Minister with responsibility for the Port Trevor Walker says government can not continue to inject half a million dollars into the financially troubled entity to cover wages and salaries.

The Port Authority has announced that a team of consultants from Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago will be advising it through massive restructuring to cut cost, boost revenue, reduce port charges, and improve technology, among a host of other considerations.

More details have emerged about LIAT’s plan to stem its losses – estimated at $21.5 million – including reducing staff by 200 and possible court action against a competing airline.

LIAT’s management said it’s confident that it will be able to work with unions to go ahead with the planned closure of its City Ticketing Offices (CTOs), despite a warning of region-wide industrial action if it proceeds.

LIAT’s decision to terminate 70 workers in the midst of negotiations with their bargaining agents could lead to industrial action at the Antigua-based carrier,

LIAT is tightlipped about how many workers have so far booked on to its voluntary separation and early retirement package,

Despite extending its voluntary separation offer a further full week, Antigua Port Authority is still far short of the staff cut it had hoped for and negotiated with unions.

Those in charge of running the Antigua Port Authority should know by today whether there are enough workers signed up for voluntary separation packages to avoid lay-offs.