The Antigua and Barbuda government says it will take legislation to Parliament when it next sits to declare LIAT an essential service, as defined under the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Code.
“The Cabinet is seeking to protect the investment in LIAT and to help ensure its long-term survivability,” government chief of staff Lionel Hurst said.
Such a classification would place limits on labour actions on the staff based on the importance of the service to the country.
The announcement follows news earlier this week from Barbados that there are moves afoot to restructure LIAT.
The Antigua and Barbuda government also announced that it has authorized a new loan facility from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in the amount of US$16 million, to re-capitalize LIAT while it undertakes restructuring.
“The Cabinet accepts that its efforts are designed to save the airline which is vital to the survival of the sub-region, and to Antigua and Barbuda’s national interests.”
The LIAT shareholder governments are seeking to have other Caribbean countries served by the airline join in burden-sharing.
