January 2019 Business View Caribbean

30 31 ST. LUCIA AIR & SEA PORTS AUTHORITY B VC: Can you describe the primary role of SLASPA and its operations? C enac: “SLASPA is responsible, principally, for managing the main ports of entry into St. Lucia. Those ports on the airport side are the George F.L. Charles Airport and Hewanorra International Airport. On the seaport side, we have Vieux Port Seaport and Castries Seaport. We also have jurisdiction over some of the main designated bays that receive yachts into St. Lucia. Rodney Bay Marina is now operated by a private company, but we still have regulatory oversight; our port officers being responsible for navigational equipment and services.We also have a port officer at Marigot Bay Marina and at Soufriere Bay Marina. Along with Customs & Immigration, we are the agencies responsible for ensuring we have legal activity we have the correct customer experience at all of our facilities. This is one aspect we’re working on now. “ At all our airports and seaports, infrastructure has to be at a standard to allow all craft –whether it’s aircraft, cruise ships, or ferries – safe berthing to welcome all persons to St. Lucia. And, of course, that affects taxi drivers, vendors, markets, sightseeing, supermarkets, business, hotels, agriculture - you name it. Once those persons touch our shores, there’s a whole cycle of effect on the economy. “ We’ve spoken about passengers, but there are also goods.We export a lot of bananas and other fruit, as well as raw provisions. Our manufacturing sector exports goods to Europe and the U.S. and we export agricultural through these bays.” B VC: When was SLASPA formed and how is it vital to the economy and growth of St. Lucia? C enac: “SLASPA was created by an Act of Parliament in 1983 and we just celebrated our 35th anniversary in July of 2018.We are a company that’s been around a long time and is transforming at a very fast pace. Collectively, there are 850,000 to 900,000 passengers going through our two airports, annually. Added to that, we have over 600,000 to 700,000 passengers via cruise lines.We also welcome persons via our marinas, and we have ferry terminal traffic. So imagine, if we had no airports, then your hotel plans would be gravely disadvantaged. St. Lucia’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism and it is important that products to Europe, as well. A lot of these goods and products are shipped around the world, by air and sea, but mostly via sea in containers. So SLASPA plays a very integral role in ensuring that the company operates and is able to receive and export goods and services.” B VC: Are there plans for expanding the current infrastructure for ships and aircraft? C enac: “Yes, our vision speaks to modernizing; not just our infrastructure but our processes, our procedures, our human capital. Our facilities do need upgrading. In the next few weeks, we’ll be unveiling a long-awaited project in St. Lucia. That’s our Hewanorra International Airport redevelopment - long outstanding but we will ensure that it’s implemented. It’s a very exciting time to be in the organization because we are SLASPA headquarters Hewanorra Airport