Things are happening at BWIA says Valley

The immediate future of national airline BWIA is being kept under wraps for now.

All Trade and Industry Minister Ken Valley would say about the airline was, “Soon, very soon you will be hearing about BWIA.” He was at the time answering questions about the airline being posed during a Press Conference yesterday at his Riverside Plaza office in Port-of-Spain to announce BWIA’s new service to the Dominican Republic starting next week. Valley did admit however that he was pleased with the results being showed on the airline’s current services to both Costa Rica and Cuba. On these services the Government is guaranteeing a number of paid seats on every flight to allow BWIA to at least break even. This is being done through a subsidy which will remain in place for 18 months before being reviewed.

About that situation, the minister said, “We’re ahead of where we thought we would be at this time.” He added however, that this subsidy would be reduced after the first year and then reviewed. But he warned, “If BWIA cannot meet the costs, then the government has to do it.” Asked whether a CEO has yet been found, Valley answered in the negative, but said that “interim CEO, Nelson Tom Yew was doing an excellent job.” About the planned merger of BWIA and LIAT, Valley said the consultant would be on board soon, but the emphasis is on fixing BWIA first. He said someone was trying to fix LIAT and when these two exercises are completed, the merger would be revisited, because, “We’re committed to the merger.”

Valley refused to comment on the Government’s buy up of shares from private sector shareholders and would only say, “Things are happening at BWIA. You will hear about them soon.” But the minister took time to explain the importance of the air links between this country and other Central and Latin American states. He said it was not only a matter of mounting flights to these various countries, but rather one has to look carefully at the trade component. Already the trade between TT and the Dominican Republic stands at (TT)$300-400 million and when links would have been created between DR, Cuba, Costa Rica and Panama, that market immediately jumps to some 25 million people. Asked how he felt about TT getting the nod for the FTAA headquarters. Valley replied, “I am very comfortable.” He said our campaign to get the headquarters continues unabated and soon several of our Caricom partners would be sending missions to other countries in an effort to boost our chances.