NEWS RELEASE

Prime Minister Mitchell says Grenada will look at alternatives to LIAT

Thursday December 20, 2007, St. George’s: Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, has expressed serious concern on behalf of the people of Grenada and the region over the poor quality of service delivered by regional air carrier LIAT. Dr. Mitchell recalled that he has been bombarded by serious complaints from persons in Grenada and throughout the region and said that he too has experienced extremely long delays. “The new LIAT monopoly has set us back terribly. It feels like we are back in the eighties when we had no choice but to put up with poor service and long delays. The only difference between now and then is that it is so much more expensive to travel now. I spoke about this at the last Heads of Government Meeting and I want to reiterate the point that the LIAT monopoly is not a beneficial arrangement and I believe it cannot be continued,” Dr. Mitchell remarked.

Speaking from his St. George’s office, Prime Minister Mitchell said that the current state of LIAT has left Grenada no choice but to explore alternate solutions to the LIAT monopoly. He said that Grenada will be taking steps either on its own or in partnership with other interested Governments to give the traveling public alternatives to LIAT.

Dr. Mitchell noted that LIAT’s poor service was causing major disruption in the lives of persons right across the Caribbean. He said, “I am concerned about how LIAT’s service is affecting ordinary people. Our business community, our farmers, our sports men and women and the traders and traffickers who move between the islands on a daily basis are all suffering because of the unpredictability of the LIAT service. Even people who have to travel to Barbados or Trinidad to get visas are complaining bitterly about the service,

Dr. Mitchell also commented specifically on the latest industrial action. He said he finds it hard to see why a specific issue with one Government should be allowed to affect the economies of nearly all the countries throughout the region.

“Christmas is not only the time when Caribbean people reconnect with their loved ones, it is also the busiest and most productive time for our regional tourist industry.

At a time when global economic pressures are affecting everyone, we cannot afford any disturbances in our productive sectors. LIAT must recognize that it is a key partner in the region’s tourism industry and must therefore improve on the way it delivers service. The continued late operation of flights, high cost of tickets, and this latest industrial action hurts our entire region and makes the airline suffer even more,” Dr. Mitchell remarked.

“I have already stated that LIAT’s operations and pricing is affecting the regional integration effort. I am sure that the perception of an unreliable and expensive regional airline has turned many persons away from traveling. If we are serious about regional integration and servicing the needs of our people other alternatives must be considered which will help us realize our goals,” Dr. Mitchell said.

Office of The Prime Minister, December 20, 2007

http://www.gov.gd