Montserrat renames its airport

The government of Montserrat has announced the island’s airport is to be re-named, three years to the day since it first opened for business. Formerly known as Gerald’s Airport, the facility will be renamed the John A. Osborne Airport, in honour of one of the island’s most illustrious political figures. The official re-naming ceremony is scheduled to take place on 11th July 2008.

“The Honourable John Alfred Osborne has contributed immensely to the economic development of our island,” said Ernestine Cassell, director of tourism at the Montserrat Tourist Board. “Throughout his tenure as a politician and businessman, he has consistently inspired growth and social well-being in Montserrat. This is a well deserved honour.”

John Osborne has the unparalleled distinction of being Montserrat’s longest serving politician, serving in the capacity of Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Montserrat for the past 17 years and being part of the Legislative Council since 1968.

On 1st July 2008, Caribbean airline LIAT began a new scheduled flight service to Montserrat’s airport from neighbouring Antigua.

Earlier this week, Prince William touched down at the airport in a helicopter to undertake a disaster relief training exercise on Montserrat as part of his attachment with the Royal Navy in the Caribbean.

For more information on Montserrat, log on to Visitmontserrat.com.