est. 2007

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Condemn Richard Branson’s Bullying and Extortion of Caribbean Governments

Submitted by Tea White In July this year, Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic announced that it would end its flights to St Lucia on 8 June 2020. This decision was taken because the government of St Lucia refused to agree to Virgin’s demand that they hand over some EC$20 million in subsidies to Branson’s monopoly company…

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Submitted by Tea White

In July this year, Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic announced that it would end its flights to St Lucia on 8 June 2020. This decision was taken because the government of St Lucia refused to agree to Virgin’s demand that they hand over some EC$20 million in subsidies to Branson’s monopoly company over a 3 year period. That such a demand could be made by Virgin Atlantic, whose owner, billionaire Richard Branson, styles himself as ‘friend of the Caribbean’ is an absolute outrage.

St Lucia is a poor Caribbean country with significant levels of poverty, no functioning modern hospital, schools in desperate need of repair and upgrading, a dire lack of social services for the elderly and many other needs among the population. Only in the mind of a criminal, could it be justified that money desperately needed to meet the needs of the people to St Lucia should instead be handed over to a billionaire and his millionaire shareholders.

Virgin Atlantic already charges passengers around £1000 to fly to the Caribbean from London during peak seasons and generally charges passengers starting their journey in the Caribbean up to 80% more than those starting their trip in London. There is no justification for any Caribbean government to give Virgin Atlantic one single penny.

Virgin Atlantic’s extortion doesn’t apply just to St Lucia. According to Ernest Hilaire from the St Lucia Labour Party, Virgin Atlantic has demanded in total some EC$21 million per year from the following Caribbean countries: Antigua, Saint Lucia, Grenada and Barbados.

All people of conscience should condemn Richard Branson and his Virgin Atlantic’s bullying and extortion of Caribbean governments.

Virgin Atlantic can be contacted on:

Telephone: +44 (0)344 8110 000

Email: customer.relations@fly.virgin.com

https://antiguaobserver.com/virgin-atlantic-will-stop-flights-to-st-lucia/

68 responses to “Condemn Richard Branson’s Bullying and Extortion of Caribbean Governments”

  1. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Sadly, if many previous Caribbean governments were not so tiefing and insular over the years, the Caribbean would be very well off.

    Trinis tief all the oil money. Antigua, well… it could fly good.

    Buhbayduss…oh dear.

    Grantley Adams had a vision and the insular little brutes did not want it.

    Then, we had to be so proud as to have our own currency, instead of sticking with the English or US currency. Local currency that could be manipulated and also created a little box to live in, where locals could not escape from.

    Professionally, Branson, who does not even own Virgin now, US Delta owns most, is a businessman. Nothing more and nothing less.

    No skip. Get the house in order first and then come to the table, before accusing others.

    Trinidad was the most blatant, good gosh, a country with oil all those years and poor so? But some Trinis must be hundred millionaires for sure.

    Buhbayduss, well, only obvious because the country is not oil rich. Bajans hid it better.

    Hopefully the Guyana people will hold their leaders to account for the incoming windfall.

    If not, there will be a few very wealthy Guyanese living in Miami soon.

    Seriously, Grantley showed the way and the little brats ignored in their pomposity. What do you expect?

  2. charles skeete Avatar
    charles skeete

    I am glad that St Lucia has taken a stand. Time to stop sucking up to these mercenary like corporate vultures.

  3. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Charles Skeete
    A stand on what. Once the genie is out the bottle it is hard to put it.back

  4. charles skeete Avatar
    charles skeete

    “A stand on what. ”

    A stand on our sovereignty

  5. charles skeete Avatar
    charles skeete

    i once again reiterate that for too long we have always been at the mercy of these carriers some of whom despite benefitting from the subsidy refuse to pay the relevant airport fees some on the obnoxious grounds that they were doing us a favour by bringing passengers to what they regard behind our backs as mosquito infested banana republics..However, these multinational corporations would continue to bully and ride roughshod over us unless the affected countries take a united stand against these mercenary type practices. i am still at a loss to understand why travel from the Caribbean to the UK and USA on average cost more than travel from those countries to Barbados given that the service in all respects is the sam

  6. David Avatar
    David

    This is true and the same argument applies to the head tax for cruise ship passengers.

  7. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Charles Skeete
    How about the local mercanaries who have benefiited from concessions and loans and then govt grant them a big favour of tax waivers and write off
    The problem lies with the govts who make grandiose promises to these vultures in return for jobs
    Then when the hour cometh for promises to be delivered govt talks tough in the public arena
    Again lets look at what barbados govt handed to these tax cheats who refused to pay their taxes

  8. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    And what exactly has sovereignty bestowed on Barbados: lack of access to water and clean water at that; a persistent rise in homicide rates; the destruction of both our natural and built environment; rampant corruption; a loss of identity; the demise of a mixed economy; a culture lacking in ambition; I could continue.

    Sovereignty is an over rated concept. We now how have the freedom and power within us to commit economic, political and social suicide thanks to our sovereignty. Martinique and Guadeloupe have got it right.

  9. David Avatar
    David

    @TLSN

    How will a people mature and work to get better if we do not endure the travails life has to offer?

  10. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    This is all the shortsighted in the parliament want to continue BOASTING about…AND STILL…they cannot pay the island’s debts or stop the degradation and decay of ALL infrastructure…and STILL…they refuse to do anything to add another money earner or upgrade this tired dark ages product..

    https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/241351/tourist-arrivals-2019

    all they know to do is depend, depend, depend…

  11. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    Whoever runs a banana republic should not be surprised that the buyer of the bananas determines the prices.

    The islands in the Caribbean have nothing to offer but tourism. A manufacturing industry is not worthwhile in view of the tropical conditions and a population that avoids work. The offshore financial sector is dead.

    Virgin Atlantic is doing just the right thing. I just wonder why they don’t charge 100 million per island.

  12. Noah Niles Avatar
    Noah Niles

    How is that David of BU? How will a people mature…endure the travails of life to get better. As we live and watch both administrations piss away our inheritance. Obviously you think you can prove Einstein wrong; ” the definition of madness.”

  13. SirSimpleSimonPresidentForLife Avatar
    SirSimpleSimonPresidentForLife

    @Tron August 22, 2019 5:05 AM “Whoever runs a banana republic should not be surprised that the buyer of the bananas determines the prices.”

    Well that depends on whether there is a shortage or a glut of bananas, doesn’t it?

  14. charles Skeete Avatar
    charles Skeete

    Somehow i have no difficulty with the concessions as long as the granting of such translate into tangible benefits for the country and people. My question to the economic gurus like Vincent on the blog is
    Have they?

  15. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    But then who is to blame if the concessions does not materialize favourably to people and country
    In negotiations doesn’t bith sides reach amicable agreements on how the pie should be served
    Isnt it incumbent for govt to make sure that the people and country interest is well served before signing on the bottom line
    It is appalling that after govt signs agrerments two or three years later when govt finds that the betterment of tge country is being shafted they run to public for support
    Should Branson or the business person involved in the agreement feel sorry for the country/ govt or lay claim to what was initially signed by both parties

  16. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    Being self-critical of your own people is a sign of self-awareness and deep introspection. Too many of us are sleep-walking out of sheer ignorance or get caught up in our own bubble. Waru is on point.

  17. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    “The islands in the Caribbean have nothing to offer but tourism.”

    Because that is all the shortsighted, tunnel visioned and hand to mouth greedy can see…

    that is the WE CAN’T as opposed to the WE CAN mentality….the lazy mentality.

  18. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Tron

    The islands in the Caribbean have nothing to offer but tourism. A manufacturing industry is not worthwhile in view of the tropical conditions and a population that avoids work. The offshore financial sector is dead.
    Virgin Atlantic is doing just the right thing. I just wonder why they don’t charge 100 million per island.(Quote)

    This, in a small way, is at the root of the failure of CARICOM. We should be negotiating with Virgin as a bloc; that we do not is because we lack trust in each other.
    By the way CARICOM should be punching the weight of Norway. We do not because of political failure.

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