adidasboi987
07-08-06, - 05:02 PM
Christie in flight scare
By JASMINE BONIMY and LASHONNE OUTTEN, Guardian Staff Reporters
jasmin@nasguard.com & lashonne@nasguard.com
A private jet flying Prime Minister Perry Christie back to Nassau from the Caribbean was involved in a dramatic landing just hours before he spoke at the renaming ceremony at the country's international airport.
The jet was chartered from a Miami company.
News of the incident was not made public, and although no one on board the aircraft was injured it was a frightening experience. Mr. Christie told a colleague that it was a "harrowing" incident. The aircraft was returning from the CARICOM heads of government meeting in St. Kitts when it developed "technical" problems.
It is understood that the plane suffered a hydraulic leak, which affected the braking system.
The Guardian understands that the aircraft had braking problems and this caused a full alert at the airport with fire tenders racing to the jet as it touched down shortly before midnight.
Also on board the plane were Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Missouri Sherman-Peters, Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry; Leonard Archer, the Bahamas Ambassador to CARICOM, and the PM's personal protection officer.
The Guardian tried to contact officials at the airport but were referred to Bahamas Information Services who said they knew nothing about the matter.
However, the incident did not detract from the renaming ceremony. The airport was named after former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling and Mr Christie promised that his administration will pump millions into the newly renamed airport to make it a world-class terminal.
Minister of Transport and Aviation, Glenys Hanna-Martin said the government has recently spent millions of dollars repairing runways at the former Nassau International Airport and is prepared to spend more - as it is committed to transforming the entire facility and its inner operations.
"This airport which is so critical to our existence is currently undergoing a renaissance. Already multi-million dollar runway works have been completed," said the Minister. "Very shortly a world-renowned international airport firm will assume the day-to-day management of this facility, heralding the redevelopment and revitalisation of this facility into a premier, world-class airport."
At the renaming ceremony held on Thursday, the Minister added that the government plans to tackle the enormous task over a period of two years.
"Over the next two years there will be tremendous growth taking place on this acreage with new modern terminals, with expanded concessions and services and increased runway capacity to accommodate an air traffic boom," she said. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Lynden Pindling International Airport is poised to become the jewel of the Caribbean, the envy of the region."
Prime Minister Christie, who was on hand at the unveiling of the airport's new name, said the Lynden Pindling International Airport is the "major gateway" for persons travelling to The Bahamas. He added that the airport must be enhanced and updated to accommodate the number of tourists who will be flocking to The Bahamas because of the growing number of high-end and top-notch resorts that were recently welcomed to the nation's shores.
"My government is about to embark on a new and defining experience at this airport. This new and defining experience will involve a new approach through long-term first-class international management and an expansion, renovations and refurbishment that will give The Bahamas a truly world-class international airport," said Mr Christie. "Our commitment is directly linked to ensuring that as the billions of dollars of resort expansion continues here in Nassau and on other islands of The Bahamas; we – for our part – would have guaranteed that this, the major gateway into the country matches in every respect the new and modern facilities."
Moreover, Prime Minister Christie noted that the renaming of the airport should unite all Bahamians in respectful remembrance and appreciation of the life of a man who served them well, since all Bahamians have been the beneficiaries of the good that Sir Lynden Pindling did for this country
By JASMINE BONIMY and LASHONNE OUTTEN, Guardian Staff Reporters
jasmin@nasguard.com & lashonne@nasguard.com
A private jet flying Prime Minister Perry Christie back to Nassau from the Caribbean was involved in a dramatic landing just hours before he spoke at the renaming ceremony at the country's international airport.
The jet was chartered from a Miami company.
News of the incident was not made public, and although no one on board the aircraft was injured it was a frightening experience. Mr. Christie told a colleague that it was a "harrowing" incident. The aircraft was returning from the CARICOM heads of government meeting in St. Kitts when it developed "technical" problems.
It is understood that the plane suffered a hydraulic leak, which affected the braking system.
The Guardian understands that the aircraft had braking problems and this caused a full alert at the airport with fire tenders racing to the jet as it touched down shortly before midnight.
Also on board the plane were Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Missouri Sherman-Peters, Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry; Leonard Archer, the Bahamas Ambassador to CARICOM, and the PM's personal protection officer.
The Guardian tried to contact officials at the airport but were referred to Bahamas Information Services who said they knew nothing about the matter.
However, the incident did not detract from the renaming ceremony. The airport was named after former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling and Mr Christie promised that his administration will pump millions into the newly renamed airport to make it a world-class terminal.
Minister of Transport and Aviation, Glenys Hanna-Martin said the government has recently spent millions of dollars repairing runways at the former Nassau International Airport and is prepared to spend more - as it is committed to transforming the entire facility and its inner operations.
"This airport which is so critical to our existence is currently undergoing a renaissance. Already multi-million dollar runway works have been completed," said the Minister. "Very shortly a world-renowned international airport firm will assume the day-to-day management of this facility, heralding the redevelopment and revitalisation of this facility into a premier, world-class airport."
At the renaming ceremony held on Thursday, the Minister added that the government plans to tackle the enormous task over a period of two years.
"Over the next two years there will be tremendous growth taking place on this acreage with new modern terminals, with expanded concessions and services and increased runway capacity to accommodate an air traffic boom," she said. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Lynden Pindling International Airport is poised to become the jewel of the Caribbean, the envy of the region."
Prime Minister Christie, who was on hand at the unveiling of the airport's new name, said the Lynden Pindling International Airport is the "major gateway" for persons travelling to The Bahamas. He added that the airport must be enhanced and updated to accommodate the number of tourists who will be flocking to The Bahamas because of the growing number of high-end and top-notch resorts that were recently welcomed to the nation's shores.
"My government is about to embark on a new and defining experience at this airport. This new and defining experience will involve a new approach through long-term first-class international management and an expansion, renovations and refurbishment that will give The Bahamas a truly world-class international airport," said Mr Christie. "Our commitment is directly linked to ensuring that as the billions of dollars of resort expansion continues here in Nassau and on other islands of The Bahamas; we – for our part – would have guaranteed that this, the major gateway into the country matches in every respect the new and modern facilities."
Moreover, Prime Minister Christie noted that the renaming of the airport should unite all Bahamians in respectful remembrance and appreciation of the life of a man who served them well, since all Bahamians have been the beneficiaries of the good that Sir Lynden Pindling did for this country