The Editor,
The Anguillian
Dear Editor:

CLAYTON J. LLOYD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

A recent letter to your publication expressed homeland pride and applauded Hon. Evan Gumbs for his “initiative and foresight” in the recent re-naming of Anguilla’s airstrip to Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.

As a matter of opinion, the author made it known that there is “only one problem”. To be more specific, “Anguilla does not have an international airport”. Therefore, the word ‘international’ should be removed from the sign at the entrance to the Clayton J. Lloyd Airport at Anguilla’s airstrip, because “it is misleading and certainly will be ignored by regional and international civil aviation organizations and airlines”.

Some of the supporting arguments that the author gave for stating that “Anguilla does not have an international airport” range from: the airport’s suitability for “run-off safety”; “specifications of the airport are registered with civil aviation organizations and airline companies everywhere, and nobody will send passengers or aircraft to an airport merely because it is called an international airport;" “the ruling party’s long-held desire of building an international airport at Brimigen”; “appearance and service to reflect the enterprising nature and industry of our fallen hero;" “it is important that unfamiliar pilots flying in our airspace understand clearly the size and limitations of our airport”; and the author’s closing statement: “that would be a move towards transparency and accountability, and a way to avoid controversy.”

I cannot comment on whether Anguilla’s airstrip infrastructure, or if its service operations should undergo an upgrade so that “its appearance and service reflect the enterprising nature and industry of our fallen hero.” However, I do not see how anyone can predict that “nobody will send passengers or aircraft to an airport merely because it is called an international airport”, or will be ignored by regional and international civil aviation organizations and airlines”. Moreover, how does the use of the word “international” connect or become a move towards “transparency and accountability, and a way to avoid controversy”?

Anguilla has come a long way from having a small airstrip known as “Wallbalke Airport” (a colonial name) to its current one that is over 5,000 feet; and was re-named after the late Capt. Clayton J. Lloyd, one of Anguilla’s “first beloved pilots and an aviation pioneer. It is that same airstrip, as the author pointed out, which has enabled “executive jets to fly to the island”.

It is in fact, the same airstrip that continues to serve Anguilla’s aviation needs…so much so that Anguilla can now boast of being an international destination with an “upscale tourism industry.” On that note, Anguilla’s growth and expansion of its “upscale tourism industry” mighty even some day bear fruit towards the ruling party’s futuristic vision of building an airport in Brimigen.

In conclusion, I see no reason to remove “international” from the sign at Anguilla’s airstrip. Although it may seem as creating an illusion, why not retain the use of “international”, as it conveys a positive public relations image of Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.

Thank you, Editor, for giving me the opportunity to express my opinion in your publication.

Prof. Yinka G. Lloyd Stanford
Manhattan, New York,
July 18, 2010

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