Days after LIAT announced plans to rebase two of its aircraft to Barbados and cut scores of jobs, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has intervened.
Browne has written to Chairman of LIAT Shareholder Governments, Dr Ralph Gonsalves asking him to stay any further action on the decisions taken at a recent shareholders’ meeting until Cabinet has had an opportunity to meet and discuss the matter.
In the letter, Browne reminded shareholders of Antigua & Barbuda’s heavy investment in the airline and the economic consequences of any decisions made regarding LIAT.
“We understand that LIAT is in a very precarious position. But, at the end of the day, our economy is also in a precarious position, and I just want to get all the facts together,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.
Browne said he would be calling a meeting with the company’s Antiguan directors to get the details of the meeting.
The prime minister further levelled blame for the current predicament at the former United Progressive Party (UPP) administration for allowing Barbados to inherit majority shares in LIAT, calling it the party’s “single fatal mistake.”
Browne added that despite the shareholders’ decision, he remained unconvinced that a move to Barbados would solve LIAT’s problems.