Maya Island Air Eyed to Reconnect Punta Gorda  

For Punta Gorda residents, losing Tropic Air’s regular flights means more than a longer journey. It threatens a vital connection to healthcare, commerce and tourism, leaving the south increasingly isolated from the rest of the country. Tropic Air says suspending the route was a business decision, but Toledo West Area Representative Oscar Requena says the government is working to fill the gap. Officials are now in talks with Maya Island Air to restore regular flights to Punta Gorda.

 

Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West

“There are great concerns from the residents of Punta Gorda and the Toledo district about the canceling of their services. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a business decision made by the company. we all know and appreciate the importance of that service. We have seen interviews where people speak about how it supports the health system, you know, businesses, tourism, in cases of emergencies. But the truth of the matter is that the company has made a business decision. I am certain that the residents of the Toledo district would have hoped that it would have been different. But government is now in discussion with Maya Island Air, because we understand the needs of the people, and we have to find an alternative to be able to ensure that we can address those needs of our residents. So I’m hoping, um, as was said by the Prime Minister in a recent interview, that they are in discussions, and I hope that very soon they can finalize a plan to ensure that we see normal air connectivity, back to the Toledo district.”

 

Shane Williams

“As a national minister, someone with a national portfolio, is it a service you rely on to get around?”

 

Oscar Requena

“I will be honest with you. I have been a government minister almost six years now. I do not ride a plane. I simply travel on, in my vehicle and do my duties. Not because I don’t ride a plane means to that, that I do not hear and understand and appreciate the concerns of our residents.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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