Almost 50 years after returning to the skies under the ownership of Caribbean governments, the 67-year-old island-hopper LIAT is to wind up in its current form – LIAT (1974) Ltd – on January 24, its court-appointed administrator confirmed on Thursday. Photo: Internet Source

More than 90 employees are to be sent home without any payment and a promise that obligations will be met. The news was conveyed in a letter signed by the administrator, Cleveland Seaforth, and dated Thursday, a copy of which was obtained by Barbados TODAY.

Despite shutting down and sending home staff, “a few” of the workers will remain to do some “tidying up” of the company as it now works towards readying its replacement, the proposed LIAT (2020) Limited, said one of the last remaining employees.

The notice closes yet another chapter in the storied life of the Eastern Caribbean’s oldest carrier, which was founded as Leeward Islands Air Transport in October 1956 by Kittitian airline captain Frank Delisle.

“After careful consideration and evaluation of the present operations, a decision has been taken by the court-appointed Administrator to permanently cease all commercial flying operations as of close of business on January 24, 2024,” said the letter by Seaforth who had been retained to run a scaled-down LIAT which collapsed in 2020, leaving hundreds jobless across the region.

“As a result of the foregoing, you are hereby notified that your employment with LIAT (1974) Limited (in administration) will be made redundant effective February 4, 2024.”

Seaforth told the staff the company was not in a position to make any severance payments at this stage, but declared that it would not be shying away from its obligations to them on severance, vacation pay, retroactive pay and any outstanding salaries.

“The company recognises its obligation as it relates to any of the [aforementioned] applicable entitlements, which will be provided to you under separate cover within 45 days of this letter after the respective computations have been completed,” the letter said.

“The payment of any indebtedness to you cannot be made at this time. However, every effort will be made by the Administrator to secure the best outcome in respect of the indebtedness to all employees in accordance with the company’s legal and contractual requirements.”