Grenada has indicated its willingness to subsidize the cash-strapped regional carrier, LIA. Over the years Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines has called for Caribbean countries that benefit from LIAT to either pay up or shut up as it relates to the operations of the regional carrier.
Grenada’s tourism minister explained that Grenada had withdrawn financial support for the airline because it had been fraught with shortcomings, ranging from perpetual industrial action and late arrivals and departures to bad customer service. But now she explains that Grenada is now ready to “pay to play” in order to maintain service from the airline. Meantime, Antigua and Barbuda has already begun to introduce new airlift in an effort to mitigate any major fallout from unreliable service and periodic industrial action at LIAT.