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LIAT Appoints New Board Of Directors

Submitted by Bimjim January 9, 2020 LIAT announces the appointment of a new Board of Directors and the election of the Right Honourable Professor Owen S. Arthur as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Following the Company’s Annual General Meeting held in Antigua on Monday 16th December 2019, a new Board of Directors was…

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Submitted by Bimjim

January 9, 2020

LIAT announces the appointment of a new Board of Directors and the election of the Right Honourable Professor Owen S. Arthur as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Following the Company’s Annual General Meeting held in Antigua on Monday 16th December 2019, a new Board of Directors was elected, and the Right Honourable Professor Owen S. Arthur was nominated and elected as Chairman.

Professor Arthur currently serves as a Professor of Practice at the University of The West Indies. He has served the Caribbean as a learned Statesman including his work presiding over the Regional process to revise the Treaty of Chaguaramas to establish the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The new Board of Directors consists of:

Rt. Hon. Prof. Owen S. Arthur as chairman,
Mr. Michael Holder,
Mr. Mark Maloney,
Mr. Robert Riley,
Mrs. Juanita Thorington-Powlett,
Mr. Isaac Solomon,
Mrs. Carolyn Tonge,
Hon. Lennox Weston and
Hon. Sir Robin Yearwood.

The new Directors bring to the airline and regional transportation sector over 100 years of combined aviation experience. The Directors have demonstrated exceptional records of performance and service to the industry and to the region.

The new Chairman has been tasked by the new Board to undertake a special assignment to meet with regional Prime Ministers to discuss sustainability of the Airline. This assignment will be supported by other directors and the Management Team of the airline.

LIAT’s Shareholders, Management and Staff welcome our Directors to the LIAT and look forward to working together with the new Board to foster and strengthen regional transportation and integration.

—

Business as usual, folks, don’t go getting your hopes up.

“The new Directors bring to the airline and regional transportation sector over 100 years of combined aviation experience”. Derriere-lickers all, that just about sums up the shit-pot of garbage they are trying to fool us with again. 100 years of experience in their feckin DREAMS.

They had the opportunity to make a difference, and they just rolled on by. AGAIN.

128 responses to “LIAT Appoints New Board Of Directors”

  1. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    It will be business as usual as long as the voting capital is there so to dictate.

    If however the shareholders decide to carry a motion for true change, then and only then will it occur. Owen as chairman of LIAT is going to have to function under the same bylaws and shareholders as the dozen or more before him.

    Wunna don’t really understand how a company functions at board level. You think Owen going ride in there on a white horse and wave a magic wand? As I said he will be supported as long as nothing he proposes affects Antigua or The Comrade. If you doubt me watch it unfold.

  2. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    Time will tell.

  3. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David BU

    We are discussing LIAT. Your questions about American Airlines are irrelevant. Are their corporate structures similar ? Are their corporate missions/ objectives identical ? A classic opportunity for you to apply your ” apple and pears principle”.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    Are you not doing the same by ascribing traditional role of a Chairman?

  5. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David.

    Why do you think Browne wanted to buy our shares in LIAT? It wasn’t profitable and had no asset base that would make it a viable investment.

    He wanted them because with them he could dictate LIATs future without needing The Comrade’s help. After all no politician likes to depend on another one as payday always comes. It’s all about voting power and control here. You really think they would give that up in favour of a profitable carrier?

    So let the next chapter of smoke and window dressing unfold, but don’t hold your breath that anything will change. A year from now expect to get a call from LIAT to send another donation to keep it flying. Does it have to be that way? Of course not. Question is how we going change it under the current shareholder structure?

    That is why I said weeks ago sell the dam shares to Brown and stop trying to make water flow up hill.

  6. Bajeabroad Avatar
    Bajeabroad

    CEO and Chairman – American Airlines.

    Doug Parker was named chairman and chief executive officer in 2013. He oversees American Airlines Group and American Airlines, its principal subsidiary company

    Let’s look at this experience……

    (1) Previously, Doug was chairman and CEO of US Airways. Under Doug’s leadership, US Airways achieved record revenue growth, operational performance and profit margins that outpaced most industry peers

    (2) Doug was also chairman, president and chief executive officer of America West. He became the CEO at America West just 10 days before Sept. 11, 2001, and led the carrier through the crisis

    (3) Doug’s experience prior to joining America West in 1995 includes four years with Northwest Airlines as vice president, assistant treasurer and vice president of Financial Planning and Analysis

    (4) From 1986 to 1991, he held a number of financial management positions with American

    (5) Doug serves as the chairman of the Airlines for America (A4A) Board of Directors and also sits on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors and oneworld Governing Board

    Wow….25+ years in Senior Airline Roles…..what a square peg in a round hole

  7. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    Do you know what is the brief got LIAT in this new dispensation? All you have written is based on historical behaviour. At this point in the history of LIAT one had to assume that commonsense must prevail.

  8. Baje Avatar
    Baje

    @ bajeabroad

    CEO and Chairman – American Airlines.

    Doug Parker was named chairman and chief executive officer in 2013. He oversees American Airlines Group and American Airlines, its principal subsidiary company

    Let’s look at this experience……

    (1) Previously, Doug was chairman and CEO of US Airways. Under Doug’s leadership, US Airways achieved record revenue growth, operational performance and profit margins that outpaced most industry peers

    (2) Doug was also chairman, president and chief executive officer of America West. He became the CEO at America West just 10 days before Sept. 11, 2001, and led the carrier through the crisis

    (3) Doug’s experience prior to joining America West in 1995 includes four years with Northwest Airlines as vice president, assistant treasurer and vice president of Financial Planning and Analysis

    (4) From 1986 to 1991, he held a number of financial management positions with American

    (5) Doug serves as the chairman of the Airlines for America (A4A) Board of Directors and also sits on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors and oneworld Governing Board

    Wow….25+ years in Senior Airline Roles…..what a square peg in a round hole

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    YOU REALLY DON’T WANT TO KILL THOSE WITH THE SMALL ISLAND MENTALITIES WITH TOO MANY FACTS.

    THEY LIKE THEIR MAKE BELIEVE SAVIORS AND BULLSHIT WAFFLE EVEN IF THE REALITIES DON’t FIT WITH FACT.

  9. David Avatar
    David

    The consensus is that LIATs problems are rooted in the political. One suspects the solutions maybe found in the political as well. It does not matter how qualified the CEO or Chairman the shareholders have shown a propensity to overrule commonsense and business sense. Perhaps Arthur’s brief will be to dismantle the existing structure IF this is the case where would his brief have come from? The shareholders maybe?

  10. Bajeabroad Avatar
    Bajeabroad

    But to be fair….let’s look at the qualifications of the top member of an airline from a SUCCESSFUL airline in an area known for rampant corruption and nepotism appointment. Let’s look at Ethiopian airlines

    As of November 2017, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines is Tewolde Gebremariam;

    The airline, which is wholly owned by the Government of Ethiopia, has traditionally been unfettered by government intervention, even during times of significant turmoil and domestic hardship.Whereas many African state-owned airlines were and remain often poorly run, with staffings often serving nepotistic purposes, and business decisions being made on political grounds, Ethiopian Airlines remained professionally run and managed.

    He began his career at Ethiopian in 1985 as Transportation Agent and has held a number of senior leadership positions in different divisions in the Airline including; Ethiopian Cargo, Area Offices and Sales & Marketing

    In his role as CEO, Mr. Tewolde has been a multi award winner including ‘African CEO of the Year’, ‘Best African Business Leader’, ‘The Airline Strategy Award for Regional Leadership’ and ‘The Most Gender Focused CEO Award’

    Another square peg in a round hole….doesn’t have the political chops to get this kinda job done.

    And yet we wonder why things don’t work as they should in our neck of the woods.

  11. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ david.

    I will quote Warren Buffet for you as my reply.

    ” the best indicator to how a company will perform going forward must be based on its past performance.”

    I believe he made that statement when he was asked about the large shareholding he has in a drink company called Coca-Cola!

    If you feel Owen could rewrite years of historic losses without the total support of ALL the shareholders, then let me bow to the new “messiah of commerce!”

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    The blogmaster has a quote as well. To do the same thing and expect a different result is to court insanity.

  13. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ David January 12, 2020 3:25 PM

    You are doing a fantastic job of defending the potential of OSA to make a big difference to the management of LIAT.

    OSA is first and foremost a politician carrying serious damaged baggage.

    If the then energetic ‘freshman’ could not restructure the Bajan economy after Sandiford prepared the wicket- which gave him access to foreign borrowings to underwrite his conspicuous consumption project- how in high heavens can you depend on the same ‘worn-out’ political actor to do what many technocrats have tried and failed (going back to Dr. Warren Smith) over the decades because of the same political interference for which OSA is now the bagman?

  14. John A Avatar
    John A

    ” Owen we will support all efforts to restructure LIAT just don’t touch Antigua or St Vincent.”

    Best regards,

    Brownie and The Comrade

  15. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    What time will tell

    The history of Liat and it multifaceted Chairpersons has already told a mirage of stories with a reflection that politics would always be the boggeyman in causing Liat failures
    What de hell can OSA do about that is the question he will have to confront
    Browne would be quick to remind OSA and all shareholders that had not for his 40 million loan Liat would have fallen out the sky and his interest and the people of Antigua interest must be given full throttle.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @Miller

    You know what they say- experience is the best teacher.

  17. Baje Avatar
    Baje

    @ bajeabroad

    You have highlighted 2 key Management and Leadership positions for Liat both of whom sit on the Board of Directors the Chairman and CEO and both being also Barbadians WITH NO KEY EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL GROWTH AIRLINE.

    HOWEVER LIKE JEAN HOLDER FORMER CHAIRMAN ALL HAVE BEEN POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS, THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THESE 2 x 3 ISLANDS WHICH LEADS TO CORRUPTION, NEPOTISM, CROYNISM AND FLEECING OF TAXPAYERS.

    NO WONDER ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEAD INSTITUTIONS HAS FAILED AS THIS IS THE “BUSINESS MODEL” THROUGHOUT AS THE TAXPAYERS HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FALL BACK WHEN MORE GREASING OF THE WHEELS ARE NEEDED.

  18. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    @ Miller January 12, 2020 3:42 PM

    Political influence at LIAT is indeed the decisive point. LIAT flies to many pepper islands in nowhere far too often. It would be best to remove some of these nests completely from the flight schedule and to thin out the flight schedule for others.

    Against this background it is all too obvious why Antigua and Barbuda wants to bring LIAT under control: so that LIAT continues to fly to the pepper islands Antigua and Barbuda far too often, burning all the money. In my opinion, it would be best for Barbados to withdraw from LIAT completely. Let the market settle the matter. We need flights from Barbados to Jamaica, Domrep, Trixiland and Guyana, the rest is not really important. We don’t need to travel to every pirate island where we sell one pack of milk a week at most. It is not the responsibility of the government of Barbados to ensure that the inhabitants of these pepper islands get out.

  19. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    David BU

    I can’t recall if there was ever a time Browne and Ralphie “sang from the same hymn book.” “In fact,” I can’t remember “The Comrade” singing at all.

    As Chairman of the shareholder governments, except on occasion when he goes to the leaders of non-shareholder governments begging for them to invest in LIAT whenever it experiences a financial crisis, Ralphie has REMAINED SILENT on several issues pertaining to the airline, while allowing Browne to take the lead.

    When it was announced the Antiguan government was carefully considering Sir Richard Branson’s proposal of a $7M investment in LIAT, the Comrade responded by saying: “As the chairman of the shareholders, I have not been aware of that. Nobody has contacted me about that.”

    David BU, you wrote re: “The blogmaster expects Arthur to leverage his experience gained as a longstanding prime minister AND lead for Carioca/CSME. This is where his leadership must add value to a new LIAT.”

    Allow me give you an example and ask a question.

    SLU’s PM Allen Chastanet, who has been adamant that, until certain conditions he outlined are fulfilled, his administration would consider offering financial assistance to LIAT. These conditions include:

    (a) he is satisfied the restructuring of the airline would be able to provide adequate service to the region at the most effective and efficient cost structure;

    (b) he believes there should be competition.

    Interestingly, Chastanet identified Inter-Caribbean Airline, which flies into SLU from DOM and the British Virgin Islands. That airline is desirous of basing 2 to 4 30-seater planes in SLU, which Chastanet said would be able to fly to Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and Antigua, is seen as presenting competition to LIAT.

    Gaston Browne has been unable to convince him to invest in LIAT. Any ideas how Owen Arthur, with “all his experience and stature,” would go about trying to make Chastanet change his mind?

  20. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    Good question.

  21. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ David January 12, 2020 4:23 PM

    Artax knows his regionally-grown political onions when it comes to the posturing of these small islands’ tin-pot dictators.

    The current version of the LIAT game of musical chairs for the boss-man will soon come to a head when Browne and Arthur (both cut from the same tempestuous political cloth of egotism) are forced clash swords over the staffing levels at ANU.

  22. Piece the Legend Avatar
    Piece the Legend

    @ Mr Vincent Codrington

    Earlier today you posted this item but de ole man was unable to respond

    You said AND I QUOTE

    “…@ Theo

    Why are you intermingling this discussion of LIAT with an” emergency post mortem” of the 2018 General Election ?

    Those issues that you are resurrecting have been discussed ad nauseam.

    What diversionary game are you playing?…”

    To be absolutely honest Commander Theophillus Gazerts ‘ analysis of the election results HAS NEVER BEEN GIVIN THE SLANT IN ANY OF THE ARTICLES HERE.

    In fact, not one article placed it in the context of Third Party Movement

    One thing that you woth your perspicacious skill will have realized is that THE HONOURABLE BLOGMASTER HAS REFUSED TO PUBLISH ANY BLOG ON BARBADOS UNDERGROUND that is specifically titled Third Party Movement or anything related to that topic.

    So unless a blogger inserts these comments in a seemingly unrelated topic YOU GET NO CHANCE TO VOICE ANY OPINION ABOUT THIRD PARTIES!!!

  23. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “HOWEVER LIKE JEAN HOLDER FORMER CHAIRMAN ALL HAVE BEEN POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS, THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THESE 2 x 3 ISLANDS WHICH LEADS TO CORRUPTION, NEPOTISM, CROYNISM AND FLEECING OF TAXPAYERS.”

    They have made everything toxic with political nastiness and it’s the taxpayers have to pay for every evil self-serving situation they create and get robbed by the billions of dollars in the process.

  24. charles skeete Avatar
    charles skeete

    The Duopoly Rules and will continue to rule unless the next generation of thinkers band together and come up with strategies to break the partisan stranglehold to the country”s detriment that the two political parties have like damocles swords held around the necks of the electorate since 1961.

    “As the fortunes of the DLP declined he rose in structure and attracted a lot of Arthur Dems. That is where his ultimate strength was. As Thompson emerged that declined somewhat and Arthur knew that he had to practice what he called the politics of inclusion. You would note that as the conflict with Mottley grew most of the elders started to promote Mottley. It’s the internal cannibalism in the Duopoly to which I have often referred. Believe it or not but Thompson also experienced this internal cannibalism in the DLP. The internal cannibalism within the Duopoly has no end. The cool aid drinkers are sent on BU to try cannibalism but they end up eating themselves.”

    If my memory serves me correctly and i could as well follow the mob and refer to Mr Arthur as Professor if my Memory serves me correctly Professor Arthur soundly beat Mr Thompson in two elections that he ran away from the leadership which was Mr Mascoll assumed and lifted the fortunes of the DLP. It was only when Professor Arthur”s popularlity started to wane as was even the case with none other than the great Errol Barrow after three terms in office that Mr Thompson and cohorts in the DLP hierarchy who never felt that Mr Mascoll had a right to the post started using underhand methods to replace Mr Mascoll with the blue eyed boy but Mr Thompson personally was no political or intellectual threat to the Profesor who stood head and shoulders above Mr Thompson until the release of the CLICO cheque. So any internal cannibalism within the DLP was started by Mr Thompson beginning with his attempt to remove Mr Estwick from his seat.

  25. charles skeete Avatar
    charles skeete

    Here is Freundel Stuart in 2005 at the DLP’s 50th Annual Conference
    From 1994-2001, David Thompson lead the DLP with a free hand to do as he saw fit. Did we not end up with the unusual act of the people of Barbados voting against the opposition in 1999?
    Where is the IMF letter supposedly signed by Owen Arthur which was to be produced in Queen’s Park?
    Where is the St John Development Plan?
    Why was there a mass exodus of several of the candidates who ran in both the 1994 and 1999 General Elections under the leadership of DT?
    Why would a number of former candidates who are still members never want to take part in an election again under the leadership of DT?
    Why was a BLP member Delisle Bradshaw presented to the DLP as a candidate instead f Undine Whittaker in St Michael South East in 1999?
    Why was Patrick Todd not permitted to run in the City as the preferred candidate in 1999?
    With all the support financial attraction in 1994 and 1999 why is the party so highly indebted after these two elections?
    By whom and why were the seats already lost by the DLP in 1999 election declared vacant?
    Why was our manifesto of 1999 distributed 48 hours before polling day of Jan 20th?
    11.Can anyone explain why the supposed most popular national figure as DLP leader save only 2 seats in the 1999 election?
    What has transpired since the resignation of DT six weeks after the 2001 Annual Conference to encourage you or me to want the member of St John to lead us anywhere at this time?
    What level of commitment has the member of St John given to the administration of the party or support offered to the parliamentary group to justify support to become President and Chairman at this time?
    Do we want to return to the days of internal hate, infighting, blood letting, cursing and ruling by division?
    Can we expect a sudden resignation again from the post of President if the member for St John is not soon made the leader of the opposition by the six sitting MPs?
    Can we expect to ask for the support of the voters of Barbados if we present to them a leader which they so clearly rejected in 1999?
    THINK!!! Would you want the 17 candidates already selected replaced?
    Vote for stability and continuity!
    Vote Freundel on August 21st
    Keep Freundel Stuart President of the DLP
    Now tell me if this was not the worst put down of DT.

    You might need to rethink your post Skins

  26. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Charles Skeete
    I merely pointed out the internal cannibalism of the Duopoly. I really don’t care what strategies the Bees or Dees use. They are the same parties. However I find no real fault with your submission.

  27. Lorenzo Avatar
    Lorenzo

    Charles Skeete bravo you have exposed and catspradle the Dem apologist Skinner.He seems to think he can pool wool over people,s eyes.Mr Thompson was soundly beaten by Mr Arthur in two elections and knew another was in the offing in 2003 .Therefore what did he do knowing another defaet would end his ambitions to be PM, he ran away leaving Mr Mascoll to rebuild and retuned to undermine Mr Mascoll to become leader again.However Mr Thompson was never in Mr Arthur league as stated by you.In fact if the PM,s were to be rated i would go with my idol growing up Mr Barrow, followed by Mr Tom Adams,Sir Grantley, Mr Arthur, Ms Mottley, Mr Sandiford, Mr St John, Mr Thompson and lastly Mr StuartThis would be my order and from this we can see when we enjoyed our best and worst times.There is no comparisons between the two parties time in office as the Dem apologist would have us beleive.

  28. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Lorenzo

    Do you really believe that @Charles Skeete was trying to do anything other than give his opinion which as I stated was quite accurate. The events he mentioned actually happened and were not interpreted because he was drinking cool aid. My submissions are based on how I interpreted events.
    My dear man, the bloodletting in both parties is there for everybody to see. Just reflect a few years ago with Arthur and Mia. Look at Atherley. It’s the same thing with Stuart Mascoll Thompson and all of them. Only diehard party folks get up every morning trying to draw useless distinctions. I think that most independent minds on BU have accepted the Duopoly for what it is.
    You have all the right to defend your choice. You have been trying to brand everybody. My purpose on BU is to expose the Duopoly when necessary and give critical support when I choose. I have endorsed policies of the current govt. You have never heard me disparage our PM. Only last night I was in a deep discussion with a number of my friends from the current govt.We we’re talking about the way forward in education.
    For example: I believe Bree St John had all the intellect to make a very great Prime Minister. I still think he had a more realistic view of development than most. I dismissed Barrow after the Public Order Act in 1974.
    As always a very pleasant evening to you and yours.

    The Duopoly Rules

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