Caribbean News Now!

By Nerissa Golden

BRADES, Montserrat (GIU) - The UK-based Air Safety Support International (ASSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, will be conducting an audit of FlyMontserrat later this week.

According to Maria Boyle, CEO of ASSI, their airworthiness surveyor Craig Stubbington and flight operations inspector Cydric Desbarida will both be travelling to the Caribbean to begin the audit of the airline’s operations.

The airworthiness surveyor is to travel to Anguilla, where FlyMontserrat’s aircraft are serviced. The flight operations inspector will travel to Montserrat early on Friday morning to look at the operational side.

Boyle said the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) was invited to accompany ASSI on these audits as observers; however, they have declined and will await the report and findings.

ECCA on Tuesday informed FlyMontserrat that, as a result of recent incidents and the fatal crash that resulted in the death of three people, they have informed all OECS member states to suspend the operations of the airline until further notice.

Meanwhile, following the grounding of Fly Montserrat late Tuesday, the government of Montserrat has announced that St Vincent and the Grenadines Airline (SVG Air), will be adding more flights to meet the demands of the flying public.

Premier Reuben Meade said discussions will continue with SVG and another regional airline to ensure that with the coming festival season visitors will be able to travel to and from Montserrat.

He added that the ferry will be another reliable alternative for nationals and others planning to come home for the annual festival celebrations.

“It’s important to reiterate that we are aware of the critical importance of residents and visitors being able to travel when they need to. That is why we have been pursuing relationships with other carriers to ensure that both our air and sea access meet the needs of travellers,” Meade said.

Presently the government is soliciting bids for both ferry and air travel services to support the current transportation needs.

In the meantime, the MV Carib Surf will be providing ferry service between Antigua and Montserrat twice daily this weekend.

The Ministry of Communications and Works announced on Wednesday that the ferry will make two round trips this Friday and Saturday to accommodate passengers and the cargo backlog in Antigua.

The ferry will leave Montserrat at 7am and 3pm with return from Antigua at 9am and 5:30pm.

The ride is estimated at one hour and 10 minutes.

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