Former Tourism and Economic Development Minister the Honourable Asot Michael has thrown his full weight behind efforts by Prime Minister Gaston Browne to save LIAT from liquidation.
The Prime Minister has proposed a series of cost cutting measures aimed at reorganising LIAT to place it on a profitable route, as opposed to the piecemeal liquidation of the airline as proposed by at least two of his CARICOM colleagues.
Speaking at an emergency sitting of the Lower House On Saturday July 11, 2020, on the Companies Amendment Bill 2020, Michael affirmed his support for “the fearless and relentless position” taken by Prime Minister Browne in support of saving LIAT.
“You don’t need to send a rocket to the moon to start a new LIAT. I have confidence in Prime Minister Browne that we will do it. We don’t want to do it alone but he has the connections and I will assist in whatever little way I can. We will travel the world and we will find investors. Once we have an institution that we can connect the Caribbean people,” he said.
Michael, the Member of Parliament for St. Peters noted that Browne has demonstrated his commitment to workers dating back to his days when he was employed in the 1990s as Senior Manager of Swiss American Bank. Michael also pointed to Browne’s intervention in the West Indies Oil Company in which the government and people of Antigua & Barbuda now enjoys 51 percent ownership.
Michael continued, “PM Browne has proven his financial prowess and creativity to resolve complex financial situations.” Michael recalled how PM Browne rescued the bankrupt ABIB and protected all depositors’ monies; resolved the debt crisis that his government inherited in 2014 from the UPP when the economy was on the precipice of financial disaster. “We paid all the debt that we inherited from the UPP to include: the IMF, WIOC, millions to APC for electricity, millions to Semcorp for water, fuel owing to WIOC, and paid down sums owing for the Wadadli Power Plant at Crabbs.”
He said despite his friendships with Vincentian Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, “I cannot love them more than I love the people of Antigua & Barbuda.”
“The oath that I took is the oath that I have to the people of this country,” Michael said.
He said the country’s contribution to the airline over the years should not be allowed to go down the drain through the proposed liquidation.
Antigua & Barbuda over the years has pumped over 100 million dollars into LIAT.
“Still, do we need to do away with it?” he asked.
“We are a CARICOM collective of nations and within that an OECS collective – literally larger than the singularity that is Caribbean Airlines out of Trinidad and Tobago. Are we unable? Incompetent? Or unwilling?
“And, while Antigua is poised to “continue” the legend that is the Leeward Island Air Transport (2020), we must still accept that LIAT has served more than the Leewards and it is, without doubt, the longest-standing Caribbean Airline. Many things within the region attract opposition and indifference – integration being top amongst them. Why though can’t we argue as strongly about the unfortunate restrictions of travel amongst CARICOM states, as we do about the actual airline that connects us all? The simple answer, in my view, is we are too caught up with what is more important to us as individual states than what is important us a collective,” he said.
He said just like the survival of other regional institutions, he supports the fight of the Prime Minister to keep LIAT flying. And just like how the United States and EU developed their own systems of movement Michael believes the Caribbean Community can do the same with LIAT.
Making reference to his tenure as Minister of Tourism, Michael said he understands the challenge of freedom of movement but that the region should be able to carry the collective burden of a regional enterprise.
“So what we need to do here Mr Speaker is to set a side narrow political partisan politics. For too long we have allowed our individual development to affect the freedom of movement of our own people,” he added.
The Companies Amendment Act 2020 which MP Asot Michael fully supported, gives companies in Antigua & Barbuda the option of reorganising before considering liquidation.
LIAT 1974 Limited employs over 600 people throughout he Caribbean with about 300 of them here in Antigua & Barbuda where the airline is headquartered.
The airline has been on the ground since March as the coronavirus reduced demand for intra-regional travel.
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Wha music ah play ina de background when dem man a walk ?? Boas nf
Sounds like confusion. Maybe you need to rewrite your posting????
I agree.liat must keep the Carribbean connected!an the staff of liat must return to work in this tuff time of covid.Ino the country isn’t in the best health,so u guys can’t rush u need a master plan to handle that major step which looks like a plus for Antigua.
Sad that Antigua is fighting for Caribbean connection when other countries are not interested. This is like calling someone on the phone who does not want to talk to you. The philosophy of reaching out sounds good but reality is where most people have to live. Certain countries only want to connect when things benefit them which is natural. When Jamaica was rich they didn’t want anything to do with small islands. Now the small islands are a refuge for poor Jamaicans who want to better their lives. Unfortunately, as it is now due to the size of the islands only so much it can do and the burden of these foreigners is causing Antiguans to suffer. Even more discomforting is that the same people who brought the extra burden think that Antiguans should carry the extra load and not them.
Well said Mr Michael. Lets show ralph gonzales and mia motley that we can do it. With God on our side and determination as our mantra we will overcome. I stahd firm with you PM Browne.
Mr Michael hats of to you for that powerful piece.
Mia and Ralph i guess have no children because if they did they would think differently. When parents are unenployed and they have children to feed, you think it easy?! PM browne fight on Dominica is with you!
Just do something jack me wa come home.
Hon. PM, watch your back. The rains have started and the snails are out full force, and not only those of the giant, African variety. Pay attention!!!
How did this become a news item? Every human, cat, dog and creature in 🇦🇬 supports the efforts of the PM to revive a re-structured LIAT. Besides morale support, what else does the MP have to offer?
A worthwhile story would be… “MP has found investors to revive LIAT”. THAT…. would be something to print.
So…. everyday, are we going to see the MPs, one by one, publicly pledge their support for the PM and LIAT?
Must have been a slow news day..
@Frank Southwell
What is the position of the Minister of Aviation.
Since the news broke have you heard even a whisper from Robin Yearwood?
What kind of administration is this where the person with direct responsibility has nothing to say on such serious matter.
ANR, this is not about politics.This is about over 400 workers for LIAT in Antigua and Barbuda.Michael throwing his weight behind Gaston does not hold water.Michael holds no power.He is not a Member of the Cabinet.Yes,he is a Parliamentarian/backbencher.
Liat is the only airline going to all Caribbean. The 6 planes that is put to replace liat only Caribbean Airlines is the only one going to st.maaten. No matter even if liat taxes are expensive, or luggage are being lost that is the only airline we the people of st.lucia and the Caribbean can rely on. After all that daily fights liat have in st.lucia I wonder why Chasnet didn’t invest in liat instead, or is it because he bankrupt air jamaica his afraid.
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