It was painful for me reading of the suffering of the many passengers stranded at the Grantley Adams International Airport last week due to the sick-out of LIAT pilots.Some Caribbean neighbours came a-visiting the United States Embassy in Barbados for visas, with the expectation of returning home the same day or early the next day – only to be denied such opportunity. Others inconvenienced came from North America, in particular the McIntyres, who were forced to miss the funeral of a close family member in Grenada.What was Joanne Iyokho, who arrived in Barbados from New York about 1 p.m. that Wednesday with her seven children, including her nine-year-old diabetic daughter – and with nowhere to go – supposed to do? Imagine how frustrating this was for the family!Despite all this, LIAT showed no mercy or compassion. Tell me, how could LIAT refuse these stranded passengers accommodation and food?I am aware that if other airlines were in such a situation, the passengers would have been given a food voucher in the first instance and would also have been looked after for the night or day. But apparently some LIAT passengers had run out of funds, and several were forced to sleep on the floor of the airport. Can you imagine being stranded at an airport for two days without a bath? That is why I am saying that LIAT did not care about the welfare of the stranded passengers!The LIAT pilots went on sick-out or strike without notice, unlike the pilots of British Airways who gave the company and passengers advance notice, so that travellers could make alternative arrangements.There is one thing to be learnt from the LIAT situation: people should not leave the country without permission of their employers. There are some people who fly out for the weekend without such. I do hope they have learned from this experience. I believe LIAT from now on will show some compassion for their passengers. We do however need other air transport competition within the region – which will put some pressure on LIAT.
Harvest fair
The St Aidan Church will hold its harvest fair tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the St Elizabeth Park, St Elizabeth, St Joseph. There will be a number of celebrities preparing dishes. The public is invited. The St Aidan Church will also hold it’s Harvest on Sunday with Sung Mass at 7:30 a.m., and at 4 p.m. its Harvest Programme. Those taking part are the church choir and the Sunday School. The public is invited.
Concert postponementThe police concert scheduled for St Leonard’s Church on Sunday has been postponed until Sunday, July 11, owing to the untimely death of Inspector Anderson Griffith of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.
ConcertThe 66th anniversary concert of the Dalkeith Methodist Church is on Sunday, July 3, at 4:30 p.m. The public is invited.
Family dayThe St Clement Church will be holding its Family Day tomorrow on the church grounds from 6 p.m. The public is invited.
Evensong and discussionThe Church of Christ the King will be holding a six-week series of Evensong, lecture and discussion every Wednesday. It began last Wednesday. The series is entitled All You Ever Wanted To Know About Religious Sects, Breakaway Movements And Cults.The presenter for session two on June 30, will be the Rector Father Luther Johnson. The sessions begin at 7 p.m. All are welcome. Fish fryThe St Joseph’s Parish Church will hold its annual Fish Fry on Saturday, July 10, on the car park opposite the St Joseph’s Parish Church. Tickets are on sale and the public is invited. Prayer breakfastThe Annual Evangelistic Prayer Breakfast hosted by the Moravian Church Barbados takes place tomorrow at the Calvary Moravian Church, Roebuck Street, The City, beginning at 7 a.m.The keynote speaker is the Rev Vera Waithe, superintendent of the conference.Revival servicesThe Moravian Church Barbados Conference invites the public to a week of revival services at Dunscombe Moravian Church, Dunscombe, St Thomas, on Sunday, at 5 p.m., and Monday, June 28, to Friday, July 2, at 7:15 nightly. The speakers are Pastors Dale Brathwaite and McArthin Hinds. The theme is Pursuing The Blessing – Spiritual Growth And Development. Come and be blessed.
