Touching down at approximately 10:04 pm on March 27, 2023, Hewanorra International Airport welcomed British Airways flight BA 2158.
The red-carpet scene and ceremony were part of the celebration for this inaugural service from Guyana to St. Lucia with the airline.
Aboard were several dignitaries which included Minister of Tourism, Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Chairman of the Tourism Authority, Mr. Thaddeus Antoine, Independent Senator and CEO of St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association, Mr. Noorani Azeez, Guyana’s Honorary Consul to St. Lucia Mr. Lokesh Singh, special guest Hon. Oneidge Walrond, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce of Guyana as well as representatives of tourism related partners in St. Lucia.
The welcoming party included our resident British High Commissioner, Lesley Saunderson, CEO of the St. Lucia Tourism Authority.
Mrs. Loraine Charles-St. Jules, Chief Aviation Officer, Mr. Eustace Cherry and members of SLASPA and the St. Lucia Tourism Authority.
The 12-person crew of the airline were part of the activities with the captain very emotional and moved at celebrating this inaugural visit and his Guyanese heritage.
Speaking to attendees at the small ceremony both ministers of tourism highlighted the significance of this new service to Guyana and St. Lucia. Honorary Consul Singh, expressed his profound gratitude in being able to participate and spoke of the strong and historic ties that exist and will be fortified by the new service.
These views were also confirmed by Mr. Azeez in his excitement for the exploration of opportunities of mutual benefit to associations in St. Lucia and Guyana.
CEO of the Tourism Authority. Mrs. Loraine Charles-St. Jules more than welcoming the crew stated that her organization was already exploring opportunities for expansion and developing our storied multi award winning wedding destination and the timing of this fit well within their plans.
British Airways has had a long history of service to St. Lucia and has been a staple carrier at the Hewanorra International Airport.
This addition will augur well for our aviation sector, increasing airlift as well as trade between St. Lucia and their South American, Caricom partner.
SOURCE: Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority
Take what you get Hilaire – At this point Tourism does not look good with all the escalated crimes in SLU. I am not sure how you can sell SLU to the international world without admitting some of the issues they are very likely to face. First of all, St. Lucia should not be called Saint. The activities of late have remove the “Saint” from SLU. It is now called LUCIA. Now with the word “honorable”, this word has a very different meaning in LUCIA. The men and women who were elected to be called honorable have given the word a very different meaning. The Royal Police Service. We all know what it is now – Just the Police Service. The word Royal is no more to be used for those incompetent folks.