LIAT 2020’s April lift-off date is unlikely, UPP says, while Tabor calls for sharing of Air Peace agreement once again

While expressing hope that LIAT will take to the skies again, this
time under its new “2020 Ltd.” tag, the United Progressive Party
(UPP) is not optimistic that the April 2024 deadline will be realized.
Earlier, it had been announced that the new carrier would be
airborne by mid-March.

However, that goal post was changed, and the Browne
Administration has said that negotiations are about to be concluded
on the purchase of an aircraft from the Caribbean Development
Bank (CDB).

The March 13 Cabinet Notes reported that the regional bank and the
Government are about to finalize negotiations on the purchase of an
airplane from the LIAT (1974) Ltd. fleet. 

Reportedly, a lease has been signed, and that aircraft will allow LIAT
2020 Ltd. to apply for an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), which is
required for any airline company to operate here.

As a result, Prime Minister Gaston Browne estimates that the April
2024 deadline for take-off can be met.

However, Damani Tabor, the UPP public relations officer, says that
any timeline given by the Browne Administration should not be
taken seriously.

In support, he points to the significant number of failed projects that
never met their timelines during the nine years in which Browne
announced them.

Tabor says the UPP wants to see the airline succeed. But it is again
calling for the agreement with the Government’s partner, Air Peace,
to be made public.

This, he says, is to put the public’s mind at rest and assure residents
it is not another backdoor deal to support a creative-enrichment
scheme.

According to Tabor, suggestions by Ambassador Daven Joseph, the
chairman of LIAT 2020 – that the UPP should use the Freedom of
Information Act to gain sight of the agreement between the
Government and Air Peace are unacceptable.

Rather, he says, a transparent government would voluntarily
produce these documents upon request.

Tabor insists that the public has a right to see the document since it
is their money being spent in this partnership.

That was Damani Tabor, UPP public relations officer.