Planes, trains and controversy

It was soon revealed that while Canada-based Bombardier Aerospace, manufacturers of the luxury jet, were wooing the Mannings with a special test flight, its sister company, Bombardier Transportation, was bidding for the contract for this country’s rapid rail system.

Manning has remained mostly silent amidst the accusations and denials that have been flying back and forth over the past few weeks, leaving Works Minister Colm Imbert to deal with the heat generated by the Bombardier revelations.

These developments have put Bombardier Inc, parent company of the two firms, in an uncomfortable spotlight. The giant company, which has major business interests throughout the world, operates under a strict code of ethics and business conduct aimed at shielding it from the negative fallout from conflicts of interest, illegal and improper payments, and other such practices.

The company operates a Bom-bardier Ethics Advisory Council and circulates a 24-page Code of Ethics and Business Conduct document among staff which spells out severe penalties, including termination of employment, criminal penalties and civil sanctions for employees who violate the Code.

On its relationship with governments the company states: “The Corporation and its employees and partners comply with all legal and contractual obligations in dealing with the various governments and regulatory agencies with which they are in contact. “Employees and partners of Bombardier who deal with government officials and negotiate contracts are responsible for knowing and complying with all applicable laws and regulations, including those pertaining to lobbying activities.”

Locally, there has been considerable speculation as to whether the Bombardier flight was a possible violation of the Code of Conduct in this country’s Integrity in Public Life Act.

On board the Bombardier Global Express, the Prime Minister, his wife and members of their entourage, were able to relax in a luxurious cabin that was heated, air-conditioned and equipped with an Ultra Electronics active noise and vibration cancellation system that ensures quiet conditions during flight. The cabin, which can be configured for eight to 19 passengers, offers customised interior layouts which can include office, stater oom or conference style areas. A lighting system using Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology provides more ambient cabinet lighting.

During the flight the Mannings and their entourage were served lunch by a Bombardier cabin attendant.

The furore over the test flight has been fuelled, in no small part, by persistent speculation that the Manning Administration has been quietly exploring the possibility of purchasing a jet for the Office of the Prime Minister. During his frequent overseas trips, Prime Minister Manning travels on a private aircraft leased from Guardian Holdings Limited.

It certainly does not help that Manning was involved in another controversy involving a flight on a private jet just two years ago. On that occasion, he accepted an offer of a flight on an aircraft owned by Spanish energy company Repsol YPF.

A check of Bombadier Inc’s corporate profile shows that the company has enjoyed a largely unblemished 64-year history of mega mergers, acquisitions and diversifications.

Starting off as snow-mobile manufacturers L’Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitee in 1942, the company has evolved into a global conglomerate, with revenues of US$15.8 billion in its last fiscal year. According to its mission statement, it is seeking to become “the world’s leading manufacturer of planes and trains.” In that quest, two of Bombardier’s subsidiaries have set their sights on business opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Bombardier Aerospace, the subsidiary which facilitated the Prime Minister’s non-stop test flight from Piarco to Antigua and back, has done business in this country in the past. It is the manufacturer of the Dash-8 aircraft operated by Tobago Express on the airbridge.

In recent months the company has had exploratory talks with officials of national carrier BWIA International but officials on both sides are tight-lipped about the nature of those talks and whether they are linked to the December 31 closure of BWIA.

Bombardier Aerospace spokesman Marc Halloran, who confirmed that talks had taken place with BWIA, said they had not entered into any concrete negotiations for the sale or leasing of any planes as the local carrier makes the transition to Caribbean Airlines.

As far as private jets go, Imbert was quick to deny reports that there were plans to purchase one for use by the Prime Minister. He insisted that Manning had simply accepted an offer from the manufacturers to take the test flight.

Speaking to reporters at a Septem-ber 14 post-Cabinet briefing, the Works Minister stated, “I’m sure if someone has brought a new car for you to test out. . . that’s simply what it was. It was simply a demonstration by the manufacturers of the aircraft. . . Bombardier simply wished to demonstrate this aircraft to the Prime Minis-ter and he accepted the offer of a test journey and he participated in the test journey, and that is the end of that.”

Leo Knaapen, a spokesman for Bombardier Aerospace, told Newsday he would not describe the Trinidad and Tobago Government as one of the company’s clients for a private jet. He also said he was not at liberty to give details of any talks the company was having with any of its clients.

Bombardier and TT government officials have denied any links between the test flight and the bid by Bombardier Transportation to design, build, operate and maintain a rapid rail system in this country. The company is part of a foreign consortium that put in a bid for the project on August 28. Government is due to select the successful bidder this month and the contract should be awarded by December 31, according to the Works Minister.

Bombardier Transportation spokeswoman Kathryn Nickerson was at pains to point out that the Aerospace and Transportation Divisions were separate units and there was no connection between the test flight and the bid for the rapid rail project. She said Bombardier Transportation had been interested in the rapid rail project since January. The company designs and manufactures a range of rail vehicles, including the Bombardier Flexity Swift, currently in service in Cologne, Stockholm, Istanbul and London. The company has also built rail vehicles for the Las Vegas Monorail and the New York City Subway.

Information from the Ministry of Works is that the proposed rapid rail system will connect Sangre Grande in the East to Diego Martin in the West, and Port-of-Spain in the North to San Fernando in the South. The first phase will connect Port-of-Spain and Chaguanas with a stop at either Curepe or St Joseph and is due for completion in two-and-a-half years, with the second phase (connecting Arima to the system) due to start six months later. Subsequent phases will start at six-month intervals.

The rail cars will travel at speeds of up to 80 mph, with the express train taking just 30 minutes to bring passengers from San Fernando to Port-of-Spain.