Opposition party against declaring aviation sector an essential service

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The main opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) has criticised proposals by two prime ministers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) that the aviation industry should be deemed an essential service. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and his St. Vincent and the Grenadines colleague, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves supported a statement by Ian Brunton, the chief executive officer of the regional airline, LIAT, that the aviation industry should also be classified as an essential service, with legislated restricted rights to strike. Brunton said that tourism is the mainstay of the majority of the region's economies and air services connect the countries of the Caribbean.