Members of a flight crew, which stepped up to stop drugs from being smuggled in to Canada, have marked their sixth month in detention in the Dominican Republic.
Concerned for the “safety” of its flight crew, Pivot Airlines is warning Canadians about the risk of booking winter vacations to the Caribbean island.
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On April 5, “five members of a Canadian air crew were arbitrarily detained in the Dominican Republic for reporting a crime,” said Pivot Airlines CEO Eric Edmondson.
That crime was noticing a warning light was on in their aircraft’s computer bay. An inspection uncovered eight bags of cocaine with a street value of $20 million.
About to take off for Toronto, the crew called local law enforcement and the RCMP. Authorities in the Dominican swiftly took them to prison, where they spent nine days before being released under effective house arrest.
They’re under threat of being returned to lockup at any time. It has been a nightmare.
“They have endured inhumane conditions, threats against their lives, and six months away from their families, their lives, and their careers – simply for doing their job,” said Edmondson, who added a third-party investigation has provided “proof” his crew is not involved in the drug smuggling effort.
The whole affair is obscene, and not just on the part of the Dominican Republic. It’s also troubling how little the Canadian government has done to secure their release.
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The crew has not been charged and yet have had their liberty stolen from them as their families in Canada reel in fear about death threats targeted at their loved ones.
“Pivot Airlines remains deeply concerned for our crew’s safety, and continue to do everything in our power to secure their freedom,” said Edmondson. “We have engaged governments at the highest level, conducted a third-party investigation proving their innocence, and recently filed for their case to be dismissed. Tragically, the Dominican authorities continue to ignore the evidence and immense human impact on five Canadians who should be viewed as heroes.”
In the Dominican, the crew feel like zeroes. They feel abandoned and forgotten.
Flight attendant Alex Rozov, of Toronto; Capt. Robert Di Venanzo, of Guelph; co-pilot Aatif Safdar, of Hamilton; mechanical engineer Bal Krishna Dubey, of Mississauga; and flight attendant Christina Carello, of Brampton, are fearing a court could send them back to jail Oct. 20. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, seems to be in the news for everything from a two-week vacation in Costa Rica and caucus and cabinet retreats in five-star hotels to singing at the Queen’s funeral and going bungee jumping.
While he’s having fun, these people are stuck in an awful mess.
“We have been told to keep low,” said one crew member.
However, Edmondson is not keeping quiet.
“All Canadians travelling to the Dominican Republic to vacation, should think seriously about the potential consequences,” he said. “With a total lack of whistleblower protections, any Canadian could be detained for up to six months in a foreign country, just for witnessing a crime. Travel to the Dominican Republic is simply not worth the risk.”
This crew is living proof. They have already missed Easter and summer.
“As our crew remains under considerable distress, missing irreplaceable time with their families, we are urging the Dominican authorities to recognize their innocence, and allow them to return home in time for the Thanksgiving holidays,” said Edmondson.
It’s time for Trudeau to speak out strongly, like he has against Russia, Iran and truckers involved in the Freedom Convoy. The freedom of these five Canadians is more important than bungee jumping.
This flight crew has been hanging by a wire for six months.
