Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Chief Financial Officer Varuna Kuarsingh has been suspended, mere days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called on the management of the company to “sort out the mess” at the carrier.

It is reported that Kuarsingh was sent on leave a few days ago by the new CAL board, headed by Reyna Kowlessar. Kuarsingh has been with the company for over two years.

Speaking during the United National Congress’s Monday Night Report on August 11, the prime minister told supporters gathered at Camden Hall, Couva, that the airline had not submitted audited financials for the last nine years.

The CFO is responsible for submitting financial reports, but it has not been confirmed whether the company’s failure to produce financials over the past couple of years was the reason for Kuarsingh’s suspension.

In her August 11 speech, the prime minister issued a warning to CAL’s management. “I am giving the management of Caribbean Airlines two years max. They have to sort out the mess. Otherwise, everyone there will have to look for a new job,” she said.

However, this statement sparked concern among CAL workers, prompting their representing unions, the Aviation, Communication and Allied Workers Union (ACAWU) and the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots’ Association (TTALPA), to write to Persad-Bissessar on August 14th requesting an urgent meeting. The unions want, among other things, clarity on the airline’s future.

Subsequent social media reports of workers in CAL’s finance department being either fired or earmarked for dismissal did little to allay workers’ fears. However, ACAWU, the union under which the finance department falls, yesterday denied that workers had been fired.

President General Nwannia Sorzano stated that this information is new to the company, as none of their members reported such occurrences.

As for the unions’ request to meet with the PM, Sorzano said, “We are eagerly looking forward to an audience with the Honourable Prime Minister to clarify concerns raised with us by the members and to see how we can contribute to a successful CAL.”