Devant defends Prado for CAL chairman; Rowley wants Integrity Commission probe

Transport Minister Devant Maharaj told reporters Monday the Prado vehicle leased for use by the chairman of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is costing less than the previous leased vehicle.

Maharaj noted that before Rabindra Moonan assumed office the airline had leased a Mercedes Benz for use by the chairman and the rest of the board of directors. he said when Moonan took office he found that the cost was "exorbitant" so he cancelled that lease.

However the Express newspaper said its investigations have revealed that two previous CAL boards did not lease a Mercedes or any other vehicle for use by directors.

The Prado leased by CAL is costing the airline $20,000 a month. The Minister said, "The Prado would be leased for use of the management and board of the Caribbean Airlines, it would not be used only by the chairman."

Maharaj added that Moonan has a "hectic schedule" as he tries to "turn things around" at the State carrier.

"It is required now that almost every other day (he has) to be in meetings with various stakeholders to carry about his duties. This is not an executive position. If we want Caribbean Airlines to really turn around we need the chairman to be very focused at this time," he said.

Maharaj said, "Clearly the facts need to be verified before headlines are written." 

However, Opposition Leader Keith Rowley is not pleased with the arrangement and on Monday called for an investigation by the Integrity Commission.

He said the chairman has no entitlement to vehicular transport. "That is State-authorised abuse and ministerial encouragement of wrongdoing and this is a matter for the Integrity Commission," he said. Rowley insisted that a state board chairman is not entitled to any car.

"This Government is bending and breaking the rules to satisfy individuals who have come into office to enjoy office. There is no provision in the existing regulations for board members or chairman of a board to enjoy any kind of vehicular transport," he said.

Rowley stated that the State Enterprises Performance Monitoring Manual is very clear on entitlements for members of state boards and one of the things that is clear is that "chairmen and directors were not entitled to company cars". He added, "I am demanding that the Integrity Commission intervene and stop it and sanction the minister."