CAL asked to explain work permit failures

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The Ministry of National Security is reported to be awaiting answers from officials of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) over the carrier’s failure to secure work permits for several of its foreign pilots. The T&T Guardian understands the ministry wrote to the airline two weeks ago inquiring about five American pilots who have been operating out of T&T. The letter was sent through CAL’s line minister Larry Howai and copied to chairman Rabindra Moonan but to date there has been no response. The work permit issue was exposed last month after four Jamaican pilots, who had been flying for CAL out of T&T for several months without work permits, did not have their employment contracts renewed by the airline. Their cause has been taken up by the Jamaican Airline Pilots’ Association (Jalpa) who said the pilots were given just 15 hours to vacate their staff accommodation in T&T and return to Jamaica, without pay.