Managing director of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company Dirk Barnes said yesterday he welcomes any probe into the award of a $900,772 contract by Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs to his company.

"I welcome all the probes, and I will be very happy to meet with both the Police Service Commission and the Police Complaints Authority, if I have to, where I can present my documents at any point in time," said Barnes.

"If a probe is conducted, they will realise what the real facts are—they will understand what I have been saying from the very first day, and that is that this entire transaction was above board, and if anybody is suggesting otherwise, they clearly do not have the correct facts," said Barnes.

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has written to both the PSC and the PCA requesting an investigation into the transaction.

The controversy erupted after Opposition MP Donna Cox revealed in Parliament last Friday contents of e-mails between Barnes and his associate, Daniel Condon, who took Deputy CoP Jack Ewatski flying on two occasions before the contract was awarded.

"I am willing to meet with Mr Rowley, Miss (Donna) Cox, Mr (Colm) Imbert; the question is whether they are willing to meet with me," said Barnes.

Eddie Dallsingh, managing director of Navi-Comm Avionics, who had first made a proposal to Gibbs, offering the services of the light sport aircraft but did not get it, told the Express he believes a probe will unearth the truth into this entire controversy.

"I had requested since last week an investigation into this matter from the Police Service Commission; this matter must be investigated," said Dallsingh. —Anna Ramdass