The $300 million public-private partnership (PPP) agreement to manage and develop Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) continues to face delays as final designs are being approved and financing arrangements are negotiated. The project, initially set in motion in July 2023 with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between GAIA Inc., a joint consortium of investors, and the Barbadian government, has encountered multiple setbacks. Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn confirmed that the project is now at a critical juncture, with investors finalizing designs and securing financing. Straughn emphasized the importance of the airport’s development, stating, ‘We need the airport development to continue.’ He explained that the government has already completed the designs and arranged interim financing, and discussions are ongoing with the consortium to adopt these designs and provide the necessary funding. The PPP aims to transform GAIA into a hemispheric hub for cargo, expand airlift capacity, add luxury hotel facilities, create jobs, and enhance the overall customer experience. Straughn highlighted the broader economic benefits, including increased tourism and community-driven economic growth. However, he could not provide a definitive timeline for the project’s commencement. The delays have been attributed to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused global uncertainty in air travel, and the rigorous due diligence required for family-owned businesses in the Middle East, which are part of the consortium. Straughn reassured workers that their jobs and employment terms would remain protected, emphasizing that the government is not selling the airport but rather transferring its management to a concessionaire.