Nakhid: PM to blame for CAL's troubles

OPPOSITION Senator David Nakhid blamed the Prime Minister and the Government for the inconvenience experienced by some 5,000 passengers last weekend when 75 Caribbean Airlines (CAL) pilots called in sick.

Nakhid demanded the resignation of CAL's board of directors, Dr Rowley and Finance Minister Colm Imbert, the airline's line minister.

He urged CAL's pilots to join with the UNC if they wanted their concerns to be properly addressed.

Nakhid made these comments at a news conference at the Opposition Leader's office in Port of Spain on Sunday.

Shortly after that briefing ended, CAL issued a statement saying its normal operations had been fully restored

"Customers are reminded that check-in for international flights is three hours before departure and for domestic flights between Trinidad and Tobago it's two hours before departure."

Passengers were also advised that to receive prompt and accurate notifications from CAL, they should update their contact details via https://www/caribbean -airlines.com/#/caribbean-flight-notifications.

At a news conference on August 24, CAL CEO Garvin Medera said the airline's operations would be returned to normal in the shortest possible time.

Medera said the disruption cost CAL $15 million.

He was optimistic the matter could be resolved, pending approval of any negotiated agreement by the CAL board and Finance Ministry.

Nakhid accused Dr Rowley of contributing to what he described was an unsatisfactory state of affairs at CAL which prompted some pilots to call in sick.

He also called for the resignation of CAL's board of directors. He claimed that a newspaper report alleged the airline has a $1 billion debt.

"The board should be gone yesterday. This has affected us internationally."

He also asked whether there was political interference in CAL.

Nakhid said CAL board should answer the UNC's questions about last weekend's events and then resign.

He added that Rowley and Imbert should also resign so that a general election can happen.

Nakhid raised questions on the airline's procurement of 12 Boeing-737 aircraft and the role of its vice chairman, attorney Michael Quamina, in the arrangement.

He claimed CAL leased these aircraft in 2021 at a cost of US$180,000 per plane per month.

"In other words, it comes down to about (US$)14 million monthly for the leasing of 12 planes."

He said these planes are being underutilised because CAL does not have sufficient pilots to fly them. Nakhid asked whether the planes were still being leased and who stood to benefit from this arrangement.

He said this money could have been used to address the pilots' wage concerns.

But Nakhid said, "The PNM does not care about the people."

The pilots should publicly align themselves with the UNC to get their concerns properly addressed, he said.

"Why aren't you standing up for yourselves?Why are you not joining with the UNC, who you were very happy and comfortable with?"

Nakhid suggested some pilots were happy with the UNC-led People's Partnership coalition government between May 2010 and September 2015, when "almost 170 wage negotiations were settled."

He accused the PNM of publicly humiliating CAL pilots when they approached it for help, and bringing such a noble profession into disrepute.

Nakhid disclosed he personally knew two pilots and the sacrifices they made to provide for their families.

"These pilots are being left without dignity."

In a tweet, Imbert disagreed with the actions of the CAL pilots who called in sick

"Dissatisfaction over the negotiations for a collective agreement cannot justify the disruption of an essential service."

On August 21, the Industrial Court granted CAL an interim ex-parte injunction until September 28, preventing the pilots from engaging in any type of industrial action. Subsequently, Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, signalled his intention to join CAL in this matter.

The Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) has maintained no industrial action took place.

On August 25, CAL established an online portal to refund passengers who were inconvenienced by the disruptions between August 19 and 22.