By: News Contributor
Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 1, 2018 – Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr. Timothy Harris continues to say no to funding LIAT – the regional airline.
Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne made the disclosure while revealing that the governments of Grenada and St. Lucia have agreed to subsidise the operations of LIAT.
These governments have been two of the airline’s biggest critics and after years of convincing now see it fit to support the operations of the airline.
Browne did not reveal the details of the contribution by these two governments but said it was agreed to at the just concluded OECS Authority meeting in St. Lucia.
“The whole idea is to spread the burden and the benefits of LIAT,” Browne said on his radio station on Saturday, the Antigua Newsroom.
“They have signalled that they are willing to come onboard to provide some financial subsidy to LIAT,” he said.
Grenada and St. Lucia have refrained from calls in the past to invest in LIAT, saying that the St. John’s based airline must first address its inefficiencies.
Meantime, the Prime Minister Browne revealed that the government of St. Kitts and Nevis headed by Dr. Timothy Harris is still not ready to contribute to LIAT’s survival.
“Unfortunately, we have not had a commitment yet from my dear friend comrade Harris of St. Kitts and Nevis, but I hope he’ll understand the need for us to keep LIAT in the air,” Browne told radio listeners.
“I don’t see why the OECS and Barbados cannot maintain its own airline,” he added.
The governments of St. Vincent, Barbados, Antigua and lately Dominica are the countries contributing to LIAT.
