No comment on new airline

Contacted yesterday, Saith said he had no comment regarding the report. However, he said information would be revealed after Cabinet made its decision, which “will be soon.”

On Friday, BWIA management denied that the postponement of a meeting scheduled for Friday with the Aviation Communication and Allied Workers Union (ACAWU) at Crowne Plaza signalled the shutdown of BWIA and mass retrenchment.

The meeting has been rescheduled to September 7.

In a report, ACAWU President Curtis John said the new airline has been registered although the union had not received official word from BWIA. He speculated that more than 1,000 workers could be retrenched in TT.

BWIA management submitted the first draft of a business plan to Saith in April and a month later, and he gave a review to Cabinet. At a post-Cabinet media briefing, Saith said the plan dealt with various things which were needed to ensure BWIA’s long-term viability.

Government is yet to make full disclosure about the future of BWIA since last July’s announcement after a PNM General Council meeting, that the Government decided to give up full ownership and privatise the airline.

In July, BWIA Chief Executive Officer, Peter Davies, confirmed that BWIA would be privatised and said this was in keeping with his mandate to provide a safe, efficient and profitable carrier connecting the Caribbean to the rest of the world.