OBSERVER: More than half of the EC$2 million which was made available to severed LIAT workers in Antigua has gone unclaimed – eight months after the offer was made.
While the Antigua government accepted no legal liability for the collapse of LIAT, on December 20, – a year and a half after the Supreme Court appointed an administrator to control the airline’s operations – the state offered former employees 50 percent of the severance owed to them.
The offer has been made in the form of cash, bonds and land, but most of the former employees continue to reject the terms of what Prime Minister Gaston Browne described as a “compassionate” offer.
“We’ve offered them a very generous offer, and I am appealing to them to accept and let us move forward and settle this issue.
“Again, we accept no liability, but just a caring government that wants to bring them some relief. I am being told that we have over a million dollars still in the account after we made two million dollars available to them.
“So, if they so hungry and so broke, why they not taking the money?” Browne asked.
In fact, LIAT’s court-appointed administrator, Cleveland Seaforth, told state media that 150 employees have not come forward to accept the offer.
“We are presently holding another EC$1,000,060 to be distributed to 150 of the terminated employees.
“It is fair to say that in recent months, people have not really come to collect cheques. So about 50 percent of the money that the government made available for the payment of severance is still there and can easily be paid out.
“From my perspective, severance is the obligation of LIAT (1974) and it could only be paid from a disposal of assets,” Seaforth explained.
An estimated US$80,000 dollars is owed in severance to these workers, but PM Browne believes that this is as good as it may get.
LIAT has been operating a reduced schedule with a limited workforce since November 2020. Hundreds of ex-staff have been clamouring for their cash since the pandemic put the brakes on travel in March that year.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU), David Massiah, is refuting claims made by PM Browne that the resistance of LIAT employees to accept the compassionate payment offer is fuelled by the political motives of the union.
On Thursday, PM Browne implied that the union had political motives to delay the settlement and was misguiding the former employees in the hopes of sabotaging a resolution.
But Massiah told Observer media on Friday that the workers have never been opposed to the offer, nor has the ABWU ever sought help from the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) on this matter.
“I don’t know where we have gone and said we do not accept. Our challenge continues to be the way how government has rolled out this particular process and [the way that they have been treating] the workers along the way.
“In my capacity, at no time did the ABWU reach out to the UPP to ask or have any discussions on that matter of LIAT, and we are quite aware that we are an independent organisation,” Massiah said.
The problem, he said, is not with the union’s stance on behalf of their workers, but with the lack of adequate communication on the issue from the prime minister.
“What the union and the workers would have done is give the Antigua and Barbuda prime minister the option to go forward, but he has failed, and that is what it is. That is what he has not accepted.
“He has failed, because he has not communicated properly, and they expect to bully you into the position.
“So, I just want to say that the ABWU is not holding no card or grief for the UPP or any government anywhere; we are independent in our position, and the positions that we represent are that of the workers that are our paying members,” Massiah added.
Amidst the debate, a new airline has expressed interest in investing in the new version of LIAT, and Seaforth said the prospects look quite promising.
LIAT (1974) Ltd is expected to be liquidated and a new carrier, LIAT 2020, will officially be established.
The intention is for a West African-operated airline dubbed Antigua Airways to work with LIAT to fly passengers coming from West Africa to destinations near Antigua.
According to the administrator, LIAT 2020 is currently examining a draft offer, which will be followed by discussions.
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So the three stogies Directors current at LIAT; the Guyanese Engineer, The Fake American -know nothing do no work and the learn notting in school pilot- expert in everyting cause a he help Gad make the worl along with the Guyanese Administrator ah try fool arf Antiguan wid them pittance. What is being offered is less than 5 cents on the dollar. There are persons that LIAT (1974) owes 1.5 million. How then you can say to these people to come share 1 million among 820 of you?
The few who took the money are the ones the Guyanese Administrator unceremoniously fired , who have children to feed, have children to send to school with the bank threatening to repossess their vehicles and homes. They put their tails between their foot and take the pittance.
Just look how an Administration process which should have taken 6 months is now going into its third year. Follow the money people, follow the money. The FIRED staff were offered a total 2.5 million out of almost 90 million. How many millions did the Administrator make? 10, he alone? How much more he will be making while they hope the Nigerians give them plane and money?
A prophet is without honour in her own country. Too much bad mindedness inns Antigua. I don’t know the two men directors but the woman director dat you a call stoge a wan barn Antiguan. She sacrifice she time an money fu get qualifications. She is highly qualified. De woman have MBA in aviation and plenty experience. Employees in de office work 4 hours a day. A so ar you treat people when dem try fu better dem self an cum home to help wid nation building. Bad minded set a people.
A prophet is without honour in her own country. I don’t know the other two directors but I know the woman. She is highly qualified. That woman left her country for years to gain qualifications and experience. She has an MBA in aviation. Very few people ‘inna dis country hab dat’. The people in the office get pay for 4 hours a day. For heaven’s sake let’s appreciAte our people returning home for nation building. Antiguans too bad minded!!!
What stupidness are you talking about? Always trying to mislead people. The offer on the table from the PM is not $2million. It is 50% of the severance pay. So where does 5% come from? The $2 million was part of a relieve package for Christmas. But apparently, they don’t need it. But they cry every day that they have no money to feed their children. I mean they can try to sell the land and the bond and I’m sure both are very tradable these days. And you can use them as collateral by the bank. But let them follow the union’s advice and see where it will take them.
Former LIAT workers, you are being misled by the union. And the sooner you open your eyes, the better it will be for you. I do not remember Mia Motley sitting with the union when she gave the former LIAT workers a ” BDS$2000.00 LOAN” for Christmas. Which they have to pay back when they get their severance. The media and opposition here applauded her for her gesture. And Gaston was to take an example from that. Well, Gaston came back with an even better proposal. 50% of your severance, a combination of cash, bond and land. What else can someone that has nothing want? But the union has them believe that they should stand their ground and demand 100%. Well, all you will find out soon, when LIAT 1974 is liquidated. And a new LIAT 2020 will rise. You all will shed many tears. But you have only yourself to blame. I gave you examples of Stanford. A company with billions of dollars in Assets. That when liquidated could easily pay its workers. And by the way Mr. Stanford gave strict orders to use his funds at the BOA to pay his workers their severance. But the receivers had none of that. It took nine years for some of the workers to receive their money. Some didn’t live that long to see it. The same happened to places like Half Moon Bay. Many did not live to see a penny from their severance. And the union has many examples. They know. They were in many instances the representators from the workers. Especially in the case of Half Moon Bay. Why is it that they still give advice to their members when they know it will end up with the workers getting not a red cent. People, if you know what is good for you, fire your union collectively and make a deal with the administrator. Note that LIAT is not yet in receivership. Not one asset is sold. The administrator’s task is to see if he can bring LIAT back on its feet. If you feel you should frustrate that deal, well go ahead. Head you win, Tail you lose. Sorry in this case it will be Head you lose and Tail you lose also. In other words, there is no winning for you. LIAT will sell its good assets, which are the Good Will and the landing rights. Any other assets will be sold at 10 cents on the dollar. And most of the money will go to the CDB to pay off the loan and to preferred creditors.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock!
Me Gud Fren FTS! ” Fighting for the freedom of one’s people is not the only necessity. As long as the fight goes on you must enlighten not only the people but also, and above all yourself on the full measure of man. You must retrace the paths of history, the history of man damned by other men, and initiate, bring about, the encounter between your own people and others.” – Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of The Earth!
Keep on providing the historical referent points! This mere voice in the wilderness disagreed with you on GB and GoAB bailing out many because of their lack of thankfulness and in the long run GoAB unless it has tangible assets and capital to show, they will turn and rend it in twain!
Notwithstanding all that you have written and explained it is “An endless task, the cataloguing of reality. We accumulate facts, we discuss them, but with every line that is written, with every statement that is made, one has the feeling of incompleteness.” – Frantz Fanon Black Skin White Masks!
It’s as if they have know knowledge of Capitalism and Bankruptcy and the Resultant being cast adrift with pennies on the dollar. They are being told by the Unions to continue “Waiting For Godot!”
Oh Gad! Hab Mercy Pan Arwe!
The Prophet MBA was paid for by LIAT. A two year MBA the prophet took 5 years to complete. LIAT had to foot the many trips to France along with per diem etc. Dounce set a people. No wonder LIAT nor have no money.
A min two a dem, she an one Trikidadian lawyer but the Trikidadian smarter. She done fuh she in time and wid hanars. The prohpet..well that a wa anada story.
Lies, lies an more lies. KING LIAR U really out to destroy the Woman wid u lies. I know de truth becars me know the woman and she family. Just can’t stand wrongdoing. What de woman do to you? Are you so envious? As a former LIAT employee I can tell u She start de MBA program inna February 2015 an finish inna 2017. De woman na go back to France since graduation. She graduate wid honours. It was a scholarship. LIAT na pay one cent. Are u too bad minded.
Since U mention de Trikidadian lawyer u mussa she country woman fren den?? So u know how she use them Triki tricks too get plenty money outa LIAT. A way you min dey when they were plotting an writing plan to shut down LIAT? An a way you min dey wen LIAT per diems were paid to triki? An a way u min dey when dem a drive liat car and a get free gas fram liat hanger? An a way u min deywhen de big fat check was paid out an de poor employees could not get one paycheque. Attack those who destroy not those who build. Wicked and bad minded set a people!!!!!!
KING LIAR U really out to destroy the Woman wid u lies. I know de truth becars me know the woman and she family. Just can’t stand wrongdoing. What de woman do to you? Are you so envious? As a former LIAT employee I can tell u She start de MBA program inna February 2015 an finish inna 2017. De woman na go back to France since graduation. She graduate wid honours. It was a scholarship. LIAT na pay one cent. Are u too bad minded.
Since U mention de Trikidadian lawyer u mussa she country woman fren den?? So u know how she use them Triki tricks too get plenty money outa LIAT. A way you min dey when they were plotting an writing plan to shut down LIAT? An a way you min dey wen LIAT per diems were paid to triki? An a way u min dey when dem a drive liat car and a get free gas fram liat hanger? An a way u min deywhen de big fat check was paid out an de poor employees could not get one paycheque. Attack those who destroy not those who build. Wicked and bad minded set a people!!!!!!
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