BWIA board, same khaki pants

THE EDITOR: After looking at the new composition of the BWIA board and the new executives installed by that board, it is now my firm opinion that the airline does not have long before it self destructs. It was said on several occasions by the representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (TAPLA) and the other trade unions that a forensic investigation into the airline’s finances was needed. This, if conducted efficiently, should bring out the truth about where the airline’s revenues are being directed. Questions about Tobago Express, aircraft leasing deals from the time of Ed Acker, about Kateserve Ltd and other companies which supply BWIA with services, about the repainting of the obsolete Tristars and MD83’s need to be answered. How does the present Government expect BWIA to survive, when the only person that resigned was the former CEO? The board of directors have now replaced this CEO by a group of people who were recruited by that same CEO, and obviously would be dedicated to his same policies.

Is that Mr Valley’s idea of “putting the airline back on track?” Well, in my opinion, according to the Mighty Shadow, “its the same old khaki pants”. After this summer season is over and revenues from ticket sales begin to fall, I predict that the Government would be called upon by the board for yet another financial bailout. At present, revenues from ticket sales and other services cannot even pay for the aircraft leases, imagine that! These revenues also have to fund Tobago Express, pay staff, as well as pay other companies and agencies for goods and services. Come on Mr Valley and other members of the inter-ministerial team which was set up to re-organise the airline. You need to change the entire board and top executives and arrange for a proper forensic investigation to educate your Government on what is really going on at BWIA.

CLAUDE ATKINSON
St James