Some Dominicans stranded in St. Kitts back home; others still in Antigua

Dominicans on plane
Some members of the stranded group on a chartered flight

16 of the 29 Credit Union officials who were stranded in St. Kitts over the weekend after their LIAT flight was cancelled, have returned home.

They were transported in two LIAT-chartered Beech Islander flights from St. Kitts which landed safely at Melville Hall at about 7.30 last night.

“We are back and happy to be home…it feels good,” one credit union official was heard saying.

The 13 others boarded a late evening flight last night on LIAT bound for Antigua where they were to over night and hopefully travel home today but reports are that the flight to Dominica is already delayed.

The twenty-nine Dominicans had been stuck at the St. Kitts national airport since Sunday when they were told that their 4.50 pm flight had been cancelled. Another flight which they had been told would be taking them out of St. Kitts at about 11.30 that night, was also cancelled because, according to LIAT officials, Melville Hall airport was closed.

The group had been attending the 11th OECS Credit Union Summit in St. Kitts.

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60 Comments

  1. meet your MET
    September 2, 2013

    Asa bantan warn allu longtime about LIAT…..take what you get

  2. Disgruntled
    August 28, 2013

    Our flight got cancelled in Barbados, and we had to stay in a not too pleasant hotel in Barbados, all courtesy of Liat. In Barbados coming back to London, Virgin asked if we can go on standby because of overbooking and they will put us up in a 5 star hotel and give us two round trip tickets to anywhere in the world. As if on cue, the Liat flight which had passengers connecting on our flight was delayed, meaning that there were plenty of seats on the flight back to London. Thanks Liat.

    I travel to Dominica from Europe and the only way now for me is to go to St Lucia and take a ferry to Dominica. Totally bypassing this incompetent excuse for an airline.

  3. Everybody Peeping
    August 28, 2013

    That 8 million dollars giving us one set of blows in our rear.

  4. young woman
    August 28, 2013

    Our P.Mininster . can buy a couple boats and a plane , get our local pilots and hire them. This will bring revenue to our island and help develop our people. Why do we always have to depend other countries ?
    Just drop the price of the tickets about $50 and believe me every one will travel on it.

  5. Justice and Truth
    August 28, 2013

    LIAT, you must do better than that. You have caused passengers to be frustrated and also disappointed in your poor service.
    If they had other means of traveling to and from Dominica with another airline, they would embrace it. This is how other businesses benefit from non-caring and neligent businesses and their poor service.

  6. August 27, 2013

    NOT AGAIN, LIAT. Roosevelt, rescue our citizens.

  7. Oasis
    August 27, 2013

    Liat has had a monopoly for over 50 years in the Caribbean and up to the present day has no concept of customer service.

    Dominica’s Prime Minister told Dominicans they have a seat at the table, what he failed to inform us that our seat is under the table.

    A friend of mine was on vacation in St. Vincent, and the man had to wait a week to get back to Canada.

    |As Mar Nassief ,put it head should role, but that is unlikely to happen, since the prime ministers of the OECS, use Liat as a trough for their friends to line up to eat at will.

  8. looker
    August 27, 2013

    I never see people own money beat them so!!!!!
    Our own tax money beating us

  9. lee
    August 27, 2013

    If the service is bad the managers and others incharge should be fired.

  10. Neg Mawon
    August 27, 2013

    I will say it again, according to Mr. Nassief…heads must roll, it is becoming obvious and Da has to suffer by LIAT horrors, maybe if couple of lawsuits on their hands they may enhance!!!

  11. Jason
    August 27, 2013

    be sure to check out my simple LIAT survey! http://bit.ly/15up4T0

  12. PoKeSa
    August 27, 2013

    Poor investment in Negotiation Skills for bottom line results we are as a nation! How can the present administrative regime possibly expend D/ca’s monies in an airline, commonly known the world over, as:
    • Land In A Tree (LIAT)
    • Leaves In Another Terminal (LIAT)
    • Leaves Island Any Time (LIAT)
    • Lost In between Antigua and Trinidad (LIAT)
    • Lucky If Able To (LIAT)
    • Luggage In Another Timezone (LIAT)
    • Luggage Is Always Tardy (LIAT)
    • Luggage Isn’t Arriving Today (LIAT)

    That’s why D/ca has become the laughing stock to other nations.

    • YES I
      August 27, 2013

      lllllllllmmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaooooooooo

    • fun
      August 27, 2013

      You’re not bad at all, playing with words…

      • Holiday Island Boy
        August 27, 2013

        And after yesterday’s incident between Guyana and Barbados…..Lost Its aft Tyre (LIAT)

    • Anonymous
      August 27, 2013

      Lack of Intelligent Air Transportation

    • rescue 911
      August 28, 2013

      ever thing but land in a tree.but so far so good

    • rescue 911
      August 28, 2013

      my favorite .luggage isnt arriving today .lmao

  13. youth
    August 27, 2013

    It will close for a flight of stranded credit union officials but when all the other official unknown mission flights landing and taking off all weird hours of the morning, I wonder under who’s authorization the come under. Airport never close for that. SHAMELESS DOMINICANS

    • Justice and Truth
      August 28, 2013

      This is called preferential treatment on the part of LIAT.

  14. Anthony Ismael
    August 27, 2013

    Credit Union officials cannot attend a summit in St. Kitts and get back home on time.
    Visitors to Dominica love the island, but dread the incompetence of Leave Island Any Time Airline. When will this madness stop? The foolishness only continues. LIAT is becoming a bigger disgrace day-by-day.

  15. rescue 911
    August 27, 2013

    sooner than latter our pm will take to the air wave to tell us that the money invested in liat was his own money and we need to mind our damn businees .just wait

    • Redzz
      August 29, 2013

      @ Rescue. Don’t forget he will tell us to go to hell also…Lol..

  16. Big Teeth
    August 27, 2013

    So what???

    Just take it easy and everything will be fine!

  17. PetProjects
    August 27, 2013

    I don’t see the need of a national airline.. In no time it will always go bankrupt just like many others around the Caribbean,I doubt D/ca have much capital to sustain a National Airline…

    What the Government should of done was invest tht 8 million Dollars into BVI airways, Those small airplanes are very fast, quick flying is the way to go ..or they should of contacted the Government of St-Maarten, which is the owner of WinAir, work out a plan, sign a MOU and invest tht monies with them. Competition is always good….

    • August 27, 2013

      We need JETBLUE, AIRTRAN, and SPIRIT, to fly out of San Juan with passengers from Florida and the other Countries just like American did. Satisfied customers equal better profit.

  18. Dan Tanner
    August 27, 2013

    LIAT still owes US$320 cost to us because of its deliberate overboking, and has never even bothered to answer our e-mail or letters. LIAT is a detriment to Dominica.

  19. grell
    August 27, 2013

    Liat is a waste and some european or US company need to buy liat.the leaders of the caribbeab are a waste of time,and the people continue to suffer,magwasar.

  20. Truth be told
    August 27, 2013

    Stop that ignorance. The credit union officials give free service. They leave meetings are late hours. They are members too and they have money there as well. So stop that ignorance. Please inform yourselves about credit union principles. Pestle educate yourself and free yourself from mental slavery.

    • Mizz J
      August 28, 2013

      Huh?

    • Juan Pablo
      August 28, 2013

      My only disappointment in this debacle, is that Carlisle was made to comeback to DA.

  21. sue
    August 27, 2013

    Some one need to sue liat for all wat they have

    • Toomatoe Tomato
      August 27, 2013

      And when you bankrupt the airline with your sue; Do you have another one in place to fly us? We have to be realistic. Yes, we are being inconvenience; yes we hate the delays.

      But what choice do we have? LIAT is experiencing serious problems and we have to understand that. What would you like, You want the plane with the bad wheel to fly you without it being fixed? Do you have an alternative presently?

      I too was delayed for a number of hours but I am happy I arrived at my destination safe. Thanks LIAT.

      I doubt very much that you are not doing all you can to correct whatever difficulties you are experiencing and hope in the very near future all problems will be corrected.

      • August 27, 2013

        This is exactly why LIAT officials treat you as they do. There are other options. There are other airlines. I thought Seaborne Airlines fly to the other Islands.

  22. Attitude
    August 27, 2013

    This is what happens when when monopoly is at play.

  23. John
    August 27, 2013

    Enjoy your substandard air port… well most of the caribbean has international airports. Enjoy y’all licks.. Vote UWP and get a international airport. Lennox Linton for PM.

    • Anonymous
      August 28, 2013

      They were there before still did not build an International Airport just saying.

  24. justice
    August 27, 2013

    The only solution is to get some kind of competition for LIAT. They simply just dont care because they know we don’t have a choice. Its just real sad though…smh

  25. cc
    August 27, 2013

    And we wonder why DA doesnt receive as much tourists has our neighbouring islands. Look at all the hassle you have to go through to get to DA?

  26. Pondera
    August 27, 2013

    In the midst of the confusion one thing stands out; LIAT ensues that all measures of safety are adhered to. This is significant and worthy of commendation.

    • Malgraysa
      August 27, 2013

      What is so special about that? Other airlines do that too, they are supposed to anyway, AND they offer better service AND they don’t have these delays or cancellations!

  27. .
    August 27, 2013

    when will it end liat. alas where have u gone wrong? and what hurts me more is that the workers r so not nice. why would u all shut down the water when u know that there r people overnighting? come on treat people right. i also wonder if is because of the way management reat them that is why they treat there customers that way. but alas it shouldn’t be so at all. something needs to be done.. another airline coming soon and allu will think otherwise.

  28. Pestle
    August 27, 2013

    So why is it that 29 persons had to travel to St. Kitts.. Its no wonder you can hardly get a little interest on your savings (ie if you still get interest).

    • Only in DA
      August 27, 2013

      Your comments about interest are ridiculous. I work for one of the largest banks in the Tri-State Area and the interest rate on a 1 yr CD is less than 0.50% compared to 4% at the RCCU in DA…….

    • Anonymous
      August 27, 2013

      because the 29 are not just from one credit union. How many Credit Unions are there on island? go find out and maybe that’ll explain

      • Jay
        August 27, 2013

        Ah yes, but what percentage of staff do they represent?

    • Oni Lockita
      August 27, 2013

      that does not help the topic of a flight being cancelled and stranding people

    • smh
      August 27, 2013

      lmao..i k r

    • hmm
      August 27, 2013

      monkey credit union is nt a bank its a cooperative so where interest coming u go to a bank for that

      • jay houth
        August 27, 2013

        OMG…did u listen to yourself before you typed

  29. Mr Archbold
    August 27, 2013

    Here we go again!!! when will we replace LIAT when something better?? Things were much better when they had competetion like Caribbean Star and Sun. Furthermore i do not blame the CEO of LIAT, rather the CARIBBEAN LEADERS who continue to pump millions into this nonsense!!

    • Jerry
      August 27, 2013

      And do you know that a passenger could not touch base in Da. After several liat delays, the short stay ticket expired. All that money gone to waste. There may be similar cases. Where is the manager?

    • 4progress
      August 27, 2013

      Election is on the cards. It is time to make this an election issue. The PM will remain silent or saying nothing in the favour of dominican passengers because he has committed $8M of taxpayers hard earned money and hopes to see returns on that,

      We are both passengers and electorates so let us use that power to change the landscape for the better

      I am not affiliated to any party. I will to see something better than this

  30. Roseau
    August 27, 2013

    It is time to replace LIAT.

    • August 27, 2013

      People need to come together and protest against LIAT. This is just too ridiculous. A lot of folks who live in the U.S and want to travel back home are afraid because of LIAT’S mess. People missing their flights, luggages etc. LIAT MUST GO OR ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

    • Anonymous
      August 27, 2013

      I also was stranded for three days this past weekend after Liat arrived 5 hours late for my connecting flight. Besides their complete incompetence, I saw dishonesty and a total lack of concern for their customers. Many commented that they will never travel to Dominica again only because of Liat. They are not only hurting themselves, but all of Dominica will suffer. How sad.

    • Cyrique
      August 27, 2013

      We need an efficient competitor.

    • Galviston
      August 27, 2013

      I agree. Liat has continued to disgrace us time and time again. The government should have never pumped 8 million into LIAT. Is best they had invest it in sea-borne airlines. Liat does a lot of disgraceful things to 99% of their passengers.

      • yes I moderator
        August 27, 2013

        All airlines have delays and cancelled flights.that’s a fact. Not all airlines have the safety record liat has. How many of those other airlines can doninicans just go to the airport and ask to send a box for relatives in anu or sxm for free. When all u want charity liat is king but all u have hipso to say.

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