Truce called on aviation dispute

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet  said today that a truce, hinging on the outcome of Monday’s general elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has been called over an aviation dispute between Castries and Kingstown.
It follows talks earlier this week between Prime Ministers Stephenson King and Dr. Ralph Gonzalves on the threat by St. Lucia to stop two Vincentian carriers from operating here if the St. Lucia-based Caricom Airways was not granted permission to fly to St. Vincent.
Chastanet told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that while the issue has now been taken up at the Prime Ministerial level, the fact St. Vincent and the Grenadines heads to the polls on Monday December 13, “one would understand how the matter could be shelved temporarily”.
Sources close to the Aviation Ministry told CMC that should there be a change of government in St. Vincent, it is expected that the dispute would be automatically resolved as a more amicable position was expected to be adopted by a New Democratic Party (NDP) government.
“We have reason to believe that a NDP government will honour the open skies agreement based on reciprocation which was agreed to among Caribbean Community states,” the spokesman told CMC.
However he said that should the Ralph Gonzalves regime retain power in the poll then Prime Minister King is expected to take communication on the issue to another level. (CMC)