ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, MARCH 19, 2009_ Grenada’s Prime Minister, Hon. Tillman Thomas, this morning welcomed a team of senior officials from the regional air carrier,LIAT, and a trade unionist to his office, to discuss a wide range of issues including airlift, tourism and matters specific to the airline’s operations in Grenada. In his first meeting with the airline since taking office last July, the Prime Minister welcomed the LIAT delegation. He said his government is committed to regional institutions and promised to provide what ever support was possible and necessary for improving the operations of the regional carrier. The delegation headed by LIAT Chairman, Dr. Jean Holder, included Chief Executive Officer, Mark Darby, Director of Scheduling & Planning, Lesroy Browne,Director of Ground Operations, Wilbur Edwards, Sales & Services Manager, Franklyn Dewsbury, Corporate Communications Manager, Desmond Brown and Trade Unionist Chester Humphrey. CEO Darby expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Thomas for the welcome extended to the delegation, describing a previous visit one year ago as “negative” and “confrontational”. “We want to develop a relationship with you that has been missing in previous years,” he said, adding that LIAT is prepared to work with Grenada to service both the island’s travel needs and support its tourism development. LIAT Chairman, Dr. Jean Holder, a former Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, said the region should rationalize its travel needs and “everybody should come to the table.” “Regional governments must analyse the real cost of air transport and have a more indepth understanding of the challenges faced by LIAT,” Dr Holder told Prime Minister Thomas, adding that LIAT must balance between commercially viable routes and social demand. His position was supported by trade unionist Chester Humphrey, who urged Grenada and other regional governments to play a greater role in LIAT, since the success of regional integration efforts depended on the transportation links that allow people to move from one country to another. “It is impossible to develop and maintain a regional economy without air transport.Governments must help finance airlift. Air transport must be affordable to the people of the region,” Senator Humphrey said. The meeting agreed that the current economic downturn is impacting on all sections of the travel and leisure industry, with resulting consequences for regional economies.