PM Skerrit praised for investing in LIAT

Gaston Browne
Gaston Browne

A regional political leader has thrown his support behind government’s decision to become a share holder of the Leeward Island Air Transport (LIAT).

The Roosevelt Skerrit government has invested 8 million dollars into LIAT-an airline which has been struggling with problems over the years.

Leader of the Antigua Labor Party (ALP) Gaston Browne, told Dominica Labour Party (DLP) delegates at their convention on Sunday that other Caribbean leaders should take a leaf from the leadership style of Skerrit.

“He committed his government to take up shareholding in LIAT, when others unjustifiably sat on the side lines content to benefit from its service, but selfishly refusing to contribute to its service delivery. This is a typical example where the commitment in practice of some Caribbean leaders is incongruent to their commitment to Caribbean integration,” he said.

According to Browne, Skerrit has had the courage to speak out against those who pay lip service to freedom of movement of people in the region.

“He has pointed that while our Caribbean brothers and sisters are being denied entry into our country’s to contribute their skills, work permits are being issued to certain people from outside the region,” he added.

He said Prime Minister Skerrit has also “stood up for every single man and woman in the Caribbean”.

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62 Comments

  1. hmph
    September 17, 2013

    LIAT? Investment? Good thing? Garcon right now that is the worst news ever… it means skerrit supporting Liat bull… tupes -_-

  2. d/a guy in antigua
    September 17, 2013

    Dominicans this people know that if Dominica move up Dominicans a going to get out of Antigua and how a thay going to make money on all the high house rent and high cost of food and ill not talk about the house rents, you make it and it gos right back into Antigua so don’t wait on this DLP or UPP guys of Antigua to say its time for d/a to move up on and I live in Antigua if labour was so good for Antigua and was the best why did the people of Antigua vote UPP in and all this labour people in Antigua just don’t like UPP

  3. Canefield
    September 17, 2013

    I know that Dominicans are a very bright populace and will not drink that cool-aid from DLP and its paid representatives anymore.
    Did that 8 million come from Skerro’s pocket or the Treasury? becasue they making it sound like it was Skerro!
    This guy did not even know about that until he came to Da last week and was told.What a bunch of jokers we have as leaders!!

  4. Ti Buoy
    September 17, 2013

    Antigua is benefiting the most. So what do you want the puppet to say. Free trip to our Nature Island. Wine and dine and pay tribute. So let’s stick…

  5. Nonsense
    September 17, 2013

    Skerrit is a good man trying to move the country forward.
    He should ignore these uwpites who do nothing but disgrace us.
    Uwp is a gathering place…

    • massacre
      September 17, 2013

      Well you have your reasons for saying Skerro is a good man. But is he an effective P.M ?? That’s the question you and many other Red shirts should be asking.
      He had 13 yrs to make a change on the economic recovery in Dominica, up till now nothing! And you still calling that moving the country forward??
      It is people like you that is holding Dominica back from the development that we are seeing in our sister islands.
      DLP let my people go!

      • d/a guy in antigua
        September 17, 2013

        lol come on the roods a so nice when you walk on them your bills get paid and food gets on your table by just walking and seating on the good roads lol what a ppl

  6. Lol!
    September 17, 2013

    Another one again to laugh at us. The last delegates conference where Ralph Gonsalves came, he told us ‘ You don’t need an International Airport’,…

    • massacre
      September 17, 2013

      Yes and now St.Vencent is building the exact thing he told us we do not need. An international airport.
      So you doh seeing is a set of maggy that Skerro and DLp just brining to fool Dominicans.
      But I want them to know that Dominicans have enlightened and will vote for change come next elections.
      No more get rich qucik schemes any more.

  7. September 17, 2013

    LIAT will continue to “struggle” as long as it continues to mistreat and ignore its customers.

    http://www.dan-ruth-tanner.com/LIAT_mistreatment

  8. Anonymous
    September 17, 2013

    U benefit so run ur dam mouth.but y would someone invest in something that is dead and buried and have no hope.where there is no vision the people…

  9. Truth be told
    September 17, 2013

    After all the financial corruption in Antigua between Lester Bird and Allan Sanford who is now in an American prison for fraud, this man, nominates…

    • Truth be told
      September 17, 2013

      If the Leader of the Antigua Labor Party (ALP) Gaston Browne can nominate Lester Bird for Knighthood after all the corruption in Antigua under Bird…

  10. FOR CUP
    September 17, 2013

    All you to for cup ! So much Dominicans that liveing in Antigua people get a life so sad !

  11. WE VOTING UWP
    September 17, 2013

    Tell us more about what Mr. Browne said. He also said that governments in the region are corrupt andlying to us about the impact of the global…

  12. John Paul
    September 17, 2013

    You did not hear Gonzales say that LIAT always runs at a loss?What dividends you talking about ?

    LIAT needs to be weeded out of all the corrupt…

  13. Grand ma
    September 16, 2013

    what Browne smoking?

  14. J.J.John-Charles
    September 16, 2013

    In July we paid LIAT almost us$2000 to take 4 of us from San Juan to Dominica, and we were suppose to travel back on August 6, but because LIAT is so…

  15. Dominican at large
    September 16, 2013

    Dno will not put pictures of DLP Conference because they are not supporters of the DLP and they will not want the public to see the MASSIVE CROWD that was in Pointe Mitchel. DLP will still win the next election.

  16. greg
    September 16, 2013

    Certain people – who is Skerrit refering to? THE Chinese?
    That would be interesting

  17. Francisco Telemaque
    September 16, 2013

    Gaston, you know that the eight million invested in LIAT is another eight million of the Dominica taxpayers money wasted. Dominica will never see one single cent in dividend from that investment.

    Another eight million lost!

    So; we as Dominicans can as well say “count this day lost in regard to that eight million.

    What Mr. Skerrit was forced to do by Gonzales of St. Vincent was to put a bandage, on an open wound, no less than a yaws, for which there is no medical cure, and incase yo do not know what is a yaws let me define it as an infectious contagious tropical disease caused by a spirochete:(Treponema pertenue) closely resembling the causative agent of syphilis, and marked by ulcerating lesions with later bone involvement, known also as frambesia .

    That Gaston is a tropical disease, which was very common in Dominica, and the rest of the Caribbean in the 1950’s; any wonder LIAT is a Caribbean entity, or Airline.

    If you call the inserting of the eight million dollars into LIAT a wise, and good investment into LIAT, I don’t know what would you term a bad investment, for your information Gaston, it cost LIAT more than eight million East Caribbean dollars in aviation fuel to fly each year, so how long do you anticipate that eight million dollars to last?

    In case you do not know, let me inform you had Gonzales not held a gun so to speak to the head of Skerrit, forcing him to put that eight ($8,000,000.00) million dollars into LIAT, Gonzales would have pulled the plug, and LIAT would be over flying Dominica, and even you would be reduced to boat ride, and by that I mean a canoe ride in and out of Dominica.

    I mean I know it is almost election time in Dominica, and as many people like Mr. Skerrit, praises will be give to him, I like him also, however I have my reservation, and boundaries, I have to face the reality that when St. Vincent International Airport is up and in operation, LIAT shall become history, after more than fifty years of operating as a nonprofit entity!

    I have said it many times, and I reiterate, people can sing praises, we can procrastinate, how it is inevitable, we must build an International Airport, otherwise one day all the love we have for Mr. Skerrit, will not prevent us from waking up one morning to find LIAT has disappeared into oblivion!

    Why do believe that guy has just tendered his resignation? It is because LIAT has long been a dry bone without flesh, for all you know he might be working free without a salary for months who need that, his alternative might be to quit!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  18. Anthony P. Ismael
    September 16, 2013

    Why are we allowing ourselves to be insulted by these “Political Jack Asses” from across the region?
    First “Raphe Boy” from St. Vincent and the Grenadines came to Dominica and told us that we do not need an international airport. Then he went home and commenced constructing one for St. Vincent.
    Now, after a disastrous summer where Dominicans are afraid to fly home and visitors are petrified of the putrid service from Leave Island Any Time Airline, “Brownie Cookie” just opened his foolish mouth and he began braying like a donkey.
    When will the people of Dominica demand that our leaders set a course for the island with our best interest in mind? We must demand that from our leaders without fail. When did my proud fellow Dominicans become so passive to allow those greedy bastards to play us for fools?
    Remember that we put them out of office by force of “Stones” in 1979 and Civil Servants went on a 30 day strike. We surely can do better than that. Ian is gone from Leave Island Any Time Airline. More must go. We shall not stop and we shall not waiver until this foolishness is eradicated.

  19. Domtiguan
    September 16, 2013

    mr.brown tell those idiots again..though I never voted your alp under lester bird,i stil believe you are a man of vision..but sorry am a strong supporter for the united progressive party in Antigua. and a dominica labor party supporter to the bone. when you get rid of lester bird,molwyn josepy,cutie Benjamin and assort Michael I will give thought to the alp

  20. Stryka
    September 16, 2013

    Gaston we want our international airport too. u all are the ones that saying we dont need one . we need a piece of the pie .And as the others saying is dominicans hard earned money that the government of the day invested in liat . We want our intl airport and our own plane too liat to inconsistent . I believe we should have started our intl airport woth that money. China and venezuela would assist in financing the rest

  21. weed
    September 16, 2013

    so if skerrit invest in liat what percentage of shares do we in Dca own? that is what I wha know

  22. Anonymous
    September 16, 2013

    Mr. Browne Skeritt did not commit his government. He committed Dominica, the people, the Tax payers. The eight million dollars did not come from his pocket, or did it? hmmm
    A decision like that should be somthing to be debated in parliament and has to be on the budget. I do not recall any Parliamentary debate on the decision.
    Then again you will support because Antiguans have been the ones benifiting from liat with its top heavy business structure.

    If you want Liat to be financed why not open it for public option so citizens of the Caribbean can buy Shares and share in the profits and feel they are part of the Carrier. Dont you think iif that was done people would feel part of the ownership.

    These politicians still treat west indians like idiots because we allow them to. Put liat up on the Caribbean stock exchange.

    • smh
      September 16, 2013

      it have to be tax payers money? it couldn’t be a load he took? typical dominicans

      • SMH
        September 16, 2013

        lol so even if its a loan he took? where the money coming from to pay it back? from his pocket or dominican tax payers?

    • John Paul
      September 17, 2013

      No sane investor would risk their money there !
      The reason being LIAT was born out of mismanagement

  23. WHAT
    September 16, 2013

    DNO whare are the photos of the DLP’s delegates conference. i can recall you guys putting up photos of UWP’s conference. i am hoping that you guys are not that BIAS!!!!

    • brown
      September 16, 2013

      you hope? you not seeing it, all comments to hit government it approving but once to defend it is low comment rating

  24. Faceup
    September 16, 2013

    Yea right.. Gaston your hotels were booked solid while LIAT doing its thing, smh ! LABOUR MUST GO !

  25. Lougaoo Mem
    September 16, 2013

    Gaston Browne,
    You have every reason to sing praises to the DLP and its leader, because you and your nation are the beneficiaries of our tax payers’ eight million dollars. What do we get in return? Service your people would reject. So keep on singing Sir!

  26. Anonymous
    September 16, 2013

    AS always a very biased DNO…..where is the DLP delegates conference?? You had workers own the same evening…

    • made in dominica
      September 17, 2013

      bec DNO is worker

  27. Jay
    September 16, 2013

    Of course you support Mr. Skerrit’s investment Sir, because it helps to keep jobs in Antigua. And who benefits from LIAT’s service? Do we not pay through the nose for the appealing treatment we receive at their hands? Again, I guess it are Mr. Browne’s fellow citizens in Antigua, who benefit most.

  28. st.joe massiff #2
    September 16, 2013

    Singing for liat while ple getting poor service.. look the ceo resigned. ?… that airline have been given so much money from goverments of the caribbean yet rubbish service.. bro go back to antigua with that rubbish but you can (LIAT)leave island anytime. As you all saying dominicans like dummy in cans ofcourse your are happy we giving your airline money.

    • taken
      September 16, 2013

      you from sen joe? well sen joe have plenty dumb people. you sound soo uneducated, the money was to try to improve service.. you does just run your mouth, tell me which caribbean country that invested in liat again you that sen joe retadid masive

  29. Listening!!!
    September 16, 2013

    Brown….You sound like an intelligent guy. Therefore I know you would not advice any administration in Antigua to pump more money into LIAT without a clear roadmap from LIAT management to stop the financial bleeding of the airline and turn it to profitability with a change of executive management.

    So why would you throw your weight of support behind Skerrit when he invested Dominicans money without a strategy from LIAT to turn the company around? Is it because the PM lacks the intelligence to understand how to ensure we receive value for money…….SMH!

    That is clearly why you’ll don’t respect Dominicans in Antigua.

  30. Rasta
    September 16, 2013

    I don’t understand something, is he praising him like when a paro says god bless you after you give him a dollar or is he praising him because the investment will yield high returns for Dominica. The gentleman is an Antiguan and when someone pumps a huge amount of cash into the cash strapped Airline of Antiguan I expect him to praise our leader, not because it was the most prudent thing to do but for prolonging the lifespan of the airline, for securing jobs mainly in Antigua where the airline is based but as a Dominican I would prefer my leader was praised because his investment has created more jobs in Dominica. I read a new item on DNO LIAT Ceo calls it quits after on of the worst summers in airline history it leaves me to think to a story I learnt in the student Campion about the Fox and the crow where the moral of the story is “Flattery gets you nowhere.”

  31. looking
    September 16, 2013

    Obviously Liat is based in Antigua, if Liat falls hundreds will be unemployed in Antigua. But for now we need Liat we don’t have another viable choice at the moment.

  32. TJ
    September 16, 2013

    Browne makes it seems that LIAT is a charitable organization and Caribbean government whose islands are served should invest. Nonesense. LIAT is a business and the Prime Minister of Dominica made an extremely bad business investment. He contributed a large sum to a company which has a poor business reputation. That is deemed as good leadership?

    Browne should not have gone there. Regardless of one’s political party – all Dominicans are aware that LIAT is bad business.

    • texans
      September 16, 2013

      oh TJ, we have other choices? no we dont so we need to work with what we have, it get worst then what next? the PM step up and invest, if other caribbean country does that you dont think things will be a little better? forget about politics for a min and think of it

  33. Savah Gas
    September 16, 2013

    You make investments like these when the odds are in your favor. The was such a good investment that the CEO was moved to tender his resignation! Clearly a bad decision to risk our hard earned money. Investments like these and that of the state madness are worthless and represent an abuse of administrative powers that rests with the government. These moneys should be invested in growth sectors

  34. malkasay
    September 16, 2013

    Gaston gasson….it is none of your damn business :lol: :lol: Go to (Antigua) hell :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Go to (Antigua) hell :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Go to (Antigua) hell :mrgreen: :lol: :-D :) :mrgreen:

    • Domtiguan
      September 16, 2013

      you so dunce idiot..if he was on uwp,(unworthy worthless people)platform praising linton you would sing a different song and welcome him..bias fool..his gadson brown party linton was helping when he disrespected mr.spencer.and linton was deported back on the fig boat. :-D

  35. WA
    September 16, 2013

    Gaston Browne is the very person who just questioned the integrity of Dominica’s citizenship program in an effort to promote Antigua’s own citizenship program that was just passed. And here he is, sounding off for the Labour party…..SMFH

  36. New Yorker
    September 16, 2013

    Is this the same Gaston Brown who now has to contend with Political Infighting in the Antigua Labor party? The same Antigua Labor party who during their period of governance in Antigua had many dark clouds of Corruption??

    • ghost
      September 16, 2013

      New yorker give me one government in the world that doesn’t have corruption..

      • New Yorker
        September 17, 2013

        Cuba, Russia, the Arab countries do you want more Ghost??

  37. Development
    September 16, 2013

    Truly the risk taking of the pm is commendable and we need some more visionaries like him. However, Liat needs to show appreciation and stop treating Dominica as a rubbish dump.

    • Truth be told
      September 16, 2013

      Have you ever heard of a company that is failing and about to crash out of the market and someone rush to buy shares in it while the existing shareholders are looking for a way out? If this is what you all call visionary in Dominica well heaven help Dominica! You ever heard of SVG Air (St Vincent Airline) and Montserrat Air (Montserrat Airline) Well Sisserou Air (or Dominica Airline) would have been visionary!

  38. But?
    September 16, 2013

    But allu not seeing that everything Skerrit hand in turning to rubbish!

    • Jah Fond Cole
      September 16, 2013

      Are u a fool?

  39. Bee
    September 16, 2013

    Of course you will praise him. After all Antigua is the main beneficiary…,,,your hotel sector booming from cancelled flights…. Especially in the last few months LIAT playing game bog$ with people whom they seem to have no respect for

  40. grell
    September 16, 2013

    Browne who the hell are you,antiguans dont treat us right,go back to antigua.,

    • budman
      September 16, 2013

      if that were true, would nearly 20,000 of us live there? some of us live there for over 60 years. you think that we are stupid to live where we are not wanted? if you have your own personal beef, then just say so. but don’t say they dont treat us right, when quarter of the current population size of our beloved country lives in that little island.

      • Domtiguan
        September 16, 2013

        you are so right..tell that idiot

    • Too Hard Too Long
      September 16, 2013

      That’s unnecessary

    • Domtiguan
      September 16, 2013

      idiot like you that will always stay in dominica throwing stones in the sea,and cannot go no place..backward mentality..thank god for Antigua,they rescued me after hurricane david,gave me the job opportunity I would never get in dominica..help me to know my roots in Antigua,and also a stepping stone to be in the usa today..god bless Antigua..

  41. dreamer
    September 16, 2013

    Leave politics far from LIAT.
    Better for LIAT, better for the politics, better for the travelers.

    • ghost
      September 16, 2013

      dam dreamer long i haven’t seen a statement like that, wish i could give you 100 likes for that

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