Opposition leader Ralph Gonsalves has publicly criticized the current administration for what he describes as wasteful spending on regional airline advertisements while basic infrastructure at the Argyle International Airport is left to deteriorate.
Speaking on Star FM, Gonsalves highlighted a ceremony where the government is reportedly paying 50,000 dollars in United States currency, equivalent to approximately 135,000 dollars in Eastern Caribbean currency, to place an advertisement on the tail of an InterCaribbean Airways aircraft.
Gonsalves characterized this expenditure as a complete waste of money, comparing the investment to throwing cash into the sea.
He said that the advertisement provides little to no value in attracting visitors to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, noting that international travelers at major regional hubs like Barbados would likely never see the branding due to where regional planes are positioned at airport gates.
The former Prime Minister pointed to the neglect of essential airport maintenance as a more pressing concern than branding regional planes.
Specifically, he noted that two doors at the Argyle International Airport, located on both the land side and air side of the facility, are currently malfunctioning and need repair. One caller to the program supported this observation, sharing an anecdote about a visitor who noticed a door dragging and needing repair months ago.
Gonsalves asserted that spending the 135,000 dollars to fix these doors would have a far greater impact on the visitor experience than the airline advertisement.
In offering alternatives to the current spending, Gonsalves suggested that more effective and cheaper advertising methods are available. He proposed that the government could utilize website pop-up advertisements or hire top local influencers and bloggers who collectively have millions of followers.
He estimated that the government could pay ten such influencers 13,000 dollars each for a major campaign that would reach a significantly larger audience for a similar total cost.
Gonsalves expressed personal disappointment in the management of the airport, an institution he takes pride in having established during his tenure. He stated that it pains him to see the current administration’s handling of the facility, emphasizing that the airport’s success is vital to the nation’s history and future.
The Opposition leader urged the government to use common sense in its financial decisions and to prioritize the functional upkeep of the country’s primary gateway.
