By Prior Beharry
UNITED National Congress (UNC) Senator David Nakhid wants to know if Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is leasing 12 aircraft for $168 million yearly.
He made the comments at the Opposition’s media briefing at Charles Street in Port of Spain on Sunday.
Nakhid said in 2021 there were reports that CAL leased 12 Boeing 737 planes for US$180,000 per plane per month.
He said, “Leasing planes to the tune of $168 million while you cannot pay workers is abominable, it’s despicable, it’s reprehensible and we would like these questions answered.”
Nakhid said it does make sense for CAL to argue it doesn’t have money while leasing so many aircraft.
He said following the sickout by pilots on August 20, CAL chairman Ronnie Mohammed and his board should resign.
Nakhid said CAL’s deputy chairman Michael Quamina was head of its Standing Finance Committee responsible for procuring aircraft.
He called on CAL’s pilots to take a bold step and stand up for their rights against the Government.
Nakhid said, “This is a Government that bullies people all across the board and I want CAL pilots to take note of that becasue while there are certain sectors of Trinidad and Tobago who see themselves above the fray, that they don’t have to vote.
He added, “But these CAL pilots and other sectors, who our Government continues to oppress – our teachers, our nurses, our fire officers, our policemen, they need to come out and say to Rowley enough is enough.”
Looking at the comment that CAL is leasing 12 737 at US $ 180,000 per month to an opposition or to a normal man/woman on the street may seams like a huge amount of money, but what the member failed to explain is that, it is what the true cost per passenger per flight works out to be?
If they find time to do their due diligence properly, they would see the US $ 180,000 per month per aircraft is actually a steel of a deal!