Above: downtown St Georges, Grenada (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The government of Grenada “will do whatever is necessary” to ensure that Maurice Bishop International Airport remains open as the government of Taiwan seeks to collect on a summary judgment involving unpaid debts.

The statement was made by Information Minister Sen. Glen Noel Monday, who said the administration would make the necessary financial arrangements to ensure that the Airports Authority remained open to daily traffic.

Taiwan won a $28 million summary judgment in 2007 against Grenada for unpaid debts after Grenada switched its allegiance from Taiwan to China in 2005.

According to the Grenadian government, an escrow account was established, and air carriers that service Grenada have been paying money they would otherwise pay to the Airports Authority into this account due to the Taiwan dispute.

“The MBIA is vital to our economy and we will ensure that the daily operations of the facility are not compromised,” Noel said.