BWIA to continue operating with a 7-member Board

BWIA continues to operate with a seven-member board with three open positions still to be filled. But the airline’s chairman, Lawrence Duprey says the board can run smoothly with the seven members. BWIA like all other airlines, he said was a work in progress, because the Board was searching for ways to ensure the airline continues to exist. Yesterday, at its annual general meeting held at Angostura House, Laventille, the company’s deputy chairman, Charles Jacelon was re-elected. Three new members were also elected following in the wake of resignations by Gordon Deane, Rajveer Ranawat, and Michael Stanfield. Duprey speculated that their resignations could have been the result of conflicts of interest, because as he noted they were members of different groups with whom the airline does business. After the shareholders failed to replace the three resigned board members, Duprey said the airline will continue to operate with a seven-member Board, instead of the usual ten members.

The Board now comprises Duprey, Charles Jacelon, deputy chairman; Krishna Narinesingh, Rodney Sastri-Persad, Captain John O’Brien, Indira Maharaj-Ramrekersingh, and Michael Small. Duprey promised that there will be replacements when the time is right. He however assured that the shareholders could call a meeting at anytime to appoint the remaining three directors. As Chairman of the company Duprey told the meeting “I will always have a concern about the interest of BWIA because it is vital to us.”  He said he has been always near  to the airline, which he said, has a very competent directorship — one that can carry on in his absence. Corporate Communications Manager, Clint Williams, said most of the shareholders’ questions were answered in the annual report.  About 40 shareholders attended the meeting which lasted about 15 minutes. Like Jacelon, the auditors, Price Waterhouse Coopers, were also re-elected. Union representative, Christopher Abraham said he did not expect anything spectacular at the meeting, since as he said “they don’t deal with the real issues.”