Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday is not letting the purchase of an executive jet rest he gets some straight answer. he is demanding the Government make a comprehensive statement in Parliament on the details of the purchase of the Bombardier executive jet by State-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL).Panday told the media the statement must include an explanation of how the airlines will breakdown the cost of the aircraft in the light of the government's commitment to guarantee payment for 600 flight hours per year.
He also wants to know whether the money that the state is putting into the business deal is a repayable loan or a cash injection that would not be repaid. The government is putting $TT315 million in the purchase of the plane, he said, so it has a responsibility to explain this expenditure.
Panday is concerned that the whole affair stinks of controversy, secrecy and scandal. So far, he says, most of the information has come from the media, noting that whatever official details are presented and insufficient.
he wants to know who are the "unnamed sources", the extent of the state's involvement in the deal, the time-line of the transaction and "the real story."
"There is conflict of interest between the Government and the suppliers of the aircraft. If citizens are to foot this bill then they must know what the true overall cost to taxpayers," Panday said.
Panday's reference is to the Canadian aerospace company Bombardier, which is the supplier of the plane. The company has been in discussions with the government on the light rail mass transit system and while those discussions were in progress Manning and his wife were treated to a "joy ride" on one of bombardier's luxury executive jets.
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