The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said government will soon move to negotiate an arrangement that will see the US government hand over management of the country’s airspace.

The Bahamas’ airspace has been managed by the US since the 1950s, and changing this arrangement could result in additional revenues for the Bahamas, she said.
While in Grand Bahama on Monday, Mrs Hanna-Martin revealed that they have already identified individuals to negotiate on behalf of the Bahamas.

“We have just named a negotiation committee who will negotiate with the US and other neighbouring countries, on behalf of the Bahamian people, to begin the process.

“This had to go to Cabinet, and just a few days ago the composition of the negotiation committee had been agreed.

“I will be saying at a later date who those persons are, but at this moment, it is a full Bahamian negotiation committee,” said the minister.

“This is a significant step because they will go out and begin the dialogue. They will negotiate and discuss with the US how to formalise this arrangement that goes back to the 50s and that will have revenue implications.”

Mrs Hanna-Martin explained that the airspace of the Bahamas was negotiated when we were still a colony.

At that time, she noted, there were no indigenous Bahamians at the table and the British government negotiated with the US government on the extent of the US airspace.

The minister noted that the extent of the Bahamas’ airspace right now does not necessarily match up with the geography of the country.

“It is reduced. So there is that issue that has to be discussed –the true airspace in terms of geography,” she said.

Another issue, she stated, is that the Americans have been managing it for 60 years and the Bahamas is not in a position to take over right away.

“We have to take a phased approach. To take over air traffic services right now will require significant infrastructural investment in the millions. And also the engagement of human resources to be trained et cetera – it is not something that can happen overnight,” the minister said.