LIAT passenger dies en route

ROSEAU, Dominica-REPORTS have been verified that on Friday (Nov. 14) the Managing Director of the Dominica Electricity Services Limited (DOMLEC), Joel Huggins, passed away while aboard a LIAT flight.

While on the last leg of flight LI851, which traveled from St. Lucia to St. Vincent, Huggins complained of feeling ill and an emergency request to the ground was put in by flight staff when his condition began to worsen.

Emergency medical service crews waited for the plane to land at the E. T. Joshua Airport in St. Vincent, but the aircraft arrived too late and Huggins was pronounced dead upon arrival by a local physician.

The regional air carrier issued an official release the same day saying that the investigation into Huggins’ death remains on going and that “LIAT extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the passenger”.

In a statement issued today (Nov. 17), Dominica’s Minister of Public Utilities, Energy and Ports, Hon. Charles Savarin, said that he would best remember Huggins not only “for his quiet and calm demeanour but clear decisiveness of action in the various exchanges and dealings between his firm and the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Ports on issues relating to the electricity sector.”

The release went on to state Huggins continued commitment toward bettering Dominica’s energy sector and gave the ministry’s condolences to his friends and family.