Trinidad and Tobago: Dr Keith Rowley sends file to Police Service Commission

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has written to chairman of the Police Service Commission, Professor Ramesh Deosaran, asking him to review the award of a contract by the Police Service to the T&T Air Support Co Ltd as it is matter deemed fit for an urgent investigation. 

Along with the letter to Deosaran yesterday, Rowley sent copies of documents relating to the procurement of air services (two light aircraft) under the hand of Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs. Rowley told Deosaran: “It is a matter of concern to us at the Office of the Opposition that due to the questionable procurement process which was involved, the public interest has not been protected. “We also take issue with the conduct of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police in the facilitation of the developments recorded in these documents.”

Listing other concerns, he questioned whether the TTASC had an Air Operators Certificate which was required from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to engage in commercial aviation in T&T. Rowley also wanted to know who were the licensed pilots, engineers and machinists approved by the CAA. He added that to engage in commercial aviation in T&T the aircraft must be registered in T&T which would require the issuance of an export certificate of airworthiness from the country of origin before it could be registered under the CAA. “The Zenith CH 750 Light Sports Aircraft Kit is a light sports aircraft registered with the FAA for use in amateur aviation in the USA. It is neither certified nor approved by the FAA for commercial use,” he stated. Rowley said the CAA regulations did not include a category for such light sports aircraft to operate in commercial activities but in a private category. Efforts by the T&T Guardian yesterday to obtain information on the matter from the CAA proved futile. The T&T Guardian was told only the director could reveal who was given approval to operate an aircraft and that he was out of the country.

Source:  http://www.guardian.co.tt