Keep order, Warner warns AATT Board

Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner is cautioning the new Airports Authority of T&T (AATT) Board to keep order within the organisation. <!--break--> He said so yesterday after giving the new board members instruments of appointment at a ceremony at the authority’s administration centre, Piarco.
Regarding his expectations of the board, Warner said: “I don’t expect this board to come here and three days afterwards turn this place upside down or try to undo a Cabinet decision.

“I don’t expect this board, after ten days to try to fire its top official and therefore lose overnight its institutional memory. “I don’t even expect this board to do these things and not consult with the minister, nor do I expect this board to fritter away the resources of the Airports Authority.” He compared what he did not want from the authority’s board against what he referred to as “some other board.” Pressed by the media, Warner confirmed the “other board” he was referring to was indeed the Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Board, which had caused a lot of controversy in the past two weeks.

Warner spoke of the importance of the ministry and board relations, especially keeping the minister informed on the board’s decisions and activities. He said to foster a co-operative relationship between the ministry and the boards which fell under its (the ministry’s) tenure, the ministry was calling on all boards to participate in a one-day seminar on the January 15, 2011.

Warner said: “Generally there tends to be a lack of understanding of the role and responsibility of board members and their line minister.  “I intend to call all boards under the Ministry of Works and Transport to a one-day seminar on January 15, when we will sit down and discuss this role.” He assured the board he had no intention of “micro managing” its affairs but insisted the minister always would be kept up to date with its activities.

Warner, taking another swipe at the CAL Board, said: “I am pleased that the permanent secretary has reminded me the minutes from all board meetings will be sent to the minister, all boards except one.”
In response to questions about the CAL Board, Warner said at a later date he would further discuss the matter but made it clear that CAL did not fall under the purview of his ministry.

He said he had full confidence in the board and expected to have “fruitful days” with it over the next two years. Warner also urged the new board to treat with the Piarco runway lighting system and tarmac repairs as immediate priorities. Pressed by the media as to when tenders for those two projects would be advertised, Warner said he was leaving it up to the board.

Warner stirred up controversy last October when he granted two contracts, worth $83 million, to repave the Crown Point tarmac and upgrade the Piarco lighting system before an Airports Authority Board had been appointed.

NEW BOARD

n Captain Vaman Bajnath—chairman
n Felix Hernandez—deputy chairman
n Dayanand Maharaj
n Ruth van Lare
n Suresh Ramdial
n Clyde Adams
n Gary Kallicharan
n Emile Jean Raphael Baptiste
n Diane Hadad
n Ian Gomez