PM Gonsalves: St Vincent bore brunt of disruption

St. Vincent and the Grenadines and travelers to and from this country may have suffered more than others in the final weeks of the impasse between management of LIAT and pilots.{{more}}

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made this assessment on Monday at the press conference held here to announce that the two bodies had decided to go to arbitration, in an effort to resolve their differences.

The Prime Minister said that although he was one of the most outspoken persons in the fight for the regional airline, it was recognized that Vincentians bore the brunt of the disruption.

“The point was made by more than one person that St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we suffered disproportionately at this time, because we had carnival. And I must tell you, because of my own role in the matter it struck hard.”

“It was as though all that had I had done, that my own people were suffering the most.”

“It is as what people say: ‘No good turn goes unpunished;’ not me personally but in so far as I am the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Gonsalves said that he was aware of situations where persons were left stranded and missed various appointments and may have even lost their jobs because of the standoff.

He said that he believes that there is a sense of pain and regret about the way things turned out, especially in the last month, and said that he hoped a similar situation does not re-occur.

“We have our airlines in itself and we have to try and avoid these self-inflicted wounds.”

Although there are no figures to show the cost of the flight disruptions locally, Gonsalves indicated that up to US$535,000 was lost by the airline.

He acknowledged that the task of the Ministry of Tourism may become difficult with regard to having persons return to these shores, but believes that the National Tourism Authority will deal with that situation to the best of their ability. (JJ)