Prime Minister Mia Mottley is calling for deeper transport connections between Barbados, Latin America, and the wider Caribbean to strengthen trade, tourism, and regional influence.
Speaking at the unveiling of interCaribbean Airways’ new aircraft, Spirit of Barbados (VQ-TBB), at Grantley Adams International Airport on Tuesday, Mottley described the moment as one of national pride but also a chance to highlight the need for stronger aviation networks.
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She urged airline executives and aviation leaders to expand connectivity to new markets, with a particular focus on northeastern Brazil.
“That has significant implications for us not just in terms of tourism, but also in terms of cargo and in Barbados’ ambition to become an agro-processing hub for the southern and eastern Caribbean and northern Latin America,” she said.
Mottley stressed that Barbados must reposition itself as a genuine gateway for the Caribbean, with stronger air links across the north of the region.
“Your linkages to the northern Caribbean – to Bahamas, to Turks and Caicos, to Havana in Cuba, to Jamaica – are so important… We must create opportunities for Bajan businessmen and Bajan travellers, but equally for those coming into Barbados, so that Bajan workers can continue to earn the best possible living.”
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The Prime Minister emphasized the vital role of tourism, noting that nearly half of the economy depends on the sector. She highlighted that three times the island’s population visits annually as long-stay visitors, with almost four times the population arriving on cruise ships.
Reflecting on the COVID-19 shutdown, she reminded the audience of its widespread economic impact:
“When the tourists stopped coming, all of a sudden the pig farmers didn’t have enough people to buy their pork, and the poultry farmers didn’t have enough people to buy their chicken, and the vegetable farmers and the fruit farmers were not necessarily benefiting from the sales.”
To help local communities capture more benefits from tourism, she pointed to new duty-free concessions on kitchen and cooking equipment for small food businesses.
“What people love about Barbados is the ability to go through every nook and cranny and to engage with Bajans wherever they are and to feel that earthy warmth that is truly Bajan,” Mottley said.
She also welcomed news that interCaribbean Airways plans to build a maintenance facility at GAIA, with construction expected to begin in early 2026 after delays caused by hurricane preparedness in Turks and Caicos.
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