ABUJA, Nigeria, Mar 30, CMC – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew says his twin island Federation is prepared to take the lead in establishing direct air connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean, utilizing innovative financing mechanisms such as Minimum Revenue Guarantees (MRGs).
Prime Minister Drew, who is also the chairman of the 15-member regional integration CARICOM told the closing ceremony of the inaugural Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit here over the weekend that there is an urgent need to correct longstanding barriers to movement, trade, and collaboration between both regions.
He questioned why direct routes have not yet been established and “why is it we have to go north to come south?” noting the inefficiencies and indignities faced by travelers.
“Do you know that this length of flight from St. Kitts and Nevis to England is the same as from St Kitts and Nevis to here?,” he said further emphasising the feasibility of direct air travel, while drawing on is country’s track record in aviation development.
He said that the twin island Federation has historically used MRG arrangements to attract major international airlines, saying “whenwe are starting flights, we have something called an MRG.
“…an MRG is set up so that the airline is guaranteed that it would not lose money. If it requires an MRG, I am putting a stake in the ground that St. Kitts and Nevis would move first to have it done.”
Prime Minister Drew said that improved connectivity would unlock significant economic opportunities across tourism, trade, culture, and investment, while also strengthening people-to-people ties.
He called for collective action from governments, investors, and private sector partners to make direct Africa-Caribbean air travel a reality in the near future.
The CARICOM chairman told the closing ceremony that the growing partnership between Africa and the Caribbean is now irreversible, underscoring the historic significance of the moment and the depth of shared identity between both regions.
“The collaboration between us in the Caribbean and Africa can achieve great things, and as we continue to work together, we would achieve greater things,” he said, adding that the partnership is rooted not only in shared history, but in a shared future built on cooperation, trade, and mutual advancement.
Prime Minister Drew pointed to the successful passage last week of a United Nations resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity, describing it as a defining moment for people of African descent globally.
“That resolution where Africa and the Caribbean came together and declared before the world that the transatlantic slave trade is the worst crime against committed by humanity… that is now in the annals and cannot be erased.”
Prime Minister Drew also commended the broad participation at the summit, noting the growing momentum behind Africa-Caribbean integration and the expanding coalition of countries committed to the cause, calling for sustained action and deeper engagement across all sectors, declaring that the bridge between Africa and the Caribbean is not only being rebuilt, but strengthened for generations to come.
The seven-day summit organised by the Nigeria-based Aquarian Consult Limited in partnership with the St. Kitts and Nevis government and was aimed at fostering economic partnerships between the two regions.
CMC/ag/ir/2026