St Lucia promised new carrier

Allan Chastanet, leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) in St. Lucia, has promised to create a new national airline for the island. Chastanet has criticized services provided by Antigua-based regional airline, LIAT and wants a more competitive airline environment. Chastanet, a former vice president for operations at Air Jamaica, said there was need for other airlines “operating in our region and to give the consumer choices and to help bring down the costs.” The former president of the Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA), Michael Blackburne, disagrees with Chastanet’s call for LIAT to face competition on its routes.