Gonsalves calls for cool heads on REDjet

Vincentian Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has called on his regional counterparts to "cool it" as Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago remain at odds over REDjet's market entry.

"I really just think we need to take a lot of emotion out of this whole thing and be balanced," he commented, as authorities from the three countries prepared for further talks on the matter in Bridgetown.

In an interview with the Barbados Nation newspaper Gonsalves, who has lead responsibility for aviation within CARICOM, conceded that he has not been involved in the discussions on the contentious matter.

REDjet, which launched its operations in May, is still awaiting approval to fly to Port-of-Spain and Kingston.

Trinidad and Jamaica have both cited safety concerns as the main reason for not allowing the low-cost carrier to commence services.

Gonsalves suggested the situation was unique since both countries have two sets of authorities, a licensing board for air transport and a civil aviation authority.

While admitting that he did not know about all the civil safety issues involved, the Vincentian leader said it would be difficult to understand how a Civil Aviation Authority would give the all-clear and the licensing board would say no.

"I wouldn't be able to understand the reason for that unless there is some special circumstance which would make the licensing board take a decision that would not permit one carrier from a Caribbean country to enter another," the prime minister said.

He, however, stayed clear of saying whether Trinidad and Jamaica were deliberately stalling on REDjet.

"It is difficult for me to know because I don't know what are the timelines, what documentation was submitted, what they asked for, what they didn't get. I would hope that the civil aviation authorities in Trinidad and Jamaica would move with dispatch in addressing these matters and so, too, the licensing authorities," Gonsalves said.

At last week's CARICOM summit, Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart lashed out at Trinidad and Tobago for second-guessing REDjet's certification by Barbadian authorities.

Gonsalves noted that since the airline has already began servicing the Barbados-Guyana route and providing charters, it would be difficult to deny further approval.

"I don't see, frankly speaking, how you can stop an airline trying to operate or compete once it satisfies all the requisites. I don't see it."

He, however, cautioned consumers not to get carried away with advertised or published low fares and turn their backs against what is "the bread and butter of air transportation in the region, which is Liat".

Gonsalves said he has no problems with REDjet's market entry, saying the low-cost carrier would "generate its own share of business and would not necessarily eat into other people's business".

- CMC