CMC \u2013 Grenada\u2019s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says his administration is prepared to lease an aircraft if Caribbean governments are unable to sort out the regional transportation sector by year-end.<\/p>\n
Caribbean travel has been thrown into chaos following the collapse of the Antigua-based regional airline, LIAT (1974) limited with the region travelling population disgruntled at the inability to move around as freely as they used to during LIAT\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n
In an exclusive interview aired on WPG10 on Friday night, Mitchell, who led his National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power in June, said the regional airline sector needs urgent fixing and that there needs to be more decisive movement on the issue before year-end.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf by October, November, we don\u2019t have an arrangement \u2026then it means if Grenada has to go and lease the planes so that we can fly between Grenada and Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago we will have to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe truth is we can\u2019t get to Trinidad,\u201d Mitchell said, noting however that with several new leaders in the Caribbean he is optimistic that the situation will be dealt with.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s put it this way, I am optimistic it will not get to that,\u201d he said, adding that regional governments must be prepared to spend more money on regional transport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have made it quite clear we have to put money, if not into LIAT 2020, if not Inter Caribbean then some other vehicle that is prepared to fly, it is as simple as that,\u201d Mitchell added.<\/p>\n
In August, regional leaders met to discuss the situation regarding air transportation in the Caribbean amidst concerns that both regional and international travellers are finding it very expensive and difficult to commute.<\/p>\n
Mitchell said then it was agreed that a consultant would be retained to provide advice to the heads of the region as to how we can address the critical need to have, particularly air transportation resumed at a level that existed prior to COVID-19.<\/p>\n
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at their summit in Suriname in July had agreed on a new modern Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA) that will allow for a new framework within which air transportation will operate in the region.<\/p>\n
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, who had served as LIAT chairman, said that countries, particularly those in the Eastern Caribbean were being severely affected by the loss of thousands of seats \u201cbecause LIAT, as it was, is no longer before us.<\/p>\n
LIAT is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).<\/p>\n
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said previously that a decision had been taken that would allow Barbados and SVG to turn over their shares in LIAT to St. John\u2019s for one EC dollar (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents).<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Browne appealed to Caribbean trade unions to re-think their positions regarding the latest offer made to laid-off workers of the airline.<\/p>\n
The Grenada Prime Minister told reporters that LIAT (1974) Limited \u201cis bankrupt and that has been made clear and it is in receivership\u201d.<\/p>\n
LIAT (1974) limited in June 2020, entered into court-appointed administration after a high court judge in Antigua and Barbuda granted a petition for the cash-strapped pan-Caribbean carrier\u2019s reorganisation.<\/p>\n
The Guyana-born Cleveland Seaforth has been appointed LIAT\u2019s administrator for the duration of proceedings.<\/p>\n
The airline owes former employees including pilots millions of dollars in severance and other payments.<\/p>\n