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For all those outside Antigua, I decided to type out the airticle seeing as though it is not available online.
The Daily OBSERVER - Ten C'bean Star Pilots Get The Boot.
Feb 01 '05.

A restructuring exercise at Caribbean Star Airlines Limited, which is owned by R Allen Stanford, has started with the firing of 10 pilots.

Up to press time, eight of the pilots received their walking papers. The other two were to receive official word about their fate. The entire executive of the Caribbean Star Pilot's Association were among those getting the boot.

The pilots were summoned to a meeting with management at which they were called in individually at around 5:30pm and given the letter explaining their fate.

"Caribbean Star Ltd has had to make the hard decision as to which of our staff we consider shall enable us to achieve that vision,” the letter said, referring to the company’s desire to provide the best service.

“We therefore decided to terminate your employment with Caribbean Star Airlines Ltd with immediate effect,” the letter added.

The pilots were asked to return all property belonging to the company, including their identification badges, security passes, uniform, mobile phones and laptops. The grounded airmen were also advised that they were not to return to their offices or Caribbean Star offices without prior notification.

The Daily OBSERVER has been reliably informed that more firings will be announced this morning (Feb 01). Among those who could face the breadline are other classes of workers including airhostesses and even counter staff.

The airline, last evening, sent out a press release indicating that it was undertaking a reorganization programme designed to “improve efficiency and profitability, offer wide-ranging support and resources for employees and deliver world-class air travel to Caricom nationals.”

The release, however, did not make mention of the job cuts. It only announced that Captain John Murray had been named as vice president of operations and Captain Alan Hart as chief pilot.
The Caribbean Star Pilots’ Association has been battling the airline’s management for recognition and has taken is matter before as labour commissioner.

In late December, Elliot Streete, a member of the Caribbean Star Pilots’ Association was fired while he was still on sick leave.

Stanford has developed a track record of being anti-union. Last year when the pilots first mobilized to get the union up and running, he called the pilots into a meeting at his hangar and brought in an armored truck with $175,000. Stanford said that was the amount the airline was losing daily. He also threatened to take Caribbean Star out of the skies as a counter move to the pilots’ planned action.

A source says Caribbean Sun, Stanford’s other airline which is based in Puerto Rico, is being called upon to take up the strain.

Up to five planes and their crew are to be brought into Antigua to cover for Caribbean Star, which could be effectively grounded.

hhmmmm, interesting...

dat in affecting you though right?

boy de way how things is right now ... yuh neva know

tanx fuh taking the time to update us Bax. Somehow, I think this was planned though.

oh yes...word is that Caribbean Sun Sister company of star had aircraft sitting on the ramp in ANU but according to OECS aviation laws they could'nt fly the routes because they were'nt registered in ANU...its getting vicious down here i'll keep yuh posted

yea please do. i tell u i know a pilot.... well actually he was in training fuh star.....

I like his style.. i could take dat page out of his book

Ralph Gonsalves and LIAT are probably SMILING at the NEWS.

i don't see why exactly.. can't Caribbean Sun planes just full in the missing Caribbean Star flights

Well, Caribbean STAR is the DEFACTO rival of LIAT in that REGION.

Yeah that much I agree. But the problem is that LIAT was losing money before Caribbean Star

according to OECS aviation laws they could'nt fly the routes because they were'nt registered in ANU..

hmm ncie twist so he could just have the planes touch down in ANU den.. transfer de pilots to another plane? is that viable

I BELIEVE BAD management was one of the REASONS.

With the BAILOUT, and the RESTRUCTURING, of LIAT, you will see IMPROVEMENTS.

It would even be BETTER if LIAT and BWIA merge.

The OWNER of Caribbean Star, Sandiford, is a BILLIONAIRE and is a highly capable business man.

So LIAT needs to get its ACT together.