Spirit Airlines Flying To T&T Soon & The foreign Ceo's role.

In June 2006, then BWIA signed a $20 Million US contract with a British firm to advertise and brand BWIA internationally {an illogical move seeing that BWIA only serves Trinidad from the UK, I don't quite understand the strategy here}, see the following Link:

http://www.caribbean360.com:80/News/Tourism/Stories/2006/06/09/NEWS0000003019.html

This contract was being negotiated by Peter Davies while the closure of BWIA was imminent within this timeframe, what is the logic behind this? It looks like classic political corruption. Is Peter Davies working for Trinidad and Tobago or for the company he gave this massive contract to? Does anyone in Trinidad know what happened to this contract?

It is no wonder that many citizens are now outraged to learn that Peter Davies is probably being paid 50.000 BRITISH POUNDS per month, 600.000 annually. Let me point out that Willie Walsh, CEO of British Airways earned 700.000 BRITISH POUNDS in 2006 and he was not paid bonuses as the airline failed to hit it's operating profit margin target of 8%. CAL can in no way be compared to the massive BA, hence there is no justification for Davies exorbitant salary.

These foreign Ceo's like Peter Davies and others with the aid of government ministers and individuals are sabotaging Trinidad & Tobago and its’ assets, the valuable slot at Heathrow is another example. Just ask anyone who has travelled to London or transited through. Why should the foreign Ceo's care about Trinidad & Tobago, they only care about their pocket! If the economy of Trinidad collapses tomorrow, these Ceo's will not stick around or share in Trinidad's difficulties.

Another issue, last year while BWIA has been going through its turmoil, James Hepple at the TDC, negotiated with Delta Airlines to service Trinidad four times a week. Again, is James Hepple working for Trinidad & Tobago or for these foreign companies? Where is the great vision these Ceo's are expected to possess. These are simple minded, corrupt and incompetent decisions and actions. Trinidad must and can do better! The new TDC under James Hepple is doing nothing different from TIDCO, except for some facial and vocabulary changes, nothing new, innovative or creative is being done for Trinidad's potentially explosive tourism product. Why then did the government employ this Ceo? Where are the results?

No wonder BWIA is in its grave, are these foreign CEO's along with government ministers and individuals getting some kind of compensation or incentive for giving business to these specific foreign companies, these actions make me wonder. 

Taxpayers money should rightfully be going towards building the then BWIA and now CAL along with the  Trinidadian employees dependant on BWIA/CAL for their livelihood! CAL is not some politician’s private business, it is the property of the people of Trinidad & Tobago and also a means of livelihood for them.  Any responsible government should look towards taking care of its own people and the country's valuable assets first!

Now, Mr.Chin-Lee is negotiating with Spirit Airlines to service Trinidad, yet another blow for Caribbean Airlines and another missed opportunity to create meaningful employment and a livelihood for Trinidadians and Tobagonians and develop CAL. These actions will also put CAL in its grave and Trinidadians will once again lose. Maybe, we probably need a better air service to Trinidad & Tobago, but shouldn't we be developing our own assets and resources first, especially creating proper employment for it's citizens. Is this the best Mr.Chin-Lee can do, where is the vision? Stop selling, be creative and constructive.

Trinidad and Tobago need honourable people with creativity and honesty, not a bunch of foreign Ceo's selling and giving everything away to their associates overseas. These scenarios make Trinidad appear to be controlled by a mafia or secret society, with the foreign Ceo's and some government ministers and individuals as the pawns in a very big plot to defraud Trinidadians & Tobagonians of their rights, this is the modern day colonisation.

I also must conclude that the current administration of Trinidad is incompetent in looking after the long-term welfare of its’ citizens, its apparent successes are an illusion masked by the high oil prices and increased flow of cash as such, not because the government is doing a good and effective job.

I am afraid this will only be realized when oil prices reverts to where it was just a few short years ago. No real infrastructure is being created in Trinidad & Tobago, a great waterfront or stadium is not infrastructure, let us not be fooled by this cosmetic surgery!  

International economic analyst have predicted the current oil boom will only last another 12-18 months. Trinidadians & Tobagonians must confront their elected representatives with these issues and demand honest answers and explanations. Or else, it is only they that will suffer in the long run.

Stop the modern day colonisation of Trinidad & Tobago! Stop the foreign Ceo's and those aiding them from selling out Trinidad & Tobago. I am convinced we can do better. If Trinidad thinks that there are no local or regional individuals capable and only these British Ceo's can manage our affairs, then give up our independence and let the colonialist return and take over our country again. There should be no tolerance for this parochial thinking. Trinidad has tremendous talent both locally and internationally, the government must find it and help develop and perfect it.

Finally, when taxpayers money is being spent like this, while some mothers in Trinidad can't afford milk for their children, we have every right to question every detail and no official or citizen should be angry with that. This is what democracy and freedom of expression is all about. The government is accountable to the people and must respect the people's right to answers and information.