SANTO DOMINGO –Vice President Raquel Peñacalled on Tuesday for countries in the Greater Caribbean to take advantage of aviation technology to strengthen air connectivity and create communication and interconnection networks that contribute to the flourishing of their people in areas such as food, commerce, social, cultural, and intellectual development.
The vice president indicated that the region has historical and cultural ties , which is why they can speak of a Caribbean identity for many decades, and in that order she mentioned the short geographical distances that separate the territories.
However, he said, trade and passengers alike face obstacles due to the lack of routes that adequately connect the different destinations in the region, the resulting existence of multiple connections for short-haul destinations , and the high cost of air tickets.
Peña highlighted the significance of this event, as it is the first time in history that government and private representatives from across the region to share ideas—not only political, but also technical and specific—on how to take the Caribbean aviation sector into a new era.
He acknowledged the great potential of this sector and affirmed that the Dominican Republic is committed to contributing to the development of regional interconnectivity, especially in civil aviation. “Today’s important meeting represents a vote of confidence in the hope for a united and fully integrated Greater Caribbean in the twenty-first century and, consequently, a firm and necessary step toward making it a reality.”
Vice President Raquel Peña led the opening ceremony of the meeting. (External source).
To reach that future, he explained, they are convinced of the essential role played by international cooperation and joint dialogue, for which reason he made special mention of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), of whose Transport Committee the Dominican Republic holds the Vice Presidency, and thanked the work of its Secretary General, Rodolfo Sabonge, with the ACS as the forum par excellence to advance on this issue.
Vice President Peña argued that the best progress is only achieved when diverse minds and efforts are united, creating results greater than the sum of their parts, and that with a connected Caribbean region, transformative encounters, exchanges, partnerships, and friendships materialize
He expressed his gratitude for the broad response to the call for this meeting, which, through joint efforts, promises a path to a more united, more competitive Caribbean region capable of meeting the needs of its inhabitants, while also providing an opportunity to showcase its human and material wealth to partners and friends around the world.
The Vice President spoke while participating in the inaugural session of the First Meeting of National Civil Aviation Authorities of the Greater Caribbean and Representatives of Airlines, with the Dominican Republic as the host, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex), the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
The event was held at the Mirex Convention Center, with the purpose of discussing topics relevant to the development and cooperation of aviation in the Greater Caribbean region, under the motto "Advancing Connectivity, We Promote the Development and Integration of Our Region." Those present included Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez; the Secretary General of the Association of Colombian Airlines (ACA), Rodolfo Sabonge; the President of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), José Marte Piantini; the Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos; the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, Igor Rodríguez; and the Director General of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Héctor Porcella.
The selection of the Dominican Republic as the venue for this event underscores the strategic importance that the country sees in the Caribbean and its commitment to the development of air transport.
The Dominican Republic is a major player in maritime and air transport and global logistics
The Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, Rodolfo Sabonge, stated that the Dominican Republic has become an important player in maritime and air transport and in global logistics.
He added that it is common knowledge that intraregional air connectivity is extremely deficient, which affects the economic and social development and growth of the countries. He stated that it is common to find inadequate connections, or if connections are found, they lack sufficient frequency or are exorbitantly priced. Therefore, he suggested that the solution to these problems depends on the interaction of the public and private sectors, but also on achieving a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
“I congratulate the Dominican Republic on this initiative. It is a country that continues to be not only one of the most active in the Association of Caribbean States, but also one of the most committed to strengthening relations between our countries and regional development,” Sabonge said.
Dominican civil aviation has developed and strengthened significantly
For his part, the president of the Civil Aviation Board, José Marte Piantini, assured that Dominican civil aviation has developed and strengthened significantly and said that, currently, the country is experiencing a great opening and liberalization of traffic rights, in addition to having a regulatory framework that facilitates investment.
“The statistics have shown constant, unprecedented growth month after month, reaching figures that have become historic for the country. With 438,836 incoming and outgoing flights in this recently concluded period, we led more than 160 airlines (scheduled and charter) that operated to/from our country, including more than 46,000 charter flights, 18,940 flights under special permits, and 281 new routes. All of this translates into increased air connectivity for our country,” Marte Piantini emphasized
This meeting serves as a platform to discuss and develop strategies that strengthen connectivity and collaboration in air transport, with the aim of promoting sustainable growth and fostering economic development in the region.
During July 30 and 31, the agenda of this meeting brings together prominent aviation leaders and experts with deeply intertwined cultural and economic ties.
