At the recent 21st Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium held at the Hilton Trinidad, officials from Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) faced intense scrutiny as they addressed concerns regarding the lack of a direct air route between the Caribbean and African nations.
The concerns were raised by local businesses and the Ghanaian delegation led by Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II .
Discussions about direct connections between Africa and the Caribbean have persisted for years, yet tangible progress remains elusive.
Past ICAO meetings highlight the need for direct links
Highlighting this, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) held meetings in Ghana in 2017 and Guyana in 2018, emphasizing the importance of tourism and air links between the two regions. Such links would honor the shared heritage between Africa and its diaspora.
Further amplifying the urgency, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, during her address at the inaugural AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) in 2022, accentuated the business opportunities that lay dormant between the Caribbean and Africa.
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The Caribbean’s appeal as a tourist destination is thought to have potential for further expansion through direct connections to Africa.
Additionally, the establishment of an airbridge is seen as a means to enable those of African descent in the Caribbean to more readily embark on pilgrimages to their ancestral lands.
Presently, the commute between Africa and the Caribbean is cumbersome, a concern raised by African delegates at ACTIF 2022.
Operationalizing the AfriCari vision: Barbados leads the charge
Media reports have indicated that Barbados, under the guidance of Dr. Wallace Williams, is actively working on the AfriCari initiative. With his vast experience in aviation and bilateral relations, the first direct flight under this initiative is anticipated before the next ACTIF in Guyana.
Barbados’ commitment is further evidenced by its impending US$147 million investment in its international airport and the recent establishment of the African Export-Import Bank’s Caricom office in the country.
As Prime Minister Mottley remarked, the primary obstacle in forging these air links is the collective will of the regions.
Read more on Africa and Caribbean relations from CNW
- Afreximbank president Benedict Oramah champions stronger ties with Caribbean partners
- Post AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum collaborations start
- PM Holness encourages deepening of tourism and trade links between Caribbean and Africa
- Mia Mottley says political will needed to establish air links between Africa and Caribbean
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