REDjet has charged that Trinidad and Tobago’s “naked protectionism” and sheer greed are stopping the Barbados-based airline from securing the rights to fly to the twin-island state as well as to Jamaica.
Yesterday, REDjet chairman Ian Burns and investor Ralph “Bizzy” Williams slammed the Port-of-Spain authorities for their “delaying tactics” and called on the Barbados Government to do more to enforce its aviation rights, as well as to protect the 70 people working for the airline here.
In explaining his statement that the failure of the service to both countries to get off the ground was due to “political delays”, Burns told the DAILY?NATION that REDjet has met all the regulatory requirements to fly into these states, yet their authorities were finding new obstacles to put in the way.
“Therefore we can only assume that they are of a political nature,” Burns said, adding: “There are forces out there that are determined to stop REDjet getting into the air to deny consumers the choice that they require.”
In response to suggestions that the Trinidadian authorities have been pressuring their Jamaica counterparts to stall REDjet, Burns said: “Everybody knows that there has been a delay in the completion of the Air Jamaica, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) deal . . .
“So one can only assume that there are new conditions being sought by Caribbean Airlines and Trinidad. And one can only assume that these conditions are putting pressure on Jamaica and their aviation policy . . . Everybody knows what is going on. It is naked protectionism – that is how it appears.”
“There is no reciprocity. They are too greedy. Greed has set in like a cancer,” Williams said.
“Let REDjet fly. Let us cut out this protectionism. The Trinidadians ought to be ashamed of themselves,” said Williams.
