Let me first take this opportunity as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to officially welcome you, Mr. President and Executives of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and representatives from the various member countries of ICAO, to New Providence and to our beautiful archipelago.
As a small island developing state, we are extremely grateful for the privilege to host such an important meeting that brings together policy and other decision makers and stakeholders in the aviation sector to engage in high level negotiations aimed at establishing and re-establishing alliances to facilitate the development and expansion of the global aviation industry.
Our archipelagic nation, spread across 100 thousand square miles of beautiful turquoise waters, has always been a regional leader with a very stable economy built on tourism. We recognize that aviation and tourism are inextricably linked and the development of an aviation sector built on the foundation of safety and security plays an important role in the continued growth and expansion of the Bahamian economy. That’s why we are delighted to host the more than one thousand delegates, representing over one hundred ICAO member countries, here in our beautiful capital city, Nassau, for the ninth International Civil Aviation Negotiation Conference.
This conference is extremely important to ALL countries represented here, but it is particularly important for Small Island states, like The Bahamas that may be challenged to engage in more than one or two bi-lateral negotiation meetings annually. This ICAN Conference shifts the paradigm by bringing countries from around the world together in one place to finalize agreements and begin negotiations toward new possibilities within the global aviation sector.
The coming together of these international negotiation teams create this wonderful opportunity for countries to significantly reduce the cost of bi-lateral and multi-lateral negotiations and come to terms on mutually beneficial agreements and you could have chosen no better place in the world for such a meeting than The Bahamas.
We in The Bahamas fully understand and appreciate the need for global Aviation agreements. Our tourism success and by extension the success of the Bahamian economy is directly linked to our growth in stopover visitors. While we have seen small incremental increases in air arrivals in recent years, we believe the potential for growth is great. That’s why we endorse these types of meetings and are excited about hosting the Conference. Such a prestigious gathering exposes our country and our aviation sector to you the experts in this industry from around the world and increases our prospects for significant growth in air transportation which ultimately results in increased air arrivals.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Aviation officially began in The Bahamas more than 80 years ago, and this year we are observing an important milestone, the 70th Anniversary of the Bahamas Government’s decision to establish the Civil Aviation Department, which up to two months ago, served as Regulator and Service Provider of the Aviation Industry in The Bahamas. Despite the challenges, we have seen significant growth and experienced tremendous progress in the aviation industry during the last seven decades. The industry continues to evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world, driven by technological advancements. We are extremely proud of the work and professionalism of our aviation experts who have provided the leadership that is now moving us fully into the 21st Century aviation environment.
The growth and progress of aviation in The Bahamas is also evident by the increase in the number of private sector air carriers that are now operating commercial flights between New Providence and our Family Islands. These licensed companies have eased the burden of our National Airline, Bahamasair, which is no longer required to provide service to every Family Island destination. We have also seen the advent of competition, where Bahamasair is now competing with the private commercial carriers for Family Island business. All of these achievements should be attributed to the wealth of expertise we have developed in aviation over the years and the excellent work of Civil Aviation in the regulation, management and operation of this vibrant industry.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to further advise that there is historical significance to the hosting of these meetings at our Multi-Purpose Conference facilities here at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. Ironically, this site is the original location of the country’s first international airport then known as the Oakes Field Airport. The Oakes Field Airport received its international designation 70 years ago, at an ICAO meeting in Washington, D.C. in 1946. That speaks to the long-standing relationship we have had with ICAO and this week we celebrate the success and sustainability of that relationship with the hosting of ICAN 2016. These meetings come at a time in our country when we are placing heightened, focused commitment to the modernization of The Bahamas through comprehensive public sector reform. That is particularly evident in the aviation sector where we are currently in the process of a major reform initiative that will transform the aviation industry in The Bahamas, producing far reaching positive implications for generations of Bahamians yet unborn.
The Bahamas Air Transport Sector Reform Initiative, funded through an IDB loan programme, is already yielding results and will ultimately produce extensive, comprehensive reform of the Bahamas Aviation Transport Sector. This, ladies and gentlemen, is another example of my Government’s commitment to building a modern and stronger Bahamas. As part of the reform, we have embarked on a series of institutional and organizational strengthening measures that will significantly improve the regulatory oversight, management and operation of Civil Aviation in the country. These measures are manifested through the organizational structural adjustments and will create an operation that removes the perception of conflict of interest that existed in the role that the Civil Aviation Department performed. The Civil Aviation Department functioned both as the regulator and, also, as the service provider of the industry. This structure has been identified as a weakness of our aviation industry and requires to be fixed if we are going to comply with the requirements of ICAO and ultimately become a significant participant in the global aviation sector.
Referencing this state of affairs, I am pleased to report today that we have already begun our transformational journey. The initial steps in the process involve the separation and assignment of Civil Aviation responsibilities and functions. The transition officially began on October 3rd, this year and involves the following measures:
· We have begun the transition from the Civil Aviation Department to the new Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority. This is an important change and the most fundamental of all the changes because it removes the Civil Aviation responsibility from a Government Agency and establishes the Authority, officially separating the regulatory and service provider functions. The Authority is transitioning into its new role as regulator and has the oversight and enforcement responsibilities of the industry. The Authority must ensure that ALL participants comply with the required national and international standards. It must develop and maintain a safe and secure aviation environment at every airport facility in the country employing the necessary protocols and procedures to achieve the desired outcome. This is indeed a challenge for the BCAA, but I am confident that with this new approach and focused responsibility they are equal to the challenge.
· We are currently in the process of transferring the management of Family Island Airports, Security and Fire Services to the Airport Authority…This expanded role gives the Airport Authority responsibility for ensuring that ALL airports in the country are maintained to national and international standards and security and fire safety protocols and procedures comply with international requirements…
· We have established an Independent Aircraft Accident Incident Investigation Unit, which removes the perception of conflict of interest and allows for greater integrity in the investigation process…
· We have assigned the service provider functions associated with Air Traffic Services to a Department; separate from the oversight and regulatory functions as mandated by ICAO to remove the perception of a conflict of interest…Air Transportation Management is one of the primary functions of this Department…
· And we have also established an Economic and Policy Division…
These institutional and organizational strengthening measures are complemented by significant improvements in aspects of the Civil Aviation infrastructure…We have constructed a new Air Transport Services facility.
This new building houses the state of the art digital technology that establishes the electronic workflow which seamlessly links the Air Traffic Control functions between the Tower and the ATS facility. This major technological upgrade provides for the more efficient management of air traffic arrivals and departures at the Lynden Pindling International Airport. It also increases their capacity to effectively manage a growth in air traffic resulting from new agreements the country will negotiate.
Our new Radar system is an integrated aspect of the new Air Traffic Management solution and introduces a new method, enabling multiple Air Traffic Controllers to work in the system simultaneously thus increasing numbers of aircraft arrivals and departures while ensuring safety and efficiency. These reform initiatives are under-pinned by the legislative framework which facilitates these major industry changes. Two major pieces legislation, The Airport Authority (Amendment) Act and the Civil Aviation Act of 2016 was passed in Parliament and enacted earlier this year giving legislative consent to these major policy initiatives.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the changes that we are making can only be as effective as the quality of our Aviation sector employees.
As mentioned earlier we are proud of the work the experts are doing at every level of the industry. We have a qualified, highly skilled and well trained group of experts who we rely on heavily to ensure the successful completion and implementation of our Aviation Sector Reform initiative. They have and continue to play active roles in the smooth transition, providing advice, recommendations and working to create the new Civil Aviation structure and operating environment. We will continue to invest in the training and professional development of the workforce to ensure that they remain relevant, with the ability to respond to the changing dynamics of the sector.
The Bahamas Air Transport Sector Reform Initiative is one of the bold initiatives my Government has undertaken. The scope and magnitude of the project requires a collaborative approach. The Ministry of Transport and Aviation leads the project and is working closely with Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Finance to ensure the conditions specified in the Policy-based agreement are properly executed, managed and monitored.
Mr. President, I am pleased to acknowledge that the assistance ICAO provided through the conduct of a comprehensive audit of ALL areas of our aviation industry and its subsequent recommendations provided the impetus required to take the necessary steps to transform our aviation industry. Over the years, we have always worked with ICAO in our efforts to operate an aviation industry committed to safety and security and compliance with international standards and best practices. These latest reform measures further emphasize our commitment to compliance and once completed and fully operational, will significantly improve the integrity of our aviation industry and position the country to take full advantage of the benefits that we can derive from these changes.
At the 39th General Assembly of the ICAO, held recently in Montreal, Canada, The Bahamas signed two important agreements with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. These agreements make it possible for us to establish scheduled flights between The Bahamas and these two (2) countries. They also create the potential for Code Share agreements to be negotiated and established between our Airlines and Tour Operators and the airlines from Turkey and U.A.E to allow for enhanced growth and development of aviation and tourism. At this week’s ICAN Meetings, The Bahamas will sign (6) six additional Air Service Agreements with Qatar, Singapore, New Zealand, Curacao, Brazil and Kuwait. Our team will also start negotiations with 20 additional countries as we seek to significantly grow and expand our aviation industry through the alliances we establish with countries from around the world.
These new Air Service Agreements supplement our Aviation Sector Reform Initiative and is part of an overall strategy to strengthen and expand the aviation industry, producing new career opportunities across the aviation spectrum for Bahamians.
The anticipated growth in tourism arrivals will also produce new opportunities for Bahamians and the expose the country to potential investors. We believe that as we continue to work to modernize and build a stronger Bahamas, the development of our aviation sector will continue to play a vital role in our strategies ensure sustainable economic growth in the short, medium and long term.
While at the General Assembly in Montreal, The Bahamas delegation met with the Secretary General and President of ICAO to discuss matters pertinent to the future development of the Bahamas Aviation Industry. During that meeting, ICAO agreed to assist us through its “No Country Left Behind Strategy” to develop and improve our effective implementation of the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARP) which is a part of our Aviation Sector Reform programme. We realize that the primary goal of the NCLB Strategy is to facilitate the harmonious implementation of the SARP globally so that ALL states have access to the socio-economic benefits of safe and reliable air transport. Mr. President, allow me on behalf of the government and people of The Bahamas to express our sincere gratitude to you and ICAO for your continued expression of support and assistance in our industry transformation initiative.
The work of ICAO is extremely important to global industries that is susceptible to accidents and have had its share of issues with safety and security. The establishment of international standards and best practices and the commitment of countries to comply with the standards is helping to produce a global industry defined by its commitment to safety and security. The ICAO website suggests that the global approach to air safety is producing positive results. So far this year, Accidents and the Rate of Air Accidents are trending down and Fatal Accidents and the numbers of fatalities are also declining.
In The Bahamas, we’ve had an impressive record of Air Safety over the years. We have had our share of Air Accidents and fatalities but for the most part, commercial and private air carriers fully understand their obligation to safety and security of the traveling public. Civil Aviation has done its part to build a credible reputation. We believe that the improvements we are currently making in the aviation sector will reinforce our reputation as an aviation industry committed to safety.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Tourism is our business and we take pride in ensuring that our guests have a unique Bahamian experience. We know that many of you are visiting our country for the first time and we will hope that you get an opportunity to sample some of what we offer. In addition to having the most beautiful waters and pristine beaches in the world, our friendly people, our native food and rhythm and soul of our people expressed through our music, visual and performing arts and our historic sites will help you relax following a long day of meetings and intense negotiations.
We know that some of you will remain for a few days following the conference. Our country offers a diverse experience through the unique culture of each of our family islands. If your schedule permits you may want to take a flight or a ferry boat ride to one of our nearby islands and get a taste of life on our Family Islands.
Mr. President and Delegates to this Ninth ICAN Conference, we have created an environment that we trust is conducive to your planned bi-lateral and multi-lateral meetings. We know that these opportunities are extremely important to each of the countries represented here. It is our hope that you will have meaningful and productive discussions that will translate into mutually beneficial agreements as together we work build relationships that positions every country to grow and expand its economy through the global aviation industry.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with pleasure that I officially declare the Ninth International Civil Aviation Negotiation Conference officially opened.
I Thank You.
Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie
Source: Bahamas Information Services
