Disabled group denied Tobago flight

Several disabled persons had their flight reservations cancelled for two Tobago Express flights which were supposed to take them to the Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) “Walk for Full Citizenship” which was to take place in Scarborough yesterday morning. DPI President George Daniel led a group of disabled people to the Tobago terminal of the Piarco International Airport in an attempt to reinstate their bookings on the flight and to protest the “discrimination against the disabled.”

“There were 50 people who were supposed to get on the 7.55 am and 9.30 am flights. They unilaterally cancelled our bookings. After a month of planning, our time and effort were wasted. We made our reservations, and spent money on putting everything in place to go to Tobago but when our secretary called the airline to pay and confirm our reservations she was informed that the reservations were cancelled,” said Daniel. According to DPI Secretary Leslie Garcia, “the airline said that they are only able to accommodate one non-ambulatory person on each Dash-8 airplane. However, in May George Daniel and Francis Olivierre travelled to Tobago on the same flight.”

Garcia added that DPI had contacted Tobago Express Chairman Alan Clovis, who promised to assist the group in arriving in and returning from Tobago, Minister of Works and Transport, Franklyn Khan, who also indicated that he would help to resolve the situation and Civil Aviation Authority Executive Manager of Safety Regulations, Francis Regis, who stated that he could not do anything to assist the group in their efforts. The disabled group which included persons confined to wheelchairs, persons with polio and other inhibiting conditions could be heard throughout the terminal as they sang, “oh when the saints go Tobago, I would like to be in their number!” DPI members also displayed placards which read, “we demand to boldly go where everyone has gone before.” When the other passengers arrived for the 9.30 flight, the congestion caused by the protest prompted Commercial Operations Manager Ester Maraj to meet with Daniel and his colleagues.

Maraj pointed out that, “the Civil Aviation Authority allows airlines to carry one “lift-on” passenger per flight. We cannot break with policy or we could lose our licence. The law will first have to be changed and we will work with our customers and other stakeholders where we can.” Daniel informed Maraj of the high cost of cancelling the event in Tobago and asked if DPI could receive any compensation for this. Khan assured Daniel that she had done all that she could to that point and would continue to work toward resolving the issue. Maraj and Daniel agreed to meet on Tuesday to continue talks regarding the matter.