STATEMENT FROM MR. OSMOND E. LAKE, ACCOUNTABLE MANAGER, SUNRISE AIRWAYS (D0MINICA) LTD. (AIRLINE UNDER CERTIFICATION)
As the Accountable Manager of Sunrise Airways (Dominica) Ltd, I thought it necessary to issue the following statement.
As part of consultations held with various stakeholders regarding major investment plans in Antigua and Barbuda by the principals of Sunrise Airways (Dominica) Ltd., discussions were held with the CEO of the ABAA, Ms. Euleta Francis, and other key stakeholders and agencies.
This statement seeks to provide a summary of a meeting held to brief the Prime Minister on November 9, 2023.
Sequence of Events between Sunrise Airways (Dominica) Ltd. and Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA).
1.) On or about June 20, 2023 I met with Ms. Euleta Francis, CEO of ABAA.
2.) At that meeting I submitted a verbal request (followed by email) to rent space in the old Airport Terminal Building for Administrative Offices for Sunrise Airways (Dominica) Ltd.
3.) Following several reminders, I was advised on November 6, 2023, that a unit of approximately 400 square feet was all that was available. This was inadequate for our purposes and we proceeded to seek and lease alternative office facilities.
4.) In the telephone conversation of Nov. 6, 2023, I advised Ms. Francis that the Sunrise Maintenance Provider, Sahara Aviation Maintenance of South Africa, was very interested in replicating their Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) in Antigua with potential to increase its ratings to a Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO). Sahara Maintenance Organisation is being contracted to provide maintenance support for Sunrise Flight Operations.
5.) The CEO was very enthusiastic because this proposal fell within the scope of the overall development plan of the V.C.Bird International Airport. Ms. Francis advised that she was currently reviewing a USD 100 million loan facility and would return to discuss this exciting project in two weeks.
Meeting of Thursday November 9, 2023, with Prime Minister Browne.
1.) In a meeting with Prime Minister Browne on Thursday Nov. 9, 2023, I presented an overview of the combined Sunrise Airways/Sahara Aviation Maintenance structure and briefly described our overall business and aviation model.
2.) Although very keen, the Prime Minister meticulously questioned me about the ability of our Company to deliver on such a sizable undertaking and I in turn, explained that Sahara Aviation Maintenance is the largest Embraer maintenance provider worldwide and this project would undoubtedly, be a boost to Antigua and Barbuda’s overall economy.
3.) The Prime Minister offered his full support and it is at this point that I explained some of the unresolved delay issues – already mentioned above.
4.) The Prime Minister then telephoned Ms. Francis and in a very businesslike manner queried the reasons for the delays. I recall the P.M. asking Ms. Francis
“why two weeks and why not 2 days”. Ms. Francis explained to the PM that she was currently reviewing a USD 100 million loan facility. The Prime Minister accepted the point that the Sunrise application could not be more immediately addressed and the conversation ended cordially.
5.) Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, and seeking to ensure that I maintain good relations with the CEO and ABAA, in the interest of the Company I represent, I called Ms. Francis to reassure her that my meeting with the Prime Minister was not intended to undermine her position but rather, to brief the Prime Minister on the introduction of Sunrise Airways into the region.
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Gaston is the epitome of a bitch. He’s definitely in heat.
of your story is true.
Right now gaston clown carrying the title of king liard !
Very business like from the prime minister, thats poor performance she Euletta should have persued the business with immediate effect, looking over a 100 million dollar loan cannot prevent you from doing other important business, she is weak and unqualified she have to go, well done PM.
@ Looking . You seem to be brain dead from your response . It is clearly stated the the PM understood the reason for the 2 weeks by accepting her explanation.
Why does Osmond Lake find it necessary to write a public statement.
This reads as if Osmond Lake was directed by Gaston to write this convoluted statement in an effort by Gaston Brown to besmirch Ms. Euleta Francis, former CEO of ABAA reputation.
We got you Osmond; you have been told if you want to do business in Antigua then you have to make Ms. Francis look bad.
For those of us who can analyze the game being played on you by Gaston you are only making her look good with this silly statement.
Good look to you dealing with Gaston because when he is finished with you; you’ll be writing another statement apologizing to Ms. Francis
My sentiment to be exact. He was warned but God don’t sleep.
And BTW there is no such thing as submitting a verbal request. You make a verbal request and submitted a written request
Further Whats an Accountable Manager is that a SA title? Interesting you are the Accountable individual.
I guess in South Africa one gets a degree in Accountable Management
@CountryMan Abroad I am as confused as you about the purpose of Mr. Lake’s letter. It seems like a personal pitch on his part to tell us more about himself and his company. He really isn’t helping to shed much light on the conflict between the PM and Ms Francis and what transpired. If his intention was to enlighten us, we are still very much in the dark.
Gaston Browne on Pointe FM seemed more concerned about the PLH issue than Mr. Lake’s issue. He kept referring to Justin, not Osmond.
Besides, there is a new CEO in place at the Airport Authority, so Mr. Lake should not be worried. Or maybe that’s it. He is worried?
Mr Lake didn’t hear Gaston said he raised his voice louder than Euletta’s what was cordial about that conversation Mr Lake? Gaston saying Euletta rude anybody else in the world can be rude and obnoxious after Gaston Tek all fu heself
The voice raising was in the telephone conversation from Barbuda with PLH. So please do not confuse things. But then again. You guys like to spin.
It only goes to show you have many sides to the story. And till now we need to have PLH side of the story. And when you listen to the tape of Pointe FM. The PM never called a name. But ofcourse when you throw a stone in a pig pen the one that squeel is the one that got hit.
I have said it before. When you are operating in a high position you must be able to muli task. Their is no excuse for the CEO not to address and meet with Mr. Lake the same day. The job demands that. I had even worst situation where I was told to be at the airport in two hours because the company’s jet is picking me up as I was needed in Miami to meet a particular high network person. And they do not do business by phone. At that time we did not have Zoom or Video Conference. When duty calls, you jump. And if you cannot adapt to those standards you are in the wrong place. I have heard the PM said it more then once, that he is alway ready and available to meet any investors, and it has happened that he had to run to the office on a Sunday just to go meet a passing by investor.
Being in charge of job I once was called out my bed at 3:00am to come deal with an issue. I mean as they say it comes with the territory. It is very lonely at the top. Line staff work from 9 to 5, but top management work all the time. When ever duty calls. The PM ask you why two weeks and then suggested two days and you still have an issue with that. You do not see the need of making yourself available to attrack investment. Sorry folks. No matter how you want to spin this one. She felt guilty and resigned before she got fired. Which is a good thing. Let’s see which lawyer wants to take the case of constructive dismissal to the court.
I blame the Caribbean media..
Here is why.
First if we had a responsible media industry in the Caribbean, situations such as this would not only be reported in the regional media; but will be followed up to uncovered as what is really going on here.
Thirdly: Journalist has their sources. Some are deeply sourced and others are readily available information put out as public relations. Gaston brown is his own public relations machinery, he needs no help.
Fourth: When PR pieces are sent to media houses, a journalist is assigned to write an article which require verifying and make inquires to further look into the PR piece, thereby bringing balance to their proposed article.
Fifth: Proposed articles are then reviewed and approved by the editor in charge before it is posted.
Did the Dominican media run an article about Sunrise Airways out of South Africa entering into the Caribbean market and what their business is all about?.
This among many other things shows the Caribbean is still stuck in Third World status, as our people suck up nonsense on the internet every day.
I write here for I thought this was a poor attempt at character assassination of a very talented and seemingly professional individual Ms. Francis.
Osmond E. Lake either out of poor taste ignorance or stupidity allowed himself to be used by Gaston Brown or choose to do so himself to curry favor with Gaston.
Given this is an inter-island matter involving the prime minister, the Caribbean media should be all over this. Rather it will be a talk show subject that dies in a week.
I don’t know the lady, and I have no dog in this fight. But taking cheap shots at what appears to be a professional and accomplished person stymies any progress we hope to achieve.
@From The Sideline
Did you mean to write “network” and not “net worth”. Do you write this shit on your lunch hour?
For a Executive with a major financial firm you have a lot of time to write a lot of BS
If there was no such thing as video conference back then, you must be way over retirement age. AT&T has video calls in the early 70s which were provided by its Bell units.
Assuming you were a financial analyst out of “B” school or even undergrad like Wharton or Univ. of Chicago at 22 years of age; give or take 2 years if you went to B school. You are on the Corporate jet at 25yrs old, for not video conference was available
You are 25 yrs old in around 1970 so at around 78 years old you are still toiling for the man.
I know that the from Oracle out of Omaha is still working, he is a billionaire and at the top of his game still.
Just look at the embarrassing failures and the low pass levels for the recent national and regional exams. Some school has no passes
It must be sweet traveling on the company jet. The only few times I felt privileged on an are plane, was when I had to charter a small plane to bring me out of Barbuda when the Ferry was not able to travel because of weather.
Come on home my brother, get off the corporate merry go round and lets start a coding school and do some hackerton lift our boys and girls out of Facebook and tic tock.
Lets smatch the economic model of poor people being the lunch ticket for the rich and Nepo babies.
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