Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has maintained his position in not supporting the cash strapped regional airline LIAT despite the airline’s new Board of Directors and chairman.
St. Lucia has rejected calls in the past to invest in the carrier and refuses to do so unless the airline addresses its deficiencies.
“Unless LIAT undergoes some critical changes to improve its financial situation, Saint Lucia will not be investing in the carrier,” Chastanet said.
In December 2019, eight directors were selected to join former Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, the new LIAT Chairman, to help restructure the airline.
“I think that Prime Minister Arthur is a very capable person, he was one of the key architects behind the expansion, the resurgence of LIAT when he was prime minister and there are some new board members as well. Saint Lucia’s commitment is always there on condition that we see that there is a growing concern that we can invest in,” Chastanet told reporters.
“We have to be satisfied that the tough decisions that have to be made in LIAT are going to be made,” he added.
Saint Lucia, according to Chastanet, remains hopeful that something positive comes out of the newly installed board of LIAT.
“We will wait to see what Mr Arthur will be able to achieve and if in fact, he can make the structural changes that we think is necessary at LIAT, then we will give thought to making an investment,” he declared.
CDB President Dr Warren Smith in 2018, noted the need to transform the regional aviation industry.
Specific recommended measures to revamp the aviation industry included harmonizing regulation across the Caribbean, adopting and implementing a comprehensive open skies agreement, and strengthening the internal operations of airlines.
Such a reform will demand significant restructuring, improvements, and actions by regional governments, which will lead to better overall customer experience and making aviation in the region an even bigger contribution to regional economic activity.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, has welcomed Arthur’s appointment and believes under his leadership, the airline could be headed in the right direction.
