Trade unions should run BWIA

The then Prime Minister of TT, an intellectual, but apparent midget when hurled into the rough and tumble of business, decided to acquire the airline and run it to save jobs. In hindsight, this decision was not very sound, one which cost the treasury (tax payers) and continues to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. A more pragmatic solution might have been to send the staff home and pay them. By a process of attrition taxpayers, about two decades ago would have been out of the woods.

The airline, when first acquired, was run as a quasi government department, then divested, acquired again and divested. It was restructured, the structure demolished, and re-restructured. Career public servants, politicians, successful CEOs, economists, attorneys, a senior airline pilot, experienced airline managers, a so-called hatchet man, whiz kids, almost the whole gamut, all had their day.

In the midst of all these changes, the notable constant that has stood the test of time up to this day was the end result – zilch.

The only persons so far not considered are the leaders of the various representative trade unions who, according to media reports, are supremely confident that they know all the solutions to the woes of the airline. In all fairness, they should now be invited to try a stab at the cash-strapped outfit.

One never knows, despite the recorded failures of their predecessors, they may yet taste sweet success by stabbing it in just the correct place.

RAOUL DUCHAUSS?E

Mt Lambert