Gonsalves ... would love to see more governments bear LIAT's cost. - File

KINGSTOWN (CMC):

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) secretariat will be asked to consider engaging the services of an independent consultant to examine the high cost of air travel in the region, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, said Saturday.

Dr. Gonsalves, CARICOM lead Prime Minister on air and maritime transportation, made the disclosure at the end of the 22nd meeting of the CARICOM Bureau here on the weekend. The bureau, consisting of the current CARICOM chairman and the immediately outgoing and incoming chairmen, among other things, provides guidance to the secretariat on policy issues.

Gonsalves said the recommendation from the meeting emerged against the background of concerns by leaders about the high cost of air transportation and the likely impact on the region's development.

Different perspective

He said each country has a different view on the matter, but suggested the major LIAT shareholder governments (Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados) all have a shared idea about the seriousness of the situation.

"Different leaders have different perspectives and some of the perspectives of some leaders may be informed by a greater factual matrix than others," he said.

He added that LIAT has put its restructuring bill at US$80 million, noting that the cost will have to be borne by the three shareholder governments.

"Because the fares have gone up and because the cost of air travel has gone up, some governments which hitherto were not exercised on this issue have now become exercised because their citizens are demanding of them that this issue be addressed," he said.

He said governments that are not providing financial assistance or market support to LIAT but are giving support to non-regional airlines are being unfair to the regional carrier.

"I would love to see more governments come aboard with LIAT to help to bear the cost, because we have been bearing it for six years and in effect these three governments have been subsidising other governments," he said.

Dr. Gonsalves also dismissed as a "dream", any thoughts of a private-sector entity coming into the sky to rival LIAT, warning that such a move will go the way "of all flesh".