Barbados welcomes inaugural Conviasa flight from Venezuela

Barbados welcomed the inaugural Conviasa flight from Venezuela on Saturday.

Flight 3702 touched down at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) just before 11 a.m.

The passengers received red carpet treatment and were greeted to a cultural presentation by dancers, stilt walkers and the Tuk Band.

During a press briefing, Venezuelan Minister of Transport Ramón Velásquez announced that as of today, there would be two weekly flights — one on Wednesday and the other on Saturday.

The aircraft has a seating capacity of 190.

Velásquez said the distance between Barbados and Venezuela was only one hour, adding that with this arrangement in place, people from Barbados could better access flights to Africa, parts of Europe and Latin America.

This inaugural flight to Barbados comes two months after Prime Minister Mia Mottley made her first official visit to the South American country.

During the trip back in July, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro presented Mottley with one of his country’s top honours, the Order of Liberators of Venezuela, first class.

Her delegation to Venezuela included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kerrie Symmonds and Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong.

Venezuelan Minister of Tourism Ali Padron and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds.

Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, such as Chief Agriculture Officer Keeley Holder and manager of agricultural services at the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation Dr Jamekal Andwele, also returned on the 3702 flight after spending a week in Venezuela exploring opportunities in agriculture, as Barbados was offered 5 000 hectares in that state.

Meanwhile, Symmonds said this was a momentous occasion because the two states were celebrating their 54th year of diplomatic ties.

He assured the Venezuelan delegates that his administration was committed to maintaining a relationship with the South American state as it continued on a path of development and enfranchisement.

“In Venezuela we have found a developmental partner, who we cherish and respect… For a number of reasons this development of a direct flight to Barbados from Caracas is extremely important. It has economic significance, political significance, cultural significance, it has significance for regional integration and most importantly, it gives us another opportunity for development in this region and partnership between the countries of the South,” he said.

After the press briefing, Venezuelan cultural practitioners performed for the officials.

(SZB)