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ST. JOHN'S, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has reit- erated that health protocols have been put in place to accommodate travelers from Africa as the island welcomed the inaugural Air Peace flight on Sunday connecting Bar- bados and Antigua and Barbuda. Browne, speaking on his weekly radio program, said his admin- istration's cautious approach had also been influenced both by the current Ebola outbreak in Africa and by the country's previous expe- rience with Antigua Airways flights involving migrants traveling from Cameroon through Nigeria in 2022 and 2023.
"We got burnt there, so we've been a little cautious," Browne said. He told radio listeners that approximately 25 passengers arriv- ing on the new Air Peace service from Nigeria will travel to Anti- gua and Barbuda on LIAT (2020) Ltd, whose main shareholders are the Antigua and Barbuda and Air Peace Caribbean Limited, a joint venture entity incorporated here and is separate from the Nigeri- an-based Air Peace airline.
Browne had said that the Air Peace flight from Lagos would by- pass Antigua and land directly in Barbados "and then the individuals who are scheduled to stay in Anti-
Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados welcome inaugural Air Peace flight gua will probably get LIAT to bring them from Barbados to Antigua". Browne said health authorities will closely monitor the travelers and ensure they are screened upon ar- rival.
"What we will do, though, is to make sure that they're properly screened as best we can," he said, explaining that Antigua and Bar- buda is reinstating enhanced pub- lic health measures, including in- frared thermal scanners and other protocols previously used during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We're putting new health protocols in place, going back to the COVID framework," Browne said.
Last week, the government an- nounced new measures aimed at enhancing public health safety amid concerns regarding the dead- ly outbreaks of Hantavirus, Ebola and Malaria in several parts of the world. The Trinidad-based Carib- bean Public Health Agency (CAR- PHA) Thursday said that follow- ing the declaration by the World Health Organization's (WHO) that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has now become a public health emer- gency of international concern (PHEIC), it assesses that the cur- rent risk to the Caribbean region is low.
PHA is urging its member states to maintain a high state of readiness. Because the Caribbean is a major global travel hub, the primary way the virus could arrive is through an infected traveler," said Dr. Lisa In- dar, CARPHA's executive director. Barbados' High Commissioner to West Africa, Juliette Bynoe-Suther- land, described the inaugural flight as an historic milestone in air trav- el.
"We are now going to be posi- tioned most seamlessly from West Africa into Barbados and the wider Caribbean," she said, noting that passengers were making onward travel plans to Guyana, Dominica, St. Lucia as well as Antigua and Barbuda," she said.
"It is one thing in the diplomatic sphere to be talking about bridging the gap between Africa and the Ca- ribbean, it is another thing to have the ability to do so and that has eluded us until Air Peace started this initiative. IT is now monthly, but based on demand, we expect it will increase," she added. The inau- gural flight was also met by officials from the Barbados Tourism Mar- keting Inc., the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)and other stakeholders.
CTO launch scholarship fund for Caribbean Women in Tourism
NEW YORK - The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has launched a new scholarship fund dedicated to empowering the next generation of Caribbean women in tourism at its Caribbean Wom- en in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards on June 1. Titled "From Her to Her: From Today's Female Leaders to Tomorrow's Tourism Stars," the program will provide annual support for a promising female student from the Caribbe- an pursuing studies and a career in tourism. All proceeds from the June 1 event will directly fund the scholarship through the CTO and the legacy we aim to build. The CTO Foundation team looks forward to a successful launch and to supporting the next gen- eration of Caribbean women leaders in tourism." Valued part- ners, including Virgin Voyag- es, Diamonds International and TRÈFLE, have already committed support, with Antigua and Barbu- da Tourism Authority sponsoring the dinner event. The initiative reflects a broader commitment to gender equity and leadership development across Caribbean tourism.
The Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards is part of Caribbean Week 2026 celebrations. Tickets are US $199 per person. Space is limited and registration for the dinner closes on Friday, May 22.
Caribbean Week in New York is supported by the following sponsors:
Platinum Elite: United States Virgin Islands
⚫ Gold Elite: Antigua & Barbu- da, British Virgin Islands
Foundation.
The dinner and awards cer- emony at the InterContinental New York Times Square during Caribbean Week in New York will honor leading female luminaries in Caribbean tourism. Honorees will include ministers and direc- tors of tourism from across the region, recipients of the Secre- tary-General's Distinguished Ser- vice Awards, and inductees into a new Hall of Fame designation recognizing outstanding leader- ship.
Gold: The Bahamas, St. Kitts Silver: Sandals, Global Ports tary-general of CTO, fostering Holding, SITA opportunities for women in tour- ism is both a professional prior- ity and a personal passion," said Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO sec- retary-general. "This scholarship embodies the spirit of mentor- ship, legacy and opportunity. We are investing in the talent that will shape the future of our region's most vital industry."
Jacqueline Johnson, Chairman of the CTO Foundation, added: "This initiative effectively cap- tures the spirit of mentorship
• Bronze: Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Sojern, Travel & Adventure Show, Trove Tourism
• Contributing Sponsors: Di- amonds International, Expedia Group, Travel Unity, TRÈFLE (British Virgin Islands), Virgin Voyages
Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase Sponsors: Inter-Ameri- can Development Bank, Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean
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