The Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) convened an urgent meeting yesterday afternoon following confirmation that Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Chief Executive Officer Garvin Medera has officially parted ways with the national carrier.
According to Guardian Media, Medera’s exit was formalized through a mutual separation agreement bound by a non-disclosure clause. The airline has since appointed Chief Operations Officer Nirmala Ramai as Acting Chief Executive Officer.
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Ramai, who had recently been performing the duties of Acting Chief Financial Officer, steps into the role at a turbulent time for the airline. Her interim appointment follows a series of senior-level changes, including the suspension of former CFO Varuna Kuarsingh in late August and the termination of Executive Manager for Finance Kern Gardiner on September 16—just days before his probationary period was set to conclude.
A senior source within CAL, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a growing sense of frustration and uncertainty among staff, citing poor communication and declining morale.
The latest leadership transition did not surprise the Aviation Communication and Allied Workers Union (ACAWU), which has long accused the airline’s management of neglecting worker engagement and consultation.
“The union has always been at the heels of Caribbean Airlines, wanting to have a conversation and to help the airline—especially when it comes to better management and supporting employees,”
said ACAWU President General Nwannia Sorzano.
“I hope this transition opens the door for greater inclusion and collaboration between management and staff.”
Sorzano stopped short of commenting on the specific circumstances surrounding Medera’s departure but emphasized the need for stronger communication and respect between leadership and the workforce.
“The management did not pay attention at all to the union—and therefore, to its employees,” she added.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo told Guardian Media he had not yet received an official update on Medera’s exit. Efforts to reach both Medera and CAL Board Chair Reyna Kowlessar were unsuccessful. The Prime Minister’s office also did not respond to requests for comment.
Nirmala Ramai: From Veteran Insider to Acting CEO
As Caribbean Airlines navigates a critical phase of transition, Nirmala Ramai has emerged as the figurehead guiding the company’s next chapter.
A career aviation professional, Ramai joined the airline’s predecessor, British West Indian Airways (BWIA), in March 1999 and has spent more than two decades in the industry. She transitioned to CAL upon its establishment in 2007 and, after a brief hiatus, rejoined the company in 2017.
During her tenure, Ramai has led cross-functional operational teams, overseen customer service initiatives, and managed multi-million-dollar budgets—including projects valued at over US$20 million, reportedly delivered on time and within cost.
Her academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Postgraduate Diplomas in Human Resource Management and Business Administration, and a Certificate in International Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
In August 2025, Ramai was also sworn in as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, an appointment that the Office of the President said reflected her “extensive experience in managing operations in the aviation industry.”
