UNC calls on Gov’t to halt procurement and ban Boeing 737 Max 8 from T&T

“Telling the citizenry not to panic is not enough. The Government must take immediate action to ensure the safety of all passengers in Trinidad and Tobago’s airspace”. This, according to Public Relations Officer of the United National Congress, Senator Anita Haynes, who is criticizing the statements made by Finance Minister Colm Imbert on Tuesday 12th March, 2019.

“Instead of taking time to blast a newspaper reporter for an article on concerns regarding Boeing 737 Max 8, the Finance Minister, who is the line Minister for Caribbean Airlines, should take immediate action to suspend the intended lease of 12 of these aircraft,” Ms. Haynes said in a statement. “Further, the UNC calls on Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, who has responsibility for the Civil Aviation Authority to do as other countries have done and implement a ban on airlines utilizing this particular aircraft as a precautionary measure.”

“The Minister conceded that another airline currently operating in Trinidad and Tobago uses the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, yet gave no assurances to the travelling public that the Government plans to act in their interest,” the party PRO said.

“The tragic accident which occurred last Sunday involving Ethiopian Airlines marks the second deadly crash in less than six months involving the Boeing 737 Max 8 model,” she noted. “While the UNC understands investigations into the latest fatal crash are still being conducted, it must be noted that several airlines and Aviation Authorities worldwide have either grounded their Boeing 737 Max 8 fleet or have restricted the aircraft model from entering or exiting their airspace. These Aviation Authorities so far include the United Kingdom, European Union, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia and China. It is clear that the global Airline Industry is losing confidence in the safety of the Boeing 737 Max 8 Aircraft.”

“The UNC urges the Government to take this matter seriously. While Caribbean Airlines has assured that safety checks would be made prior to putting all aircraft into service, the Government should hold on spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the Boeing 737 Max 8 until investigations are completed,” Ms. Haynes said.

She noted that, “Every citizen in Trinidad and Tobago is well aware of the abysmally poor track record of this Government in matters of procurement- particularly with the incompetence and negligence they displayed resulting in the collapse of the sea-bridge”.

“The safety of all passengers in this country’s airspace demands full priority and as such we urge the government to act immediately,” the UNC PRO said.