Struggle to keep Maurice Bishop International Airport open

The Grenadian government is taking steps to ensure  the island’s Maurice Bishop International Airport remains open.

Information Minister, Senator Glen Noel say the Tillman Thomas administration  is making the necessary financial arrangements for the Airports Authority to ensure the facility remained open to daily traffic.

The operations of the airport are under threat as thousands of dollars in international airline fees are being diverted away from the Grenada Airports Authority . This as a result of  a judgement against the country in its legal battle with Taiwan.

The EXIM Bank of Taiwan obtained judgment against the Government of Grenada for outstanding loans in a Suit filed in the United States. The Taiwanese made a claim for all monies owing to the Government of Grenada and its agencies to be paid against the loan. Consequently, a request was made to airlines operating on the Grenada route to pay monies owed to the Grenada Airports Authority to the Taiwanese.

 Virgin Airlines, British Airways and Delta Airlines have   reportedly started to deposit monies owed to the Airports Authority into an account created for the purpose. This has placed the Airports Authority in a very precarious financial position.

The Government has promised to give a complete update on the status of efforts aimed at bringing a resolution to the debt with EXIM Bank of Taiwan, during the presentation of the 2012 budget