Friday, February 10, 2012

Statement from St. George's Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - The St. George’s Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is working with other government departments, particularly the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Finance, to arrive at a solution to the current financial difficulties being experienced by the Grenada Airports Authority (GAA).

This situation arose as result of the EXIM Bank of Taiwan obtaining judgment against the government of Grenada for outstanding loans in a suit filed in the United States. The Taiwanese have made a claim for all monies owing to the government of Grenada and its agencies to be paid against the loan. Consequently, a request was made to airlines operating on the Grenada route to pay monies owed to the Grenada Airports Authority to the Taiwanese.

An escrow account has been established, and carriers such as Virgin Airlines, British Airways, and Delta Airlines have begun to deposit monies owed to the Airports Authority into the said account. This has placed the Airports Authority in a very precarious financial position.

“Mr. Rodney George, Chairman of the Grenada Airports Authority, has alerted us in the government about the situation facing our airport. I am doing all that I can from a civil aviation point of view. The Ministry of Finance is doing its part from the debt-financing angle, and the Attorney General’s Chambers is working towards a legal solution,” said Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Peter David, who is currently attending an OECS Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in St. Vincent.

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation will continue to work with other government departments to ensure this matter is resolved quickly and does not severely disrupt airport operations, which would directly impact the economy at a time when it can be least afforded.

MEDIA CONTACT: Betty-Ann Lazarus, Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture Botanical Gardens St George's, Tele: 1-473-440-0366, Fax: 1-473-440- 0443

 http://www.forimmediaterelease.net

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