Saith: No final decision yet on BWIA

At an April 13 post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Saith disclosed he had received the first draft of a business plan for BWIA and he would study it over the Easter weekend.

In an interview yesterday, Saith told Newsday that he has studied the plan and held preliminary discussions with BWIA’s board of directors about it.

Saith said the plan was essentially an operational one, detailing various things which needed to be done to ensure BWIA’s long-term viability. However, he indicated that this was merely a first draft and no final plan has been developed to chart the way forward for BWIA.

“This is still a work in progress,” Saith said.

He explained that Government will now wait for the airline’s stakeholders to discuss this plan and conclude their restructuring negotiations before taking any action.

Once BWIA’s stakeholders reach an agreement, he would take a note to Cabinet and the Government would take the action required at that time.

Informed about the Aviation Communication and Allied Workers Union’s (ACAWU) concerns about not having seen any business plan, Saith suggested the union speak with the airline’s management on that matter.

Contacted yesterday, ACAWU president Curtis John said he has written to BWIA CEO Peter Davies but has not received a reply as yet.

In his September 28, 2005 Budget presentation in Parliament, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said BWIA would be transformed into a regional carrier in which regional governments and private sectors would be able to purchase equity. Manning indicated at that time, Government’s commitment to inject US$250 million into BWIA to handle re-capitalisation costs.