Water, water, everywhere; but not just on the outside.
The Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) had its share of water on the inside yesterday.
Because of almost 24 hours of sustained rainfall, which affected Barbados since late Monday evening, leaking roofs, discoloured walls and cordoned off areas became the order of the day at the GAIA on which Government has spent millions of dollars refurbishing over the last five years.
Employees of a store in the airport’s departure area cordoned off a part of their perfumery with grocery baskets so customers could avoid the slippery floor. Staff also had to wipe down walls, and place small containers in strategic positions to collect water.
Stores were not forced to close doors, however.
Embarrasment
According to an airport source, staff in several duty-free stores have had to deal with similar problems over the past months. The source added that it had become an embarrassment for duty-free store owners who constantly had to apologise to prospective customers.
The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) does not represent staff of commercial enterprises at the airport, but indicated yesterday it would have no problem meeting with the relevant parties to make life easier there once approached.
GAIA’s corporate communications officer Keith Goddard said an attempt would be made to have the facility’s chief executive officer, David Barrow provide a statement on the leaky areas. That statement had not been provided up to press time.
The airport’s expansion project, funded through the Barbados Tourism Authority, was completed four years ago at a cost of almost $15 million, but since then, several refurbishments have been done.
• barryalleyne@nationnews.com
