Dominica finalizes LIAT shareholder status

Dominica has finalized its status with regional carrier LIAT with a $3-million ‘contribution’ and will be attending a shareholders meeting set for today (Friday) in Barbados.

Speaking on state-owned DBS Radio, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said Dominica is looking at the wider benefit of LIAT to the island and the entire region.

“We see our investment in LIAT as a means of safeguarding and protecting the investments government has made in tourism,” he said.

Skerrit said he will be addressing the nation in the New Year on the extent of the government’s ‘contribution’ to the cash strapped airline.

He went on to say that Dominica will attend a shareholders meeting scheduled for Friday in Barbados. “We will be able to sit on the board and to assist the continued presence of LIAT flying into Dominica and indeed throughout the region,” he said.

The principal shareholders of LIAT has traditionally been Antigua, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados.

Recently, the airline unveiled a business plan which projects a two percent profit in 2013.

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53 Comments

  1. Frequent flyer
    December 31, 2012

    Three million dollars worth of shares sound like a lot. But really, what fraction of the shares of LIAT is that? Sadly, we have not been told.

  2. Grand Bay
    December 30, 2012

    How is it that now we seeing all what Dominica need? Dominica needs a lot.If previous administration had invested in the interest of the country rather than their personal gains we would be far ahead.Do we forget that this airport was recently refurbished? Now everyone want. INTERNATIONAAL AIRPORT!How about a better hospital first ? More qualified doctors and better
    equipment such as catscan machine etc. It is a good thing that this administration ‘bailout Liat’
    No Liat ppl have difficulty visiting their families Think of all the Dominicans who travel to see their families and to partake in festivities such as Carnival and Creole Festival.Yes we need to negotiate for more airlines to come to Dominica but at this time we need Liat.Whether we want to believe it or not if LIAT does not come to Dominica it will have a nrgative impact on the economy.We need Liat until we can negotiate more airlines.Waiting for the thumbs down lol Best for all foe 2013

    • %
      December 30, 2012

      You are such a crass fool to be talking about a refurbished airport ( to mean night landing at Melvillehall) in the year 2012.Other administrations have left since twelve years ago,this is the government we have now and they have miserably failed the country with their greediness, incompetence and arrogance.They have brought poverty to the country in an unprecedented manner,while they live the life of monarchs.Have you ever asked yourself why more than 100 million was wasted at Melvillehall? Why wasn’t it channelled into the construction of an international airport? Do you have a brain in your big and empty head? Skerrit’s foolishness will only be allowed to take root when fools like you with narrow minded mentality allows one man to wredk havoc with once a promising Dominica, that has now been brought to ground zero by him and his cabal.Has he told you how many shares we have purchased? Has he told you if we will get more frequent flights? Finally Skerrit must be happy that Dominica has fools like you he can just take for nothing because of the inability which is inherent in you all to think independently.

      • Grand Bay
        January 1, 2013

        Aren’t we all entitled to our opinion?I consider u a very educated and intelligent person but when u attempt to’trash’ someone because they do not share the same opinion it tells me ur intelligence and education is being wasted.Respect someone’s opinion without disrespecting them. Stay blessed Mr/Ms %

  3. dicky
    December 28, 2012

    LIAT is a waste of people time. There should be other airline carriers inorder that people should not bother with this useless airline known as LIAT.

  4. AT.Attention
    December 28, 2012

    Some of the people making comments here are ‘airheads’ and do not know one ounce of information on air transportation!

    If LIAT were to stop flying to Dominica, it would not really hurt the budget! How many people actually fly to Dominica daily? Is LIAT the only airline with fares that people can’t afford? Is LIAT the only company trying to keep it’s head above water?

    Try putting some sense in your brain and maybe just maybe you may understand LIAT’s ability to prosper. Whether you like it or not Dominica will have a say in the decisions made!
    I applaud the PM for his perseverance!

  5. December 28, 2012

    The next time I ride LIAT I riding free of charge on my tax money. Don’t know how I am going to do it but I will figure it all out

  6. cc
    December 28, 2012

    Vigie airport in St Lucia currently has the following airlines landing there: Liat, Caribbean Airlines, Air Caraibes, Air Antilles, Corsair, Air France. (www.flightstats.com)

    Both Vigie airport and Melville Hall airport runways are approximately 5700 ft long. If these airlines can land at Vigie airport, why isnt the government encouraging these airlines to land at Melville Hall?

    • Nel
      December 28, 2012

      who going to full them planes?

    • dicky
      December 28, 2012

      The government is only looking out for his pocket

    • Dominican 2
      December 28, 2012

      Simply the approach to the runways are different. I fly into Vigie at least 8 times a year and still prefer to land there than Melvillehall.

    • Auti
      December 29, 2012

      That is just not true and DNo should not post your comment. Air France and Corsair uses 747 and they cant land at Vigie Airport new name George Charles Airport.

      • Channel 1
        December 31, 2012

        @Auti – The Air France and Corsair 747s are however able to land at St Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport.

    • John
      December 29, 2012

      I’ve landed in Vigie on several occasions and one most take into consideration the approach for landing. Vigie has by far a better approach for landing than Melville Hall, if I had a choice i would not land at Melville Hall at all the approach and landing is really scary. I’m Dominican and I love my beautiful country that’s why I come home every year but the landing in Melville Hall is no fun and that’s the truth.

    • Anonymous
      December 29, 2012

      Why would these airlines fly here? Frankly, the demand for our tourism product is severely lacking! We don’t have the hotel infrastructure… no good beaches. Why else would they fly to Dominica? The few nature sites we have are not satisfactorily developed. Secondly, Melville Hall airport is a disaster waiting to happen – and these airlines won’t take the risk.

    • Looking in
      December 30, 2012

      The runways may be approximately the same length, but are the landing patterns the same? How risky is it to land at Vigie compare to Melville Hall?

  7. alaska
    December 28, 2012

    please dno u need to improve ur standard..theres many dominicans who like dat we could go on the net and read dominica news,,but now i feel dat dno is a propaganda site,,u hardly get positive vibes really ,,i tired of everything is political,,there are dominican witch still lot there country,,i don’t want den valley people an a bunch of mules fire bomb ,skeritt,,,i tired ,,i need positive

    • Cant't Find a Job
      December 28, 2012

      DNO has been reduced to the UWP bombarded website where people of their likes of lennox, matt in the morning, blessing , angelo, athie just lambaste in a sea of negativity.

      If you ever try to say something positive you are attacked.

      DNO it is a shame you have been reduced to such

      ADMIN: Last time we check Dominica was a democracy where people have a right to express themselves. What you want us to do? Don’t approve people’s comment because they attack your ‘positive’ comment? This only happen in countries where people’s right to express themselves is suppressed. You don’t want that in Dominica, do you?

      • investigater
        December 28, 2012

        you must be involved in the bobol.dont run to the us when they catch you.we waiting to arrest u

    • Peeping Tom
      December 28, 2012

      Well, Alaska, do not be fooled by the number of negative posts. One person can post several times using different handles/names. I am sure you can see this for yourself. So, when you read a list of comments below a story, the picture may seem all negative, but it is not necessarily this way on the ground in Dominica. The intent is clear though, create a certain image of life in Dominica.

  8. Mr.Bee
    December 28, 2012

    it appears that Dominicans just insist on showing their stupidity with their comments. and what is laughable about this is the writers are people that have done nothing for themselves for all their time on this earth

  9. cc
    December 28, 2012

    We should not be putting all our eggs into Liat’s basket, because if Liat were to go under what is DA going to do?

  10. December 28, 2012

    LIAT two major shareholders Anigua & Barbados have an International Airports with jet service to US, Canada, Europe. St Vincent and the Grenadines New Argyle International Airport will open December 2013 after starting construction in August 2008. Who is fooling Dominicans again?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoNwKKNu7K0

    American Eagle leaving Dominica as of March 31 2013! Mr Skerrit when are u going to build Dominica’s own International Airport. Dominica media is useless at best.

  11. stehen
    December 28, 2012

    how is it Liat is the only air line to Dominica you call that invesment in Tourism????????????
    other Island have VIRGIN atlantic, Brithsh Aways. Air FRANCE AMERICAN Air Ways. air italy and others
    so SKERO you Know whom the vibsing with the empty talk
    what happen to the eight million you mention giving to LIat give the food production sector the rest of the money if you overstand running a COUNTRY

  12. Post op
    December 28, 2012

    What about the meeting in Miami that never took place with RumIan, Goodwill. There was no meeting at all thus the reason the two scape goats were on radio talking like they were lost..

    • Malgraysa
      December 28, 2012

      i smell something rotten here. If the P.M. and his delegation truly had a meeting with Mr. Arinson we would have seen some sort of press release by now, especially if there had been a positive outcome for which the P.M. could take the credit. Instead, not a word but mumblings by his underlings.

  13. stehen
    December 28, 2012

    how is it Liat is the only measn to Dominica you call the invesment in Tourism????????????
    other Island VIRGIN atlantic Brithsh Aways Air FRANCE AMERICAN Air Ways air italy
    so SKERO you Know you whom the vibsing with the empty talk
    what happen to the eight million you mention giving to LIat

  14. tiny
    December 28, 2012

    so liat is a government business/entity? taxes from the various countries will go towards the expense?

    ????????????????????????????????????????

    if so then it should not run at a profit or loss or should it??????? a service is being provided to the pubic by their government at a price????????????

  15. Eggleston
    December 28, 2012

    LIAT Board of Directors

    Chairman
    Dr. Jean Holder

    Directors of (Barbados)
    Mr. Trevor Mayers
    Mrs. Gabrielle Springer-Taylor
    Mr. Grantley Smith

    Director of (St. Vincent)
    Mr. Isaac Solomon

    Directors of (Antigua)
    Mrs. Nadia Spencer Henry
    Mr. Paul Ryan

    DO YOU SEE DOMINICA ON THIS BOARD? THIS WAS TAKEN FROM LIAT’S WEBSITE

    • AT.Attention
      December 28, 2012

      The site also have loads of numbers which are no longer working. Just say the site was not recently updated!

  16. Eggleston
    December 28, 2012

    What I would like to know is how much shares Dominica has. The person who has the majority shares on Liat has the most powerful and last say on the board. The $3M in shares DA has could be a drop in the bucket and Skerrit going to meetings does not mean nothing if he does not have the amount of shares to allow to say something that can make a change. You have to understand the economic laws behind shares.

  17. Hard Pitch
    December 28, 2012

    Skerrit the Next thing on your mind of the New Year is re do this foolish constitution they have in Dominica to allow your Chinese Friends to sit in the House of Assembly as they are the God Fathers of Dominica…

    The Economy of the island is Dead can’t Dominicans See where is the Growth indicators on island..

    LIAT Will never bear fruit take a look at its Management team Regional and Locally and tell me where are the Brains…lol

    Some Managers are there for ages just milking the COW no ideas…but Dominicans love being Poor and being a begging Society!

  18. December 28, 2012

    Skerrit said that he will be addressing the nation in the New Year as to the extent of Government’s contribution to the cash strapped airline. Money can be found easily to assist Liat, what about the cash strapped Public Servants who have been given ONE PERCENT increase for years. What a beautiful way to tell Public Workers that their labor was not appreciated in years gone by and their labor will not be appreciated in the year to come.Maybe I should take that back, when one remembers the statement made by the productivity boss. Mr. Letang, what more reasons do you need in order to do what is inevitable.

  19. GraveStone Budget
    December 28, 2012

    Well there is the Point the DPSU and other Unions Like the Police have to be stiff on this Labour Government…

    Labour has enough monies to run a Red Clinic, Finance the Upcoming Election Campaign, Buy over Good Men who once saw Right from Wrong, But can’t Give a 7% raise to it’s state employees..

    Is Dominica Really Certified as “FOOLISH ISLAND”

    I keep on saying the Opposition elements need to Take a break off the radio, as if the Information That Lennox and Others are placing out had a Major Effect you would see a change..

    Maybe the abundance of Natural Resources has Completely Blinded the Majority of Citizens to Think along Foolish Lines!!

  20. Jahyout
    December 28, 2012

    We up graded our Air Port and started night landing just for liat and we saw BVI came in to help us. I am in Anguilla for the season holidays and saw in that small country, where there is just over 13000 people. There Air Port run way is much shorter than ours and right at this moment today 28th December 2012 there are over 30 private Jet parked bring much needed revenue to that Country…Whats keeping us from getting that type of Air Traffic in Dominica?

  21. Morihei Ueshiba
    December 28, 2012

    Enough is Enough pm where is your conscience, so many public servants cannot make ends meat, u crying how things bad in Dominica and u taking Dominicans money investing in LIAT, where is your humanity? You forget where u come from man, u was a teacher before becoming PM, GeeZ man! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  22. Jay
    December 28, 2012

    While there is no trust in Liat with its unsatisfactory performance, high fares and operating cost. I see this as a good move with the uncertainty of American Eagle providing service as of April 1st, leaving Liat as the main carrier in Dominica. As a shareholder of Liat, the Government of Dominica should look into the day to day operations of its holdings as we are not just investing to keep service but also for profit on that investment.

  23. citizen kane
    December 28, 2012

    here’s a suggestion .. instead of a largent cherche contribution, waive all taxes on tickets to Dominica .. thereby relieving LIAT of that tax burden and making Dominica a more attractive destination to visitors. That should have a positive impact on the economy and government could recoup the lost revenue at the airport via V.A.T on other services consumed by those visitors.

    • Eggleston
      December 28, 2012

      very good idea

    • night rider
      December 30, 2012

      That sounds like an excellent idea. I hope the negotiators take note of it.

  24. maindesk
    December 28, 2012

    Liat the caribbean airline charges caribbean people EC$165.00 for a second luggage bag no matter its size and if it weighs more than 50lbs then you have additional charges. This is more than the price of the bag and is nothing but highway robbery.I do hope the PM will address this blatant abuse at the board meeting. Other airlines charge between EC$80-100. JetBlue charges less than EC$80.00 for the second bag with the first bag free. I personally had to assist a poor elderly lady in PR so as to get her second small suitcase on the plane. The PR staff just refused citing Liat policy.

  25. 4u2C
    December 28, 2012

    What a waste of time and good hard working poor people money. LIAT needs us just as much as we need them but due to our incompetent, lazy negotiators and polcy makers we have no other airline choice…

    • Anonymous
      December 28, 2012

      Correction: LIAT does not need us. Not at all. On the contrary Dominica is a welfare route but in typical Dominican fashion, beggars feel they are needed.

      For the record? If Dominica fell off the face of the earth? LIAT would not notice. In fact no one would.

  26. Lougaoo Mem
    December 28, 2012

    I’m praying and hoping that you understand the DPSU are desperately in need of an increase of more than one percent in wages, in order to keep up with inflation and the high cost of LIAT’s tickets. Remember “CHARITY” begins at home eh.

  27. Free Mind
    December 28, 2012

    When they finish the country cannot afford 3% for civil servants but they can afford to invest in a sinking ship

    • Anonymous
      December 28, 2012

      How is LIAT a sinking ship exactly? Explain exactly how it is a sinking ship.

      More importantly, it’s the only airline that’s going to be servicing Dominica for a long time to come as its the only airline ready to schedule us for 3 passengers at a time so your comment is bizarre to say the least.

      And if you feel we cant afford 3% now what do you think civil servants will be getting if LIAT cuts Dominica out of its routes as we are already a welfare route for them?

      Anyway Domincia is not poor because of small population.

  28. Malatete
    December 28, 2012

    Just curious. Wasn’t it $8 million he talked about before? What happened to that? Is it remotely possible that the Chinese were not forthcoming because LIAT chose the ATR over the Chinese candidate? And what is “contribution” if not “largent ches” Could it be in the form of landing charge waivers and/or tax concessions? As I said, just curious.

    • Peeping Tom
      December 28, 2012

      :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      • Morihei Ueshiba
        December 28, 2012

        :?: :?: :?:

      • Malatete
        December 28, 2012

        Tom, I looked up the meaning of your expression in the Oxford dictionary:
        “Grimace = a twisted expression on a person’s face, expressing disgust, pain or wry amusement”. Very appropriate, don’t you think? If my commnents have that effect on you they must be hitting home somehow but, of course, you are always at liberty to comment on them in your usual eloquent manner…unless you are truly rendered speechless, of course. Happy new year to you Tom!

    • Cant't Find a Job
      December 28, 2012

      :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  29. Vendetta
    December 28, 2012

    People should not be afraid of their Governments..Governments should be afraid of their people

  30. Anonymous
    December 28, 2012

    Don’t have a problem with keeping LIAT going at all but we cannot be investing, as with any other island, to allow LIAT’s top brass to continue to milk the company for personal gain and to keep customer service low and air fares sky high.

    We, as with the the other islands, are investing to accomplish what exactly? With what vision is Skerrit entering that meeting?

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