Warner praises Civil Aviation authority for its self sufficiency

Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner has praised the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) for the multi-million dollar "state-of-the-art" complex it is building without government assistance.

"These guys didn't ask me for a 'help me'. And they don't expect any. And they were able to build this facility from their own resource," Warner noted during a tour of the facility.

He added, "the more of us who can do this, it is better for us. I say again, I like the initiative, I like the drive and I want to commend them very highly."

Warner toured the site of the Civil Aviation Complex at Caroni North Bank Road in Piarco Monday. Calling the complex "one of our wonder" the minister pointed out that there were no cost overruns and everything was on time and within budget.

TTCAA director general Ramesh Lutchmedial told the minister the complex is the "most modern in the world", with technology that should last for the next 15 years.

It comprises the air navigation services, administration centre and training centre. Lutchmedial said the authority used its own resources to finance the project, which is scheduled to be commissioned in six months.

The money came from fees that the authority collects for providing air navigation services.

Trinidad and Tobago was one of the first five countries in the world to use the new Communication Navigation Surveillance Air Traffic Management system, which allows the authority to fit many more aircraft in a smaller airspace.

Lutchmedial told Warner the TTCAA wants to be able to fix salaries without having to go to the Public Sector Negotiating Committee and the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO).

He noted that the authority is losing some of its best personnel who prefer to work outside of Trinidad and Tobago where they can earn a better income.

Lutchmedial told Warner that he is concerned about the delay by the CPO is approving a job evaluation exercise that was completed in 2006.

Warner described that situation as "scandalous" and promised to have a draft settlement arranged in 30 days.