Gov't addresses Cuban air fare

Gov't addresses Cuban air fare

Monday October 17 2005

by Marabel Jacobs

The cost of travel to Cuba for Antiguan students has become quite
expensive and the governments of Antigua & Barbuda and Cuba are working
feverishly to have the situation addressed.

Students have to come up with almost $3,000 for a one-year roundtrip
ticket from Antigua to Cuba.

Cuban Ambassador Bruce Goodwin agreed that the fare was quite expensive
and said plans are afoot to bring some measure of relief to the affected
students.

“I find that $3,000 is a very expensive fare for travelling within the
Caribbean. When you look at it, it’s cheaper to travel to London or to
New York from Antigua than to travel to Cuba and that is really quite
outrageous.”

One of the initiatives that they have looked at in the recent meeting of
the joint commission in April is the possibility of LIAT opening up a
route to Cuba.

“We negotiated on behalf of LIAT and the Cuban government was very happy
at that prospect and stand willing to facilitate LIAT every step of the
way in this.”

However, since the process will take some time, LIAT will not be ready
to initiate this route until next July at the earliest.

Because of the high cost of air travel, it is not feasible for many of
the students to return home for the Christmas vacation, while others
will be out of Antigua for an entire year, before they return for the
summer.

“That is the only expense the students are required to meet.” Everything
else, board and lodging, tuition expenses in Cuba are borne by the Cuban
government,” Goodwin stated.

The Board of Education gives the students a stipend to assist them with
out of pocket expenses in Cuba.

http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=221700057410182005&an=175313086210172005&ac=Local