Hotelier wants transparency in LIAT investment

Judith Pestaina

Garraway Hotel’s Judith Pestaina is giving  qualified support to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s decision to  invest $8 million dollars into regional airline LIAT.

However Pestaina, the leader of the Dominica Freedom, has called for transparency and proper accountability on that matter.

“While the decision to invest in LIAT is supported in principle since it is without doubt that LIAT is an economic lifeline for all of us in the region, particularly in the OECS― the process should be transparent, since any investment made by government is the concern of all Dominicans, the current generation and the next, as they are the ones who will have to face the consequences,” Pestaina said in a release.

She wants government “to assure us that it is prudently managing taxpayers’ money”.

According to hotelier and DFP leader, the government’s record on the proper management of public funds “leaves much to be desired”.

“Therefore, the government must inform us of the specific benefits in investing 8 million dollars in LIAT,” Pestaina said.

“Will it mean more frequent access into Dominica and more stayover visitors for Dominica? Will it mean more jobs for Dominicans? What does the decision mean for those who were recently laid off when LIAT’s central office in Roseau was closed,” she queried.

Her list of questions also include whether Dominica will have more influence in decisions concerning LIAT.

“Will it mean that we can expect a more efficiently run airline?  The government is obliged to tell us the people whether it has done an analysis of the potential risks and, if so, what are those risks and how does it intend to manage them.  We need to know the source of the $8 million” Pestaina said in her statement.

The official parliamentary opposition – the United Workers Party, has already raised similar concerns.

Prime Minister Skerrit confirmed on Friday that Dominica was holding talks with LIAT, and that the first half of the investment – $4 million – would be made within a matter of days following those talks.

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41 Comments

  1. brains
    June 26, 2012

    All i have to say is ”nothing more than that”…. with that can of money Dominican can open there own airline company, has any one ever think of that? when one has what is theirs they don’t have to depend on other.with 8 million that could be done easy. nuff said :) :-D :wink: :lol:

  2. simple
    June 26, 2012

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque, i suppose you will at least help, to maintain the international AirPort that you desperately wants, Can you imagine the cost to have an international AirPort,

    • Francisco Telemaque
      June 26, 2012

      Look, I am not desperate for an International Airport, I reside in the middle of Los Angeles, and I assure you between Palm Springs, Santa Monica, Orange County, Ontario, Burbank, and LAX, there are six international airports, and about eighteen municipals such as Melville Hall.

      I can fly at random to any place in the world I wish to travel to, except Dominica., now that is out of the way, let me address you stupid notion about maintenance of the such airport.

      There are lots of things I can tell you about that, but as usual I will be wasting my time, but I will simply ask you; how much does it cost to maintain Melville Hall Airport?

      It will cost very little more, for your information what classify an airport as an international airport?

      It is the length and width of the Runway, nothing more nothing less.

      Antigua International Airport is maintained right?

      St. Vincent, will be maintained right? Everything in Dominica, is a problem, because of such stupid mentality of people like you, and that fool below how claims that I do not know what I am talking about when I said Tyler Perry is the sole owner of American Airline.

      He suggests that I research it, when is the fool who does not know what the hell he is talking about, Perry bought American Airline prior to the Airline going into bankruptcy, or ” Receivership.” that is a matter of public records in America, but the Dominican always know more than anyone else.

      Some of you are just full of crap, hey, I do not need to fly I enjoy driving, I travel all over the United States, Canada, and Mexico driving, I own some of the most expensive cars, on the market, as fast as some aircrafts, so flying does not excite me.

      However Dominica needs better than LIAT, and if something is not done, you can start manufacturing canoe in Dominica.

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • Solomon
        June 26, 2012

        I agree in part to this contributor, An international style teminal can come incrementally
        as the airport makes a profit o funding can be forthcoming. We can begin with an airstrip capable of handling a few planes at a time and expand as we go, and a terminal suitable for a realistic expectation of travellers. Also Dominica having rivers close to any spot suitable for such an airport can also provide some extra services like WASHING PLANES, so aircratfs can be washed here. We have to move beyong Melville Hall.

      • kg
        June 26, 2012

        why are you such a show off!!! make your point and stop goin on about what you have or where you have been ??? you are a very eloquent speakerand do make some good points but my god are you a pompus…jesus wept ….

        w

      • forreal
        June 26, 2012

        @francisco,all what you said is right,but you must remember this is dominica and the caribean,you must remember how things run down here,when a taximan buy a new bus,he sells the old one to an upcoming taxi prospect,that is the case with liat,liat is a caribbean jewel,the primeminister is just investing small as it is,in the caribbean most valuable airline,again you would not understand,you are to busy boasting about how many fast cars you have or own,you need to do some invesment in dominica,and help develop the country that gave birth,god bless that you are one of the fortunate ones that got to migrate to america to have what you never had in your life,instead of snubbing the people.

      • simple
        June 27, 2012

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque! first all I don’t lived in DA so I’m not interested in what you have i really don’t care, what kind of cars you drive the site is there, to give your opinion I’m not their to called people stupid, or any thing.

    • Real
      June 26, 2012

      International airport will only bring up passenger arrival by only about ten percent..dat means increase of revenue of bou ten percent,,operating cost of an international airport must be much more Dan ten percent of d airport we have now..ex ..there is 5firefighters now with interna we must have at least 12personal at all time..we hav 9 cleaners an care takers den we will need 20 something an so on,,

  3. Marco
    June 26, 2012

    We know damn well LIAT is not going to increase flights to Dominica. I honestly think investing that type of money into LIAT is not beneficial to Dominica. LIAT is a sinking ship and we should leave them in thier financial problems. The PM was bullied by the PM of St. Vincent and he needs to stand up and review these types of decisions. Not a smart move for Dominica period. There are more pressing issues where this type of money could be used for.

  4. ROSEAU VALLEY
    June 25, 2012

    So much for this LIAT story!! These comments and “qualified support of Prime Minister decision” are rather late in coming after all insignificant Tom, Dick and Harry have added their 2 cents. I would have liked to hear from the leadership of all political parties and relevant private sector organizations such as the Hotel Association much earlier on the issue. Ms. Pestaina has not said anything that has not yet been already expressed by the proactive and intelligent readers/contributors of DNO. If the Freedom Party really wants to be relevant on the Dominican political landscape it must be more aggressive and pro-active in the future..

    • Solomon
      June 26, 2012

      true

  5. 4Eva Tru
    June 25, 2012

    Im a little confuse. Did the govnt invested 8 million or donated 8 million? theres a difference.From what im hearing from the plp, Dominica just gave the money away.What im hearing from the govnt that they invested 8 million which i learned in school that there will be a return from an investment if its a good one. so tell me.

  6. kot
    June 25, 2012

    all she is doing is protecting her investment any way talk all u want. its always about money with u people eh.

    • A Clear Headed Lad
      June 25, 2012

      And how is she doing that?

      Put your thinking cap on, if you can do that. It does not mean that because you support something in principle you simply go along with any decision. You have to assure yourself that things are soundly assessed before you vote for a particular action. I may support the idea of an international airport for Dominica, but this does not mean that I will support the Government burdening the country with huge debts for generations to come to build the airport.

  7. grell
    June 25, 2012

    good questions but am sure skerrit and tony will be the ones benefiting from this deal.i did not hear him mention any thing about jobs.do we still have to stop in dried up antigua before we get to dominica.come on pm if you care about the people answer the question,but as i alwasy say your day will come my brother the almighty is watching you.

    • 4Eva Tru
      June 25, 2012

      Everybody day will come the Almighty is watching everyone.ok?

  8. Questionnaire
    June 25, 2012

    I waited for a long time to hear what the Hotel Association and Mrs. Pestaina in particular had to say on the matter. When it eventually came through a prepared text that was literally read on on DBS “interview in the news” on Monday by Mrs.Pestaina, I thought she could not have done a greater dis-service to her position as the political leader of the once might Freedom Party. To say she was inconsistent and down right non-sensical is perhpas a waste of words. She just did not make any sense. Her final line in the prepared text just gave way everything she really wanted to say under the guise of objective commentary. She gave a list of things that should be done even before govt. invested the money in LIAT. That list would require perhaps another 20 or so million dollars. She recognized the importance of LIAT to Dominica but wanted an explanation of the benefits to be had from investing in LIAT. She claim to understand the economic contribution of LIAT to the OECS, but she wanted governement to give further justification on the investment.

    In supporting the measure, Mrs. pestaina should have been bold enough to point out that even if is only one fligt that s removed form the daily schedule into Dominica, her Hotel would be wosrt off than being placed for example under a special mamagement program with its creditors. She should have said that if LIAT were to reduce on its operations into Dominica how many people would be directly affected, including the existing LIAT staff at Melville Hall.

    The investment is basically to ensure that these things do not happen and that LIAT continue to fly into Dominica. For Mrs. Pestaina to come almost a week after the PM himslef went to the media to explain the rationale for investing in LIAT, to suggest that government’s position on the issue is being explained by non-elected surrogates is a serious misrepresentation of the fact. common Judith. I am sure you are more inteligent than that, but cannot rise above the fray of gutter partisan politics.

    • him
      June 25, 2012

      This garbage that you have written is not even fit for the latrine,! Utter Rubbish!
      Go read the article again, if you can.It’s my feeling someone told you what is written in the article.

    • A Clear Headed Lad
      June 25, 2012

      Of course, you miss Mrs. Pestaina’s point entirely. While Mrs. Pestaina’s supports the idea of supporting LIAT in the national interest, she is asking the Government to be transparent and account to the people how the decision was arrived. Did the Government consider all the pros and cons? Why has Dr.Kenny Anthony opted to delay making a decision on whether St. Lucia will invest in LIAT? Is it not possible he wants to weigh all the relevant issues before he makes a final decision? Mrs. Pestaina, I gather, was simply asking about the policy context of the decision. Her second point was the Government of Dominica must not also obtain funding for LIAT but also seek to mobilize finance for other sectors of the economy.

  9. Francisco Telemaque
    June 25, 2012

    Judith, whereas the implementation of eight million dollars of the tax pays money into LIAT at this moment may serve as a quick fix to the problem, you need to understand in the long run, LIAT will continue to experience operating difficulties.

    Eight million is not even enough to buy fuel to keep LIAT flying for six months of any year.

    Instead of asking for transparency which makes not even political sense at this time, you should suggest, and encourage the Prime Minister to go all out, no matter what it takes to borrow money, and secure financing to immediately start construction of an International Airport in the country.

    The quick fix of the problem is not going to help, because sooner or latter all of us will wake up one morning, and LIAT will no longer be there!

    LIAT is destine to exist into oblivion in the not so distance future; there is no point of you talking about transparency of the transaction, the ” transparency ” is quite clear, if we fail to flush our money down the LIAT garbage disposal, we may not see LIAT landing in Dominica ever again.

    If you are a politician, there is no doubt in my mind you know that without an International Airport in the country, Dominica will never move beyond where it is in the area of tourism, and if you are the proprietor of one of the guess houses and Motels in Dominica which you people calls hotels, I am sure you will feel the lost of LIAT greater than anyone else.

    It is time that you and others stop politicking and get down to business and get the country on the right path!

    By the way I need to see a more recent picture of you, beautiful as you look in the one above, I would like to see something more recent, and I hope your husband will not come hunting me down with a gun.

    In the first place he (doh going an find me eh).

    Secondly I have no intentions of kidnapping you from him anytime soon oui!

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

    The latter is intended for humor only.

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  10. Anonymous
    June 25, 2012

    Eagle will soon stop flying to Dominica.

    As American Airlines are in financial trouble.

    When LIAT stops flying to Dominica, because they are in Financial trouble, what questions will you all want to ask?

    NBD has over EC$2million invested in LIAT.

    What questions has been asked of NBD?

    • Francisco Telemaque
      June 25, 2012

      Where you all get this information from that American Airline is in trouble, this morning I read in a blog where a permanent Dominican claim that American Airline is in bankruptcy.

      If I mention his name know that plenty of you do not like him, he will have no peace, so I will not name him.

      That is false!

      Tyler Perry, that black comedian very one you may have seen on television, and in the movies in a woman dress performing, has long bought American Airline, long before it could go into bankruptcy.

      For your information American Eagle, and American Airline are two separate entity!

      Were are you people getting your information from?

      Tyler Perry is the lone owner of American Airline for almost three years now, he is also a movie producer, who owns a Movie Studio complex in Atlanta, his last move net more than six ( $650, 000, 000 . 00) hundred-fifty million dollars.

      He disclosed that on ABC Television Good Morning America, this morning.

      I think it is time that we stop minding people’s business, and concentrate on the problems and issues affecting Dominica, our country.

      There are several thousands of aircrafts in the sky’s across the United States as the day proceeds, even if American Airline goes out of business today, it will not be missed in America, we need to mind what is going in our country, solve our problems, and stop making comparisons with countries which are far better off than ours.

      If Tyler Perry was a single white boy who bought American Airline, the world would have heard about it, and that is why the news is not in Dominica, because he is black, now say you heard it first from the kid!

      I am yours:

      Respectfully,

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • Court Officer
        June 26, 2012

        Tyler Perry did not buy American Airlines it was a spoof, A practical joke. It’s not real… Also American Eagle is a part of American Airlines, It’s a regional, Do some research before posting propaganda, you’re starting to sound like a politician

    • Met Yo
      June 26, 2012

      Hear those echos….pure echo. Same thing Skerrit say…the repeating it….lol

  11. for/against
    June 25, 2012

    People should realise that they should not cry down a MAN for making decisions. Dominica is a confused country and one can do this and that, there will always be problems.

    Unlike the UWP, the DFP Leader has raised more pertinent questions as to what Dominica can vouch for in investing in LIAT instead ofblasting the government in the name of OPPOSITION.

    GOD BLESS DOMINICA,DLP AND DFP

  12. Trueman
    June 25, 2012

    What took you so long to say something?

  13. See It
    June 25, 2012

    Waiting on What. You all must first educate the public on the effect of not investing in LIAT. Do you know LIAT is the only AIrline in the Caribbean we can use to move from one Country to the next unless you want to use AA to move around the Caribbean.

    Plan B is to use Boat/Steamer or submarine to travel. Go back to old days where it took us five or more days to reach or destination.

    Then there are hundred of workers – LIAT close down and then all you coming crying things hard no job, the economy down.

    Then there is Melville Hall – close it down and boom – no work for the Taxi Drivers. I would miss Mally.

    Why are we agreeing inprinciple and yet have a problem. Its like Hurricane David and other disaster other Governments and people pumped public funds and food into Dominica, exactly the same way and all you eh talk nor did the people of the different countries evn spoke instead they sent more and more and more to us.

    Remember the heavy rains in St. Lucia and other disasters in the Caribbean. do all you research and then educate the massess.

    Why do we have to put politics in everythin we do- can we not stop and think of our children and family members who might be part of LIAT (Air hostess/Pilots/Engineers etc)

    Why do we not think of our Hotels what will happen if LIAT stop flying – We need to think before we talk.

    Easy my brothers and sisters. We must look before we leap and stop politicking with the economy and the bread and butter of people.

  14. What
    June 25, 2012

    Mrs. Pestina with all your levelf intelligence,experience honesty and hard work……doesn’t dominican see that you are the best person to be PM of this country?……….dominican allu waiting untill Dominica comes to nothing under this young inexperience leader before allu do something?

    • T
      June 25, 2012

      It is already heading towards a failed country.It is the poorest country in the OECS for sure, but he is telling them things age good. We are even sending money to people in the USA…

    • Oooooo
      June 25, 2012

      U must be a freedom right .

  15. new york
    June 25, 2012

    i love that u are so right i don’t know y they give lita the money

  16. Court Officer
    June 25, 2012

    Give out 8 Billion if You want but don’t raise taxes, don’t add new Taxes and don’t drop salaries

    While you giving out the money
    Drop taxes
    Drop import Duty
    Maintain Roads and Bridges
    Improve Infrastructure
    Increase salaries by 10% annually and don’t beg or borrow money from anyone.

    Oh and finally take back DOMLEC in the public’s interest.

    If you can meet those stipulations then Give away whatever you feel like. otherwise put back the 8 million in the public purse

  17. ????????
    June 25, 2012

    These are POWERFUL and POTENT questions, but trust me he will remain MOO MOO on them, cause he cannot answer any one of them in an honest manner.
    The poverty which is plaguing this country is not by accident. It is largely attributed to the careless and inept management of state affairs, and reckless squandering of the states resources.
    I pray one day these lazy guys pay the state back for all the plundering of its resources.

    • Muslim_Always
      June 25, 2012

      The state of affairs in Dominica are not caused by politicians, it is caused by the disease of mental poverty that permeates our people!

  18. 4progress
    June 25, 2012

    I AM MEMBER OF NO PARTY!!!!!!

    The concern is::

    Is there a procedure (Time and Place) in place such that all Parliamentary Representatives are given the opportunity to question the proposal i.e “investment of $8m to LIAT”. That way we all Dominican can hear the FOR and AGAINST argument allowing us to make our minds up based on the facts presented.

    IS IT NOT THE DUTY OF THE PM AND HIS GOVERNMENT TO PRACTICE DEMOCRACY??

    Behaviors like this can only encourage the next party in power to do the same.

    The PM seemed to have made up his mind and with such arrogance, seems to forget that he was democratically elected.

    • 1979
      June 25, 2012

      YESSSSSSS…this phrase here is the embodiment of hope and the thinking which will bring prosperity to future generations, this is what we fight for, our children’s future….

  19. islandboy
    June 25, 2012

    $8 million bucks passes through the holes of liat profitless airlines in a 3 or 4 months at best, i hope dominica eventually get to have a real say when it comes to liat flight schedules.. well for this to happen dominica has to put some more money in the coffers of liat much more than 8 million big ones.. liat will neverr improve trust me we in the cbean should top putting hope in liat even if they get new aircrafts

  20. TRUTH
    June 25, 2012

    These are very valid points from Mrs. Pestaina and I think it is fair that we as Dominicans receive a comprehensive report as to how this will benefit us as a people. Thank you madam well said.

  21. Evolved
    June 25, 2012

    All valid questions – but really do we expect 8 million to make such a drastic difference? I suspect that things will moreless remain the same – the net result will be neglieable.

  22. Not a herd follower
    June 25, 2012

    These are fair questions to ask, holding the Prime Minister and Government accountable for the proper use of public funds.

  23. Rocks
    June 25, 2012

    Well said…Now your turn Mr. PM..We waiting…

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