PEAS AND RICE; MACARONI PIE
MEAT BALLS; PASTA
STEW FOOD AND CHICKEN; BAKED PORK
BAKED CHICKEN; BBQ SPARERIBS
FRIED SNAPPER; FRIED STEAK FISH
STIR FRIED SEA CAT; BBQ PIG TAILS
STEAMED VEGETABLES
CHICKEN STEW; VEGETABLE GRAVY
TOSSED SALAD; COLE SLAW
St. Lucia Star
Digicel, The Bigger Better Network provided its support to the Windward and Leeward Brewery’s second annual Oktoberfest en Kweyol on Sunday October 4 at Samaan’s Park. Digicel continued to deliver on providing the best value and best savings at this bigger better festival with special offers on BlackBerry handsets, the ever popular Digicel double and Digicel Spin the Wheel which gave customers the opportunity to win incredible prizes including spa treatments from Shaun’s.
The Digicel interactive area saw many customers waiting for their opportunity to spin the wheel all hoping to walk away with a brand new, state of the art BlackBerry handset. The festival also provided customers the opportunity to sign up for their very own unlimited postpaid plans and receive their very own free BlackBerry handset!
“Digicel was extremely pleased and proud to be a part of this years’ Oktoberfest en Kweyol. This one of a kind festival highlighted St Lucia’s local cuisine and culture beautifully and gave Digicel customers the opportunity to also get more value for money with incredible offers on top ups and handset specials. ” said Digicel’s Country Manager, Keigan Cox.
Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival with roots originating in Munich, Germany also featured tasty Creole food and great Creole entertainment, bringing together cultures from the Caribbean and Europe. Scores of St Lucians came out on Sunday to support this unique festival.
From next year, Guyanese and overseas investors will be able to benefit from “unlimited and inexpensive” bandwidth when GT&T’s second fibre optic cable becomes operational, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of GT&T Yog Mahadeo says.
In a telephone interview, Mahadeo was asked to respond to recent statements by Geoffrey Da Silva, the Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), that GT&T’s prices for bandwidth were a deterrent to overseas investors and that these rates may have cost the country between 2,000 to 3,000 jobs.
The statements were made at an Investment Seminar held at the International Conference Centre as part of the Guy Expo Festivities, when Da Silva was responding to a question posed by an overseas participant about the availability of Information and Communication Techno-logies (ICTs) locally.
The CFO acknowledged that the current rates were high when compared with the prices in other Caribbean territories but he blamed this on the shortage in the local supply. “Whenever there is a shortage of supply, economic theory says that the price will be affected”, he said. Mahadeo further explained that one of the reasons for the high cost of bandwidth was that GT&T had invested in full satellite back up for voice services.
At the seminar, Da Silva had said that some firms involved in the call centre business had informed him that they were being charged US$8,000 for bandwidth services. He said that during meetings with some of the large international call centre companies, representatives had pointed out that what is preventing them from investing in Guyana is the high cost of bandwidth. He also noted that several call centres had ceased their operations.
When asked if the company was concerned that its high prices had reportedly deterred overseas call centres from investing locally, Mahadeo said that there are call centres operating locally and that GT&T had good working relationships with these companies.
He said that if indeed other companies had been deterred from investing in Guyana because of the high price for bandwidth, they could start setting up their businesses now since by mid-next year the price for bandwidth would be very “competitive”.
Mahadeo, however, said that it was unfortunate that the telecommunication sector was always being targeted. The CFO said that GT&T was committed to giving its best to the country.
He said that this sector depended on electricity and stated that the issue of a stable electricity supply is a serious one that would concern investors.
Da Silva said that that competition may be necessary to get the best rates and stated that there had been negotiations with French investors for them to run another fibre optic cable to the country. He was, however, unable to say how these negotiations were progressing. Da Silva, however, said that options were being pursued.
A senior official at GT&T, who requested anonymity, told this newspaper that contrary to what many believe GT&T does not have a monopoly on bandwidth since there are other sellers of bandwidth in the country. The official said that these persons get their bandwidth off a satellite and sell it to customers.
CARICOM, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Government of Barbados on Thursday signed an amendment to the CIDA-funded Contribution Agreement for the CARICOM Trade and Competitiveness Programme.
The amendment reflects the new arrangement regarding the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) of the CARICOM Secretariat which replaced the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), stated a news release from the CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen.
The Government of Barbados had undertaken fiduciary responsibility for the financial management and contracting on behalf of the programme.
The brief ceremony was held at the Accra Beach Hotel and Resort, Christ Church, Barbados.
Secretary General of CARICOM, Edwin Carrington, Minister Counsellor (Development), High Commission of Canada to Guyana Douglas Williams, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Barbados, William Layne affixed their signatures to the amendment of the Agreement.
In brief remarks at the signing, Secretary-General Carrington expressed appreciation to the Government of Canada for its support, and pointed out that over the years Canada had proven to be a “special friend” of the Caribbean at the regional and bilateral levels.
“Our relations with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) have grown to the extent that it is now considered to be a highly valued international development partner for the region. Among the many important areas in which CIDA has provided grant assistance to the region has been that of trade and competitiveness, a most vital area as the region seeks to secure its place in the international economic and trading arena,” the release quoted the Secretary-General as saying.
And according to Williams, the amendment demonstrated Canada’s continued support to the region.
Ambassador Gail Mathurin, new Director General of the OTN, also reflected on Canada’s contribution to regional development. She noted that Canada’s support was essential in enabling the region to develop its capacities to meaningfully engage in the international trade negotiations arenas.
She offered her personal commitment to building and sustaining “this fruitful partnership,” and added that the financial support provided under the Agreement would continue to be used to build and effectively utilize the technical capacities and trade negotiation skills within the region.
It would also improve OTN’s efficiency and effectiveness in the preparation for and undertaking of trade negotiations, especially with regard to strengthening its systems to facilitate critical stakeholder participation in the negotiation process.
STABROEK NEWS (GUYANA)
The origin of the Friday fire which completely destroyed three buildings and badly damaged another on Regent Street, has left businessmen, employees and residents who have been affected seeking answers from the Guyana Power and Light Company.
However, Chairman of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Winston Brassington told the media yesterday that an investigation into the fire is ongoing and that he could not comment until the findings are released.
Efforts to contact Fire Chief Marlon Gentle for comment yesterday proved futile.
The aftermath of Friday’s fire. (Jules Gibson photo)
The fire completely destroyed Regent Household Electronics, the bond behind the building, and the home of Rudolph Montouth and his reputed wife Mildred Gibbs. The upper two flats of the three storey building which housed DM Beauty World were also destroyed by the fire.
On Friday, employees at the M. Umraow and Sons store opposite Household Electronics told this newspaper that around 4:50 pm they noticed the wire that connects that building to the electricity post, sparking. This section of the wire is attached to the building before it runs down to the meter. One of the employees said that “it catch on the wire first, started sparking, and… it start spread on the wire into the building.”
Yesterday one man said “the fire is totally GPL fault, totally their fault”.
Another resident, John Piggott, echoed the sentiments of the businessman who said that “in spite of whether they [GPL] offer compensation or not, the fire was started by the sparking electrical wires”. The man then proceeded to show this newspaper photographs of the sparking wires in front of Household Electronics.
The sparking wires (blue spot at centre of photo) at Household Electronics which is believed to have started the blaze. (John Piggott photo)
Residents in the area told this newspaper yesterday that contrary to some reports there was no blackout prior to the fire starting.
When this newspaper visited the scene yesterday morning at about 11 am, there was still a heavy police presence on the scene as barricades were still in front of the burnt buildings. Later, investigators were observed sifting through the debris.
Meanwhile, employees of the two enterprises affected by the fire had gathered, many contemplating the way forward. A manager at DM Beauty World, who declined to be named, was unable to give an estimate as to how much was lost at the store. The manager said that they were waiting for the owner of the building Mukesh Daby, who was expected to arrive in the country last evening to determine the way forward.
The manager disclosed that neither she nor the employees had been briefed by the Guyana Fire Service or the Guyana Police Force as yet.
Meanwhile efforts to contact Shaheed Hamid, the owner of Household Electronics Store yesterday were unsuccessful. However, when this newspaper asked one of the man’s close relatives if the building was insured he said that he was unsure but that “he hoped so.” The man was also unable to say anything about the value of the property lost.
At around midday, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds performing the function of President visited the site and spoke briefly with the employees of the affected businesses as well as relatives of the owners of these establishments. He offered his condolences to them and wished them the best in their recovery efforts.
In a comment to this newspaper, Hinds described the fire as “a loss to individuals and to the nation”. He added that fire was to be “regretted” since it destroyed capital and various accumulations of wealth.
Restoring Order
Meanwhile, residents who lived in the vicinity were trying to restore some semblance of order to their homes and lives.
When this newspaper visited the Lot 142 W ½ home of seventy-nine year-old Iris Yee, relatives and friends were doing repairs to her home. This home is located directly west of DM Beauty World. The woman was not at home at the time and Stabroek News was told by her nephew John Piggott that she was resting comfortably at a relative.
According to Piggott his aunt usually lives alone but he would spend time with her occasionally. He said yesterday was one such occasion but he was not with her when the fire started. He said that he was at a neighbouring building when he received a telephone call from his aunt who told him about the blaze. According to him, the women then exited the building on her own where he collected her and carried her to safety.
Piggott said that substantial damage was done to the home, as windows were broken, part of the building was scorched and the roof was also damaged. He explained that fireman entered his aunt’s home in their attempt to control the blaze and in this process damage was done to the property, which has been home to his aunt for more than twenty years.
When asked to estimate the losses, Piggott said that it was certainly in excess of $1 million.
A relieved Suzanne D’Anjou is flanked by her two daughters Nikisha (left) and Miriam (Jules Gibson photo)
Suzanne D’Anjou and her two daughters Miriam and Nikisha are grateful that their home is still intact, after they had feared for the worst. Their home is located in the same yard as Iris Yee’s and her neighbours to the east were Rudolph Montouth and Mildred Gibbs who lost their home in the blaze.
When this newspaper visited the house, the trio was busy cleaning and trying to get their home in order. Suzanne said that the damage done to the home was minimal. According to her they were able to save most of their valuable equipment. The woman stated that the side of the building was scorched and that her carpets and mattresses got badly soaked.
Destroyed by the fire: The building where Rudolph Montouth used to live with his reputed wife Mildred Gibbs (Jules Gibson photo)
The woman and her two daughters, however, are also looking for their dog Parker. The animal got lost during the fire. The dog is a brown and black dachshund with white paws. According to D’Anjou persons said that they saw the dog in the area last evening but they did not know who it belonged to.
Over at the Nicholas Mc Lean Animal Hospital staffers were getting things in order and they too were grateful that there had not been any significant damage.
Kathryn McLean, wife of the owner, said that her husband is currently overseas. According to her, the animals were all evacuated after the fire started and spent the night at the GSPCA. Staffers at the hospital noted that the animals may experience some amount of trauma because of the fire but she said this is carefully monitored by the staff.
One of the employees at the Animal Hospital, Christopher Perkins had to be hospitalized after sustaining injuries while engaged in heroic deeds at the scene of the fire. Perkins is 24-years old and is a Veterinary Technician.
Describing him as “one of the heroes of the day”, Mc Lean said that Perkins was busy moving property and later decided to go on the roof of the building to help the officers hose the fire. She said that at one point he was left alone on top of the building with the hose.
Explaining, how the young man got injured, Mc Lean said that at some point while traversing the area, Perkins slipped and fell and injured his shoulder in the process. He was rushed to a private hospital where he was admitted. He is recovering well this newspaper was told.
Jerome De Freitas recounting yesterday the heroic acts of the fire-fighters as he stood in his backyard. To the left of the photograph is the fence which was damaged during the battle to contain the blaze. (Jules Gibson photo)
Jerome De Freitas, the proprietor of Jerome De Freitas & Sons at 175 E ½ Charlotte Street, was high in praise for the fire-fighters who helped to quell the blaze on Friday from the back of his yard. The man’s property is located behind the building which housed Household Electronics. According to him, had it not been for their quick thinking and bravery more property would have been damaged since several of the properties in the neighbourhood are made of wood.
According to De Freitas, he was in his house at the front of the yard, when he observed the fireman run through his gate and down to the back of the yard where they began to apply the hose to the burning building. He said that soon more hoses were applied to the task from his yard and those of neighbours.
He said that the fire officers took great care in soaking the neighbouring houses in Charlotte Street, actions which he described as extremely wise, since these buildings were at risk because of the wind direction at the time.
During the firemen’s efforts to extinguish the fire, De Freitas’ fence was damaged but he considers this a small price to pay for what could have been more serious and devastating damage.
Chris Zacca … will be part of the job-cut review. With a re-examination of the size and operations of the government bureaucracy having been set in motion, spurred by the Government’s ballooning wage bill, Jamaica’s top civil servant says the new size and shape of the new public sector should be clear in five months’ time.
His comments come even as public-sector unions warn that any major job cuts would hurt the Government and impede service delivery, a clear sign that the process will be a rough slog and is likely to be fraught with clashes.
“I would expect that by the next financial year, the prime minister will see results,” said Cabinet Secretary Douglas Saunders, who is 16 months into the job.
The process is being marketed by the
The public sector comprises 117,000 government-paid workers.
But outside of the PM’s late-September presentation in Parliament saying the police and some health-sector workers were not central to the contemplated cuts, no one is confirming the groups most likely to lose their jobs.
Ambassador Douglas Saunders … says the review would be wrapped up in five months.
national output
The Government initially programmed $125.7 billion for wages for 2009-2010, a figure which, although 11 per cent of the value of total national output, has since risen to $157 billion, according to Golding.
About 60 per cent of the wage bill goes to paying teachers, police and health-sector workers.
Saunders has said that initially, the Government will be looking for reorganisation and staff reductions first at ministries and public-sector agencies that depend on funding from the Government - a statement that covers much of the state bureaucracy, as very few agencies are self-financing.
Chris Zacca, who dropped his private-sector job with Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s business empire to take up an advisory position to the prime minister just this month, will play a major role in the reconfiguration and public-sector downsizing, Daryl Vaz, the minister with responsibility for information, announced last week.
Golding, on September 30, ended months of hedging on whether public servants would be sent packing when the Government was forced to jack up, by $6.3 billion, the $555 billion 2009-2010 Budget presented earlier this year.
no redundancies in the public sector
“In crafting the Budget earlier this year, I gave an assurance that there would be no redundancies in the public sector this year. Since then, we have been confronted with new wage settlements for teachers and nurses that add a further $16 billion annually to the public-sector wage bill, not including retroactive payments,” Golding told lawmakers.
“This wage-bill burden cannot be sustained, or else we will do nothing else but pay salaries and service debt.”
In late August, Golding, echoing earlier declarations that state job cuts were not part of any talks with the International Monetary Fund, told a Gleaner Editors’ Forum that the Government would spare government workers the axe this financial year.
“We gave a commitment that we would not cut the civil service and this is in relation to this fiscal year. It was in part a trade-off for the position we had to take that we would not be able to pay the seven per cent wage increase,” he said.
“… It was part of what we hoped would have been a bargain; we have to maintain that.”
But at the time, the prime minister did not rule out nudging some government-paid employees, tempted by the prospect of full pension benefits, to walk voluntarily, ahead of the wholesale job losses expected to take effect March 31, 2010.
Speaking with Sunday Business last week, Ambassador Saunders steered clear of any comment on measures to be pursued this fiscal year to start trimming the service.
He was also mum on what percentage of the 117,000 strong public-sector workforce the Government would like to shave.
“The prime minister, in due course, will deliberate on that,” Saunders said.
Wayne Jones, the Jamaica Civil Service Association president and acting head of the umbrella labour group, the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), has waded into the debate, latching on to the PM’s acknowledgement that some jobs were secure, to suggest that the Government’s bark might be worse than its bite.
Wayne Jones … says public sector should be re-engineered, not cut.
disaggregating the numbers
“When the prime minister struts out a 117,000 number, it seems big, and it seems as though the public sector is overwhelming, but when you disaggregate the numbers, you are talking about some areas you cannot cut,” Jones told Sunday Business.
The civil service union head noted that of the 41,353 positions in the central-government establishment, 10,800, including 1,000 empty posts, were police personnel, while a little more than 10,000 were health-sector workers, including doctors, nurses and dietitians.
The remaining 20,000, he said, were administrative posts in the various ministries and agencies. It appears that it is on this civil-service group that the axe will fall.
The rest of the public sector includes 22,000 teachers - no one is expecting cuts within that group; and some 53,000 jobs in state agencies, some of which are expected to be on the chopping block.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding … will personally oversee jobs review project. - File photos
But Jones is warning the government that in sending home these workers, it could very well hurt its capacity to deliver services.
“When you cut people, remember you are cutting service delivery, too,” he said.
“Can this country afford to undermine the already inadequate service delivery? My answer to that is no.”
accusing the administration
The interim JCTU head is accusing the administration of not knowing what it wants from its bureaucracy, suggesting the talk of cuts is a premature knee-jerk reaction.
“Cuts come when we determine what we need; right now we don’t know what we need,” Jones asserted.
He suggested that the Government’s administrative machinery was in need of “re-engineering, not cuts”.
Despite the pronouncement from the cabinet secretary on the tight timeline for sending government workers packing, Jones is not convinced that the deadline will be met.
“We have a history in this country of having announcements preceding action by years,” he said, describing Golding’s job-cut plan as “a pie in the sky”.
The union leader is urging the Government to engage the workers’ representatives and to do so early, a position endorsed by the head of another government workers’ union.
“It is the usual knee-jerk reaction,” said Helene Davis-Whyte, general secretary of the Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers (JALGO).
JALGO represents more than 5,000 workers in parish councils and central-government departments.
“If you talk about saving billions of dollars, you would have to send home everyone,” said Whyte.
“It is difficult to see where the cuts will come from. So I couldn’t even hazard a guess.”
NWA project management -$400,000 Bartlett’s executive chair - $77,046
Building owner gets $2.5 million for modifications and new air conditioning
While the Government struggles to fund the island’s Budget and crucial sectors face financial shortfalls, and families are forced to cut back on expenditure, at least one ministry has spent more than $8 million to refurbish and redecorate its suite of offices.
The Sunday Gleaner captures the cost and elegance of the Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett’s New Kingston office. Based on the state of the island’s economy, should a cap be placed on the expenditure for public-office renovations? Dr Jean Dixon, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, believes setting a cap would be an effective way to curb such spending.
—————–
Suite cents
Chairs:
Executive leather chair for Bartlett
(Stationery and offices supplies)- $77,046
Eight executive chairs for conference room - $96,000
Blinds: Wooden blinds:(Blinds and Things)- $126,696
Fabric blinds:(Regency Blinds)- $18,532
Furniture Re-upholstery and Refinishing:
Thelyn’s Custom Interiors - $98,550
L.P. Azar Limited - $99,725
Artistic Woodcraft - $263,758
Decorative painting: by Andrew Thompson - $16,600
Paint - True Value $7,041.01
Re-uplholstery, woodwork, fabric - $462,033
Services
NWA’s project manager’s fee - $422,403
Interior design consultation services - $220,000
C P Specialist Limited - $3,971,205
Jamaica Property Company Limited - $2,417,289.13
Jamaica Property Company Limited - $2,224.20
Eight executive chairs - $96,000
Grand total: $7,837,069.34
by BARRY ALLEYNE
BARBADOS IS AT RISK of having way too many educated people, and not enough jobs available.
And Prime Minister David Thompson is urging the population to be more vigilant and ingenious, and start spotting areas where self-employment would be more viable than job searching.
The Prime Minister made the suggestion last night, as he officially opened the new offices of the Barbados Stock Exchange on 8th Avenue, Belleville, St Michael.
“More Barbadians need to consider self-employment as a serious option. Barbados nowruns the risk of having large numbers of educated citizenswho are unemployed.”
According to Thompson, more employment opportunities now needed to be envisioned that were commensurate with the education Barbadians were receiving, and that the financial services centre had the potential to meet such a demand.
“More and more Barbadians will need to become entrepreneurs,” Thompson suggested.
“They need to be capable of spotting and capitalising on niches in the global marketplace. We need to expand the business community by drawing on entrepreneurs from classes other than those which have traditionally suppliedour industry and commerce.”
The Prime Minister also noted that by the time the current recession was complete, the fundamental changes that were accelerated by the technological revolution would have manifested themselves more fully, and all the goods and services Barbadians consumed would be produced more cheaply by people more efficient.
“This will pose a serious threat to our rights to work and to earn a decent living.
“We all need more educationin money management, and Barbadians of all classes need to turn a six into a nine, without inflation,” Thompson urged.
He also made a number of suggestions to the board of the Barbados Stock Exchange.
“There is an urgent need to repair the damage done [by the current recession] and restore confidence and trust, creating an environment of transparency and inclusiveness in the activities of capital markets, so more Barbadians will participate in the trading of financial instruments,” the Prime Minister added.
He also noted that Barbados had to create an environment that was conducive to business development.
“Our financial institutions need to become more efficient and more appealing to the masses,” he said.
by TREVOR YEARWOOD
A TWO-DAY CONVOCATION on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) has given regional heads of government a list of concerns and recommendations from bankers, trade unionists, politicians and others.
Concerns include the impact impoverished Haiti will have on CARICOM’s freedom of movement programme.
Among the suggestions was establishment of a Social Welfare Stabilisation Project to preserve public sector jobs and government welfare programmes across CARICOM.
The issues were raised yesterday during a two-hour open forum that brought the curtain down on the meeting at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Centre.
Political activist and pan-Africanist David Comissiong called for the Social Welfare Stabilisation Project, saying it was necessary because with the downturn in regional economies both jobs and welfare programmes faced cuts.
Prominent banker Robert LeHunte, representing the Caribbean Association of Indigenous Banks, spoke of the possible impact of more than two million Haitians qualifying under CARICOM’s free movement of people.
He said it was an issue that had the potential to change the lifestyles to which Caribbean people had grown accustomed and should be looked at closely.
Barbados’ Opposition Leader Mia Mottley told reporters she had also suggested the region set up a “CNN-type of real-time news and information network”.
‘Real-time’ news
The idea is to disseminate news and information about the region and its people in “real time”, she explained.
In the open forum, Barbados Workers’ Union representative Veronica Griffith urged financial and other support for the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), saying that it was “on its last leg”.
Government backbencher James Paul, representing the Caribbean Farmers Network, suggested regional governments look closely at franchises in an environment in which heavily subsidised imports were competing with local food.
Speaking of the impact of franchises on the region’s thrust to increase food production, he said:
“They haven’t helped that much.”
The Caribbean Policy Development Centre’s Cecilia Babb called on CARICOM leaders to “put something in place to make it easier to move goods from one place to the next”.
Good governance
National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) representative Walter Maloney called for a “good governance model for the Caribbean” and harmonisation of various labour laws.
Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU) president Mary Redman said educators had a role to play in advancing the CSME but it was necessary to settle the “disturbing issue of teachers’ salaries”.
The meeting was a break with tradition, bringing opposition parties, the business community, labour leaders and civil society in contact with regional heads of government to discuss major issues.
The initiative received widespread praise.
However, former St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony said while he welcomed the move, he felt that more needed to be done to get beyond talking and to achieve positive results.
He said it would have been far better to approach it as a problem-solving exercise.
Chairing the meeting, Prime Minister David Thompson said the views expressed would be acted upon.
Prime Minister David Thompson (left) with regional counterparts Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago (centre) and Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines during discussionson the CARICOM Single Market and Economy yesterday. (Picture by Nigel Browne.)
by Trevor yearwood
LIAT (1974) Limited is in line for a US$54 million upgrade of its aircraft fleet.
According to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the airline is preparing to buy three new planes.
It is replacing its three 37-seater aircraft with three 50-seaters.
LIAT is to have discussions with Chinese, Brazilian and Dash-8 aircraft suppliers with a view of getting the best deal possible, Gonsalves told reporters here yesterday.
Buying new aircraft was among the issues discussed yesterday morning by heads of the LIAT shareholder governments – Gonsalves, Barbados’ Prime Minister David Thompson, and his Antigua and Barbuda counterpart, Baldwin Spencer.
The discussions took place against the backdrop of the two-day convocation on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Centre.
“A main issue we discussed strategically (yesterday) morning was the question of new aircraft,”Gonsalves said.
“We need some new aircraft. The three (Dash-8) 100s, which we own, we’d like to replace them with 300s.”
According to him, about US$54 million was required for the “fleet renewal”.
Gonsalves said the Chinese were “interested”in making a sale.
“They have given us the model for an aircraft which they would like to sell us,” he said.
“The Chinese want to get a foothold in the market. They will have generous commercial terms which they grant you. There are different ways in which you can get the money.
“We have gotten planes already from Canada through the Export Development Corporation and we got those planes at very good prices. We were able to deal with our debt. Some of it was forgiven . . . .”
Gonsalves said talks were also planned with Brazilian aircraft suppliers and the Dash-8 suppliers, with LIAT “looking for the best commercial deal”.
The meeting involving the three LIAT shareholder governments also discussed the dispute with the pilots’ association, LIALPA, and the financial stateof the airline. The main matter of contention between the management and LIALPA is salaries and working conditions, over which pilots have staged industrial action.
Gonsalves appeared optimistic that the dispute with the pilots would soon be over.
“We are going to sort this thing out. There is a procedure and we just have to give the process time to work.”
However, he appeared to hold out no hope for a cut in LIAT’s fares in the near future. He said taxes were one component of airline ticket costs and when fares were reduced governments had to find ways to finance airport projects.