Winair denied lease extension,
Duncan suspends negotiations
AIRPORT--The Executive Council will not extend the long lease for land Windward Islands Airways Winair has been using for its operations.
Winair’s shareholder representative Internal Affairs Minister Roland Duncan received a letter from the Island Government on Monday informing him of the decision.
The Minister immediately suspended all negotiations with Richard Gibson, St. Maarten’s appointed mediator in the Winair dispute on the transfer of the shares.
Duncan told The Daily Herald on Monday that he had already informed Gibson of his decision. The Minister said he would seek legal advice on the letter before answering the Island Government of St. Maarten.
He said he believed St. Maarten’s decision was in bad faith, because it damaged the airline’s equity, endangering its existence and the jobs of the 100-plus workers. “St. Maarten is playing games, they don’t want to extend the long lease, but they are waiting on the transfer of the shares and want the Central Government to give the company a letter of comfort,” Duncan said.
Although the long lease for the land had expired in 2005, Winair paid the Island Government NAf. 21,480 in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the fee based on calculations of the renewed long lease for the period 2005 till 2065.
