ROSEAU, Dominica, Jun 02 2015 – The Roosevelt Skerrit administration has defended an investment of almost $1.2M in regional carrier, LIAT.
Member of Parliament for the Portsmouth Constituency, Ian Douglas saw the decision as clear-cut.
“It is black and white,” he said, “Do you support the investment in LIAT or do you not support the investment? LIAT is responsible for at least 70 percent of arrivals into Dominica today…if not LIAT, then what…we have our qualms about LIAT, we all do…I want to go on record as supporting this government’s initiative to invest in LIAT. It is needed and I believe that’s money well spent and if it was not foreseen, it’s a credit to this Government that we can find the money that was not budgeted to invest in LIAT because it is needed,” he said.
Government Senator, Jahisiah Benoit, said the investment speaks to Dominica’s ability to lend a hand and keep its head above water in these financial times.
“I think as a small developing state Dominica needs to ensure it takes every step to preserve its fragile and vulnerable economy. Tourism is indeed a significant component of our economy and as the Hon. Member from Portsmouth pointed out over 70 percent, the vast majority, 70 percent of our arrivals come through LIAT, our Caribbean carrier….we are going down a wrong road if we say that we should not invest in LIAT. I want to fully support this investment in LIAT. This support is uncharacteristic of past governments but it is possible and unprecedented only because of the financial prudence of the Dominica Labour Party Government.”
LIAT is owned by regional shareholders, with the majority being the Governments of Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda and St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Dominica
