$2.6M for Manning's private jet flights

Prime Minister Patrick Manning has been traveling by private executive jet for the past three years. And his trips have cost the taxpayer more than $2.6 million, all of it going to Guardian Holdings Limited for use of the company's executive jet.

The minister of finance made the disclosure Tuesday in the Senate in response to a question from Opposition Senator Wade Mark who wanted details of the Government’s travel arrangements.

The document showed that Manning leased the private jet for his and other Government official’s use on 22 occasions between January 2005 and April 15, 2008.

The hourly cost for use of the jet was US$3000, exclusive of other charges. That's approximately TT$18,990 an hour, more than most workers make in an entire month.

The total expenditure for use of the service was US$412,216.80, which is TT$2.6 million based on an exchanged rate of TT$6.30 to one U.S. dollar.

Manning used the jet prior to the unsuccessful attempt in April by Caribbean Airlines to buy a long-range private executive jet for half a billion dollars from Canadian aerospace giant, Bombardier.

Government had given full backing to the plan but the airline cancelled the deal saying it was because the prestigious International company refused to sign an "anti-corruption clause".

Canadian sources, however, pointed out that no such clause was required because Bombardier, like all companies operating in OECS member countries, are governed by a strict-anti-corruption law that levies stiff penalties on any company that offers "favours or bribes" to any public officials in the countries in which they conduct business.

Mark described the expenditure as “scandalous.” He asked why Manning did not utilise the regular facilities of Caribbean Airlines, which is heavily subsidised by the Government.

“One would have thought that having established CA almost a year ago that Government would have taken some interest in utilising it,” he said. “I can’t understand why the PM is utilising private jet facilities of GHL.”

He added, “I believe this is something that calls for a serious investigation. Why is the PM giving preferential treatment to GHL’s private jet instead of flying on CA which is heavily subsidised by T&T’s taxpayers?”