Unions call on gov’t to free Canadians held in the Dominican

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Three unions are calling on the Canadian authorities to intervene within the ongoing case of 5 Canadians being held within the Dominican Republic — for reporting a criminal offense.

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The Air Line Pilots Affiliation Worldwide (ALPA), Canadian Union of Public Staff (CUPE), and Unifor are launching a public marketing campaign in hopes of getting the Canadians safely returned house.

The nightmare began in early April when the Canadian aircrew of a Pivot Airways airplane and 7 passengers had been getting ready to fly from Punta Cana to Toronto.

As reported in the National Post, a mechanic reported to the flight captain that he had found a black suitcase within the avionics bay.

Authorities had been notified without delay. Anti-narcotics investigators searched the airplane and located seven luggage full of cocaine — with an estimated road worth of $25 million.

In accordance with Pivot Airways, the 2 pilots, two flight attendants, a mechanic and the seven passengers had been imprisoned within the Dominican after the contraband was discovered.

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Jail circumstances for the lads had been reportedly significantly unsavoury.

Virtually everybody within the group was launched on bail round April 18, however they had been suggested to not go away the nation.

Dominican prosecutors declare all concerned are someway a part of a trafficking scheme; it’s an attention-grabbing stance, contemplating that one of many crew found the medication and one other reported the discover to authorities.

Defence attorneys have cited a scarcity of proof within the case. The native choose who granted bail agreed.

However the standoff continues.

The Canadians have fears for his or her security, on condition that someone someplace within the drug commerce is out some 200 kg of narcotics.

Now the unions are standing up for his or her members.

In accordance with their information launch, for greater than 40 days, the Canadian aircrew — which incorporates two CUPE members, one ALPA member, and one Unifor member — “have been arbitrarily detained, threatened, and prosecuted,” after discovering and reporting the medication.

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Noting that it’s solely unacceptable that members had been jailed for dutifully reporting a criminal offense, Capt. Tim Perry, president of ALPA Canada, stated, “We’re urging the Canadian authorities to take severe motion and assist convey our crew house.”

The three unions symbolize greater than 90 000 airline staff and now warning all travellers and staff in regards to the dangers of journey to the Dominican Republic.

The prosecutor within the Dominican hopes to have bail revoked and desires to carry the Canadians for as much as 12 months in jail because the case is investigated.

“The Canadian authorities must do all in its energy to convey the Pivot Airways crew safely again house,” stated Scott Doherty, the chief assistant to Unifor’s nationwide oresident, expressing concern for the security of these being held.

As a part of this marketing campaign, ALPA, Unifor and CUPE have on-line petitions out there for all to signal; they urge their members to put in writing the Minister of International Affairs, Melanie Joly, and ask her to name for the rapid launch of those Canadians.