In a recent discussion regarding the management of the Argyle International Airport, Ralph Gonsalves revealed that the government has requested the current restaurant operator High Flyers to extend its stay until the end of August.
This request comes after the airport management initiated a tender process earlier this year, around January or February, to find new entities to operate the facility’s food and beverage services. The St Vincent Times understands that there was “only one entity apparently interested” in taking over the bar area and one of the upstairs outlets, and that entity was the Police Welfare Association.
According to Gonsalves, the manager of the High Flyers, informed the airport authorities that they were not interested in reapplying to continue their operations and had initially planned to vacate the premises by the end of July. However, the airport reportedly contacted the restaurant and asked them to stay longer because the facility cannot function properly without the services of a restaurant that meets a particular standard.
Gonsalves noted that the transition is particularly complex because all the fixtures, counters, and equipment within the restaurant space belong to the current operator. He explained that the space was originally provided as an empty shell, and the operator had to invest significant capital to make it functional.
He also addressed rumors regarding financial disputes, firmly denying claims that the restaurant owed back rent. Instead, he asserted that the Argyle International Airport actually owes the restaurant a ton load of money for meals provided to various airlines, suggesting that while the airlines may have paid the airport, the airport has not yet settled its debt with the restaurant.
Despite what he described as shabby treatment of the operator, Gonsalves mentioned that he advised the manager and Eloise to stay until the end of August to ensure the airport continues to provide necessary services to travelers.
He expressed deep personal disappointment and pain over the current administration’s handling of the airport, an institution he took pride in having established.
Gonsalves said that the government did not appear to have thought the transition through, as they are now in a position of begging the current tenant to stay while seemingly having no immediate or profitable replacement ready to take over the main restaurant space.
