Former LIAT 1974 Workers to Receive Second Compassionate Payment from Government

Former employees of LIAT 1974 Ltd will soon receive a second tranche of compassionate payments from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, as the administration continues efforts to provide financial relief to workers displaced by the airline’s closure.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Gaston Browne, announced that an additional EC$2 million has been allocated for former LIAT staff. The funds will be drawn from the government’s bond issue and follow a previous compassionate payout made earlier this year.

Browne stressed that the government is under no legal obligation to continue making these payments, but described the initiative as a humanitarian response to the hardships many former employees continue to face.

“This is a gratuitous payment. There is no legal basis to do so,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the government’s actions align with its pro-labour principles and commitment to supporting workers affected by LIAT’s liquidation.

While acknowledging lingering dissatisfaction from some former staff and trade unions — particularly with severance still outstanding — Browne said the administration remains engaged in dialogue and will continue to take reasonable measures within the limits of the public purse.

Eligible former workers will first be required to verify their personal details with the court-appointed administrator for the defunct airline before payments can be processed.

LIAT 1974 Ltd formally ceased operations in 2020 and entered liquidation in 2024, leaving hundreds of employees across the region without severance. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has repeatedly stated that it was not legally responsible for those obligations but has opted to provide limited financial support on compassionate grounds.