In defence of Conrad Aleong

THE EDITOR: The BWIA Board of Directors decision to turn its back on Conrad Aleong, ex-CEO of BWIA was reprehensible. Any Board of Directors that sees it fit to release a CEO, who showed profit in a business, for the first time in its 63- year history, for three years running - “is suspect.” This is the type of Board that shoots and asks questions later.

Conrad Aleong’s departure from BWIA is not what irks me. What troubles me is how the whole matter leading to his resignation was handled. No one raised a finger in his defence; not the Chairman of BWIA, the Prime Minister or even Minister Ken Valley of “If I had TCL stocks, I would sell them” fame. One gets the impression that there just may be extraterrestrial forces influencing our social and moral conduct in TT. We no longer do what is right or wrong; only what is prudent or safe. Could someone tell me the rationale for the forced resignation of a CEO of the calibre of Conrad Aleong, who brought BWIA into three years of sustained profitability and growth along with complete modernisation of the airline, for the first time in its 63-year history?

At this writing, several major US airlines have already filed for bankruptcy, with Air Canada as an imminent casualty in the wake of September 11, the “airline cruncher.” The entire airline industry is in disarray, yet our Government sees it fit to make political hay of the BWIA issue, while it forgives the outstanding tax liabilities of Dominion oil, remains conciliatory with Caroni (1975) Limited, with debts of over $2 billion- the perennial “basket case” that from all appearances, has taken a solemn oath never to make a profit.

The workers are never satisfied with what is offered to them in the form of VSEP. It seems apparent that the only offer that would be acceptable to them is the entire TT Treasury. Petrotrin is not far behind, as a state- owned company that is always acquiring every type of business in sight but is yet to show a profit in its balance sheet. These are a few of the companies that enjoy sacred- cow privileges, with the Government, but not BWIA that is only allegedly asking the Government for the financing of $116 million to which the Government acquiesced, with the stipulation that BWIA reduces significantly, its operating expenses.

Our Prime Minister, Patrick Manning is alleged to have remarked that he is totally fed up with BWIA. How many times has BWIA approached the Government in the last three years for assistance? And even if it did, is the $2 billion Caroni (1975) Limited debt, just “paper work write-off?” We are already talking about calling on Virgin Airlines and Liat already poised for a merger with BWIA to take up the slack, without any signs of remorse as though BWIA never existed. We are known in TT for our “short attention span,” as our once famous “Humming Bird.”

The business problems BWIA faced with the California USA-based BWIA lessors International Lease Finance Company should not be over looked, but it is for the leasing Finance Company to dictate who BWIA should have as its CEO. The Prime Minister Patrick Manning did not see it fitting to stand behind embattled BWIA and Conrad Aleong, who was able to take BWIA out of the unenviable position of being in the “red” for over 60 years running. He was able to resuscitate the company, for three consecutive years of sustained growth. The PM’s gaffe: “I am fed up with BWIA,” would soon come back to haunt him. As an avowedly religious man, he should be cognisant of the biblical quotation: What comes out of a man’s mouth, defiles him and instead of proclaiming his disgust with BWIA he should rethink his position.

ULRIC GUY
Point Fortin