PM Browne dismisses discrimination talks about Barbuda airport terminal

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says there is no discrimination within the airport terminal on the Sister Isle.

The Barbuda International Airport, which opened recently, currently has temporary terminals that will soon be replaced by a larger terminal building.

Browne explained over the weekend that the existing temporary structures accommodate both incoming and outgoing traffic. The Prime Minister also mentioned the plans to construct a modern terminal and a warehouse building at the airport, with an estimated budget of $10-15 million.

The warehouse will allow Barbudans to purchase items on Amazon and have them stored at the airport upon arrival. Addressing claims of discrimination at the airport, the Prime Minister dismissed the suggestion that the temporary structures catered to different racial groups.

He explained that the airport will include a Fixed Based Operations (FBO) building, similar to the private jet handling service at Antigua’s Signature terminal. This FBO building is intended to provide specialized services to wealthier tourists and private jet travelers, without any racial bias.

PM Browne also highlighted that the claims originating from the Barbuda Council aimed to spread misinformation and undermine the progress being made on the island. He emphasized that the government’s plans for the airport were being deliberately misrepresented to provoke the residents of Barbuda.

“We have in Codrington, Barbuda, a large billboard showing the proposed structure that will be erected at the airport. There is a second billboard with the artist rendition at the airport as well. We will be spending about $10-15 million to construct a modern terminal and the plan includes constructing a warehouse building at the airport as well so that Barbudans can purchase items on Amazon and have them stored there on arrival,” Browne said

Browne said that in many modern societies, there are commercial terminals and Fixed-Based Operations (FBOs) where affluent travelers pay for specialized services.

This is similar to Antigua’s setup, according to him, where Signature manages private jets, and these travelers do not use the regular terminal like commercial flight passengers.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this distinction is not about race, as wealthy private jet travelers are predominantly Caucasian, but there are also black individuals who use these services.

He also mentioned that there are efforts to spread misinformation and rumors about the airport, which he believes is an attempt to hinder progress on the island