New plans to help save LIAT discussed by CARICOM Heads

Passengers boarding a LIAT aircraft

Every territory to which LIAT flies will be asked to purchase shares so that the burdens and the benefits can be equitably shared. That’s the latest proposal coming from St Johns, following talks with the airline administrator and two other officials.

The Gaston Browne-led cabinet said last week that talks were primarily to discuss the future of the cash-strapped regional carrier including its role and expansion.

“In the proposed new LIAT, the salaries, wages and other emoluments will take up a smaller part of its cost of operations. Currently, three aircraft are being utilized, as opposed to 10 aircraft before the collapse of LIAT,” noted Information Minister Melford Nicholas.

He said the schedule plan for the new LIAT is intended to reflect the commercial needs and fulfillment of the territories; any destination requiring more flights than has been deemed necessary would make a special payment to realize its ambition. A minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) would be applied in order to determine what that cost would be.

All this comes on the heels of reports from Suriname that CARICOM heads of government are making moves to address the issues plaguing the cash-strapped regional airline LIAT

They have all agreed to meet later this month, possibly between July 22 and 30, to appoint an aviation consultant and put mechanisms in place concerning LIAT.

“A discussion has taken place…We are going to address the issue of a regional air carrier of some kind; it may well be the revival of LIAT in some form or the other, but we have to get a consultant in aviation to put together the framework,” stated St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

He was speaking to reporters at the end of the CARICOM summit in Suriname.

“We are going to have a further discussion on the matter at a leadership level sometime between July 20 and 30. I am not sure where the meeting will be held,” he said.

The issue of severance was discussed according to St Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister, who claimed that it is more of a moral issue than a legal one.

Former LIAT employees are owed approximately $80 million dollars in severance pay, which has not yet been settled.

The cash-strapped airline took a nosedive in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic made its impact felt in the region, and former employees are owed millions in severance pay and other entitlements.

A downsized version of the carrier has been operating a reduced schedule with a limited workforce since November 2020.

According to the President of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA), Patterson Thompson, who is questioning the time-lapse:

“So, we went to Suriname two years later and we had a collective meeting on the way forward. Why couldn’t we have had this collective meeting when the airline was shut down.”

He also raised questions about the decision to hire an aviation consultant, saying “LIAT has been poked like a lab rat, a guinea pig, a chimpanzee – to bring another consultant is not what we really need at this time.”

LIALPA’s focus, Patterson said, is to get severance for ex-workers, which was previously estimated to be around EC$80 million dollars.

The Covid-19 pandemic – which forced airports to shut down in early 2020 to control the spread of the virus – exacerbated the airline’s long-standing financial problems.

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19 Comments

  1. Go home
    July 13, 2022

    Liat just like a crackhead family member just keep spending money trying to help them

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  2. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    July 12, 2022

    You know the only reason I will not suggest the shutting down of LIAT at his time is because I have relatives employed by LIAT in Antigua; and whereas there are limited opportunities in their profession in Antigua and absolutely nil in Dominica, I refrain from calling for the dismantling of LIAT.

    In spite of by feelings I want Dominicans to suffer the consequences of allowing Roosevelt to rule over Dominica; because it is Roosevelt fault why to this day in almost the 22nd century that there isn’t an International Airport operating on the island.
    This guy is so ignorant, he went to St. Vincent and brought Ralph Gonsalves to Dominica, took him all over Dominica to hold political meeting, and encourage Ralph to influence our people that Dominica does not need an International Airport, all that is needed is to refurbish Melville Hall Airport, install landing lights and change the name to “Douglas Charles Airport!

    How stupid can a person be?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      July 12, 2022

      Con:
      So, what did Roosevelt friend, do after he left Dominica?
      He went home to St. Vincent, and immediately decide to build an International Airport in St. Vincent; and so they now have Argyle International Airport which commenced full operations on 14 February 2017, replacing the decommissioned E.T. Joshua Airport.
      Argyle International Airport is the only airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that offers international scheduled flights.

      Now here’s is why Ralph manage to manipulate crooked corrupted Roosevelt so easily.
      Gonsalves attended Colonarie Roman Catholic School, and later the St. Vincent Grammar School. He then enrolled at the University of the West Indies, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in economics. He later returned there to earn a master’s degree in government, which he completed in 1971.
      Hence he is called doctor:
      Doctor Skerrit bought his honorary degree out of Punjab India; I doh talking about the other one he said is for Dominica eh!

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  3. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    July 12, 2022

    “Every territory to which LIAT flies will be asked to purchase shares so that the burdens and the benefits can be equitably shared.”

    Baloney, that’s a very ridiculous suggestion, a stupid wishful thinking thoughts!

    Here are the places fly to: The countries LIAT flies to include Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, Tortola and Trinidad & Tobago.

    We can feel safe to omit Puerto, St. Maarten (St. Martin), St. Croix, and St. Thomas. The U.S Virgin islands are not dependent on LIAT to shuttle people into their country; they have other means, and does not have any desperate reason to cause them to buy shares into LIAT.

    Guadeloupe, and Martinique, the French government meets all their needs, the French are not dependent on LIAT to fly people between Guadeloupe and Martinique.

    The only vulnerable island is Dominica okay.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      July 12, 2022

      Cont:
      “the burdens and the benefits can be equitably shared”
      How ignorant; if there is a burden to share, from where are the equitable benefits going to derive?

      Note: Share benefits and burdens equitably; are the burdens associated with LIAT and involves acceptance of a never ending lost. From LIAT inception in the late 1950’s the Airline has always operated without yielding one dime in profits!
      It has always been a none profit entity; and as long as it is government own it shall forever be a nonprofit entity.

      The only island that LIAT has a profound effect on is Dominica (daminika). With the exception of Anguilla all of the other islands do have International Airports, so whether LIAT live or die, the absent of LIAT on the more developed islands will be minimal!

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  4. July 12, 2022

    Why can’t liat follow the Ryan air/easy jet model ?this would create much more movement around the Caribbean and frequent journeys.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  5. Roseau River
    July 12, 2022

    In the region we simply need affordable, dependable, and safe airlines. It does not necessarily need to be Liat. How do we incentivize the existing regional carriers to expand their footprint in order to create more options for regional customers?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  6. Skerro
    July 12, 2022

    Liat will send you all to the dog pound

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
  7. Jonathan Y St Jean
    July 12, 2022

    I wonder if Dominca will ask for and receive a discount on the price of the shares in the new entity considering that Skerritt put $8million in the comatose operation.
    Dominca is the island which most needs a regional air carrier, however, Skerritt should not just jump in to the new venture believing that will resolve most of our needs. The rapid development of a top class ferry service must be addressed alongside the air initiative as a priority.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
    • Ibo France
      July 12, 2022

      Mr. St Jean, this talk was initiated by attention seeking Gaston Browne at the recently held CARICOM Heads of Government meeting. Gaston ALWAYS over-promises and grossly under-delivers.

      The other Heads have quickly adhered themselves to this suggestion as they suffer from herd stupidity. This comment by the flamboyant , inept Gaston, is only aspirational.

      Once bitten, twice shy. Which one of these jurisdictions would seriously contemplate investing in this multiple times failed venture?

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        July 12, 2022

        Thank you!
        Hahahahahahahahahahahahah!

        I feel sorry for Gaston, and the Roosevelt Skerrit of the world; Gaston is so stupid, so ignorant he did not take time to review the places LIAT fly’s to before he talk that pile of trash.

        This his latest thought is as stupid, and even worst than when he said he was removing the fee payed by students traveling (transiting) via Antigua to Dominica to attend Ross University in Dominica in order to prevent Ross from leaving Dominica to Barbados.

        When he suggested that; Ross was more than a month in Barbados along with Students conducting classes!

        The Roosevelt and nobody of their kind had it not be for politics their names would not be known in the Caribbean!

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  8. Mr Gouty
    July 12, 2022

    We the people of the Caribbean, can’t afford to lose Liat because this is the only valuable asset we have left to call our own, especially the small Caribbean Islands. And we should have a young, vibrant, qualify management team to run the affairs of liat.
    And the head office should change location, for example Dominica would be the ideal place for Liat’s head office. Government’s should not have any influences on the running of Liat’s affairs, but a board of Directors should be capable members
    Of both Government and opposition from the countries who have contributed financially for bringing Liat back in to business, Staff at Liat should not exceed the necessary amount requires for its operation. The finances should be audited every six months. Long live Liat!

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 6 Thumb down 15
  9. Pipo
    July 12, 2022

    Pipe deans and pies in the sky. Unless any such airline is operated on a proper commercial footing with no government interference it will will be stillborn.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 0
  10. Ibo France
    July 12, 2022

    Just the word LIAT conjures up feeling of hopelessness and a sense of failure. This airline was thrown a lifeline numerous times to no avail. Investing in this airline again will be like throwing money into rough seas. We need to try something else.

    The region needs a new, reliable, well-managed airline which is owned and managed by a private sector entity. An airline owned by these Caribbean governments is destined to fail. They don’t manage anything well. Look at their anemic economy, mounting crime, massive unemployment, starvation wages, bloated public sector, et cetera.

    Trying to revive LIAT is giving CPR to a dead man.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 2
  11. July 12, 2022

    I hope everyone realized that Mighty Liat became unsaved since the combination of Gaston and Roosevelt. Roosevelt and Gaston destroyed everything, every form of economic livelihood. Sa que’ Mayshas tai!1!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
  12. July 12, 2022

    We the people of the Caribbean, can’t afford to lose Liat because this is the only valuable asset we have left to call our own, especially the small Caribbean Islands. And we should have a young, vibrant, qualify management team to run the affairs of liat.
    And the head office should change location, for example Dominica would be the ideal place for Liat’s head office. Government’s should not have any influences on the running of Liat’s affairs, but a board of Directors should be capable members
    Of both Government and opposition from the countries who have contributed financially for bringing Liat back in to business, Staff at Liat should not exceed the necessary amount requires for its operation. The finances should be audited every six months. Long live Liat!

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 2 Thumb down 13
    • Toto
      July 12, 2022

      Mr. Gouty. I don’t know who you are but you do sound pompous with that we-the-people of the caribbean. No, they don’t need Liat and
      can live without it but it is Dominica alone that needs it. Gonsalves have his own SVG Air, which has 10 planes, and doing ok so he does not need competition from a revived Liat corpse.
      He would probably use the money Caricom to re capitalise Liat to settle their debt with their pilots and creditors an call it quits. Problem solved and Caricom governments writing off their investment as a bad debt. Uncle Ralph is not stupid and can fool the likes of Skerrit.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      July 12, 2022

      “We the people of the Caribbean, can’t afford to lose Liat because this is the only valuable asset we have left to call our own,”
      Hogwash, total garbage, inclusion of “the rest of the Caribbean” in your quote is rubbish!
      Dominica is the only island that is more dependent on LIAT, all of the other islands have International Airports which links them to the four Connors of the earth.
      It is because of backwardness of the Labor Party why Dominica is without an International this day!
      The UWP had an International Airport in progress: the scums of the earth people even Roosevelt Skerrit told Dominicans “we doh need no International Airport, hence when the UWP lost the election, and a coalition government was formed, the first thing they did was shut the project down and hostile chase the Engineers, and contractors from Trinidad out of Dominica.
      Had it not be for the stupidity of the Labor Party scums; forty years ago our International Airport would be in operation.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3

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