Civil Aviation Admits Issues Affecting Department

Lindsay Garbutt

According to Davis, there will be a move by management to try to address critical issues including human resource shortage and salary concerns. This evening, Director of Civil Aviation, Lindsay Garbutt, told News Five that the meeting between the parties was frank and cordial, and on Tuesday, all air traffic control activities will return to normal. As to the mass air traffic controller fever, Garbutt didn’t appear as convinced as Davis that it was genuine, but they’re willing to accept it.

Lindsay Garbutt, Director, Civil Aviation

“It is what was told to us; it is impossible not to accept what was said. When one is in management, one has to be very careful recognizing that there are certain rights and privileges that each and every public service worker has and that one must respect those rights and privileges.”

Reporter

“Sir but on Saturday, you categorized the event as a sick-out…”

Lindsay Garbutt

“I absolutely did not….I said very clearly that if the representative from COLA wanted to call it a sick out that was his prerogative; that all I am saying is that several individuals called in sick.”

Reporter

“Sir, now there have been allegations and reports made that the air traffic controllers are unhappy about safety standards not being adhered to within the tower as well as the radar room. What are you prepared to say in relation to that in terms of their working hours and all the other allegations that are out there?”

Lindsay Garbutt

“From the time I started working with this department, we have been working through a number of issues. I think that if there was one thing that came out of what happened on Saturday was something that we, at the Civil Aviation Department and the ministry, have always recognized that these people have a very important function; that we are not at present working with the optimum amount of people needed. We hired six people last June. We are prepared to proceed to hire another nine and to continue bringing the air traffic controller unit up to full strength as soon as it is possible.”

Reporter

“Sir like that because you are accepting fault. If you do not have the number of workers that are required—because if you didn’t require more, you wouldn’t be looking at hiring more—do you also accept that the equipment that these ATC are working with may also not up to standard and there also jeopardizes the safety of the entire operation.”

Lindsay Garbutt

“No, I do not accept that the equipment are not up to standard. I accept and recognize that equipment from time to time will fail and there will be technical issues that need to be addressed. I think that the mere fact that we have been working and working in an environment free of accident caused by anything done by the ATC should be clear indication that the equipments are functioning.”

A tentative meeting has been planned for Thursday, at which there will be a follow-up of issues discussed today.