Repatriation flight from Suriname hits turbulence

WITH one day left to pay US$25,000 for a charter flight to bring 49 TT citizens home from Suriname, arrangements may have hit a snag.

The airline, Surinam Airways (SLM), has refused to accept payment only in US dollars.

The oil and gas workers have been stuck there since TT's borders were closed on March 23.

The airline is not prepared to make allowances for the payments to be made at SLM’s Trinidad office.

Arrangements were made between Surinam Airways (SLM) and Rishi Ramkissoon of Cunupia to bring the nationals home.

In a WhatsApp conversation on Wednesday, Ramkissoon said arrangements were being finalised.

“We should be able to confirm tomorrow (Thursday). There were challenges, but we are working through most of the issues.”

Ramkissoon also said, “The US issue was sorted out.”

But one of the men in Suriname gave Newsday a different account, saying the group does not have US currency.

Those who have access to the cambios have to pay an exchange rate of $16 SRD (Surinamese dollars) to US$1.

“Our boss is in Trinidad and he is willing to make the payment in Trinidad. Families of other men are willing to make the payment in TT as well," he said. But: “To wire money from Trinidad to Suriname, it may not reach in time, because the banking system here is not fully operational. Banks and other business places are closing either at noon or at 2 pm.”

He said with every hour which passes, the group is getting more anxious, as the flight is set for Friday.

A small contractor, Rajindranath Mungalsingh, who has a crew of seven in Suriname, said he was still working on making the payment.

“Some people managed to pay, who had credit cards.

"I had a big battle with them (SLM). They needed to get corporate approval to receive the monies here in Trinidad.

"I had to beg for a speed wire to send the money to Suriname through the bank.”

Mungalsingh said he is hoping that by Thursday evening the payment goes through so his men can come home.

“It’s been a lot of headaches. I am hoping this is the last hurdle to cross and those guys come home to be with their families and I could get a peaceful night's sleep.

“These men deserve to be home. They have already spent more than five weeks additional to their tour.”

A B737-700 aircraft with a capacity of 80 passengers is being chartered. Flight PY729 is scheduled to leave Paramaribo at 10 am on Friday and arrive at Piarco half an hour later.

Ramkissoon said the TT contingent has not been tested, but they have been in self-quarantine for over a month because of the lockdown in Suriname. He said none of them showed any signs of covid19.

They will be joined by some others from oil rigs.

But, he said, “Suriname had only three active cases of covid19. They have done a great job managing it here.”

To date Suriname has had ten cases and one death among its population of 576,000. Seven patients have recovered.

When the men get home, they will be quarantined at the UWI Penal/Debe campus.