Govt shoots BWIA ‘messenger’

THE EDITOR: In his letter of Thursday July 3, 2003, appearing in the Newsday, Mr Ulric Guy of Point Fortin said “In defence of Conrad Aleong” that “the BWIA Board of Directors decision to turn its back on Conrad Aleong, ex-CEO of BWIA was reprehensible.”

Perhaps Mr Guy did not read my letter appearing in the Guardian of May 20 last when I expressed a similar view of Mr Aleong’s excellent work by outlining the several recommendations made by the CEO of the world’s largest leasing company at a recent conference in order “to succeed in the current difficult airline environment” — all of which action had already been taken by Mr Aleong and his team. It was a classic case of responsible management at BWIA.

Yes, indeed it would have been reprehensible in such circumstances for the Board of Directors to turn its back on Mr Aleong — if that were really the case. But it was not. My letter to the Guardian at that time was prompted by the fact that notwithstanding Mr Aleong’s excellent record, as I then outlined, it was the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, in its usual “wisdom,” who demanded “an early review of BWIA’s management team” as a pre-condition for any further financial support for the airline’s rescue.

It did not require any rocket scientist to interpret what that meant and, as it was since announced, it was Mr Aleong who then offered his resignation to save the airline. Now the board must find a new CEO, with at least Mr Aleong’s capability and certainly, he will come from afar, with no knowledge of the BWIA state enterprise culture and at far greater cost to the airline which is desperately trying to save money — even Mr Aleong having taken a salary cut! It was all a dreadful shame. But, Mr Guy, it’s very simple to understand. The messenger, Aleong, dutifully brought to the government a message about the problem (of a critical and strategic piece of improving national infrastructure) resulting from a worldwide industry crisis and the government ordered that the messenger be shot. A small-island prime minister brought a similar message about a mismanaged airline based in a corrupt Caribbean country and he received a multi-million dollar embrace and now a shot gun marriage is being arranged!

W  WISEMAN
St James