Civil Aviation Authority — a new autonomous body

Government has created an independently-run Civil Aviation Authority, which from October 1 assumed the responsibilities of the Civil Aviation Department in the Ministry of Works. Works Minister Franklyn Khan announced yesterday that the CAA department in the Works Ministry no longer exists and that the new body would have “a freer hand to run the business,” the power to hire and fire, and therefore would become more efficient, “We see this as a prototype for public sector reform” he stated. He saw the move as one of the conditionalities for achieving Category one status. Khan said the other two requirements are the tabling of the regulations in the Parliament (hopefully by October 31) and re-certifying of BWIA, based on the new regulations. Khan said he hoped this would be done early next year.

Told that these were the same principles on which the Regional Health Authorities were established and this has not brought significant improvement in the health sector, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said the RHA had the unfortunate fate of being subjected to a UNC administration, which had lots of nepotism and square pegs in round holes. Khan said workers in the Ministry had the option of remaining in the Public Service which 30 of them chose to do, or to be employed by the new institution, an option which 135 of them selected. He added that the remuneration was superior in the new body.