With the majority of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member countries heavily dependent on visitor arrivals it comes as no surprise that the near region-wide clamor for more flights to and within the region continue to arise at the political level with monotonous regularity. St. Lucia became the latest CARICOM state to join the clamor when, earlier in the current month, the island’s Minister of Investment, Tourism and Creative Industries, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, during an interview with Trinidad and Tobago Business Guardian called for the introduction of “another Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) to be added to the region’s air transport inventory.” While, over time LIAT has come in for sharp and sustained criticism for what its critics contended was shoddy and reliable service Dr. Hilaire was quoted as saying that notwithstanding the criticism that the airline has faced over the years the service was solely needed now. “LIAT is part of the regional landscape. Now that does not say LIAT does not have problems or anything like that, but the airline is needed,” the Minister is quoted as saying. “In fact, for everyone who criticized the regional carrier, what would they pay to have the airline operating once again,” the Minister said during his exchange with the T&T Business Guardian.
Movement at the intra-regional level, particularly, has given rise to a clamor for an increase in the number of intra-regional flights and Dr. Hilaire is not the first regional official to float the idea of the restoration of LIAT. St. Lucia, Dr. Hilaire said “is committed to supporting any effort in creating regional connectivity,” though whether the region can or will come up with the financial resources to re-create another LIAT is unclear. Back in November 2021, Guyana’s Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, had told local reporters that LIAT had applied to resume flights to Guyana though he said that the airline should not anticipate approval of its application until the authorities receive the requisite assurance of the company’s ‘fitness’ to deliver a service. “LIAT will not receive the necessary aviation approval until the government is assured of the company’s steadfastness.” When pressed on the requirements for permission, the Public Works Minister answered, “It has to do with the assurances that we can have.” “… Passengers don’t want to be buying tickets and be left with a stub in their hand and no carrier to bring them back or take them in,” Edghill stated.
