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St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Former Barbadian Prime Minister Owen Arthur is to take up the Chairmanship of Regional Airline LIAT.

That announcement, from Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

Browne told Pointe FM Radio in Antigua that during a recent meeting between himself and colleague Prime Ministers Mia Mottley and Ralph Gonsalves they came to a consensus on the way forward for LIAT.

“…I have to tell you, I don’t think there could be any better candidate. Owen Arthur literally would have spent a significant amount of his prime ministerial equity ensuring the survivability of LIAT and now that it is at a crossroads I think that Owen is the right person to help to lead LIAT out of its difficulties. The primary issue will be raising money.”

However Barbadian hotelier Adrian Loveridge is not likely to applaud the decision to make Owen Arthur LIAT’s new Chairman.

On December 20, just over two weeks ago while commenting on the retirement of Dr Jean Holder as LIAT Chairman, Loveridge suggested that the company should look for a commercially savvy Chairman for the airline.

On the question of pumping further funds into the company, Prime Minister Browne said the shareholders are hoping to invest some US$20 to $30 million dollars in LIAT.

He urged the carrier’s employees to play their part to ensure the sustainability of the airline.