ANTIGUA | Pringle fires probing questions to PM Gaston Brown over LIAT 2020 Financing

ST.JOHN'S, Antigua October 14, 2024 - As the majority stakeholder of the  Regional Carrier LIAT 2020  Allen Onyema faces an expanding array of charges from the United States government, Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has fired off a series of questions to Prime Minister Gaston Brown demanding transparency and accountability.

The newly launched regional carrier LIAT 2020 now finds itself navigating through stormy skies as its majority stakeholder, Allen Onyema, CEO of Nigerian airline Air Peace, faces an expanding array of charges from the United States government. 

The legal maelstrom surrounding Onyema casts a long shadow over the fledgling carrier's future, raising questions about its viability and the due diligence conducted by the Antiguan government.

Onyema, who holds a commanding 70% stake in LIAT 2020, has been playing a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with American authorities for half a decade, evading trial in a U.S. court. 

Now, the U.S. government has upped the ante, supplementing the existing $20 million bank fraud case with fresh allegations that strike at the heart of the justice system itself.

On October 8, 2024, in a move that sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, a superseding indictment was filed. 

The new charges – obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice – paint a damning picture of the embattled Nigerian businessman's alleged attempts to thwart the course of justice.

As the legal noose tightens around Onyema, the Opposition in Antigua and Barbuda has seized upon this moment of vulnerability. The Leader of the Opposition, 

The Honorable Jamale Pringle, is once again pressing the Government to give the nation some answers.

In a blistering volley of questions directed at the Prime Minister, Pringle demands transparency and accountability regarding the government's dealings with LIAT 2020 and Air Peace.

The Opposition's interrogatives cut to the quick, probing every aspect of the arrangement:

1. "Mr. Prime Minister, could you please provide the full details of all agreements entered into between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, LIAT 2020, and Air Peace? We request copies of these agreements be made available for public scrutiny."
   
   
2. "What is the exact ownership structure of LIAT 2020? Please provide a breakdown of the share distribution among Air Peace, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and any other governmental or private entities involved."
   
   
3. "Can you outline in detail the financial commitments made by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda towards the resuscitation of LIAT and the establishment of LIAT 2020? This should include any loans, guarantees, or other forms of financial support."
   
   
4. "What due diligence process was undertaken by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda before entering into this arrangement with Air Peace? Were you aware of any ongoing legal issues involving Air Peace or its leadership?"
   
   
5. "Could you clarify the nature of your relationship, if any, with Mr. Allen Onyema, the majority stakeholder of Air Peace? Have there been any personal or professional interactions that could be perceived as influencing this deal?"

Pringle's inquiry doesn't stop there. He presses further, demanding answers on regulatory compliance, employee protections, economic impact assessments, contingency plans, and alignment with regional aviation policies.

As LIAT 2020 attempts to take flight amidst this gathering storm, the answers to these probing questions will determine whether the airline can weather the turbulence or if it's destined for a bumpy landing. 

The coming days promise to be crucial for the future of regional aviation in the Caribbean, as stakeholders await the government's response to this high-flying controversy.

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