Suriname Airways VP criticises Bwee

Vice-President of Suriname Airways, Clyde Cairo, yesterday criticised BWIA’s lack of co-operation as one of the reasons for the economic problems of the airline. He stated that BWIA needed to co-operate with other airline carriers in order to survive. Cairo was at the time commenting at a press conference held at the Hilton Trinidad.

Cairo added that though Suriname Airways tried to hold discussions with BWIA’s CEO Conrad Aleong concerning an agreement between the two airlines for flight operations to and from Suriname and Trinidad, they were unsuccessful. He said that the number of people travelling between the two countries were too low to require flights from both airlines each week. Suriname Airways offers flights twice a week to and from both countries whereas BWIA, which started flying to Suriname last year, offers flights three times a week. Cairo stated that the number of flights offered far outnumbered the quota of people flying. He said, “BWIA is not a carrier that likes to co-operate. They just want to take over.” He continued that since BWIA is not doing well as an airline it should co-operate with other airlines in the region. Cairo also spoke on the possible commercial and economic benefits of trade and tourism between the two countries. He said the purpose of his visit and other Surinamese delegates to Trinidad and Tobago was to strengthen the ties between the two countries.

President of Suriname’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Robert Ameerali, said that Suriname hopes in the near future to export products to Trinidad and Tobago. He added that Suriname planned to use Trinidad and Tobago as the base from which to export their products to the rest of CARICOM and Europe. Rahid Doekhie, secretary for the Suriname Manufacturers Association, said their main goal was to replace imports to Trinidad and Tobago from the USA with products from Suriname. He said Suriname produces a high quality of diversified products which they wish to export to all of CARICOM. Jerome Khan, representative for Suriname Airways in Trinidad and Tobago, stated that Suriname had a lot to offer to the local businessman. He said the Surinamese Government recently signed a trade agreement with the Brazilian state of Para. This allows for any goods manufactured in Suriname to be granted duty-free access in Para. He said Trinidad and Tobago’s businessmen could also take advantage of the agreement providing that their goods are manufactured in Suriname.