New airline must avoid Bwee faults

BWIA CEO Peter Davies indicated recently that “Caribbean Airlines will inherit the long, safe and respected experience of BWIA West Indies Airways, which, after 66 years of service, will close.” December 31 will be a happy day for the taxpayers of T&T.

In agreement with Davies, yes, we need to “improve our future viability” and yes, “this heralds an exciting phase in air travel and aviation history in Trinidad and Tobago.”

However, we need to be wary that in moving forward we just don’t end up back in the same “boat/plane” that we used to be in. We cannot afford to disguise the new airline in old BWIA clothes.

Just a reminder of some of the major internal issues that plagued BWIA, and these will continue if not addressed, or if the proper independent oversight is not put in place:

Selective and favoured hiring practices, wrongful, unfair and unjust targeting of certain staff/individuals and wasteful spending, in that more than the number of required high-cost technical tests are deliberately performed.

The message is clear. Let us not have a “dynasty” where the emperor’s son becomes the emperor, and where friends and family are favoured.

Let us not continue the practice where friends and family are given higher marks during the technical assessments despite their inability to prove themselves.

Davies, as stated, “BWIA employees will be given the opportunity to apply for positions with Caribbean Airlines,” which is good for many of the honourable and dedicated BWIA workers. However, there is need for the following if under your leadership the airline is to be taken to new, better and different heights.

Davies, re-evaluate and change the process of the technical assessments, since these tests are very subjective and not an objective and true reflection of the technical abilities of the technical staff. Selection of technical instructors should be based on their abilities, and not on any “dynasty.”

Staff identified with unethical practices should not be favoured, rewarded or promoted. Retention is a costly endeavour.

A plan needs to be developed to ensure that the appropriate and skilled technical staff are selected and retained, and do not end up the ones that are targeted to be terminated and/or dispelled.

Begin to put a saving plan in place for the new airline by stressing that the guidelines are adhered to for the frequency of the technical assessments.

Lastly, let us have a fresh start without cover-up and corruption.

The regulation body should at once provide close oversight and monitoring to prevent any fraud of this new and exciting business enterprise that we are about to launch in this 21st century. The time is now, and you Davies have the leadership and future of Caribbean Airlines in your hands.

Anton Alves

Port-of-Spain

Terrible jail for killers

My gratitude to the Commissioner of Prisons and all those involved in bringing a level of sanity and discipline to the scoundrels who continue to bring shame and disgrace to the country, and who have caused great pain and sorrow to families and entire communities.

Those beasts who were born to human beings are without compassion for their own families, without mercy, without love, respect and regard for others.

They did not heed the words of their parents or teachers and proceeded on the path of delinquency, lawlessness and hooliganism, denying others the rewards of their sacrifices. Not a second thought given to the cries of those they have murdered. No thoughts of God.

The pleadings and the fear of a gun barrel against the head of a human being mean nothing to these murdering animals. They are idolised by some young teenagers who follow the same path.

Now they are being equally dangerous even while in prison, where they should be nullified. We should not be made to tolerate the miserable lives of these swines who rape, rob and murder. They have soaked the earth with the blood of our sons.

Those who march all over and say let’s take back our country should join me in telling the authorities it is a step in the right direction. When these criminals commit these inhuman acts against people they must never ever believe they would be sent to the Crown Plaza hotel. It’s jail. Terrible jail.

It’s their own hostility and hate that caused them to be there in the first place. And for what they did to my family, I can never feel sympathy even if they turn to the holy book.

Ramesh Marajh

Palo Seco

When Manley stopped smelter

With the public furore resulting from Government’s plan to have aluminium smelters in T&T, I wonder how many of us recall how close we came to having a smelter here during the stewardship of Dr Eric Williams.

It is only the idiosyncrasies of Michael Manley, then Prime Minister of Jamaica, which prevented this from materialising.

Williams planned with Jamaica and either Guyana or Suriname, I cannot now recall, to have a smelter here utilising T&T’s energy and raw material from the other two countries. At the time, I think Jamaica was the world’s second largest producer of bauxite, second only to Australia.

The highly talented Manley entertained ambitions, and indeed was regarded in certain quarters as being a third world leader.

It was perhaps the thought that widening Jamaica’s economic influence would bolster his image as a third world leader that caused him to plan supplying Mexico with material for the manufacture of aluminium.

This necessitated cutbacks in the supply of material to the proposed smelter in T&T, and indeed a reduction in the size of the smelter as well.

This development so displeased Williams that he dissociated himself from the project. This is how close T&T came to having a smelter here more than 20 years ago.

Those were the days before information systems such as the Internet became available in one’s home. I do not recall any objection to Williams’ plans such as is happening today with the present Government.

This leads one to wonder whether Manley unwittingly saved us from dire environmental consequences, or conversely was responsible for substantial losses to the T&T economy.

Leonard Ragbir

San Fernando

Mix it all the way, Mr PM

Based on the premise of the diversity of our people, Patrick Manning wishes to bring about “mixed” communities through housing.

The affordability of government houses is based upon the nature of the labour force. I am therefore looking forward to this series of “mixing” by the Prime Minister:

A mixed labour force in the Office of the Prime Minister.

A mixed labour force in the Police Service, army, WASA, TSTT, Cepep and URP.

A mixed labour force in all government ministries and state boards.

A mixed Parliament on both sides of the House.

A mixed Cabinet.

A mixed Judiciary.

Finally, a mixing of calypso and chutney for Dimanche Gras 2007.

Imaam Iqbal Hydal

Felicity

Thanks for the care and concern

My heartfelt gratitude to the several people who, each in their own way, have made it possible for us all to celebrate the birthday of my son Ke Shavon Dolland.

I first of all express my gratitude to Minister of Health John Rahael, whose concern for the welfare of Ke Shavon went beyond the role of a minister.

I thank Dr Span, nurses and support staff of the Intensive Care Unit of the Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital for their dedication.

They were the ones directly responsible for the care and nurturing of Ke Shavon during those difficult times. Their dedication and commitment have left an indelible impression on me.

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the president of the Public Services Association, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, the first vice president, Stephen Thomas, the entire executive and other officers and staff of the association.

Their support and empathy during the past year have comforted me and my family.

There are several other people who helped in very many ways. Although I have not mentioned you by name I would forever be indebted to you for your generosity and kind support.

Glen Dolland

Father

Julien right on agriculture

Rather than take a swipe at Dr Ken Julien, the UNC or COP will do well to use the services of Julien.

He is a talented person with great vision and foresight, and I commend him for supporting local agriculture.

He recently said that no developed country in the world can ignore agriculture. If T&T aspires to developed-nation status, it must support, protect and even subsidise agriculture, as EU countries do.

Buying “cheaper” food from other countries will eventually lead to a drain on foreign exchange reserves, higher unemployment especially in rural areas (the agricultural/farming community), and increased pressure to devalue the TT dollar.

In the long run, “cheaper” foreign food will no longer be cheap, but expensive with a devalued TT dollar.

Also, it is not politically expedient to neglect local agriculture because this fuels inflation and affects all residents of T&T.

E Yee Ken

Carapo, Arima