The government of Antigua and Barbuda is considering the establishment of its own radar system to manage airspace across the northern Leeward Islands, with the aim of generating new aviation revenue currently collected by Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Chief of Staff Ambassador Lionel Hurst said the initiative is part of a broader effort to create alternative sources of non-tax revenue for the country.
“Our airspace is one of them,” Hurst said. “If we find that we can do it for ourselves and others around us and earn an income, then we ought to do it—and that’s exactly what we are set off to do.”
Trinidad and Tobago currently oversees radar coverage for several regional air routes, and collects associated fees from airlines entering the region’s airspace.
Antigua and Barbuda hopes to offer a competitive alternative that could provide radar services to neighbouring islands.
While details of the proposed system’s timeline and cost are still being finalised, Hurst confirmed the Ministry of Aviation has been tasked with developing a plan and returning to Cabinet with a proposal.
He said potential earnings would depend on how many countries opt to utilise Antigua and Barbuda’s system.
“The revenue potential we cannot say as yet—it will depend on how many of the northern Leeward Islands we might be able to attract away from using the Trinidad system,” he noted.
The radar proposal was supported by Director General of the OECS, Dr Didacus Jules, during his recent visit to Cabinet.
Hurst said the government sees this as an opportunity to assert greater control over its airspace while providing a vital service to the wider region.
