Grenada to rename airport
Published:Wednesday | April 15, 2009 | 7:39 AM
The Point Salines International Airport in Grenada is to be renamed the Maurice Bishop International on May 29 in honour of the former revolutionary Prime Minister.
Civil Aviation Minister, Peter David made the announcement yesterday.
He says the name change will take effect on the birthday of the slain revolutionary leader, to be followed the next day by an official renaming ceremony.
The move forms part of a series of activities planned to celebrate 25 years since the airport was built with significant assistance from Cuba.
A major part of the airport was constructed during the four and a half year reign of Bishop’s socialist People’s Revolutionary government which ruled the island from March 1979 to October 1983.
A cabinet decision in January agreed to the renaming of the airport, a hotly debated subject which still has strong opposition in some sections of the society.
Recently, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas appeared to be softening his stance on the matter with a suggestion that the planned renaming may not be a forgone conclusion.
The Government has said that the total cost of renaming the Point Salines Airport is not expected to exceed US$19,000.