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ROSEAU, Dominica (GIS) -- Prime minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, has defended his administration's investment in regional airline, LIAT.

The prime minister, addressing Parliament last Thursday, stated that $3 million has already been invested in the Caribbean airline.

He said, “This administration has taken the decision to become a shareholder in the regional airline because we see LIAT as an important contributor to the efforts at improving and enhancing air access to Dominica.”

Shareholder status was finalized last year and Dominica participated in its first ever shareholders meeting in Barbados.

The prime minister added that Dominica’s stake in LIAT is in the best interest of the people of the country.

“This contribution will facilitate the acquisition of new aircraft and is expected to create new opportunities for more visitors to come to our island as well as to facilitate the movement of citizens of Dominica. It is also, Madam Speaker, [a venture] that will help protect the investments that were made by the government and indeed by investors in the tourism industry.”

Meantime, Minister for Tourism Ian Douglas also voiced support for government's decision to invest in the airline.

He said, “LIAT is responsible for bringing in at least 70 percent of our arrivals into Dominica. I mean how can we sit [around] and not support LIAT... [Should we just allow] LIAT to fail and stop LIAT from flying into Dominica...? These are the statements of the opposition and these are not only detrimental statements to the people and against the people of Dominica but against the very economy, Madam Speaker, to the very roots of the economy.”

The minister stated that tourism is what keeps the economy afloat.

“Tourism today is the bedrock upon which the economy sits. We generated $300 million into the economy and LIAT is a contributor to that. A major link to the region and the rest of the world, regionally and internationally is LIAT, yet we sit here and we listen to the members of the opposition saying to the people of Dominica that the investment of $3 million and more to come into LIAT, coming from the Dominica National Petroleum Fund is a waste of investment... then you (the members of the opposition) must tell the people if not the investment in LIAT... then what?” Douglas said.

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