BWIA silent on Suriname Airways claims

NATIONAL AIRLINE BWIA yesterday declined to respond to allegations from Suriname Airways vice-president Clyde Cairo that the airline’s non-co-operation led to its present financial predicament. Addressing a news conference at the Hilton Trinidad on Saturday, Cairo claimed that BWIA’s lack of co-operation was one of the reasons for its financial troubles. He used his airline’s inability to meet with BWIA CEO Conrad Aleong to discuss an arrangement between the two carriers for flights between Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago to highlight his case. However, BWIA Communications Manager Clint Williams told Newsday the airline had no comment on Cairo’s allegations nor did it intend to engage in a “tit for tat” in the media. On continued media reports alleging that Aleong would resign as BWIA CEO today and names of individuals to replace him, Williams reiterated that to date there has been “no official notification” and he questioned the accuracy of those reports.

Last week, Government convinced lessors International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to give BWIA “120 days of breathing space” to clear its outstanding debts, return two BWIA 737 jets it recently seized in Miami and not to seize any of BWIA’s remaining planes during the next four months. Prime Minister Patrick Manning said an immediate restructuring of BWIA’s management was a condition for Government financial support for the airline, but this did not imply that Government was insisting on Aleong’s dismissal as CEO. Manning said that was a matter for BWIA’s Board of Directors to deal with.