Submitted by Looking Glass

The airline having promised wonders announces imaginary success. In the process Barbadosbecomes the culprit but to date not a word from us. That we need to give the green light–also suggested by the CEO–is another bit of unadulterated falsehood. Barbadosis not Caricom. It cannot control or dictate to the islands what they can should or cannot do. As such it cannot give the Green Light–whatever that means–for another country to grant licence to any airline. Yes the airline was given licence to operate from the country. However, at this point in time we are not a shareholder and cannot dictate or determine how the airline should behave or what others should or must do. That the other countries have not seen it fit to grant or formally announce the granting of licences to the airline has nothing to do with us.

St Luciais concerned about the delay in getting Redjet to operate there and “has written to the government about it” (Nation 20/9/2011). The minister must know that Barbadoscannot dictate what others should do. So why the letter if indeed there was one? That he like some of the airline officials should indulge in falsehood raises suspicion. Is there much more in the mortar than the pestle? More importantly why has our PM remained silent?

Redjet has been granted only Permission not Licence to operate out ofSt Lucia. Permission unlike Licence implies conditionality and is temporary to begin with. The minister should explain the granting of only Permission rather than Licence. The airline servicesGuyana. No problem there. So why has the airline, permission granted some months ago, not seen it fit to service St Lucia from Barbados? Economically the route is unlikely to be profitable and or sustainable even if theGuyanaroute is included.

Now St Kitts has reportedly given Redjet the Green Light to land but no deal has been signed: according to the Tourism Minister “like other airlines Redjet was given the green light to land Caribbean News (9/16/2011}.” A week later theTorontobased Caribbean Camera (9/22/2011) reports that Redjet will begin twice weekly flights toJamaicafromBarbadosandTrinidadin another two months, tickets will go on sale the announcement “came almost two months after Redjet got the green light to operate inJamaicafrom the Civil Aviation Authority.” We were also told that “Redjet’s fleet will increase to five aircraft (sounds familiar) with one aircraft due to be in service by December and another during the first quarter of 2012.” So far there has been no official conformation or denial by either government which is highly unusual and invites questions about Caricom relationships among other things.

An article titled Liat and Redjet CEOs in face-off, noted that the two officers “will go head-to-head” at the CTO conference in St Martin…The CTO said the two will be in a powerful line-up of influential speakers that has been confirmed for the conference” (Trinidad Express 1/9/2011). The CEO in his address to the recent CTO meeting made the point that “reasonable airfares are critically important to the sustainability of regional tourism” (Advocate 9/20/2011). We were also told that “Redjet was created by consumers for consumers so everyone can fly.” And so history has been created. Redjet becomes the first airline in history to be created by consumers. Desperation can be a very dangerous thing. Was the CEO really invited and did he attend? So far the region’s media have made no mention of the address, but I am sure our PM knows the answer.

Mr. PM correct me if I am wrong. I believe a neighbour country who enquired about the 51% ownership and the letter was told we have no shares in the airline and did not receive the letter. So why have you not found it necessary to tellBarbadosthe truth and assure the people that, despite having a minister on the board, you have no control over the airline behaviour and put to rest the Green Light falsehood?

The allegations are ultimately financially and socially very costly to the country in more ways than one. Among other things they undermine the country’s reputation and reflect poorly on the government, the Party and at least implicitly on Caricom. Would you accommodate those placing stumbling blocks in your path? Reluctance to address the public leaves one to wonder if it is beyond your comprehension or Subsidy among other things sealed the lips.

As to your intention to recruit overseas nationals the new CJ was cited as an indication “that other offers would be made.” Did you really have any thing to do with or a hand in the “recruitment” of the CJ? If so why did it take you Five Months to tell the people? Last year you were sent up North with a job offer for a superior qualified person who you knew from way back in Nevern Square. You came, never contacted the person, returned and lied about it. The person was told but out of respect for certain souls did nothing about it. It leaves one to wonder about the kind of Bajans you are seeking to recruit.