Prime Minister Gaston Browne
By Melanius Alphonse
Caribbean News Now associate managing editor
[email protected]
ST JOHNS, Antigua – Following prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves’ recent remarks that regional carrier LIAT’s closure is imminent, and prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley’s revelation that she was “engaging the European Investment Bank (EIB) for available options in the transportation sector,” Antigua and Barbuda prime minister, Gaston Browne will be putting forward a strategic approach for discussion and subsequent approval at LIAT’s shareholders and directors meeting in Barbados on Tuesday.
Previously, Gonsalves noted that regional governments have not been responding to a call for new funding so the shareholders are now reaching a critical point and there will be a transitional restructuring leading to a closure of LIAT.
On Thursday, Browne gave the assurance that his government will never allow LIAT to go under, promising to make Antigua’s contribution of US$960,310. This amount represents part of LIAT’s previous request for emergency funding form regional governments totalling US$5.4 million.
Brown went further stating, “All will be done to safeguard employment,” adding that “there is [a] need for…