Hundreds of frustrated passengers up to late last night stood at the Caribbean Airlines domestic counter demanding answers as to why they were left stranded at Piarco International Airport.Some of them had been waiting on standby flights to Tobago from 3 am yesterday.A Caribbean Airlines supervisor on duty at the airport at about 6 pm addressed disgruntled passengers saying that she unfortunately could not bring them any relief and suggested that they leave the airport.
A Caribbean Airlines representative explained to the Sunday Guardian that it was the first time in her eight years service with the airline that she had experienced such a situation."This is the worst ever and I cannot do anything about it. Many Christmases before it was very slow but I don't know what is happening this year."Many passengers shouted and begged for the airline to organise a big aircraft to take them to Tobago, as done in the past.
CAL's representative said in order to do that they would have to get the greenlight from the "ones above."Passenger Kanhai Ramdial said he came to the airport at about 10 am and purchased a one-way standby ticket and at 7 pm he was still waiting to get on a flight."I am very disappointed in the service. All these years and they can't get it right with the airbridge. It's Christmas too and all this frustration we are forced to be faced with."
Another passenger, Venisha Baboolal, said, "I have been here since midnight on Friday and could not get on. No explanation was given. I went home at 3 am and returned a few hours after and 7 o'clock tonight I still here. This is utter nonsense and very ridiculous."
Efforts to reach line Minister Larry Howai for comment proved futile. However, National Security Minister Gary Griffith said he would contact Howai as well as Minister of Transport Stephen Cadiz to see what could be done to bring relief to all who were stranded.