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Dr
Lewis went on to say that “…we (the U.W.P.) believe that
the burden of seeking retribution or compensation should not
be left solely to the aggrieved citizen, and that his (Mr.
Hinkson’s) Government should be prepared to intervene to
ensure that fairness and equity has indeed prevailed in this
case”.
Dr.
Lewis said that, “…the United Workers Party therefore
appeals to you, in the interest of transparency in
decision-making and fairness to a citizen of St. Lucia, to
seek the services of a suitably qualified individual
acceptable to the Ministry and Eagle Air, to investigate and
adjudicate on the issues in contention in this matter, with a
view to clarifying the question raised above and any other
issue of concern to Eagle Air, and to make an urgent report to
the Ministry”.
Stepehnson
King
General Secretary
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UNITED WORKERS PARTY
Office of the Political Leader
NAPA Building
John Compton Highway
Castries
22nd August 2000
Hon Menissa Rambally
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation
Block A, NIS Building
John Compton Highway
Castries
Dear Hon Minister
I write to you concerning the matter
of the grant of a permit to Mountain Air Cargo to operate a
second aircraft in St.Lucia for the purpose of providing
additional service for Federal Express, and the consequent
termination of the contract between Federal Express and Eagle
Air Services Limited owned by Mr. Ewart Hinkson to provide
services for Fedex.
Following Mr Hinkson's appeal to you,
the United Workers Party has refrained from making any public
intervention in the matter, in order to permit an effort to be
made to resolve it in as non-political and non-partisan an
atmosphere as possible. However as the date for the
termination of the Fedex-Eagle Air contract approaches, and no
movement towards a solution seems to be on the horizon, it
seems necessary to approach you.
A number of areas of concern have
arisen which would appear to need further exploration. First,
has there been a change of circumstances in the matter which
would encourage a change of decision on the part of the Air
Transport Licensing Board in respect of the Mountain Air
request? Irrespective of the change in the membership of the
Board, would there not have been substantive reasons for the
decision of the previous Board which could not easily be
changed? Are Mr Hinkson, and indeed the general public, not
entitled to some indication of the reasons for which the Air
Transport Licencing Board made a new decision?
Secondly, is there not some
justification for Mr. Hinkson's request that an intervention
be made by the Ministry vis-a-vis Mountain Air and Fedex to
persuade them to "give consideration to ensure that all
existing contracts they have made with local operators be
honoured to the fullest extent during the period for which the
permit is granted"? It seems odd that Fedex should
indicate to Mr Hinkson that "your reliable service to
Martinique and Dominica for Fedex has been very important to
our customers in those countries" and yet interrupt the
contract which they had with Eagle Air.
I am aware that the Government cannot
intervene in the workings of essentially private sector and
market relationships in the air transport industry. But it is
also of paramount importance that Government fulfill its
particular role of ensuring that all such relationships are
conducted in a context of fairness and equity to all
participants, particularly those who are citizens of this
country whose interests Government is elected to protect.
We believe that the burden of seeking
retribution or compensation should not be left solely to the
aggrieved citizen, and that his Government should be prepared
to intervene to ensure that fairness and equity has indeed
prevailed in this case.
The United Workers Party therefore
appeals to you, in the interest of transparency in
decision-making and fairness to a citizen of St.Lucia, to seek
the services of a suitably qualified individual acceptable to
the Ministry and to Eagle Air, to investigate and adjudicate
on the issues in contention in this matter with a view to
clarifying the question raised above and any other issue of
concern to Eagle Air, and to make an urgent report to the
Ministry.
We also suggest that, in the interim,
Fedex be approached by Government to ensure the continuation
of Eagle Air's contract.
The United Workers Party hopes that
your Ministry will give these suggestions your urgent
consideration. As I am sure you will know, there is increasing
public concern on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Vaughan A. Lewis Political Leader
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