BARBADOS: 'Routine inspection' -PM claims hold-up of CAL plane not strong-arm tactic

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart says his Barbados government will not compromise civil aviation security, making it clear that no aircraft will be exempt from ramp inspections.

Stuart's comments came on the heels of recent complaints by his Jamaican counterpart, Bruce Golding, that a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) aircraft bound for Kingston had been de-tained at the Grantley Adams International Airport recently.

Golding said he was disturbed by the "hold-up" at a time when pressure is being brought against Jamaica to allow the Barbados-based Caribbean low-budget airline, REDjet, to fly into the island.

"What I am told took place two days ago when a Caribbean Airlines plane was held up; (I) don't want to use the word detained, and the suspicion is that it is an aggressive action; and I hope it is not, because that is not the way we in CARICOM (Caribbean Community) must resolve CARICOM issues," Golding said.

But, speaking in Parliament on Tuesday during a debate to amend the Civil Aviation Act, Prime Minister Stuart made it clear that "it was a routine check".

He insisted that ramp inspections were routine and form part of the safety regime which his government fully supports.

"These are procedures that have to be followed and, ultimately, Barbados has to make sure it complies with the obligations to which it is signed under international conventions, and in accordance with the laws that govern civil aviation here in Barbados and the conventions that govern, civil aviation regionally," he said.