PHILIPSBURG:---- A Delegation from Sint Maarten’s Department of Civil Aviation and Shipping and Maritime, Sint Maarten Civil Aviation Authority comprising of the Director of Civil Aviation and Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Louis Halley, the Legal Advisor for Civil Aviation, Cheryl Shewpersad and the Policy Advisor, Arsenio Rombley, recently attended the Eighth International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN/2015) which was held in Antalya, Turkey, from 19 to 23 October 2015.
ICAN or ICAO Air Services Negotiation event is an ICAO initiative that was established in 2009 with the goal of providing an efficient and effective platform for States to conduct air services negotiations meeting.
The delegation from Sint Maarten that attended this year’s event conducted four successful air services negotiation meetings with the Countries, Kuwait, Sweden/Denmark/Norway, Luxemburg, and Iceland resulting in the signing of three memoranda of understandings, one agreed minute and initialling of the air service agreements.
It should be noted that the above countries with exception of Iceland and Kuwait were proposed by the Tourism Office. This procedure is customary in aviation negotiation as it allows for the airlines of both states to make use of the provisions in the agreement until ratified by the parliaments of both countries. Because ratification can be a long process, a memorandum of understanding or agreed minute is signed by the Head of the Delegation to facilitate the provisional application of the agreement as mentioned above.
The three memoranda of understandings and one agreed minute makes it possible for airlines of Kuwait, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Luxembourg to start scheduled flights from their respective countries to Sint Maarten and vice versa. This is a great benefit for Sint Maarten given that tourism is a major source of economic activity on the island.
Our hope is that with the signing of these memoranda of understandings, new tourism markets will be open to Sint Maarten which will in turn increase airlift and economic activity on the island.
Since its inception in 2009, the event has seen a steady climb in participating States, with the last event in Turkey witnessing attendance of 93 States and eight International Organizations. This year’s event marks the first time that aviation industry partners such as airlines, airport, tourism authorities were also invited to attend.
With respect to Sint Maarten, ICAN 2015 marks the second time Sint Maarten has participated, Durban 2013 was the first together with the Netherlands and Curacao.
L to R: Director of Civil Aviation and Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Louis Halley presenting the documentation to Minister of Civil Aviation Affairs Hon. Ernest Sams.