Valley silent on BWIA

TRADE and Industry Minister Ken Valley declined commenting on newspaper reports alleging that US$109 million is needed to keep national airline BWIA operational and without Government support, the airline would be closed down by March 31. When contacted yesterday, Valley told Newsday that the final plan outlining strategies for BWIA’s long-term viability is still before Cabinet’s Finance and General Purposes Committee and no decision has been taken on it as yet.

That committee is due to meet today at Whitehall. Valley hinted that until the committee makes a decision on that plan and Cabinet approves that decision, any statement regarding BWIA’s future would be premature. Last December, Prime Minister Patrick Manning warned that BWIA’s board of directors could be replaced if they did not come up with a viable long- term plan for the airline within a month’s time.

Valley received a preliminary report from BWIA’s board on January 11. The final plan was received prior to last month’s Carnival celebrations. The minister indicated that all options regarding the airline’s future were being considered. BWIA Communications Manager Dionne Ligoure said considerable work went into the plan and the airline’s operations were continuing as normal. Efforts to contact BWIA officials for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.