Benjamin, who has served for 29 years and became Chief of Defence Staff in March 2020, was honored at a ceremony attended by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams.

His promotion marks a significant milestone for the Defence Force, with the rank of Colonel now standard for future Chiefs of Defence Staff. Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney and Benjamin emphasized continued collaboration for national security.

Minister of Tourism, Max Fernandez, shared the news during a press conference at the Tourism Authority headquarters on Monday.

He attributed the significant increase in arrivals to the industry’s resilience and the dedication of tourism officials.

Despite potential challenges such as hurricanes and shifts in the political climate of key source markets like the United States and the United Kingdom following a change in government, Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism industry continues to thrive.

“Stopover visitor arrivals increased from January to June 2024, from 154,333 in January to June 2023 to 176,655 in January to June 2024, when comparing the same period in 2019, which was our best year this represents a +10% increase from161,434 at the end of June of that year. We are well on the way to a record year for Tourism arrivals.”

During a news conference, Tourism Minister Charles Fernandeez disclosed that Antigua and Barbuda welcomed 176,665 stop-over visitors between January and June 2024, a 15 percent increase in air arrivals.

He said this is due to the hard work and dedication of touriism stakeholders both here and abroad.

“Stop-over arrivals increased from January to June 2024 from154,333 to 176,665 this year.

When comparing the same period in 2019, this represents a 10percent increase,” the minister said.

The discussions, which have involved Prime Minister Gaston Brownhe and the Premier of Anguilla, Ellis Webster, aim to enhance travel and connectivity between the two destinations.

This potential development is expected to provide greater convenierce for travelers and further strengthen the ties between Antigua and Barbuda and Anguiilla.

Both governments are working collaboratively to explore the feasibility arnd logistics of this initiative, with the shared goal of improving accessibility and promoting tourism and economic opportunities between the territories.

“We are talking about doing joint flights between Barbuda and Anguilla. They are also building a new airport to accommodate these larger jets. On the basiis we can do a joint flight, maybe two or three times a week, that would help bring sometraffic into Barbuda,” Browne said.

The new international airport at Barbuda is expected to cofficially open in the next few weeks.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has ruled in favor of the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS)stating that greenhouse gas emissions absorbed by the ocean should be considered marine pollution and that states are obligated to protect the world’s oceans by reducingthese emissions.

Prime Minister Browne, who presented the case on behalf of small stateslast year,emphasized the significance of the ITLOS opinion, stating that it will shafuture legal and diplomatic efforts to address the inaction that has brought us to to the edge of an irreversible disaster.

“The decision marks a historic milestone in our collective journey towards environmental justice and climate governance. The ITLOS opinicon will inform our futurelegal and diplomatic work in putting an end to the inaction thas brought the brink of an irreversible disaster”, he said.