– Gouveia
(BUSINESS GUYANA)- The delay by two countries in granting permission to the Caribbean’s first discount airline to commence operations has been described as unfortunate and appalling by member of the Private Sector Commission, Captain Gerald Gouveia. Gouveia described the efforts to stymie REDjets operations as a slap in the face of free enterprise and competition and expressed surprise that the governments of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago would take such a course of action. “The concerns that we should have as a region and as individual countries should be issues of safety, compliance with international standards and economic viability. An undue delay in granting permission flies in the face of free enterprise and competition and is quite appalling.”
While Caribbean nations openly embrace democracy and the concept of free market, Gouveia, a major player in Guyana’s airline industry, pointed out that practising these concepts are often very difficult. “REDjet’s insertion into the transportation industry in the Caribbean is a good thing. While all the Caribbean embraces free market systems, democracy and these wonderful things, it’s another thing to practise it. I am therefore very disappointed that the REDjet application is being dragged through the administrative systems, obviously with the intention to frustrate them.”
This delay is also resulting in economic losses to the airline, he said, since there is a daily operational cost attached to opening and conducting a business.
While REDjet’s entry into the market was lauded, Gouveia also had praises for Caribbean Airlines, noting that they have been in operation for the past 75 years and is well established as a known and tested regional carrier. More choices for Caribbean travellers he said, means better prices and opportunities.
For months Director Generals Ramesh Lutchmedial of the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) and Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) have placed obstacles in the flight path of the new airline as it continues to fight against a host of odds in its bid to add a new dimension to Caribbean aviation.
The latest such reason for the denial of operating rights into the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston was forwarded by Derby last week.
He said the signing of the shareholders agreement which will see Caribbean Airlines Limited take over fully, the complete operations of Air Jamaica added to the delay woes of Barbados-based REDjet.
REDjet has since approached CARICOM in search of a speedy resolution.