After almost half a century of working below Caribbean authorities possession, the 67-year-old regional service LIAT is ready to conclude its present section as LIAT (1974) Ltd on January 24, based on Barbados Today.
This determination will sadly end in over 90 workers being laid off with out receiving their due funds, though assurances have been made concerning assembly the corporate’s obligations.
Barbados TODAY obtained a letter signed by the administrator, Cleveland Seaforth, dated Thursday, which conveyed this information.
Though the closure results in workers layoffs, a handful of workers are anticipated to remain behind to supervise the ultimate duties geared toward wrapping up the corporate’s affairs. This step is a part of the transition towards establishing its substitute, the proposed LIAT (2020) Restricted, based on one of many few remaining workers.
“After cautious consideration and analysis of the current operations, a choice has been taken by the court-appointed Administrator to completely stop all industrial flying operations as of shut of enterprise on January 24, 2024,” stated the letter by Seaforth who had been retained to run a scaled-down LIAT which collapsed in 2020, leaving lots of jobless throughout the area.
“On account of the foregoing, you’re hereby notified that your employment with LIAT (1974) Restricted (in administration) can be made redundant efficient February 4, 2024.”
Seaforth advised the workers the corporate was not ready to make any severance funds at this stage, however declared that it might not be shying away from its obligations to them on severance, trip pay, retroactive pay, and any excellent salaries.
“The corporate recognises its obligation because it pertains to any of the [aforementioned] relevant entitlements, which can be offered to you below separate cowl inside 45 days of this letter after the respective computations have been accomplished,” the letter stated.
An tried revival
Final yr, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne pushed for the long run route of LIAT, to be mentioned amongst CARICOM leaders.
Browne had been amongst these on the forefront looking for to reverse the fortunes of the Antigua-based airline.
In 2020, he introduced that LIAT could be liquidated following a collection of unsuccessful months as a result of COVID-19. The airline was reformed as a brand new entity that gives important connections between the Caribbean islands.
LIAT was owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica.
Browne stated that LIAT was wanted for larger connectivity “and to make sure that Caribbean individuals might transfer and transfer readily.” He had additionally hoped that the airline might complement the efforts of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airways.
However he additionally stated he believed that there are “regional competing forces that wish to see the demise of LIAT.”
