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For Immediate Release
NATUC SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT AS THEY RETURN BWIA TO STATE OWNERSHIP
The National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) is in full support of government’s decision to regain control of BWIA West Indies Airways Limited. We feel this action is in the best interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and can only assist in national development. However, we are at pains to understand the fixation of the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Honourable Kenneth Valley, with wanting to return the airline to private sector control when this has proven to be disastrous.
Under private sector control the airline has had to resort to successive bouts of retrenchment of workers and shrinkage of the airline’s operations. There have also been serious concerns over the financial management of the company under private sector control. NATUC is convinced that the way forward is to insist that the proper personnel are on board to fly BWIA out of its troubled waters.
The trade unions which represent BWIA have time and time again called for a forensic audit of the company’s accounts and we feel this is very desirable at this point in time. We therefore congratulate the government on its initial step towards returning the airline to state ownership but feel Mr. Valley’s intention to restore private ownership and control to the airline is quite premature in the present circumstances.
Vincent
Cabrera
General Secertary
July 29, 2004