Prime Minister of Barbados during 1994-2008 Owen Arthur, will be the next Chairman of regional airline LIAT, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed.
Arthur replaces Dr Jean Holder, also from Barbados who resigned last year.
“You would recognise there will be a new chairman, in fact former prime minister of Barbados Owen Arthur, he will take over as the new chairman of LIAT,” the prime minister announced yesterday.
He said Arthur is the right man for the job given his history of fighting for LIAT.
“And I have to tell you I don’t think there could be any better candidate,” Browne said.
He added that “Owen Arthur would have spent a large amount of his prime ministerial equity ensuring the survival of LIAT, and now that it is at the crossroads again, I think that Owen is the right person to lead LIAT out of these difficulties.”
Browne said there will be personnel and other changes but did not go into detail.
“We have come to a consensus on the way forward so a lot of the differences that existed we’ve been able to resolve them and I believe LIAT has a very bright future ahead of it,” the prime minister reported.
He also said LIAT will be capitalised with the US$ 15 million loan Antigua obtained from the ALBA Bank as well as $5 million from Dominica “and the others will put in a few millions.”
He said the plan is to raise between 20-30 million dollars to recapitalise the airline.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
I do not agree in putting these old guys who when they were in charge didn’t really solved the LiAT issue. we need fresh blood. And not someone who would country before LiAT. I have lots of respect for my friend Owen but just like my friend Lester he can only serve in an advisory capacity. Otherwise its the same old thing happening again. you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Big mistake if you ask me.
Gaston do not let Mia pressure you. I al ready suggest making a hostile takeover of LIAT.
me.
I hope the sentiment echoed by the PM prove to be true and that Owen will put the region first and NOT bridgetown
From The Sideline’s comments are meant to be humorous. I look forward to other comments that are informative and analytical so that ordinary readers like myself can be informed about the what, where, when, who, why and how much based on the evidence of the past 5 years and current trends in the industry.
Oh Wow, Gaston you all couldn’t find someone younger , just give me a break the man is about 70yrs or so … bwoy if its one thing in the Caribbean (aka Antigua) young people will always have this trouble until all the baby boomers that are in charge are finally out of the way … they just keep bringing back all these old dinosaurs … if they didn’t make any sense when they were younger what makes you think they will make any sense now .. i’m so disappointed with this hire..
Whilst I have the greatest respect for Former PM Owen Arthur, he is just another part of LIAT’s awful legacy. No amount of money will turn around LIAT if the same old mentality persists.
SOLUTIONS TO THE FINANCIAL AILMENTS OF LIAT – CRITERIA FOR BOARD CHAIRMANSHIP
Know that Barbados produce an alcoholic beverage called ‘…Mount Gay Rum.’
Sure the owners of LIAT can celebrate with some, if only the ‘…new Board Chairman’ could turn the financial fortunes around.
This is viewed objectively from the considerations given to the appointment as merely;
(a) ‘…Having prior knowledge of LIAT’s operational and profit-making troubles; and
(b) …Being a former Prime Minister’ [1994-2008].
In governance, those that govern may ‘…take executive decisions and make administrate polices,’ then go to Parliament to give them legitimacy.
Once they are so guided, they could get away and say the law allows them to so administrate.
Using the ‘…Principles of Management’ to ‘…administrate and govern’ is fine.
There are many Ministers with portfolioed positions with special responsibilities, and in support of the Prime Minister.
Thus a Prime Minister is never alone.
Still, even with selected men/women of ‘…competence, honesty and integrity,’ collectively they have had monumental difficulties wending their way through governance.
Though not a consumer of rum, still not sure it would have a finer taste ‘…putting old wine in new cask.’
While the ‘…Principles of Management’ are applicable in any institution, in a business entity that is centered on ‘…efficient and sustainable profit-making operations,’ not sure what impact a ‘…former Prime Minister could make in alleviating ‘…LIAT’s Financial Ailments.’
Also know that ‘…Prime Minister Gaston Browne’ was not timid in speaking to the ‘…Chairmanship and Composition’ of certain Boards associated with the;
(a) …Antigua and Barbuda Department Of Maritime Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) Building; and
(b) …Treasury Buildings.’
These he said were packed with and may have been bedeviled by ‘…Square pegs in round holes.’
The end results, ‘…Massive Cost Overruns.’
Amidst ‘…chaos and confusion’ that a Contractor had buckled and resigned and ‘…Board of Directors sacked,’ from media reports, some ‘…EC$30M were expended on construction’ that had been initially estimated at EC$ 17M [OMG: July 25, 2018].
Not a pessimist nor a ‘…Prophet of Gloom or Doom.’
Not sure how he and the other shareholders may respond to challenges of the ‘…resourced-starved Airline, if the ‘…new LIAT Board Chairman’ is found wanting.
Agreed a board is about governance and not management but a cabinet members (see uk cabinet handbook) especially a chairman of such, would understand that. In terms of investment sources would it not be via other governments? Who understands politics better than a former PM? Who can speak their language hence would be more able to convince them (other governments) they need to get on board? I would think a former PM would fit the bill better than a former police chief. Happy new year Mr Pompey
WELCOME BACK TEN
Greetings as well.
Looking forward to your ‘…thought-provoking contributions.’
Now on the news before us, do not believe it is about ‘…understanding politics’ or …who can speak political language.’
This is really not about a ‘…political platform,’ where a politician is called upon to make a ‘…political speech.’
No Ten, this is not about ‘…spewing political rhetoric.’
Not for a moment ‘…Rawlston Pompey’ has inferred or suggested that a ‘…former Police Chief can fit the bill.’
If it were so, LIAT’s shareholders, including Prime Minister Mia Motley, may have been the first to opt for one of two ‘…former Barbados Police Commissioners Orville Durant and Darwin Dottin.’
It may have been a ‘…Barbadian Replacement Connection.’
Now, ‘…What can the new Board Chairman say that he has not said before?
And ‘…What is there to ‘…understand’ that he did not understand before?
Can say to you that ‘…it is not always where there is fire, food is cooking.’ No Sah.
It might very well be seen that he may have been called upon to ‘…spin a top in mud.’
One more Bajan to milk list travelers
One more Bajan to milk liat travellers
Comments are closed.