Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters at Piarco airport Monday the charter of a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to fly her delegation to Brazil for the World Economic Summit on Latin America was "the most economical thing to do".
A 40-member delegation, which includes several top private sector business leaders, is attending the summit.
The cost of the charter of the CAL 737 aircraft is US$85,000, which works out to just over $US2,000 for the flight.
Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner issued a statement Monday calling the decision "far more financially prudent than the use of a private jet".
Warner said, "While it may have been a habit of the past administration to deploy State resources for the use of private jets, this Government sought, instead, to examine all the options available to getting the national delegation to Brazil to promote the nation's economic and trade interests."
Warner said the Caribbean Airlines finance department conducted a rigorous cost analysis of the flight options in determining the most productive use of the aircraft and any impact on the travelling public.
"At this period, the leasing of additional aircraft makes it profitable while it meets the expectations and increased demand of the travelling public.
"In this context, the special service flight will not be staying in Brazil for the duration of the Government and trade delegation visit. The aircraft is scheduled to return to Piarco while the official group conducts the affairs of the nation and the local business contingent pursues growth opportunities for improved local employment and development," Warner said.
Warner said the return schedule of the aircraft has already been worked out, so it resumes regular scheduled commercial operation within hours of landing at Piarco International.
"It is exemplary that such an arrangement has been put in place to be able to meet the needs of the State, without compromising the needs of passengers nor burdening the State with greater costs," Warner said.
Warner further noted, "Every individual on the flight who is not a Government official is paying their own way, unlike what might have occurred in the past.
"We are conducting every official visit in a fiscally responsible way, and perhaps that is what is being found to be so remarkable because we have become accustomed to the squandermania of the past that it is difficult to believe that government could be conducted any other way," Warner said.
The cost of the charter of the CAL 737 aircraft is US$85,000, which works out to just over $US2,000 for the flight.
Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner issued a statement Monday calling the decision "far more financially prudent than the use of a private jet".
Warner said, "While it may have been a habit of the past administration to deploy State resources for the use of private jets, this Government sought, instead, to examine all the options available to getting the national delegation to Brazil to promote the nation's economic and trade interests."
Warner said the Caribbean Airlines finance department conducted a rigorous cost analysis of the flight options in determining the most productive use of the aircraft and any impact on the travelling public.
"At this period, the leasing of additional aircraft makes it profitable while it meets the expectations and increased demand of the travelling public.
"In this context, the special service flight will not be staying in Brazil for the duration of the Government and trade delegation visit. The aircraft is scheduled to return to Piarco while the official group conducts the affairs of the nation and the local business contingent pursues growth opportunities for improved local employment and development," Warner said.
Warner said the return schedule of the aircraft has already been worked out, so it resumes regular scheduled commercial operation within hours of landing at Piarco International.
"It is exemplary that such an arrangement has been put in place to be able to meet the needs of the State, without compromising the needs of passengers nor burdening the State with greater costs," Warner said.
Warner further noted, "Every individual on the flight who is not a Government official is paying their own way, unlike what might have occurred in the past.
"We are conducting every official visit in a fiscally responsible way, and perhaps that is what is being found to be so remarkable because we have become accustomed to the squandermania of the past that it is difficult to believe that government could be conducted any other way," Warner said.
Former Prime Minister Patrick Manning spent more than $5.3 million on overseas travel during the period January 2007 to March 31, 2009.
During that time he made 32 trips in 27 months, an average of more than one more month. Eighteen of those trips were on a private jet which cost the government about $4.1 million. The cost of travelling on commercial flights was $1.2 million.
During that time he made 32 trips in 27 months, an average of more than one more month. Eighteen of those trips were on a private jet which cost the government about $4.1 million. The cost of travelling on commercial flights was $1.2 million.
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