Saith: No decision on BWIA yet
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith yesterday said Cabinet had not yet taken a decision on the future of BWIA. He dismissed reports claiming that certain options (including monetary figures) had been identified to either restructure the airline, close it down, or establish a new airline. Dr Saith said he had "no idea" what was being discussed in the reports, and that the special task force, led by business magnate Arthur Lok Jack to advise Government on the way forward for BWIA, is continuing its work. He said Cabinet had requested additional information from the task force and had been promised that it would receive that information by month’s end. The minister added that once Cabinet received the information, it would be in a better position to decide the way forward for BWIA. BWIA communications manager Dionne Ligoure said she had not seen the task force’s report and was not in a position to comment on it. Last December, Prime Minister Patrick Manning mandated BWIA’s board of directors to come up with a plan to achieve long term viability for the airline. Trade and Industry Minister Ken Valley received a draft report from the airline in January and the final report in February. The report was discussed by the Cabinet’s Finance and General Purposes Committee and then by a special committee chaired by Saith. The Lok Jack task force was then formed. Saith said the task force would make the necessary commercial evaluations of BWIA and Government would subsequently take the necessary political decision where the airline’s future is concerned. The minister added that whatever decision taken would be in the country’s best interests.
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"Saith: No decision on BWIA yet"