The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation views with deep concern, strike action taken by the Aviation Services of Grenada (ASG) staff of the Grenada Airports Authority (GAA) at this critical juncture, as we attempt to resuscitate an industry destroyed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Grenada closed its borders to flights on 23 March, and reopened to Caribbean flights on 1 July, then accepted some International flights beginning on 1 August, such as Air Canada, with its scheduled flights, and Jet Blue which brought in Grenadian nationals via a chartered service.
As of 1 October, Grenada’s borders reopened to the international community, and already flights have begun in earnest. American Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways have either already started service to Grenada, or are currently advertising schedules to begin later this month. The prospects are indeed bright for a cautious, but necessary recovery of the tourism and travel industry.
During the closure of the borders, sporadic repatriation flights and the occasional cargo flights came in via the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA). The staff of ASG, like most other sectors, were recipients of government’s stimulus package for the months April to June. Other arrangements for remuneration were made subsequently, based on the workload and the income generated.
The Ministry is concerned that airport staff have all been negatively impacted by Covid-19, as have other employees nationwide, especially in tourism-related fields. We are also distressed that many Grenadian workers have been left jobless, including those in the tourism sector, which was among the first and hardest hit by this COVID-19 pandemic. The GAA and ASG have spent time and resources preparing to protect the health of their workers and visitors alike.
The sector has made great progress in its preparations to receive visitors to our shores. We continue to work assiduously in our bid to capture part of the market in the Winter season, which will help to generate much-needed revenue to restore livelihoods to our people, especially in the hospitality and travel sectors.
The Ministry is therefore disturbed that in the midst of the progress made to date, in mounting a well-managed fight to protect our borders and restore one of our major industries to some semblance of its former glory, the staff at ASG has taken the premature decision to strike.
This is not only another setback for the tourism industry, but also a direct blow to the farmers who are unable to get their produce out to world markets, and other major operators of small businesses whose livelihoods are also affected.
We urge that good sense prevails and that the workers of ASG and their union representatives allow for due process in negotiations so that an amicable and satisfactory solution can be reached, in the shortest possible time and with minimal impact, on a country and sector that are already struggling.
The ministry reminds that the fight against Covid-19 is one that affects us all, and one that we must confront together. We ask everyone to spare a thought for our neighbour — especially those who have lost their incomes totally, and those who are still waiting for employment.
We are indeed all in this together.
GIS
Thank you for deleting Doo Dar Day’s racist post.
I know Doo Dar Day.
He’s a vary very nice man.
Message to Now Grenada.
I appreciate and enjoy your daily posts and publications, but you really have to censor what people post. Governments all over the world are clamping down on the likes of Facebook and Twitter when it comes to racist and derogatory terminology otherwise know as hate speech. Allowing the word Coons is no better than the word Nigger which is totally unacceptable. Why have you allowed #Doo Dar Day” to make such a post. If he or she wants to say all black people are lazy then that’s his or her prerogative but Please do not allow your platform to be used by racist. It is bad enough having to endure racism against black people in the rest of the world but this should not be allowed to happen on your platform. By the way, if “Doo Dar Day is a black person then they need help and learn to respect themselves.
If you need the website please go to ( covid19.gov.gd) and to book a place if you don’t want the free one go to puregrenada.com and choose from there . Also the government said he you have a home or place to stay where you alone will be staying you got to write a letter before you come email it which you will find on the form . Give them your address where your house or where you will be staying . They have to go and see it to approve it ..? And also they will give you watch to wear which cost $25 per day cause they need to know that you are inside and its much cheaper than the hotels well even if I did know I could not of do it cause there is people in my house . So does who have place to stay with just you alone or who is coming with you . Just call them to get more information . Call the ministry of health. I have this lady number miss Charles 1473 410 1060 .good luck
Thanks much for the info. I’m here in NY. not working. I’ve an empty closed up house in Grenada. I want to come to air out and relax, so I will definitely call that number because my flight was PRE booked from July – August for carnival.
I am in Grenada right right now we came in on air Canada on Monday the 05 . The problem is the American who came before some came with false covid19 result and had to do it over . Some of them came to quarantine and invite they Man to spent the night they leave and go out when they should not of don’t that so because of that they put police officers from 7pm to 7am at all quarantine point and security at day time these American are just like they president (sorry but it’s the true ) we came to stay in quarantine for 48hrs now we stay for 4days at seabreeze and they are the cheapest and we love the place . But the government have free quarantine if you don’t book a place . So we are guessing that they may want to strike cause of more pay and better protection.like mask and gloves we don’t know we are guessing .? Today we are going to do our covid19 test . And will get our result tonight which is really good . I am not saying they are the best but listen to the other country like tnt they have 4.243 covid19 and 83 death . And Barbados have 200 covid19 and 7 death . Jamaica has the most. So please people have faith in our little country we have none we are free from covid19 . Every country has hiccups right now because of covid19 . I am not rich I too were mad cause I had to spend money to stay extra 2 days . Cause I don’t want to go in the free one . Please pray for our island don’t give up .
What the hell? Is the airport now closed or what? Can we actually have some proper journalism here! There are people with flights booked for next week. Are they now cancelled? When does this strike begin?DD
Have the article stated the reason(s) for the strike action? I haven’t identified it . We need to hear from the union rep.
Whatever it may be, industrial action in any form, for any reason outside of covid19 related, is purely a backward move at this time. We may fight backn for what we think is right for our benefit, but the repercussions sometimes are far more than the benefits recieved.
There are two sides to a story. If the authorities don’t want the workers to strike, they should start treating them better because one hand can’t clamp. It takes two to tangle
The Govt should pass legislation to stop some essential workers from taking strike action that would cripple any critical public sector.