Sam Martin back in swing at BWIA

Sam Martin, who vacated the chief executive officer’s position at Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) just two months ago, is expected to be named to the Board of Directors of BWIA West Indies Airways Ltd. According to aviation sources, Martin is one of four new members to be added to the Board. At present the five-man Board is headed by attorney Anthony Jacelon. Since Government assumed control of the airline several months ago, it was decided to expand the Board to nine members. This is the second time around for Martin, who served as chief executive officer of the airline in the late 80s into the early 90s.

As a matter of fact, he was head of the company during the attempted coup in 1990. A southern businessman, Shaffic Sultan Khan, is another tipped for a directorship on the Board of the national airline. The additional members are expected to be presented to the rest of the Board during the Board’s regular monthly meeting at Sunjet House in Port-of-Spain this morning. Well-placed sources have also indicated that the airline’s chief executive officer, Nelson Tom Yew, would be extended by at least another year.

Since the departure of Conrad Aleong last year, the airline has been searching for a chief executive. The effort has proved futile so far, but Junior Finance and Trade Minister Ken Valley, in whose portfolio BWIA falls, has continually extolled the virtues of Tom Yew, who was seconded to BWIA from his general manager’s position at Tobago Express. Two weeks ago the airline ran into some serious difficulties following several weather and operations-related situations. A check with the company has revealed that everything is back to normal and BWIA is ready to face the busy Christmas and Carnival seasons just ahead.