LIAT Chairman calling it quits

No date has been given for his resignation to take effect.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday June 15, 2011 – LIAT Chairman Dr. Jean Holder has resigned from the nine-member Board of the regional airline after seven years on the job.

He has submitted his resignation as director and chairman to the Government of Barbados – LIAT’s largest shareholder government – which had appointed him as a director. 

A statement issued by the airline yesterday, confirming earlier media reports of Dr. Holder’s decision to call it quits, did not give a date for his resignation to take effect.

“He has confirmed his commitment to continue serving LIAT as Chairman until someone is appointed to replace him,” the press release said.

“The Chairman has indicated that there are a number of persons he felt it appropriate to inform before the news became public and he especially did not wish this announcement to be made while the company was in the middle of union negotiations,” the statement added, referring to ongoing talks between management and the workers’ bargaining agents about the closure of LIAT’s City Ticketing Offices and its Voluntary Separation and Early Retirement Programme. 

“Unfortunately, the information was leaked to the media which began to press the company for confirmation.”

After 14 years in the diplomatic service and a further 30 years as the head of two regional organisations, the Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Centre and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Dr. Holder was appointed to the Board of LIAT in 2004.