The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will write off over $14 million that it is owed by LIAT 1974 Ltd in Administration.
Speaking on radio earlier this week, Prime Minister Hon. Dr Ralph Gonsalves said he received a letter on August 25th from the Administrator of the grounded regional airline, asking that its debts be waived.
“The letter further says “LIAT’s most recent staff compliment prior to the cessation of flying operations was 667 persons, which is spread across all territories to which the carrier flies, the write off of the debt as stated above will enhance the employees’ prospects settle indebtedness of these employees”
Prime Minister Gonsalves went on to discuss the benefit of the Government of SVG writing off the debt, to the workers of LIAT.
“So by writing off, I am hopeful that I will put LIAT in a position where they can say something to the workers and I will meet the LIAT workers now that I have something, a letter from the administrator, remember I said I had nothing new to tell them, well this doesn’t give an answer to their issue but I have something new to tell them, I’ll give them the information which is here.”
While Gonsalves and Mia Mottley, prime minister of Barbados have said their countries have no interest in going forward with further operations of the airline, Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the third of the three major shareholders is putting together a plan which he hopes will see LIAT take to the skies again before too long.
