ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Mere weeks after St. Lucia’s Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet vehemently denied that CARICOM Airways was operating illegally, the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) has ordered the carrier to immediately discontinue its operations within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Chastanet’s denial was in response to a statement by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves that the St. Lucia registered CARICOM Airways was operating illegally, as it had failed to address certain issues stipulated by the ECCAA for operations within the sub-region.
Chastanet had also given the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government an ultimatum that unless it responds to an application that would allow CARICOM Airways operate a schedule flight into the island, Castries would stop two St. Vincent-based airlines - SVG Air and Mustique Airways - from operating in St. Lucia.
Chastanet said that CARICOM Airways was operating under the Airline Operation Convention (AOC) from Suriname, which under the CARICOM Convention, allows member countries to accept each other’s AOC.
But in a letter dated December 20, and addressed to SRM Chin-A-Kwie, Chief Executive officer of Caribbean Commuter Airways N.V., the ECCAA said that even though CARICOM Airways had been granted an AOC from the Civil Aviation Authority of Suriname, the information available to the ECCAA indicates that CARICOM Airways’ principal place of business is St. Lucia.
“As such and by virtue of the Civil Aviation Regulations of St. Lucia, CARICOM Airways must apply for and obtain an AOC issued by the ECCAA before commencing commercial air transport operations,” noted the letter signed by the ECCCA Acting Director General Donald McPhail.
The letter acknowledged that on November 25 this year, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation in St. Lucia had submitted an application on behalf of CARICOM Airways for permission to operate “as a foreign operator pursuant to Part 10 of the Regulations.
“We wish to advise that in light of the foregoing, permission to operate under Part 10 of the Regulations cannot be granted to CARICOM Airways,” McPhail wrote.
“The ECCAA therefore instructs CARICOM AIRWAYS to immediately discontinue its operations until such time that it has been issued with the appropriate AOC by the ECCAA,” McPhail added.’
what is wrong with Allan Chastanet? He is becoming St. Lucia's biggest problem! I think he is unfit to be in government. He lies, talks senselessly and he is outright stupid. PM do us a favour and please remove this goon from Office. All he does is embarrass St. Lucia and St. Lucians.
ReplyDeleteI can't take it no more!
Yesterday, Allan Chastnet 'jets off' ironically on the same LIAT that he is fighting against to Antigua to fight a cause for Caricom Airways, and again without the owner being present. My question is, why is this his personal fight and not that of the owner who to date we have not heard from. Why have we not seen him raise his head to support or fight for local companies? Why do we have to foot the bill for this? How many times must he put his foot in his mouth and cause shame to our people before King takes some action. And guess what,he is not even an elected member. What untold damage will this spoil sport do if elected? We need to give Dalson all the support possible to keep this horror story out of government and off the political landscape of this country.
ReplyDelete