The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) says it has presented a proposal to sub-regional governments for consideration as the sub-region moves to deal with the high taxes associated with intra-Caribbean travel.
Regional travellers on at least one airline have seen the base fare of their tickets increase by three per cent between 2009 and 2016, but government taxes have more than doubled in some instances, an airline executive has said.
OECS Director General, Dr. Didicus Jules, says the governments of the nine-member sub-regional grouping are aware of the issued relates to the high taxes associated with air travel in the Caribbean.
“We have made certain submissions to the governments of the OECS and we are hoping, even on an experimental basis to be able to help make that difference,” he told the launch of the integrated travel project that will significantly reduce the cost of travel within the English, Dutch, and French-speaking Caribbean.
“The governments are sensitive to that reality but there are challenges that we hope we can overcome,” Jules said according to a report by the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Under Caribsky, the Antigua-based regional airline, LIAT, has joined the French-owned Air Antilles and the state-owned Saint Maarten-based Winair in an initiative they hope should “ultimately foster free movement of persons and boost economic growth” across the English, Dutch and French Caribbean, “based on a brand new network of truly interconnected airlines”.
