ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says its future plans for the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, is to have it fly as far north as Florida, stopping in places like Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Antigua and Barbuda is seeking to become the largest shareholder government of the airline and is in negotiations with Barbados to acquire most of that country’s shareholding in the Antigua-based airline. The other shareholders are Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
Antigua and Barbuda currently holds 34 per cent of the shares and if it succeeds in convincing Bridgetown to part with its LIAT shares, would have 81 per cent of the airline that employs over 600 people and operates 491 flights weekly across 15 destinations.
St John’s said it would seek to acquire the LIAT shares owned by Barbados, through a take-over of the liability of Barbados to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
Cabinet said it had been “informed of the state of the negotiations” which it later described as being “at a very sensitive stage” and that the government was informed that the negotiations would “continue until there is an agreement”
“Antigua and Barbuda’s object is to acquire sufficient common shares in LIAT that will give the administration a controlling position. Instead of collapsing LIAT or reducing the size of its operation, the Gaston Browne administration aims to enlarge LIAT’s routes and to operate LIAT as far north as Florida, stopping in places like Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic—leasing jet aircraft to achieve this bigger ambition.
“More than 700 LIAT employees will remain employed if this ambition is realized,” according to a note following the Cabinet meeting.
On Friday, Prime Minister Browne told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that he is not aware that negotiations with Barbados had broken down.
Media reports in Barbados had suggested that the talks, which began a week ago had broken down after only “a few hours”.
Browne said that “a counter offer was made by Antigua” telling CMC he would not be disclosing the offer “at this time.
“I am not at liberty to discuss the details,” Browne said.
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St John’s said it would seek to acquire the LIAT shares owned by Barbados, through a take-over of the liability of Barbados to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
Hope he knows that TWO MUST SIGN on the DOTTED lines and that since he is looking for the BEST for ANTIGUANS,PM MIA is looking for the BEST for BAJANS too where HYPOCRITES and BAD MINDED BAJANS like SAGAGIRL stand to benefit.
491 flights per week? I wanted what is the amount of tickets this translate to?
CARL "LIZ" HARPER that comment is so backward, I think you should just stick to environment related topics.
By the way Liz I understand that virgin Atlantic is or will be a partner in the new initiative by Antigua. Antigua will in the next two years be doing very well. They are about to entire into a 2 billion dollars development project.
Carl Liz Thompson Harper if your friend Mia you in bed with had plans of taking over the LIAT shares owned by Antigua and flying to Florida you would be praising her for such an initiative even though she and all the other Caribbean governments recuse to drop heir prices to increase inter regional travel. If LIAT f.ies to Jamaica why can't it fly from Jamaica to Florida? That is why CARICOM can work. Why don't you tell the people that Barbados itself has plans to establish its own airline and so does St Lucia and st Vincent.
Gaston Browne really has big plans for LIAT, indeed — as far as Florida?
Until LIAT can get its model right in the Caribbean, that cash-strapped airline isn’t going to make it beyond the 20th degree parallel.
Anyway, hurry up and buy the shares so Barbados can relieve itself of most of this burden and financial drain called LIAT.
With the treatment of LIAT to the Caribbean peoples' , all I can say is, "We are gluttons for punishment".
LIAT wont last 2 weeks going to Florida if it carry over it's slackness/tardiness of being LATE......at will.
We in the Caribbean tolerate the crap from LIAT , but others are serious when spending MONEY. You must prove to the flying public that you can properly take care of these short flights first of being ON TIME.