The Prime Minister of Grenada, Keith Mitchell, says his government is prepared to offer subsidies to LIAT (Antigua and Barbuda) (Antigua) to serve the island but has ruled out funding the airline’s operations.
Mitchell's comments come after he was able to persuade the pan-Caribbean carrier to cut only one weekly flight to Grenada despite previous plans to cut more. LIAT has blamed a lack of adequate capacity needed to service its extensive Caribbean network for persistent delays.
However, regional leaders, whose governments contribute to the airline's budget, have expressed outrage at the lack of value-for-money.
“Grenada will have no difficulty providing some subsidy to LIAT but I am not taking money and give it and say spend it as you want… That is an offer I made since Jean Holder was the chairman,” Mitchell was quoted by the Jamaica Observer.
So far this year, Prime Ministers for St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines have warned they will not contribute any further funds to LIAT given the poor service they have had to endure.
As it stands, Grenada says it has followed St. Lucia's approach and has announced it is now actively courting Caribbean Airlines (BW, Port of Spain) as well as other carriers to service the island.
