On a Thursday marked by both celebration and sorrow, the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) found itself balancing two monumental moments: the official opening of its expanded headquarters at Antigua and Barbuda’s V.C. Bird International Airport, and the somber announcement of the passing of one of the region’s most respected aviation professionals, Simon Lewis.
The opening ceremony, which brought together senior government officials, key aviation industry stakeholders, and regional diplomatic representatives, was paused to honor Lewis’ decades of service to Caribbean aviation. In a quiet act of collective remembrance, all ECCAA staff in attendance pinned gold and black ribbons to their clothing, and the entire room bowed their heads for a minute of silence to celebrate his life and legacy.
Lewis, who most recently held the role of operations officer for aerodromes at ECCAA, passed away in the early hours of that same Thursday, bringing to a close a career in civil aviation that stretched across more than 50 years. ECCAA Director General Anthony Whittier delivered the official tribute during the opening event, sharing that the entire organization was grieving the loss of a beloved colleague and foundational leader.
“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of our colleague, Mr. Simon Peter Lewis, who served the Eastern Caribbean aviation community with unwavering dedication and distinction,” Whittaker told the assembled crowd.
Lewis’ journey in aviation began in 1971, when he started his career working dual roles as an air traffic controller and a meteorological officer. Over the course of his early career, he worked his way up to leadership, eventually taking on the position of air traffic department manager at Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport. It was in this role that he first earned widespread recognition across the region for his steady leadership and unmatched technical expertise.
His impact extended far beyond Grenada’s national borders, as he took on key regional and international roles to advance Caribbean aviation. From 2001 to 2006, he served as chairman of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Eastern Caribbean Working Group, where he played an instrumental role in building cross-border cooperation, aligning regional safety standards, and expanding air connectivity across the Eastern Caribbean.
Even after officially retiring from full-time public service, Lewis continued to contribute to the industry he loved. He joined the ECCAA team on July 1, 2012, where he supported aviation development initiatives across all of the authority’s 10 member states. Whittier emphasized that Lewis remained actively involved in on-the-ground assignments right up until his death, noting that Lewis had completed an official ECCAA inspection and outreach mission to Dominica as recently as last month.
“He generously shared his vast knowledge and experience, providing comprehensive guidance and support that significantly contributed to the improvement of civil aviation across our member states,” Whittier added.
Colleagues across the region remembered Lewis not just for his professional contributions, but for the personal qualities that made him a beloved mentor and friend. Working remotely from his home in Grenada, Lewis was known as a consistently responsive, supportive colleague who was always willing to drop his own work to help a teammate facing a challenge. Professionally, he was widely described as dedicated, dependable, meticulous, punctual, and hardworking in every project he took on.
Beyond his work ethic, Lewis will be remembered for his warm, approachable personality. “Simon was known by his colleagues as dedicated, dependable, punctual, hardworking, and meticulous in all of the work that he undertook,” Whittier said, adding that he was also “jovial, approachable, and warm.”
In a statement following the tribute, ECCAA leadership confirmed that Lewis’ decades of work have left an indelible mark on every corner of Eastern Caribbean civil aviation. His legacy, the organization noted, will live on through the hundreds of aviation professionals he mentored, the regional cooperation frameworks he helped build, and the improved safety standards that will benefit the region for decades to come.