New Trini gov’t not a threat to Air J

NEGRIL, Westmoreland (Jamaica Observer) — Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Airlines Ian Brunton says he’s confident that the newly formed Trinidad and Tobago government, headed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, should not affect the arrangement between the Jamaican and Trinidad governments in the Air Jamaica deal.

Trinidad’s Caribbean Airlines acquired the cash-strapped Air Jamaica in May, before Bissessar’s coalition party defeated the Patrick Manning led People’s National Movement, which had signed the deal.

The opposition had been stinging in its criticism of the deal, stating that Trinidad could not afford to bail out Air Jamaica.

“Nothing is going to change. What has happened in Trinidad… there has been a change in government. But it is a responsible, modern government. What went on between the government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Jamaica is an international treaty. It is something that is good for both sides,” Brunton said.

He was reacting to media reports that there could be trouble for the deal, as the new government had ordered it investigated.

“The talks in the paper… what you read in the press is really something you should expect. If a new government takes over and large commitments have been made to the treasury and so on, they would want to look at it to make sure it was done right,” Brunton said.