Rotting hams, turkeys at Piarco

ROTTING HAMS and turkeys came on board an aircraft leased by BWIA on Thursday night, as the struggle continued to get delayed baggage to disgruntled passengers. When Newsday visited the Piarco International Airport, one porter from customs said baggage that should have arrived four days ago, was overflowing with worms, with a foul stench engulfing the customs area. “We actually had to run from the smell. The only thing we could do was pack them up in a far corner,” said the porter. The porter said the area needed to be fumigated because of the stench. However, none of the passengers who owned the delayed luggage were at the airport yesterday. When Newsday contacted BWIA, no one was available to make a comment. 

Apart from the “smelly meats,” porters also complained that with the delay in luggage, their daily earnings had dropped drastically. “This is the worst Christmas I have ever experienced with the delays with BWIA. The intense action usually takes place a month before December, but we are receiving no money, as passengers do not have any luggage,” said the porter. The porter said that one woman who had been checking on her luggage since December 20 broke down in tears of frustration yesterday. As BWIA continued to have problems, other passengers complained of luggage delays from chartered airlines and American Airlines.

One irate passenger contacted Newsday, saying that although the spotlight was on BWIA, American Airlines passengers were also suffering. The passenger said a baggage hotline was set up, but the mailbox was completely full. “It is Christmas Eve and people want their baggage, they are not treating us good at all,” said the passenger. For more than a week passengers have been waiting for their luggage from American Airlines. When Newsday contacted AA, an official, Nisha Maharaj, said there were no delays in their luggage, especially for such a long period of time. “If baggage was delayed, it would have only been for 24 hours,” said Maharaj. No BWIA international flights were delayed yesterday.