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LOCAL Saturday 17 OctOber 2020

Business aviation, women and the Caribbean

By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert could be explored and Every passenger arriving
PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN especially in the high-end on a private aircraft, is a
— CARIBAVIA has an- segment of both aviation potential investor in the re-
nounced that it will hold its and travel industry. It is not gion.
annual Caribbean Avia- wise to judge the region by
tion Meetup conference in statistics for “Latin America In 2021, special attention
June 2021. It is not that a AND the Caribbean”. The at the conference will be
Caribbean conference is Caribbean has to be seen given to female aviation
just for the stakeholders in as a sub-region of its own. and travel professionals.
the region. On the contrary. Depending on the select- Equality in the industry de-
A Canadian company is ed island or territory, there serves extraordinary con-
involved in infrastructure may be a variety of op- sideration. The industry has
improvements at several portunities. That applies to brilliant female experts that
international airports in the industrial, commercial and are outstanding perform-
region. French and Cana- private investment occa- ers. CARIBAVIA intends to
dian companies are pro- sions as well. highlight these specialists pertise. Any of us who are to offer.”
viding radar and electronic by letting them take the journalists (or ex journalists)
safety systems. The aircraft After Europe, the Carib- stage and make a presen- can pretty much research The conference may not be
that are needed to provide bean is the second-most tation for the companies ahead and chair a panel created quite as super-rad-
airlift in the region are built popular getaway for the that they work for, or for as that is in our DNA. You ical as is called for. CARIB-
in North- and South-Ameri- wealthiest six percent of all their own independent ac- have pilots, expert market- AVIA tends to be a trend
ca as well as in Europe. The travelers in North America. tivities. ers and amazing women setting initiative where it is
largest executive ground These are private aviation who run FBOs included in recognized that many Ex-
handling provider present clients. The region needs In a spontaneous response this list. That way if there ecutive Assistants who are
in the region is an Anglo/ to increase this number. from one of the ‘Ladies in is another woman or two relied upon by executives
American company. On the other side, provid- Aviation’ who were ap- on the panels so be it. Vis- are female, and often their
ers abroad need to reach proached regarding the ibility is key. Even go super- discrete advice behind the
When acquainted with the out and help the region to formatting of the confer- super radical and have all scenes is followed.
economy dynamics and accommodate this clien- ence, she expressed, “I say the chairs be women of
the culture of the region, tele and encourage the go super radical and let us color, preferably local and
there are definitely oppor- growth. If both find each girls take the lead in chair- get the rest of us to speak Continued on Page 10
tunities for foreign invest- other and cooperate, it will ing all the sessions that you across your panels. We
ment in the region that be a win-win situation. do. Plan around our ex- have good stuff to say and