
Staff shortages have become such a frustrating issue that the TCIAA is instituting a scholarship program created by Authority Chairman, Selvyn Hawkins
“What the board wants to do is basically allocate $25,000 annually for a scholarship and they’ve approved it already.”
This process would cover tuition and all other costs for one student.
The student would return as a summer intern and other breaks to work at the TCIAA and upon graduation, assume a role at the company.
“We identify a particular skill we need, we go after it and we build capacity that is in a nutshell the nexus of the program,” Smith said.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) is allocated $49 million this financial year; over $20 million goes to salaries.
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