The expansion of the Venezuelan national airline, Conviasa Airline’s operation in the region, is being hailed as a critical tool of integration.{{more}}

Last Tuesday, September 25, the airline made its inaugural flight to Dominica, via St Vincent, and local agents for the airline, Vincy Aviation Services Limited, hosted a small reception at the VIP room of the ET Joshua airport to mark the occasion.

“This is an offer of brotherhood,” said CEO of Conviasa Franklin Fernandez Martinez, through his interpreter, Ambassador of Venezuela to St Vincent and the Grenadines, Her Excellency Tibisay Urdaneta.

Martinez said that the increased frequency will allow Dominicans and Vincentians to travel to Margarita at a reasonable price, part of the process of building friendship within the region.

This, he explained, is a fundamental policy of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

For his part Acting Prime Minister Michael Browne said that this country’s Prime Minister is a strong regionalist and integrationist, noting that Conviasa’s flights will help to cement the ties that already exist been this country and Venezuela.

Ambassador Urdaneta also expressed her delight over the flight.

In February this year, Conviasa launched its St Vincent and the Grenadines’ operation with a Saturday flight to Margarita, which officials from Vincy Aviation say has not been wildly successful, but encouraging.

“The traveling Vincentian public will now have a choice of two direct weekly flights to and from Margarita: Saturdays and Tuesdays, “a Vincy Aviation release states.(KJ)