In order to have synergy, all of the pieces need to fit together. In the case of Texaco Caribbean and Aviation, it was a perfect match. Without fuel, aircraft could not have flown to and from the Islands. Without aircraft flying into the Islands the kind of development that Cayman has gone through in the past 50 years could not have happened at the pace it did.

Indeed some might argue the Cayman Islands would still be "the Island that time forgotten" without the assistance of aviation.

Texaco joins in as a First Class Sponsor as the Cayman Islands celebrate aviation this month. On November 28th these islands mark 50 years since the first landing at what today is known as Owen Roberts International Airport.

Cayman Manager of Texaco Caribbean Inc., Mr. James Tibbetts, stated, "Aviation continues to play a significant part in the rapid development of these Islands. It is the cornerstone of our tourism and financial industries.

"It is inconceivable to think about where we would be without the modern aviation capabilities the Cayman Islands enjoy," he said.

The histories of Texaco and aviation are like a jigsaw puzzle - when one sees all the pieces it is clear that one entity could not have functioned without the other.

In 1956 Texaco and Shell began operating the Avgas facility jointly. Two years later, Texaco erected its own fuel storage tanks at the Airport. In 1960 Texaco purchased land at Jackson Point and built a terminal. Shell departed the Cayman Islands and Texaco purchased the Shell facility in 1976. Nine years later Texaco built the existing fuelling facility and an agreement was signed between the Civil Aviation Authority and Texaco Caribbean.

In 1992 Texaco constructed an ocean terminal on Cayman Brac at the request of Government and two years later they established a fuelling facility at Gerrard Smith Airport.

The Cayman Islands Government extended the licence for a 10-year period in 1995. Texaco's management team saw the need to expand the facility at the Airport, adding 10,000 barrels of Avjet Tanks. This increases the Avjet storage capacity on Grand Cayman to 62,000 barrels. That same year new tankers were bought to enhance customer service, maintain safety standards and enable Cayman Airways to refuel on Cayman Brac. This year Texaco also expanded and improved its Gerrard Smith Aviation Fuel Installation and added Avjet storage at the Creek Terminal.

These are just tiny snapshots of the part that Texaco has played in the development of aviation locally. While they might paint part of the picture they really do not show the human element of the Company. What made Texaco want to stick it out? Remember, Cayman was not the pearl of the Caribbean as it is today - everyone will tell you that it was just plenty of mosquitoes.

Where did the vision come from? Perhaps we might never know the answer to that, however when you see the care and the community spirit which Texaco puts into the three Islands, the picture is clear. This is a company that sees more than bottom line - it is a company that has always chosen to integrate itself within the fabric of the community and plans to continue to do so.

Texaco Caribbean is one of 4 'First Class' sponsors for the upcoming 50th Anniversary of Aviation in the Cayman Islands; other First Class sponsors are Cayman Airways, Flowers Air Dispatch Service and Aviation Communications.