Conrad quits By Curtis Rampersad Trinidad Express 06.03.03 Conrad Aleong has said goodbye to BWIA West Indies Airways. The airline's chief executive officer tendered his resignation yesterday to the national airline's Board of Directors. "The board wishes to record its deep appreciation and sincere gratitude for yeoman service rendered by Mr Aleong to the airline," the company said in a statement. His official resignation ended weeks of heated talks between the government and BWIA management over the future of the cash-strapped carrier. Government, which owns 34 per cent of BWIA and holds another 15 per cent stake on behalf of employees, was said to have wanted Aleong to resign as a condition to BWIA getting financial aid. Prime Minister Patrick Manning said at a post-Cabinet press conference last week that the board agreed to accelerate its review of the Aleong-led management team. Manning said it was not a personal thing against Aleong but if the board determined he should leave, then it would do that. This was one of the conditions that came out of a meeting between the government and California, USA-based BWIA lessors International Lease Finance Company (ILFC). The meeting resulted in the release of two seized BWIA aircraft. On May 27, the Express reported exclusively that Aleong had sent a letter to the BWIA board saying he was prepared to go if it would help the airline. Aleong's contract would have ended in January. If he was forced out, he may have had to have been paid for it. Sources reported last night that he had received a financial package. Yesterday, the board praised Aleong as the CEO who "steered the activities of the airline through three years of sustained profitability while at the same time achieving a modernisation and fleet renewal programme". BWIA posted a profit for the first time in 61 years while Aleong was at the helm. The airline also invested heavily in new leased aircraft like seven Boeing 737-800s and Airbus A3-40 aircraft. Aleong also stayed at the airline longer than he wanted to, the Board indicated. "Despite his desire to step down in 2001, he elected to stay on to manage BWIA through the crisis of September 11," the BWIA board said. BWIA is expected to announce an interim successor to Aleong within a day or two. Aleong who has worked for at least one airline in Canada and is regarded as a longtime aviation industry executive, was not available to comment on his future plans but the board wished him good luck as he "pursues his choices for the future". Trade Minister Kenneth Valley, a member of the Inter-ministerial Committee established to determine BWIA's future, declined comment on Aleong's resignation. He said it was his understanding that auditing firm Zwaig was continuing its due diligence exercise at BWIA and once this was over (in a couple of weeks), the government would see "how it goes" and would make a determination on BWIA's future. Government has promised BWIA a financial bailout of $116.8 million. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Mas Site: www.tntisland.com/tntrecords/mas2003/ Site of the Week: http://www.natalielaughlin.com/ TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************