New ATLA board to discuss REDjet

One of the first matters to be addressed by the Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) will be the application of REDjet to land in T&T, said Jack Warner, Works and Transport Minister. Warner was speaking at the installation of the ATLA board which is chaired by Amrall Mohammed and includes seven other members, at his London Street, Port-of-Spain, office yesterday. He said a “temporary permit” would be given to REDjet “until they regularise themselves.” In response to another question Warner said while he expected permission would be given for REDjet to operate,  that was not automatic.

He said it was not impossible for the board to deny permission. “Nothing is cast in stone. I feel they will qualify. It is solely in their remit to decide. They could tomorrow find some reason why they cannot land. I can’t say no,” he added. Asked if REDjet’s fate lies in the ATLA board, Warner said: “Totally.” Mohammed said the matter would be dealt with at its first meeting today. He promised the new board would serve with equity and fairness. In another matter, Warner, speaking about the planned realignment of ministers’ portfolios, said no Cabinet minister was worried about next month’s realignment by PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar. 

Persad-Bissessar said at the weekend the realignment would take place one year after the People’s Partnership assumed office. Warner was questioned about the move during yesterday’s board installation. “We in the Cabinet are not worried,” Warner added. He said the realignment did not mean he would be removed from the ministry. “What she is saying is that you shall stay in your ministry but you will be given either more or less work, depending on competence. That’s how I interpret it,” he said. “Believe you me, I am not unduly worried,” he insisted. Warner said the new Government was about service and if the PM felt there was need for a realignment of portfolios, “then so be it.”