Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
East Caribbean aviation system downgraded due to multiple deficiencies
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves
News
May 12, 2020

East Caribbean aviation system downgraded due to multiple deficiencies

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed that the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States’ (OECS) Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) is not compliant with certain international safety standards, and has assigned it a category two rating, down from a category one.

However, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has indicated that the downgrade is due to an oversight by ECCAA and has nothing to do with the safety and security of our airports.

It was announced by the FAA recently that due to non-compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards, the OECS, assessed under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, has been moved from a category one to a category two.

This information was published by the online site, Eturbo News which reports on Global Travel Industry News.

The FAA under the IASA program assesses the civil aviation authorities of those countries with air carriers that have applied to fly to the United States (US), are currently flying to the US, “or participate in code-sharing arrangements with US partner airlines.”

ECCAA oversees aviation security for Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

A category two IASA rating means either that laws or regulations lack the necessary requirements to oversee air carriers “in accordance with minimum international standards.”

Or it could mean a civil aviation authority like ECCAA is deficient in areas such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record keeping, inspection procedures or resolution of safety concerns.

Speaking on Star radio yesterday, May 11, the Prime Minister first assured “this (loss of category one status) is in relation to the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation authority oversight, this has nothing to do with the safety and security of our airports.”

“This doesn’t affect planes coming to us,” he also stated.

Despite the downgrade, existing services will continue, but will be limited to what existed at the time of the assessment, he said.

“For instance LIAT which goes to Puerto Rico and goes to US Virgin Islands, those will continue.”

The Prime Minister disclosed that the FAA assessment revealed 14 deficiencies, and eleven of them were corrected.

“The three which are yet to be corrected involve the question of something called article 83 B,” Gonsavles informed.

He explained that regarding this article, one signs on to it, “but you need to put it inside of an institutional, legal framework in your domestic legislation.”

This has not happened, he revealed.

Secondly, there are regulations which need to be gazetted in “several” countries, he noted.

Finally, what the Prime Minister revealed to be the FAA’s biggest grievance, is that the existing Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Act needs to be amended.

He continued that, under the current Act, the Ministers in the respective countries make the regulations, but the FAA “wants the Director General of ECCAA to be the one to make regulations, not the Minister.”

“They are not major issues in respect of with which things cannot be corrected,” the Prime Minister stated.

“….These are really administrative, legislative matters,” Gonsalves reiterated.

He further indicated that he had written to the FAA in February, particularly about the amendment needed to be made to the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Act.

The Prime Minister said that he wrote that “each Parliament had to pass that law and I told them that they just couldn’t get it done within the time frame.”

He said that the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic made this more challenging.

“…It appears as though some of the persons who review for FAA don’t quite follow that there are six independent states, we’re not a unitary state and we’re not a Federation,” he added.

Gonsalves reiterated that it was “just” paperwork and legislative time, and “the consequences don’t affect LIAT in any adverse way at the moment… because existing services can continue in the US territories, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, but we don’t have anything to go to the mainland of the USA.”

He ended by noting that Barbados had the “greatest airlift” in the Caribbean and it has a category two status.

“…We should not have been in a situation where these things were not done but the time was too short between the assessment and when the hammer was brought down,” the Prime Minister concluded.

The category 2 rating covers Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Free movement of  people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Front Page
    Free movement of people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Many Vincentians and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals are welcoming the decision by four CARICOM governments to institute the free moveme...
    ‘Unprincipled  non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Front Page
    ‘Unprincipled non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly a few days ago that entities in the international sphere are seeking...
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50  businesses in East Kingstown
    Front Page
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50 businesses in East Kingstown
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), moved its campaign to Sion Hill last Saturday, September, 27,2025 as it seeks to retain its hold on the Eas...
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Front Page
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves renewed his call at the United Nations for the inclusion of Taiwan in the organisation’s specialised agencies. Deli...
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Front Page
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    More than EC$700,000 in prize money was handed out to the 2025 VincyMas winners, on Sunday night, September, 28,2025, at Carnival City, Victoria Park....
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Press Release
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    As the Atlantic Hurricane season reaches its peak, more than 47 disaster management professionals from across the Caribbean and beyond have joined for...
    News
    Rose Place woman  remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    From the Courts, News
    Rose Place woman remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A woman who resides at Rose Place was remanded after threatening to “blow out” a farmer’s head. Rasharma Pollard appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’...
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    From the Courts, News
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A father’s request was granted when his son, who had pointed a gun at him, was imprisoned. Simon Simmons appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court ...
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    News
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented and even eliminated, provided that countries strengthen their vaccination, screening, ...
    Prayer sustains woman  caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    News
    Prayer sustains woman caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The world recognized Alzheimer’s Day on September, 21, 2025, but for the Muhammad family, of Largo Height, Alzheimer’s is an everyday reality that is ...
    Librarian and Poet uses  spoken-word as a relief Valve
    News
    Librarian and Poet uses spoken-word as a relief Valve
    Webmaster 
    September 26, 2025
    Often times, people’s struggles, insecurities, physical issues and inner pain are masked by an exterior that looks strong, poised and well put togethe...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok